Lan Diep
Shared, small group cruise based on DBL occupancy
9 - 11 DAYS
3 ITINERARIES
44 Guests
22 Cabins
Overview
Highlights
- On board cultural performances, educational talks, and cooking classes
- Docks right in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City
- Cruise along the beautiful Cho Gao Canal
- Luxurious amenities including in room slippers and robe de chambre
- Experienced international culinary team headed by local executive chef
- Local and Vietnamese cuisine and special captain's farewell dinner
- Extensive wine list with premium wines and liquors available
- Nightly entertainment at the saloon bar
Built in 2007 and inspired by the Mekong’s ancient tradition of riverboat building, the 44-guest RV Lan Diep is an elegant, colonial-style riverboat with classical lines and charming wooden accents that create an enticing ambiance of comfortable adventure.
Life On Board
Her 22 cabins, split over two of the vessel’s three decks, are well appointed with generous amounts of wardrobe space and under-bed storage, ensuite wetroom-style bathrooms, and large panoramic river-view windows and doors that lead out onto the boat’s promenade – an outdoor covered walking area/terrace – that serves as a common balcony.
Exquisitely fitted-out with Cambodian tropical hardwoods and palm wood for a decorative finish and an authentic feel, the refined rooms suitably double up as relaxing retreats after a day of adventure, with their individually-controlled air-conditioning, plump premium mattresses laden with quality linens and two varieties of pillow, not to mention the cozy complimentary slippers and robe de chambres.
Indeed, while aboard the RV Lan Diep, guests can find all the services and facilities of a luxury hotel, including wifi in all public areas, and more. Join a variety of enthralling lectures about the region’s rich cultural heritage and fascinating riverine lifestyle, kick back with one of the classics from the library, simply relax in the comforts of your cabin, or enjoy the nightly entertainment and relaxing refreshments of the Lounge/Bar on Sun Deck.
Inviting Public Areas
With its privileged views, open and covered seating areas with loungers and chairs, and popular viewing area to the bow, the Sun Deck is the focal point of all social activity aboard the ship, and it is here that guests can borrow books and games from the library, or enjoy an array of enriching activities, from cultural performances by local performers and movie nights, to language classes and educational talks.
Elsewhere on board, there is a small shop for souvenirs and essentials in the Lobby, and a restaurant to the aft of the Upper Deck, where the local executive chef and his team serve authentic Eastern and Western dishes – including traditional Cambodian and Vietnamese specialities – all prepared with fresh locally-sourced ingredients. Breakfast and lunch is served in a semi-buffet style and the multi-course dinners are seated. Passengers can also choose a specially-tailored light menu which is available upon request.
If you get hungry outside of these times, freshly-baked bread and snacks are also available upon request, and if you fancy trying your hand at making some of the local delicacies for yourself, cooking classes are also available.
Magical Mekong Adventures
The Lan Diep offers remarkable 9 and 11-day cruises from Saigon to Siem Reap, via Phnom Penh, and vice-versa, allowing guests to experience a true taste of life on the magical Mekong in both Vietnam on its bustling delta, and in Cambodia along its more tranquil stretches.
Itineraries include highlights such as Ho Chi Minh’s Reunification palace and Notre Dame cathedral, bustling Cai Be floating market, Phnom Penh’s Royal palace, an oxcart ride through Kampong Tralach village, and exploration of Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.
Another great highlight of these itineraries is the fact that the ship docks right in Saigon itself, so there are no uncomfortable overland transfers to consider, and instead, thanks to its shallow 6 ft draft, guests get to cruise along the beautiful Cho Gao Canal to My Tho, famed for its fruit orchards and islands.
On each voyage there are many complimentary events such as the Welcome Cocktail, Farewell Reception, and Captain’s Farewell Gala Dinner, but after so much excitement and adventure, you are sure to be reluctant to say goodbye to the charming Lan Diep and her friendly crew.
Itinerary & Prices
AVAILABILITY
Embarkation
Your program will begin according to your time of arrival. If your flight arrives between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., your program will be:
Lunch will be served at the hotel. After, we’ll visit the mysterious Beng Mealea temple, whose ruins were once utterly consumed by jungle. The temple was built in the 12th century and used the same floor plan as Angkor Wat. We’ll have dinner in the city and spend the night at a four-star hotel.
Embarkation Your program will begin according to your time of arrival. If your flight arrives between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., your program will be: Lunch will be served at the hotel. After, we’ll visit the mysterious Beng Mealea temple, whose ruins were once utterly consumed by jungle. The temple was built in the 12th century and used the same floor plan as Angkor Wat. We’ll have dinner in the city and spend the night at a four-star hotel. Lan Diep – Temple of Angkor to Mekong Delta – Day 1 LOCATION Siem Reap DAY 1 / 11 SIEM REAP – ANGKOR TEMPLES
This morning, we’ll tour Ta Prohm and Angkor Thom. Stroll through the grounds of the former Royal Palace, and discover the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. We’ll have lunch in the city before visiting the Senteurs d’Angkor, a local business with a diverse collection of silk and carvings, as well as a superb range of traditional beauty products and spices, all made locally. We’ll end the day with Phare, the Cambodian circus, and spend the night at the hotel.
We’ll visit the Angkor Wat temple: the epitome of Khmer architectural art and the most famous and imposing of all the monuments in Angkor. Lunch will be served at the hotel. After, you’ll be transferred to your ship. Our crew will welcome you and help you get comfortably settled into your cabins. We’ll have dinner and formally meet our crew. Our ship will remain anchored overnight.
We’ll visit the Angkor Wat temple: the epitome of Khmer architectural art and the most famous and imposing of all the monuments in Angkor. Lunch will be served at the hotel. After, you’ll be transferred to your ship. Our crew will welcome you and help you get comfortably settled into your cabins. We’ll have dinner and formally meet our crew. Our ship will remain anchored overnight.
TONLE SAP LAKE – KAMPONG CHHNANG
We’ll spend the morning crossing Tonle Sap Lake. We’ll enjoy lunch on board before visiting Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap. Fish farming is abundant here. The region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques—Chhnang itself means “pot.” We’ll also enjoy a tasting of regional products before returning on board and beginning to cruise to Kampong Tralach. Our ship will remain anchored overnight.
KAMPONG TRALACH – KOH CHEN – PHNOM PENH
We will set out to visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To access the pagoda, we need to cross the village of Kampong Tralach in ox carts, moving along a small road that runs perpendicular to the river in the middle of magnificent rice fields. We’ll enjoy lunch on board before exploring the small village of Koh Chen, where craftspeople specialize in silver and copper work. After our tour, we’ll return on board and begin to cruise to Phnom Penh. Once we arrive, enjoy a brief tour of the area by “tuk-tuk,” the easiest way to get around the city. We’ll return to the ship and enjoy a performance of classical Khmer dancing and music. Our ship will remain overnight in Phnom Penh.
PHNOM PENH
CHAU DOC
Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, the prosperous city of Chau Doc has developed around fish and fish farming. We’ll pay a visit to the Ba Chua Xu Temple and the Tay An Pagoda. Lunch on board. We’ll begin to cruise toward Sa Dec. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
SA DEC – VINH LONG – CAI BE
Visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. After our excursion, enjoy some free time in Sa Dec. We’ll have lunch on board and cruise to Vinh Long. We’ll set out in smaller boats and travel through canals and orchards before arriving in Cai Be. We’ll discover a brick and pottery factory as well as a traditional factory producing puffed riced, rice-paper wrappers used to make nems, and rice alcohol*. We’ll return on board our ship and begin to cruise. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
MY THO – HO CHI MINH CITY (FORMERLY SAIGON)
HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the most populous city in Vietnam. We’ll enjoy a tour of the city to see the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Central Post Office. After, join us for a visit to the Museum of Vietnamese History. Lunch will be served on board. We’ll leave by coach for the Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of underground tunnels that were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War. After our excursion, we’ll return to the ship. Tonight, we’ll have our farewell cocktail and dinner and spend the night at the port.
Siem Reap
AVAILABILITY
Embarkation
Meet at the Liberty Central Riverside Hotel restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, a tour of the city to see the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Central Post Office. Next, we’ll head to Cholon, the Chinese-influenced section of the city, to tour its hectic market and the Thien Hau temple. You’ll then be transferred to our ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on the ship, which will remain moored.
HO CHI MINH CITY
We’ll leave by coach for the Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of underground tunnels that were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War. After lunch, join us for a visit to the Museum of Vietnamese History. We’ll then begin to cruise to the splendid Cho Gao canal. We’ll spend the night on board.
CHAO GAO – MY THO – VINH LONG – CAI BE
During our passage through the Cho Gao Canal, you’ll discover the daily life in Vietnam—organized around fishing, farming, and transport. In My Tho, we’ll visit a bee farm and enjoy some honey tea and exotic fruit. We’ll then take a ride in small sampans along the canal lined with mangrove palms. After lunch on board, we’ll visit Vinh Long, located in the middle of the Delta region between two of the Mekong’s distributaries. We’ll discover a brick and pottery factory, a fruit-tree nursery, puffed riced, rice-paper wrappers, and rice alcohol.* We’ll spend the night on board.
SA DEC
Visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. After our excursion, enjoy some free time in Sa Dec. We’ll return on board and cast off as you sit down to lunch. Our ship will begin to cruise to Cambodia. We’ll spend the night on board.
CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH
After breakfast and our arrival in Chau Doc, we’ll visit a local fish farm, the Ba Chua Xu Temple, and the Tay An Pagoda. We’ll enjoy lunch on board and arrive in Phnom Penh in the evening. We’ll enjoy dinner on board this evening. Set out on a brief tour of the area by “tuk-tuk,” the easiest way to get around the city. We’ll remain in port overnight.
Embarkation Meet at the Liberty Central Riverside Hotel restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, a tour of the city to see the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Central Post Office. Next, we’ll head to Cholon, the Chinese-influenced section of the city, to tour its hectic market and the Thien Hau temple. You’ll then be transferred to our ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on the ship, which will remain moored. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 1 LOCATION Ho Chi Minh City DAY 1 / 11 HO CHI MINH CITY We’ll leave by coach for the Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of underground tunnels that were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War. After lunch, join us for a visit to the Museum of Vietnamese History. We’ll then begin to cruise to the splendid Cho Gao canal. We’ll spend the night on board. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 2 LOCATION Ho Chi Minh City DAY 2 / 11 CHAO GAO – MY THO – VINH LONG – CAI BE During our passage through the Cho Gao Canal, you’ll discover the daily life in Vietnam—organized around fishing, farming, and transport. In My Tho, we’ll visit a bee farm and enjoy some honey tea and exotic fruit. We’ll then take a ride in small sampans along the canal lined with mangrove palms. After lunch on board, we’ll visit Vinh Long, located in the middle of the Delta region between two of the Mekong’s distributaries. We’ll discover a brick and pottery factory, a fruit-tree nursery, puffed riced, rice-paper wrappers, and rice alcohol.* We’ll spend the night on board. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 3 LOCATION Vinh Long DAY 3 / 11 SA DEC Visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. After our excursion, enjoy some free time in Sa Dec. We’ll return on board and cast off as you sit down to lunch. Our ship will begin to cruise to Cambodia. We’ll spend the night on board. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 4 LOCATION Sa Dec DAY 4 / 11 CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH After breakfast and our arrival in Chau Doc, we’ll visit a local fish farm, the Ba Chua Xu Temple, and the Tay An Pagoda. We’ll enjoy lunch on board and arrive in Phnom Penh in the evening. We’ll enjoy dinner on board this evening. Set out on a brief tour of the area by “tuk-tuk,” the easiest way to get around the city. We’ll remain in port overnight. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 5 LOCATION Chau Doc DAY 5 / 11 PHNOM PENH
Embarkation Meet at the Liberty Central Riverside Hotel restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, a tour of the city to see the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Central Post Office. Next, we’ll head to Cholon, the Chinese-influenced section of the city, to tour its hectic market and the Thien Hau temple. You’ll then be transferred to our ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on the ship, which will remain moored. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 1 LOCATION Ho Chi Minh City DAY 1 / 11 HO CHI MINH CITY We’ll leave by coach for the Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of underground tunnels that were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War. After lunch, join us for a visit to the Museum of Vietnamese History. We’ll then begin to cruise to the splendid Cho Gao canal. We’ll spend the night on board. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 2 LOCATION Ho Chi Minh City DAY 2 / 11 CHAO GAO – MY THO – VINH LONG – CAI BE During our passage through the Cho Gao Canal, you’ll discover the daily life in Vietnam—organized around fishing, farming, and transport. In My Tho, we’ll visit a bee farm and enjoy some honey tea and exotic fruit. We’ll then take a ride in small sampans along the canal lined with mangrove palms. After lunch on board, we’ll visit Vinh Long, located in the middle of the Delta region between two of the Mekong’s distributaries. We’ll discover a brick and pottery factory, a fruit-tree nursery, puffed riced, rice-paper wrappers, and rice alcohol.* We’ll spend the night on board. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 3 LOCATION Vinh Long DAY 3 / 11 SA DEC Visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. After our excursion, enjoy some free time in Sa Dec. We’ll return on board and cast off as you sit down to lunch. Our ship will begin to cruise to Cambodia. We’ll spend the night on board. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 4 LOCATION Sa Dec DAY 4 / 11 CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH After breakfast and our arrival in Chau Doc, we’ll visit a local fish farm, the Ba Chua Xu Temple, and the Tay An Pagoda. We’ll enjoy lunch on board and arrive in Phnom Penh in the evening. We’ll enjoy dinner on board this evening. Set out on a brief tour of the area by “tuk-tuk,” the easiest way to get around the city. We’ll remain in port overnight. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 5 LOCATION Chau Doc DAY 5 / 11 PHNOM PENH We’ll enjoy a tour of the fabulous Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, which is inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles. After, join us for a visit to the National Museum of Cambodia. We’ll have lunch in the city. In the afternoon, you can pay a visit to the Tuol Svay Prey School, a former detention, torture, and execution center run by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. Afterwards, enjoy some free time at the market. We’ll return to the ship and enjoy a performance of classical Khmer dancing and music. We’ll have dinner on board and remain in port overnight. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 6 LOCATION Phnom Penh DAY 6 / 11 KOH CHEN – KAMPONG TRALACH Once we arrive in Koh Chen, you can explore this small village where craftspeople specialize in silver and copper work. Enjoy lunch on board. We’ll head to Kampong Tralach to visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To access the pagoda, we need to cross the village of Kampong Tralach in ox carts, moving along a small road that runs perpendicular to the river in the middle of magnificent rice fields. Our ship will remain anchored overnight. Lan Diep – Mekong Delta to Temple of Angkor – Day 7 LOCATION Koh Chen – Kampong Tralach DAY 7 / 11 KAMPONG CHHNANG – LAKE TONLE
We’ll visit Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on Tonle Sap Lake. Fish farming is abundant here. The region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques—Chhnang itself means “pot.” We’ll also enjoy a tasting of regional products. Enjoy lunch on board. We’ll cruise to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Tonight, we’ll have our final cocktail and dinner on the ship. Our ship will remain anchored overnight.
SIEM REAP – ANGKOR TEMPLES
We’ll spend the morning cruising the river before disembarking and having lunch on shore. After, we’ll visit the Angkor Wat temple: the epitome of Khmer architectural art and the most famous and imposing of all the monuments in Angkor. Enjoy a stroll through the Angkor Night Market. Dinner and overnight in hotel (Accommodations will be at either a 4-star or 5-star hotel according to the cruise you choose).
SIEM REAP – ANGKOR TEMPLES
Disembarkation
Accommodations
CRUISES & LODGES
12 CABINS
Main Deck Cabin
| GUESTS | SIZE | BEDS |
| 2 – 3 | 16 sq m / 172 sq feet | Double / Twin |
On the Main Deck of the Lan Diep cruise, there are 12 cabins measuring a roomy 16 square meters each. All cabins and bathrooms are tastefully decorated and comfortably furnished, and include a dressing table and ample storage. Slip on your fluffy complimentary slippers and robe de chambre and enjoy great views along the river from large panoramic windows. Your bed can be double or twin as desired.
10 CABINS
Upper Deck Cabin
| GUESTS | SIZE | BEDS |
| 2 – 3 | 16 sq m / 172 sq feet | Double / Twin |
All ten of the Upper Deck cabins aboard Lan Diep are spacious, measuring 16 square meters in size, and afford guests ample storage and modern comforts. Chill out with stunning views over the river from the large panoramic window, doze in the dreamy comforts of your premium mattress beds, and freshen up from the days activities in your ensuite bathroom with luxurious branded toiletries. The twin beds can be configured as a double if desired.
Technical Information
- Air conditioning
- Lecture room
- WIFI available
- Souvenir shop
- Hot showers
** Use of certain equipment at additional cost, ask for details
