If you are looking for some unique ideas for your Cambodia vacations, you may want to consider taking river cruises instead of charting a bus or taking a cab. The Mekong river runs through the countries of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand and is still one of the major commercial river in this Indo-China continent of Asia.

Some interesting river cruise itineraries for your Cambodia vacations are suggested here. As you are already visiting the Indo-China continent, you may want to consider starting your journey in Saigon, Vietnam. Start with your journey from Saigon on Day 1. Transfer by coach to Delta Port of My Tho. Have lunch on board of cruise as you quickly cruise and moor near Cai Be. You can explore the evergreen islands at the former mandarin’s residence An Kiet house.

The surviving family members of An Kiet will refresh you with tea as you explore in their fruit orchards. This is just the beginning of your eventual river cruise for your vacation in Cambodia. You will also get to see boat yards, brick works and traditional roofers on the way back at Dong Hoa Hiep Island. You will spend your night at the moor midstream of Cai Bei.

Day 2 of your journey to Cambodia starts with a morning junk trip around Cai Bei. Cai Bei is famous for some of its floating market. You can then go ashore and visit the French Gothic Cathedral and enjoy the colourful port area that is full of colonial-style buildings. Pamper yourself with local coconut candy and visit the many delightful flower gardens. Spend the remaining of the day cruising through the Mekong Delta. Spend the night mooring at Chau Doc as you dream about your upcoming Cambodia vacation in another two days’ time.

At Chau Doc on the third day of your journey to Cambodia, you travel from the main Mekong channel at Tan Chau by local ferry boats to the canals and backwaters. You then transfer to small boats to visit a Cham tribal village. There is also a trip to cat fish farm. At this wonderful town, try the trishaw ride admiring the fine French-colonial buildings amidst the bustling market. Spend the evening cruising up the broad Mekong channel. This part of the Mekong channel is an international shipping route and as you prepare to moor overnight just downstream from Phnom Penh, you could already see some glittering lights of Cambodia – your final vacation destination.

It is now Day 4 of your vacation, and you have finally arrived at Cambodia. Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and the city is still full of French charm that reflects its rich history. All the colonial architecture provides an attractive backdrop for lively cafes that is full of life.

There are many impressive temples (called Wats) in Phnom Penh. These include the Wat Ounalom, the Wat Phnom and the Wat Lang Ka that has just been repainted. One of the few places that preserve Cambodian artefacts is the Silver Pagoda. Interestingly, it was preserved by the Khmer Rouge and embodies the richness of the Khmer cultures.

While you are in the city of Phnom Penh, you should not miss the National Museum. The National Museum in Phnom Penh houses many outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. Take an afternoon excursions to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge detention centre called S21 to revisit the past of the Cambodia history. Phnom Penh has a lively night life, and if you are already getting bored with your dinner on cruise, you may want to dine ashore tonight.

On Day 5 of your river cruise Cambodia vacation itinerary, you depart from Phnom Penh and stop at a small silk weaving village called Chong Koh. Take your morning walk at leisure here. Then board the cruise as you cruise along the Mekong river enjoying the view of Cambodian villages and the extensive fishing activities forming part of a Cambodian villager’s everyday life.

You will be mesmerised by the scenery here as you observe the distance forested hill rise. At this part of your Cambodia river cruise vacation, time seems to have stood still. There are no bustling cities. There is only the real Cambodian life.

In the afternoon, you stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit some wats and schools. Explore the friendly community. This more or less completes Day 5 of your Cambodia river cruise vacations.

You start your journey early on Day 6. This day, you shall cover the Kampong Cham area, an area that is quickly becoming one of the top tourist destination in Cambodia. You visit the hilltop pre-Ankorian temple of Wat Hanchey. The Wat Hanchey of Cambodia was constructed in the 8th century, and is a characteristic of the Chenla Empire’s architectures.

Over lunch, you sail back to explore more areas of Kampong Cham. Here, you will have to unboard as you travel by bus to one of the 12th century Angkorian temple, the Wat Nokor. This temple is one of the most colourful temple and is unique because of its modern setting amidst ruins of ancient temples.

You then continue your journey to the twin holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei. This is the Man and Woman Hill. There are many legends on the origins of these hills and many pagodas and shrines were built on the hilltops.

On Day 7 of your Cambodia vacation journey, you have returned to Phnom Penh before you start your cruise along the Tonle River. Tonle River is a river that connects the Tonle Lake with the Mekong and the Bassac Rivers that meets in Phnom Penh. This part of the river cruise is the highlight of your Cambodia vacation.

The Tonle River river cruise will take you through jungle and as the river narrows, you can almost reach and touch the Cambodians and their houses along the river banks. There are also many temples along the entire river banks.

The river narrows at Kampong Chhaanan and from here you can view the rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. Kampong Chhaanan is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. You take a motor boat excursion to the lake side wetlands that form the mouth of the Tonle River. There are many birds to be watched here and you will also discover some interesting varieties of fish traps, including some that is half a kilometre long.

On Day 8, you have reached the last day of your memorable Cambodia river cruise vacation. On this day, you visit Tonle Sap, which is a great lake that dominates Cambodia and is over 150km in length. Bird lives are plenty here and when you have reached the middle of the lake, you can’t even see the shore.

The Tonle Lake of Cambodia is always tranquil with many floating fishing villages. From here, you may want to transfer back to Phnom Penh or may want to continue your journey to Siem Reap, another major tourist destination in Cambodia.