7-night Mekong Discovery Southbound Cruise

September 24, 2026

Avalon Waterways: Avalon Saigon℠

Phnom Penh/Ho Chi Minh City

Vacation Offer ID 1563203

Reference this number when contacting our travel specialist.

From $3,929

Request a Quote View Details

Cruise Inclusions

Choice of complimentary sightseeing excursions in every port – choose between Classic, Active or Discovery options
Whisper headsets for all excursions
Digital Signage ship-wide with daily agenda, menus, key details
Unlimited free Wi-Fi
Visits to UNESCO Sites
Enrichment lectures & local entertainment, dance floor and nightly song lists
Meals with regional specialties, including local wine
Sky Deck grill for lunch – weather permitting
Welcome Dinner & Farewell Dinner
Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner – sparkling wine with breakfast
24-hour specialty coffees, teas & water filling station, including flavored waters
24-hour Club Lounge (includes coffee machine), games, books, TVs, great views!
Walking track & sky deck
Fitness room with machines and free weights
Adventure Host and Adventure center (maps, binoculars, walking sticks, etc)
Afternoon tea (coffee, tea, sandwiches and cookies)
16 bikes on board
Movie Night
Elevator between stateroom decks
24-hour guest services
All port taxes & fees
Airport transfers on embarkation/disembarkation day with Avalon Air purchase
No single use plastics

YOUR STATEROOM INCLUDES:

River-view stateroom Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; Comfort Collection bedding, including choice of pillow and firmness (Panorama Suites 200 sq feet)
Desk area with chair
Spacious closets and under bed storage
Panorama Suites include Wall-to-wall window with Open-Air Balcony
Panorama Suites include loveseat and table with chair seating area
Panorama Suites include extra large bathroom and spacious glass enclosed shower
Flat-screen LCD TV with complimentary Movies On Demand
110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
Mini Bar; security safe; hair dryer
L’Occitane® toiletries; plush robes & slippers in every stateroom
Stateroom steward & multiple times daily housekeeping

Destination Guide
Suggested Shore Excursions

Destination

Arrival

Departure

Phnom Penh

09/24/2026

Wat Hanchey

09/25/2026

Angkor Ban

09/25/2026

Kampong Tralach-Oudong

09/26/2026

Phnom Penh

09/26/2026

Phnom Penh

09/27/2026

Chau Doc

09/28/2026

Long Khanh Island

09/29/2026

Cu Lao Gien

09/29/2026

Vinh Long

09/30/2026

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights:

Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
Visit Reunification Palace
Stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
Visit Jade Emperor Pagoda
Shopping at the Central Ben Thanh Market

Tour Duration: 10 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
Service of English Speaking Local Guides.
Ports permit arranged
Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
One 0.5 litre of bottled water and cold towel in vehicle during sightseeing
Vietnam Government tax and services charge

Not Included:

All international and domestic air tickets
Accommodation
Vietnamese visa arrival
Other meals than those specified
Travel insurance
Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants

Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights:

Visit Reunification Palace
Photo stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
Visit History Museum & Jade Emperor Pagoda
Visit China Town & Cao Dai Temple en-route
Shopping at the Central Ben Thanh Market

Tour Duration: 10 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
Service of English-speaking local guides
Ports permit arranged
Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
One 0.5 litre bottled water and cold towel in the vehicle during sightseeing
Vietnam Government tax and services charge

Not Included:

All international and domestic air tickets
Accommodation
Vietnamese visa on arrival
Other meals than those specified.
Travel Insurance.
Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants, etc.

Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights:

Get on a motorized sampan to experience the life of local people, visit local brickwork, local fruit farms, family workshops Photo stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
Take rowing-boat along water palm creek and cruise back to the Pier
If time permits, have a quick visit of Sai Gon or shopping at Ben Thanh Market

Tour Duration: 10 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
Service of English-speaking local guides
Private boat cruise on Mekong River
Ports permit arranged
Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
One 0.5 litre of bottled water and cold towel in the vehicle during sightseeing
Vietnam Government tax and services charge

Not Included:

All international and domestic air tickets
Accommodation
Vietnamese visa on arrival
Other meals than those specified.
Travel insurance
Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants, etc.

Saigon Port

Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.

Limited area: Ho Chi Minh City
Duration: Within 4 hours OR within 8 hours

Meals: None

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide · Cold towels and water on car · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation with daily breakfast · Entrance fees · All meals · All flights · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Full Day Saigon City Tour (8 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city centre for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. Appreciate the restored exteriors of the Saigon Opera House and the elegant City Hall (the former Hotel de Ville), two of Saigon’s most stunning colonial monuments. If time permits, we will visit the iconic Ben Thanh Market, one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular wholesale market for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and street food.

Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge Jr., who supported the overthrowing of the South Vietnamese Government. Enjoy a cold drink while watching a 10min documentary film about Saigon during that time.

After lunch on your own, we then drive to Saigon’s Chinatown to visit the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese community in the early 19th century to honour the Goddess of the Sea. Take time to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local custom. Continue your visit to FITO, the first museum of traditional medicine in Vietnam, offering insight into the history and application of traditional medicine in everyday life before taking the scenic route through the city back to the ship.

NOTES:
·       There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
·       Outside visit only due the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until further notice
·       Tour duration: 08 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: History of Architecture with History Researcher (4 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city center for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Meet with a local cultural and history researcher at your hotel lobby and take a short trip to local coffee shop for an overview of the impressive history of the city once known as “The Pearl of the Orient”. Then take a step back in time to visit several of the very best examples of “storytelling” architecture. Start at Jade pagoda established in the early 1900s to get a glimpse of ancient history when a group of Chinese fled the new regime to Saigon around the end of 17th century under the reign of Lord Nguyen.

Then wind your way to Archbishop's Palace – with a prayer house more than two hundred-years old (outside visit) as the home for the first French Catholic missionary. Gain an overview about the first approach of the French during the Cochinchina period in the early 18th century. Stroll around the University of Social Sciences & Humanities which used to be the 11th infantry regiment colonial military barracks for an insight into French campaigns against Viet Minh at the time. Your stop will be at the former residence of the US Ambassador, Henry C. Lodge in the 1960s for a drink and watch 10-min movie about Saigon back in the day.

NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 04 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: Retracing the Past (5 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Commence with a visit of the shrine outside of the US Consulate then continue to the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters evacuated the remaining US citizens in 1975. Head to the rooftop café of the Rex hotel, a familiar landmark for Americans during the Vietnam War. Sit down for a drink, enjoy the view and this piece of history which your guide will help to explain. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a guided tour of the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and residence of the presidents. Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge, who conducted a mission to overthrow the South Vietnamese Government. Watch a 10 minutes documentary film about Saigon during that time while enjoying a cold drink. Then drive to a secret weapon chamber which VC used as a place to hide and store weapons during Vietnam War. Then weave through tiny back alleys and meet and chat with the locals who are living in tiny houses. Head to a historic venue for a late lunch of “pho” (noodle soup). The house number 07 on Ly Chinh Thang Street (former Yen Do street) is now known as Pho Binh restaurant which used to be the headquarters of Viet Cong Commanders where they gathered to plan for the 1968 Tet Offensive. Take a walk upstairs to learn more about the history through the family’s photo collection. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.

NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 05 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: Culinary Experience at Former Ambassador's Residence (4 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive 20 minutes to Ben Thanh market to buy all the fresh ingredients before continuing an historic Ambassador's home for a private hands-on cooking demonstration. The American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s, Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, carried a mission of overthrowing the southern government at that time. When Lodge arrived in Saigon, an old villa in District 3 was converted into the Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Lodge lived in this home between1960-1965 and the architecture is a mix of Vietnamese, French and American. Today it remains a private residence owned by Trails of Indochina and it has been fully restored to its former glory. The guide will provide an orientation tour of the house while the chef prepares the ingredients. Learn typical Southern style dishes throughout the morning. The chef will show you how to serve each dish before the meal, and you will need to master the chopsticks before you can savor your own culinary creations in the old world ambiance of the villa.

After lunch, transfer back to your ship.

Note: There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.

Meal: Lunch

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Lunch · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

10/01/2026

The Avalon Saigon is designed to venture easily into areas where other cruise ships cannot while measuring as wide and long as ships carrying twice the number of the just 36 guests. You'll experience exquisite service with a relaxed luxury that's come to encompass the Avalon difference, delivering all the modern features you expect from Avalon Waterways.

Ship Statistics

Built Year: 2018
Ship Length: 195
Number of Crew: 24
Dining / Restaurants: 1
Spa: Yes

Bars / Lounges: 3
Fitness Center: Yes
Number of Suites: 18
Kids Friendly: No

Suite

Panorama Suite (B) $3,929

Category: B
Mekong Deck

Size: 245 sq.ft. Features: Comfort Collection BedsSM, featuring premium mattress covers. Soft & firm pillows. Nightly turn-down service. 14' Wall-to-Wall Panoramic window measuring that opens to create a large Open-Air Balcony®. Spacious closets with shelves for ample storage. Alarm clock. Bathrobes & slippers. In-room safe. Egyptian super-combed cotton linens, blankets & European-style duvets. Choice of bed configuration (two twins or one king). Bedside tables with reading lamps. Large private bathroom featuring full shower with glass door, hairdryer, and premium bath amenities. Easy under-bed luggage storage. Writing desk/vanity with mirror & comfortable chair. Complimentary bottled water. In-house telephone.

Panorama Suite (A) $4,409

Category: A
Tonle Deck

"Starting at" or "From" price is per person (double occupancy) and includes cruise taxes and port charges, but does not include airfare to or from your vacation. Some cruise/tour packages require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Avalon Waterways) in which case intra-vacation air and taxes are included in the price shown. Gratuities for Local Guides & drivers are included (excludes extensions which are to be paid locally).

Important Notes

Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required for Avalon Waterways to reserve space for you.
The hotels and accommodations listed are provisional and subject to change and may be substituted with properties of similar standard. Hotels are confirmed approximately 30 days prior to departure and can be found in your travel documents, but are not guaranteed until check-in.
The following charges are not included in the land/cruise vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; intra-vacation air, unless specified in the itinerary; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees, including the September 11th Security fee up to $11.20 per person, passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $4.10 per segment, and U.S. and international arrival and departure and other government-imposed added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Avalon menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature.
Additional airline-imposed fees for seat assignments may apply and are not included in your total package cost. Please refer to carrier websites for seat assignment policies and applicable pricing.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.