TravelTalk 565: March on the Mekong

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River Cruising Our first stop is Cai Be, a traditional trading port where we cruise along the river amongst the locals in our traditional sampans with padded seats and shaded awnings. Fish, vegetables, rice and household items adorn the merchant boats, each advertising their trade with an item stuck to a pole and thrust in the air.

On this early part of the trip, we are guided ashore to discover the many traditional industries such as rice paper making, weaving, fish farming and even brick making that have been carried on here for centuries.

We cross the border into Cambodia at Chau Doc, a thriving market town with tiny alleyways lined with everything from meat and fish chopped on the spot to T-shirts and plastic pots.

august 2011

A march on the Mekong T r av e lta l k

36

RODERICK EIME embarks on a cruise along Southeast Asia’s mighty ‘Mother of Water’ from Vietnam to Cambodia.

The Mekong is the world’s tenth longest river and the seventh longest in Asia, running from the Tibetan Plateau through China’s Yunnan province, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It’s called ‘Mae Nam Khong’ in the Lao-Thai language – where all great rivers are considered ‘mother rivers’ indicated by the prefix ‘mae’, meaning ‘mother’, and ‘nam’ for water. In the Mekong’s case, Mae Nam Khong means Khong - Mother of Water.

In the last decade the fleet of river vessels plying this major waterway has expanded exponentially in line with tourism numbers.

For my Mekong expedition, I’m aboard the 54-berth RV Jayavarman, a name derived from the dynasty of famous Khmer rulers, and my journey begins in the Mekong Delta port of My Tho, just outside Saigon.

Our seven-night exploration travels upstream through the many convoluted tributaries of the famous delta, ending up in the main stream via stops at Cai Be, Binh Thanh Island, Chau Doc and Xin Chao. Each morning begins with Tai Chi classes, and meals consist of delicately prepared local favourites like fish and rice, as well as western alternatives.

In Cambodia, the pace of life slows considerably and a day is spent visiting the sights in Phnom Penh, with time for a couple of mandatory Angkor Lagers in the iconic Foreign Correspondents Club before retiring for the day. The next few days are spent alternating between the Mekong and its sibling, the Tonle Sap, before we reach our final destination at Siem Reap.

There is an important thing to know about travel here in the low-water season; as the Tonle Sap doesn’t yet have enough water to allow passage into the big lake we complete the final leg by bus, taking in a few interesting spots along the way including the truck stop that serves fried cricket, spider and cockroaches. Travellers wanting to cruise all the way to Siem Reap will need to book ‘high-water’ season, and pay a little extra.

Travel Indochina offers a range of voyages on board the RV Jayavarman ranging from three to 19 days. Prices for the 8-day ‘Lost Civilisation’ voyage from My Tho to Siem Reap (and vice versa) start from $2271 twin-share for a superior cabin (low season) with departures weekly. www.travelindochina.com.au Image courtesy Roderick Eime.

Exclusive Luxury Asia River Cruising CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE IN STYLE ON BOARD THE MEKONG’S LATEST AND MOST EXCLUSIVE CRUISER - THE JAHAN.

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up t per p o $300 erso Book n b y 31

Aug

Cambodia & Vietnam - 12 days from $5,055 pp twin, inc. discount Starts: Siem Reap Ends: Saigon Includes: 7 nights accommodation in a private Superior cabin with balcony on board The Jahan, 2 nights Hotel De La Paix - Siem Reap, 2 nights The Caravelle - Saigon, all cruise excursions including entrance fees, Join-in touring in Saigon and Angkor including entrance fees, English-speaking guides, breakfast and dinner daily (plus 7 lunches on cruise), arrival and departure transfers, tips, porterage and port charges.

Departing: 29 December 2011.

For more information or to order your brochure contact the Asia experts on 1300 362 777, visit agents booking engine ticconnect.com.au