After being the place of more than 20 years of civil war and subject to the rule of the Khmer Rouge until the 1990s, Cambodia has been opened to tourists and provides our passengers, travelling on the RV Indochine a complete change of scene. Vietnam has also become a truly cultural and friendly experience for clients of CroisiEurope. Our journey begins with a two-and-a-half-day land trip in Siem Reap, a stopover with time to discover the archaeological site of Angkor; a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On board a ship with the colonial charm of yesteryear, the cruise continues along the Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. These tranquil scenes will be interrupted by a number of trips on small local boats to visit floating villages and by ox wagons to visit the stunning Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda, which is home to magnificent wall paintings. Guests will explore Phnom Penh in tuk-tuks, traditional electric tricycles.
And now to Vietnam: The Mekong Delta, home to 15 million residents, bursts with activity. In Chau Doc, you'll be taken to a fish farm on local boats. From Vinh Long, you'll will cross arroyos—small dry rivers that fill up when it rains—and orchards weaving in and out to visit the brightly colored daily market in Cai Be.
Ho Chi Minh City, known as Saigon until 1975, was originally a simple Khmer fishing village. It now counts some nine million inhabitants and is the economic backbone of the country as well as our final port of call. As one of our guests puts it: "You are seized by the city's hectic lifestyle". The Chinese market in Cholon is a feast for all the senses. In this bustling place guests need to avoid the wooden carts carried by energetic couriers who are paid to move at speed, through this narrow labyrinth of goods, between fruit, vegetables and spices.
