AmaWaterways – Riches Of The Mekong 

Our first destination was Angkor Ban, one of the few villages not destroyed during the Khmer Rouge era. We embarked on an active walking tour through the village, passing by monasteries and traditional stilted houses, some of which are over 100 years old. One welcoming local even invited us into her home, giving us a glimpse of authentic rural Cambodian life.

Back onboard, the captain set sail for our next stop. During the leisurely few hours from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, we had lunch and you could participate in various activities. These included a resistance band class, a stretching session, a presentation by our cruise guide on “Cambodia’s Geography and Life Along the Mekong,” or simply relaxing. 

In the afternoon, we docked at Oknhatey village for our second excursion of the day. We visited a local elementary school, where we had the opportunity to sit with the children during their English lessons. They asked us simple questions like “What is your name?”, “What is your job?”, and “How old are you?”. Initially, I was hesitant about this experience, but it quickly became one of the highlights of the trip. Seeing the children’s faces light up as we interacted with them was heartwarming. As we left, a few girls we sat with even said, “Bye, love you,” which was incredibly touching. This school has grown thanks to the generous donations from AmaWaterways and its guests. We brought school supplies to donate, and for those who forgot, the onboard gift shop even sold colouring books—such a thoughtful gesture by the cruise line.

After the school visit, we headed to the Silk Village. Since we chose the active tour, we walked, while others took a Tuk Tuk. A short walk brought us to Silk Island, where we learned about the intricate silk-weaving process. Cambodia is the only place in the world that produces golden silk, thanks to its unique climate, which is ideal for the golden caterpillar to thrive. We saw local women at work, creating beautiful silk fabrics with intricate designs.

In true tropical fashion, the sky opened up, and a downpour began. We opted for a Tuk Tuk ride back to the ship, where we arrived around 5:30 pm—just in time to freshen up before a briefing with our cruise manager, AK, in the Saigon Lounge about the next two days of excursions.

After another delightful dinner, the evening’s entertainment was a music quiz. Without giving too much away, I can say it became very competitive, and we were, of course, on the winning team! We celebrated with a bottle of bubbles, courtesy of our victory, before heading to bed, excited for the adventures ahead.

Today’s destination was Phnom Penh, the vibrant capital of Cambodia. We began with a visit to the Royal Palace, where we learned an interesting fact—the King of Cambodia, who is 71 years old, remains unmarried, as he is a practising Buddhist who follows the path of the monks. When his reign ends, a successor will be chosen from three royal dynasties. Next, we visited the Silver Pagoda, named for its floor, which is covered in five tonnes of gleaming silver!

Tour A continued to the National Museum, while as part of Tour B, we opted for the Central Market. This iconic market is housed under a 26-metre-high dome and branches out into hundreds of stalls, selling everything from jewellery to designer goods. Thankfully, I kept my luggage allowance in mind and resisted the temptation to buy too much!

Back on board, it was time for lunch, and we had a couple of hours to relax. One thing you quickly learn on this trip is how hot and humid it can get during excursions. Even though the coaches are air-conditioned, once you step outside, the 35-degree heat and humidity hit hard, so we found ourselves changing outfits three times a day—morning excursion, afternoon outing, and evening attire!

In the afternoon, we explored a darker chapter of Cambodia’s history with visits to the Khmer Rouge’s S-21 Detention Center and the Killing Fields. Despite being warned that this would be a sobering experience, I was unprepared for just how deeply it would affect me.

S-21 was once a school, but under the Khmer Rouge regime, it was converted into a prison where thousands of Cambodians were tortured and murdered under Pol Pot’s orders. Of the thousands imprisoned here, only seven survived. We had the humbling opportunity to meet one of these survivors, who bravely shared his harrowing story with us. From there, we visited one of the many Killing Fields, where an estimated 17,000 Cambodians were executed. What was particularly haunting was that the afternoon rain had caused the mass graves to flood, bringing clothing to the surface—a chilling reminder of the horrors that took place. The staff told us they frequently find clothing and bones, which was deeply unsettling. We observed a moment of silence before departing, and the sombre mood lingered on our return to the ship.

This morning, we had the privilege of experiencing a special blessing by monks at the oldest monastery in Cambodia, which is over 100 years old and continues to serve as a home and educational centre for monks today. We sat on the floor during the ceremony, which lasted about five minutes, as the monks sprinkled jasmine flowers over the group—symbolising good fortune, enlightenment, and a cleansing of the mind and soul.

As part of the active group, we headed straight from the blessing to Oudong Hill, where we climbed 409 steps to reach the summit. The panoramic views of Oudong below were breathtaking, and we spent about 20 minutes at the top, taking it all in. Afterward, we enjoyed a charming, authentic experience, an oxcart ride along the riverside of Kampong Tralach.

Following a couple of hours of rest back onboard, we set out for the afternoon’s adventure—a Tuk Tuk tour of Phnom Penh. We stopped by notable landmarks like Monivong Boulevard, the Independence Monument, and the Sihanouk Statue, soaking in the bustling energy of the city.

That evening, we had our first chance to explore Phnom Penh on our own. Our Tuk Tuk driver offered to stay with us for the night for just $20, which was an incredible deal. With over 40,000 drivers in the city, securing a longer job is more reliable for them than waiting for multiple shorter rides, so he was happy to accommodate us for the evening.

Our first stop was the Rosewood Hotel, where we headed up to the 37th floor to the Sora rooftop bar for sunset views. The contrast in architecture in this city compared to previous locations we had visited earlier in the trip was worlds apart. After enjoying a few happy hour cocktails with a spectacular view, we were ready for dinner.

In true millennial fashion, we had researched our dinner spot on TikTok and found a highly recommended gem called “David’s Noodle Restaurant.” It exceeded all expectations.

Savouring our last few hours in Cambodia, we returned to the ship with our patient and gracious Tuk Tuk driver, feeling grateful for such a memorable day.

Today was a relaxing “day on the river” as we made our way toward the Vietnam border. At 8:30 am, we headed to the sun deck to witness the unique spot where three rivers converge just outside Phnom Penh. After a leisurely breakfast, we spent some time in the gym and caught up on a bit of real work (not the most exciting part of the trip but it keeps the boss happy!). Meanwhile, other guests enjoyed various onboard activities, like a game of bingo with fun prizes, while the wellness host offered several fitness classes including Qigong and Taichi movements throughout the day.

In the afternoon, the cruise manager gave an informative presentation titled “General Introduction to Vietnam.” One aspect I truly appreciated about this ship was that nearly all the crew members were from either Cambodia or Vietnam. Even when we weren’t exploring on land, we still had an authentic experience, enriched by the knowledge of people who were raised in these countries.

After lunch, a Vietnamese tea ceremony took place in the lounge, followed by a traditional cooking class led by the chefs. I have to admit, I was expecting a dramatic border crossing in the middle of the river, but it turned out to be much simpler. We anchored for a few hours, and before we knew it, we were sailing again. Once we entered Vietnamese waters, we were able to collect our passports from reception.

That evening, we enjoyed a traditional Vietnamese dinner and reviewed the details for the upcoming excursions. The night’s entertainment was a quiz show, make sure you pay attention throughout your daily excursions as the questions were all related to what we had seen and learnt so far. 

Our first stop in Vietnam was the charming Delta town of Tan Chau. Unlike in Cambodia, where we docked using a gangplank, here we anchored in the middle of the river and took a tender boat to reach the town. Once ashore, we hopped onto traditional Trishaws, which whisked us around the city to visit a family-run silk weaving workshop. We learned about the intricate colour-dying process and picked up some beautiful souvenirs before heading back on our Trishaws to visit a rattan mat weaving workshop.

From there, the tender boat took us through the smaller, picturesque canals of the Mekong to Evergreen Island. This island is home to only about 1,000 residents, who make their living farming fruits and vegetables. A local man kindly welcomed us into his home and shared what life is like on Evergreen Island, giving us a glimpse into the rural lifestyle. After the visit, we returned to the ship, and the captain set sail deeper into Vietnam.

Back onboard, after lunch, there were a variety of activities to enjoy, including an ice cream party. While the ice cream was abundant, the “party” vibe was a bit lacking (sorry, Ama!). In the afternoon, there was a presentation in the lounge on exotic fruits, complete with tasting opportunities.

Before dinner, the cruise manager gave a briefing on the next day’s excursions and disembarkation procedures for the following day. The evening entertainment was my favourite of the entire trip—”Ama Dara’s Got Talent.” Without giving away too much, let’s just say there were some surprising and hilarious performances that had everyone laughing well into the night. Not one to miss. 

Our morning excursion took us to the town of Sa Dec. We boarded the tender boat ashore for a guided walking tour, where we explored the bustling local market—home to some interesting and questionable delicacies! Afterwards, we had the option to visit “The Lover’s House,” the setting of a Vietnamese love story reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet (minus the tragic ending). However, we chose to visit the Cao Dai Temple instead. This temple is the heart of Caodaism, a fascinating religion unique to southern Vietnam that blends elements of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Confucianism.

In the afternoon, we took the tender boat to Cai Be, where we visited a local workshop. Here, we watched demonstrations on how coconut candy, rice paper, and pop-rice are made, and of course, we got to sample everything! There was also an option to visit the historic Kiet House, but after a busy day, we decided to return to the ship for some rest.

Since this was our final night aboard the Ama Dara, we spent some time packing and settling our bills in preparation for tomorrow’s departure. In the evening, we enjoyed a traditional Mekong Delta Folklore performance, followed by a Farewell Cocktail Party. Every crew member, except for a few (someone had to steer the ship, after all!), gathered to say goodbye. Each of them was introduced by name, department, and country of origin, which made the farewell feel extra special. It was a wonderful opportunity to thank not only the crew we interacted with daily but also those working behind the scenes who made our journey so memorable.