We are going back.
We sailed with AmaWaterways from Vietnam to Cambodia back in 2018, and it was unlike any cruise we’d ever taken. The ship was small and intimate, the tours were in little groups, and we quickly got to know our fellow travelers and our guide. But what really changed us was the experience itself.
Every excursion felt like its own adventure — even getting there was part of the fun. One day we’d ride in a rickshaw, another day in a trishaw or even an ox cart. We were invited into the culture in such authentic ways: being blessed by monks in a temple, laughing with schoolchildren as they “tried” to teach us Vietnamese, or sampling snake wine just as the kings once did.
And all of this happened while traveling in absolute comfort with AmaWaterways — exquisite dining, luxury cabins with balconies, and a crew that treated us like family.
A cruise filled with endless memories.
From top left, clockwise, our tour on a trishaw, memory bands from the killing fields, randomly catching a young monk cooling off, Dee teaching the elementary kids how to do the Hawaii sign on her shirt that they were fascianted with, the long, but beautiful walk up to the monastery, (there is an alternative route), riding in an ox cart, a friendly neighbor that was on his way to work past us and being blessed by Buddhist monks. This is only a sampling of what we experienced but definitely some of the highlights.
Join our Cruise Night - Oct 8th @ 6:30pm
Come learn about Vietnam and Cambodia at our After Hours at the LoveDees Cruise Lounge. We will be hosting a get together to discuss the cruise, Ama Waterways and answering any questions you may have about this incredible journey.
RSVP Here and we hope to see you there.
The Itinerary
Day 1
Siem Reap - Kampong Cham, Cambodia - Embarkation
Join fellow guests for an evening Welcome Dinner
Day 2
Angkor Ban - Oknhatey - Take a walking tour to Angkor Ban, one of the few villages in Cambodia that was not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 70s. The people still live in their traditional wooden abodes maintaing they traditions and cultures. Later, the ship sails to Oknhatey (Silk Island) known for its silk weaving. While here, one of our favorite times we had, visiting an elementary school and attempt to learn something from their culture. Then later observe a traditional weaving, an art carried down for centuries.
Day 3
Phnom Penh - The capital of Cambodia, this mornings excursion take you to the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. Alternatively, shop the treasures at a bustling, yellow-colored Central Market after you visit the Royal Palace. Later that afternoon, visit the infamous Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center. Later that evening on the ship, enjoy some tradition folk dancing.
Day 4
Phnom Penh - Oudoing - Visit a Buddhist temple and be treated to memorable Buddhist Blessing Ceremony. Later in the day, get in your own tuk tuk and take a ride to the cities French Colonial architechture.
Day 5
Border Crossing - Tan Chau, Vietnam - Spend the day cruising the Mekong River as you cross into Vietnam.
Day 6
Tan Chau - is a small unspoiled river town. Have a seat in your trishaw and take a ride around town, visiting the wild and rattan markets or take one of the alternate tours of the Evergreen Island, or visit the Tra Su Forest. Later in the day we will cruise to Sa Dec.
Day 7
Sa Dec - Cai Be - Visit a fascinating local market and colorful CaoDai temple. Visit a candy and rice paper making workshop or choose a walking tour to the historic Kiet Old House. Cap off the day with a festive Farewell dinner. Make sure you try the snake wine.
Day 8
Disembark
The Ama Dara - Your Home on the Mekong River
Your home for the week is the elegant Ama Dara. The ship was built to glide along the Mekong River. Intimate in size with just 124 guests, it feels like a boutique hotel more than a ship. Each stateroom features a full balcony and French balcony. The rooms are spacious by cruise line standards and the bathrooms are very comfortable.
The dining is full service at each meal and offers both traditional food for the area as well as traditional American fare. The Pho, served at each meal, is unforgetable. Have a specific request, if it is possible, they will make it happen. The personalized service is beyond amazing.
The lounge and sundeck are your areas to relax after a busy day. And they will be busy. There is so much to do and see, you need this moment of relaxation to re-energize and swap stories about the day. You will all have them.
The Ama Dara
Sundeck
Sundeck Pool
The Lounge
Evening Entertainment
Dining Room
The Amazing Crew
Fitness Room
Cat A,B,C Stateroom
Cat A,B,C Bathroom
Cat E,B,C Floorplan
Suite
Suite Bathroom
Why Travel by Cruise
Many of our clients, and even some of our closest friends, love to step off a plane and just wander. They thrive on discovery, on getting lost, on stumbling into the unexpected. And that’s wonderful, at times, but not in Vietnam. That is not for me. The idea of navigating new cities, unfamiliar languages, and cultural differences on my own felt intimidating. That’s exactly why traveling with AmaWaterways turned out to be such a gift. From the moment we boarded, the stress of “figuring it all out” was just gone. I could relax, soak in every moment, and trust that every detail, from transportation to excursions, was handled. AmaWaterways knew where to take us, what experiences mattered most, and even opened doors we never could have found on our own.
One of the things I loved most was the guides. In each country, we had the same guide every day, which meant we really got to know them — and they got to know us. These weren’t just scripted tours; they were locals proudly showing us their home. They shared stories, history, even little personal moments that made the culture come alive in a way no book or website ever could.
And every day, after exploring villages, markets, temples, or floating down little side canals, we came back to the comfort of the ship. It felt like home base — English-speaking staff, incredible dining (I still dream about the pho they served daily), and cozy lounges where we’d sip wine, watch the Mekong drift by, and swap stories about the day’s adventures. It was the perfect balance: adventure out in the world, then peace and comfort waiting for us back onboard.
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