Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1, HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON), VIETNAM - EMBARKATION
Welcome aboard MS La Marguerite, moored at Saigon port. Check-in at 12:00 noon, followed by port and immigration formalities. After settling in, enjoy the fascinating view of the Saigon River from your private balcony or from the sundeck. You can also enjoy cold drinks in the Saigon Lounge while watching bustling river life pass by. At 2:00 p.m., the ship departs up the broad Mekong tributary. Tonight, meet your fellow passengers and the crew at the Welcome Dinner in the Mekong Restaurant. (L,D)

DAY 2, CAI BE - SA DEC
Arriving at Cai Be in the morning, early risers can enjoy the sunrise on the sundeck. After breakfast, take a morning Junk trip around Cai Be to see a floating market, then go ashore to see the French Gothic Cathedral and colorful port area with its colonial buildings. You will also visit the ancient Kiet House, delightful flower gardens and local rice paper manufacturers. Cruise past Vinh Long Province to arrive at Sa Dec for an afternoon walk. Noteworthy as the town where the French writer (and our ship's namesake) Marguerite Duras spent some of her childhood, Sa Dec is a sprawling town on the Mekong Delta. Visit the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, Duras' Chinese paramour, which is now a small museum. That night, cruise through the Mekong Delta to Tan Chau. (B,L,D)

DAY 3, TAN CHAU - BORDER CROSSING - PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
Tan Chau is a remote small town on the main Mekong River. After breakfast, transfer to small boats to visit a catfish farm. Onshore, visit a mat-making workshop, and silk-weaving workshop. After a trishaw ride back to the pier, return to the ship for lunch and cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities. In the evening, cruise up the broad Mekong River, mooring mid-stream just outside of Phnom Penh. (B,L,D)

DAY 4, PHNOM PENH
Early morning, the ship cruises into spectacular Phnom Penh and docks at the passenger port terminal. A morning tour explores the highlights of Cambodia's capital city, famous for its French colonial architecture, busy cafes, vibrant nightlife and renovated river "corniche." Visit the Royal Palace and the magnificent Silver Pagoda. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. After lunch onboard, another excursion leads to the infamous Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge's grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention center (Genocide Museum) situated in the suburbs of the city. An overnight on the waterfront provides an opportunity to dine in one of many nearby restaurants, and experience Phnom Penh's vibrant nightlife. (B,L,D)

DAY 5, PHNOM PENH - KAMPONG CHAM
Departing in the morning from Phnom Penh, the ship stops at the quaint Chong Koh silk weaving village for a morning walk. Cruise past the Mekong's timeless villages and observe life on the river. In the afternoon, stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit the Monastery and school. Explore this peaceful community at your leisure. That evening, the ship anchors mid-stream at Kampong Cham. (B,L,D)

DAY 6, KAMPONG CHAM
In the morning, journey upriver to the hilltop pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Then, sail back downstream over lunch to explore the Kampong Cham Area. Travel by motorcoach to the 12th-century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor, which has been "fused" with a modern Wat. Continue by motorcoach to the Eco-village of Cheung Kok, observing numerous pagodas and shrines on the hilltops. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, KAMPONG CHHNANG
Briefly touch the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh in the early morning to change pilots, then sail the Tonle Sap River which connects Tonle Sap Lake with the Mekong and Bassac Rivers that merge at Phnom Penh. The river journey in this area is a trip highlight. Temples abound along the river banks at Kampong Chhnang, a busy rural port town with bustling markets. After the ship moors mid-stream, take a motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Enjoy a stunning variety of bird life, and observe numerous great fish traps, some over a half-mile long. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, TONLE SAP LAKE - SIEM REAP
Your cruise comes to an end as you disembark at Tonle Sap Lake - the great lake that dominates Cambodia and is known for its profuse bird life and tranquil fishing villages. The lake virtually disappears during dry season, draining into the Mekong River. (B)

PLEASE NOTE: Disembarkation Day - During low water season, disembark the ship at Preak Kdam, a small village on the Tonle Sap River, and transfer via motorcoach to Siem Reap.

Day 4, Phnom Penh - No bare shoulders or shorts for ladies during the Royal Palace visit.