Uniworld Timeless Wonders of Vietnam & Cambodia Cruise: Embarkation

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River Orchid on the Mekong River in Vietnam

Uniworld Timeless Wonders of Vietnam & Cambodia Cruise: Embarkation

DAY 3: RIVER ORCHID EMBARKATION IN VIETNAM

Upon leaving Ly Club Restaurant in Saigon after a wonderful lunch, it was time for the 90-minute drive out of Ho Chi Minh City and through the Mekong Delta. We were excited to join Uniworld River Orchid for the start of our 7-night Mekong River cruise. All along the drive our guide, Phoung, gave an interesting commentary about the scenery, local life and also Vietnamese culture and customs.

Rice Paddies in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is very lush, green, flat and consists of primarily agricultural land. The Mekong River is almost 3000 miles long (10th longest in world, 7th longest in Asia) and almost 21 million people live along her banks as she runs through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Uniworld Representative Silvia Sobotova and Crew of River Orchid Greet Passengers

By 4:30 PM our coach arrived in My Tho, Vietnam where River Orchid awaited. The ship’s Captain, crew and Uniworld Representative Silvia Sobotova (lucky for us we’ve cruised in Europe with Silvia when she was Hotel Manager on Uniworld River Princess) were on the dock waiting to greet passengers.

Uniworld River Orchid Stateroom 306

We were promptly shown to our stateroom (306) by one of the super-friendly and welcoming crew. The ship immediately impressed us with her French colonial feel and extensive use of rich hardwoods (reminiscent of a classic Indochina river ship of long ago) and we quickly fell in love with the old-world charm of this unique vessel.

Uniworld River Orchid Stateroom Entrance

Uniworld River Orchid Stateroom Closet & Safe

Although the staterooms are only 168 sq. ft. they provide the best use of space and are very quaint and comfortable. Our twin bed configuration provided plenty of room for us to move and not get in each others way.

Uniworld River Orchid Stateroom Bathroom

Uniworld River Orchid Stateroom Bathroom Shower

As soon as we unpacked (our  luggage was already in the cabin, sent ahead by truck in the morning) it was time to join fellow passengers on the sundeck for a welcome drink and appetizers (beer, wine, local spirits, ginger tea, soft drinks, mineral water).

Uniworld River Orchid Sun Deck

At 6 PM Hotel Manager Saroeung gave a safety briefing on the sun deck and we were introduced to some of the Nautical crew (from Vietnam) and the Cambodian crew. Next it was time for Cruise Director Ha to give his evening port talk and discuss the schedule for the following day.

By the time the dinner gong was rung at 7 PM we were once again hungry and looking forward to our first Vietnamese-themed dinner in the Panoramic Restaurant on board River Orchid – it did not disappoint us!

River Orchid Vietnamese Appetizer

Uniworld River Orchid Dining

Uniworld River Orchid – Vietnamese Fish Entree

Uniworld River Orchid – Dessert

Immediately after dinner, anyone still able to stay awake (not us) could watch the movie “The Lover” in the Movie Theater. This was played as a preview for the excursion to Huynh Thuy Le House in Sa Dec the next afternoon.

Next… Cai Be, Vietnam

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City | Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels | Day 3: Saigon City Tour |

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