Discover Asia On An APT River Cruise

Winding your way past quaint riverside towns and floating markets surrounded by green fields along the Mekong Delta and its adjoining waterways is a great way to discover Asia. APT‘s Southeast Asia cruises offer beautifully furnished private suites, international cuisine and small group excursions on rickshaws and water boats. You can cruise magically through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, discovering hidden gems not seen by land.

A visit to the Mekong Delta cruise is so special because of its unique diversity. See kids riding on water buffalo, rice workers hunched over their fields, flocks of storks at dusk and rowboats on its maze of channels. Home to over 1,000 varieties fish, 20,000 plant species and an array of wildlife, the Mekong Delta is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. It’s Asia’s third largest river; a comma-shaped flatland that is also known as Vietnam’s ‘rice bowl’, producing more than a third of the country’s annual food crop. Here are four countries you can explore on an APT Asian river cruise.

Discover Asia On An APT River Cruise

Otherworldly sights await at Vietnma’s Ha Long Bay
Vietnam
An APT Mekong Delta cruise can take you through the contrasts of beautiful Vietnam, from the hive of activity in its crowded cities,to the relaxed pace of the beautiful countryside. In northern Hanoi, you will find a beautiful blend of French colonial influence, with the modern pace of Asian city life before cruising onward past the spectacular mountains of Sapa and the sparkling Ha Long Bay.

Be transported further south to Saigon, where you will find a mix of soaring skyscrapers with French architecture and the energy of chaotic outdoor markets. Along the way, Australia’s revered chef, Luke Nguyen, can help you discover the culinary heritage of his home country.

See Cambodian life along the Mekong Delta
Travel to Cambodia
Channels carve a lifeline into Cambodia, a country full of history and magnificence. Visit the famous temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and cruise past the beautiful Royal Palace. Located on the riverfrontm the Palace showcases classic Khmer roofs and ornate gilding.

You can experience Cambodia’s lush countryside filled with rice paddies and sugar palms, cruising along the south coast past tropical islands and beach huts.

 Lush landscapes around the Nam Song River, Laos
Travel to Laos
After years of isolation, Laos is now one of the most laid-back Southeast Asian destinations. Enjoy the well-preserved culture, stunning natural environment and friendly people. Life in Laos still revolves around tradition and you can experience riverfront life unchanged over generations. See the historic royal city of Luang Prabang where hundreds of saffron-robed monks move quietly among centuries-old monasteries.

The Mekong opens up at Si Phan Don (meaning literally ‘four thousand islands’). It’s an archipelago of tranquil islands popular with travellers for cycling, swimming, tubing, boat cruises, kayaking, and dolphin spotting.

Cruise into beautiful Bangkok
Thailand
Known as the ‘Land of Smiles’, you’re awarded the opportunity see Thailand’s famous beaches and lush mountain ranges on an APT river cruise. Stop at Bangkok for a spot of shopping in its many malls, or take in its history by visiting the ancient temples.

Heading further north, the landscape changes to dense forests, where you come face to face with hill tribes of and see village life rooted in centuries of tradition. The Mekong Delta and its distributaries are lined with natural beauty and is the perfect waterscape to discover Asia from a different perspective.

Tips for Visiting the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta tours region is the commercial and agricultural lifeblood of Vietnam, and if you want to see a more rural counterpart to the frenetic pace of nearby Ho Chi Minh City, you should definitely plan to visit the Mekong region during your time in Vietnam.

In general, the cheapest and easiest way to explore the region is on an organized tour of the Mekong Delta. Many depart from Ho Chi Minh City with itineraries ranging from two to four days. From your longtail boat, you’ll get the change to visit local villages, shop for fresh produce from markets right on the river and sample some of the cuisine endemic to the region.

Tips for Visiting the Mekong Delta

If you’d rather get away from the beaten tourist track, hire a car, bicycle or motorbike to explore the back country roads at your own pace. Keep in mind that locals in this area won’t speak nearly as much English as they do in Ho Chi Minh City or Vietnam’s other tourist-frequented cities.

Most visitors who come to the Mekong River Delta region stop in Can Tho — the area’s largest city — to see the floating markets. If you’re looking for a beach getaway, continue on to the island of Phu Quoc, where you can rent a budget-friendly bungalow a few meters from a white sand beach.

Whether you choose to visit the region on your own or through an organized tour, here are a few tips for visiting the Mekong Delta:

• MANGO CRUISE
• JAHAN CRUISE
• MEKONG EYES

Don’t go swimming in the river. It’s not very clean and it’s possible to pick up parasites.
Plan ahead. There are a lot of options, and you’ll safe yourself time and money by knowing where you want to go ahead of time.
The dry season, from November to January, is the best time to visit the Mekong Delta.
Pack lightly, and wear clothes that are breathable and dry easily to combat the heat and humidity.

Jasmine crusie Halong bay

Officially open on Dec 18th 2007, the new four star junk set the standard for services and amenities on the Bay. Fitted out in the 1930′s Indochine style, the Halong Jasmine Cruise features 22 spacious cabin, restaurant, lounge and two special Jasmine Suites with their own jacuzzi & balcony for uninterrupted views of the Bay.

Enjoy the intimacy of a small party within the space of Halong Bay cruises’s largest cruise junk. A lengthy 55 meters from bow to stern and measuring an impressive 11 meters wide, Halong Jasmine can accommodate 60 passengers at any one time across four luxurious decks, with an overnight capacity of 48 staying persons. The attention to details and quality of design is apparent in every inch of this newly-built junk, artfully marrying space, rich 1930s Indochina-style wooden décor and exquisite ornamentation throughout its air-conditioned bedrooms, restaurant, bars and communal spaces.

Whether you want to throw a party on the sundeck, enjoy an intimate candle-lit dinner in the Jasmine restaurant, or just find a quiet nook or cranny to relax and unwind, Cruise Halong’s Jasmine junk is the perfect way to enjoy the Bay.

Jasmine crusie Halong bay

JASMINE CRUISE 3D-2N

Day 1: 

Welcome on board of Jasmine crusie Halong bay and set sail through the Bay while lunch is served. Passage into the magical Bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the Bay dotted with Halong Bay junk’s sails, go swimming on a quite beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. Later this afternoon, visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the area for almost three generations. At sunset, go kayaking or simply take a bamboo row-boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board Halong Jasmine, enjoy cocktails while watching the sunset and later, unwind at Jasmine restaurant.

Day 2: 

After breakfast, transfer to your day – trip boat with private crew and cruise to the Bay’s most untouched areas. Enjoy swimming on quiet beaches, visiting water tunnels, fishing villages or kayaking. Lunch served on board by your private chef. Return to the mother boat for the night.

 

Day 3:

 Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the Bay. After breakfast, visit beautiful limestone grotto then back to the boat for a final glimpse of the Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Embarking and end of service.

Note: Kayaking service is included on 2nd day. The itinerary is subject to change upon weather.

3D-2N	High season 2014 (Jan-Apr, Oct-Dec)			Promotion deal 2014 (May-Sept)
CRUISE CABIN	Rate/person	Single Supp	Child (5-12)	Rate/person	Single Supp	Child (5-12)
Premium	$386	$278	$204	$313	$227	$168
Deluxe	$415	$309	$204	$336	$248	$168
Suite	$478	$379	$204	$387	$302	$168

Additional surcharge 25% on 24/12 & 31/12

Note:
– Our price is net, in US dollar, based on the Dbl/Twin sharing and applied for the minimum of 2 persons
– Child 5 – 12 years old will share bed with parents (no extra bed set up).
– Booking of 4 cabins up to private charter, please contact us for more details.

Inclusive of - Welcome drink - Accommodation - All meals per program - All tax & service charge - All entrance & visiting fees - Boat trip as specified program - English speaking guide on board

Exclusive of - Kayaking (optional) - Drinks, tips - Travel insurance - Other personal expenses - Transfer round trip (Pls see our transfer)

Jasmine cruise Restaurant: The elegant surrounds of Jasmine’s restaurant is the setting for delectable continental-style breakfasts, informal leisurely lunches, and lavish dinners served with highest attention to detail, presentation and service. The Jasmine menu features a range of international dishes and Vietnamese cuisine from all over the country, teamed with an irresistible array of fine wines.

Read morre: http://www.halongjunkcruise.com/luxury-cruises/jasmine-cruise/