MV Jayavarman

New luxury riverboat to launch on Mekong in 2009

Heralding what is described as a new era for first-class cruise travel in Indochina, one of the most luxurious boutique cruise vessels ever seen in the region will begin operations by mid 2009 

 the MV Jayavarman.

Operated by Ho Chi Minh-based Heritage Lines and part of a project estimated in excess of USD4 million, the 58-metre deluxe river boat has been conceived in what the company describes as a fusion of traditional eastern shipbuilding craft and avant-garde French colonial design overlayed with state of the art technology.

The MV Jayavarman will make its maiden voyage sailing the Mekong River from Ho Chi Minh via Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the jump off point for Angkor Wat, in mid-June 2009.

Easily boasting the most spacious cabins of any vessel currently plying the Mekong, each of the MV Jayavarman’s 27 staterooms comes complete with private balcony.

Click here for more ship details

Following her maiden voyage MV Jayavarman will commence operation of a medley of Mekong Delta cruise itineraries structured over two, three, four, five and eight days.

These include an eight-day ‘The lost civilization’ itinerary from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, a five day ‘Serenity cruise’ linking Phnom Penh with Siem Reap and a four-day ‘Pearl of the Orient’ program offering passage between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh.

All of the itineraries have been created to offer MV Jayavarman’s passengers with an extraordinary opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the delta’s unique environment with several ‘hands-on’ cultural activities.

These include visits to floating markets, bicycle rides to remote villages and fishing communities and getting involved with local humanitarian projects. Passengers can even attend a cooking school run by a Vietnamese family.

This cruise is unique in that our guests are given the chance of experience both pure luxury on-board as well as chance to be a part of the local culture. “It is the experience and interaction with locals that will be unforgettable.”

MV Jayavarman is the first of two vessels the company plans to have operating between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap by 2010.

See brochure for program dates and ship design