Viking Rivers: Magnificent Mekong: September 17: Transfer to Viking Saigon

School Visit - Bus Ride - Welcome Aboard

Today was a long travel day, but Viking made it an interesting day for sure. We left the hotel at a reasonable 9:30am departure time and set out on a nearly five hour travel day by bus to SE Cambodia to board our nearly new (launched in 2022) Viking Saigon river ship. But after 45 minutes we made our first stop at a local school that is sponsored by Viking. After a presentation by the founder - who described how Viking CEO Karine Hagan had been so impressed after visiting on her initial "Magnificent Mekong" trip that she got Viking to sponsor the school - the children who ranged from ages 9-to-14 - came to us and picked an adult to show around. They got to practice their English What was very special to me was that the two youngsters who led me around took me to their library and asked if they could read me a story. So I said yes, of course. The older of the two looked through several books and picked one. Took me by the hand and led me outside to read to me. He opened the book and began reading.....it was "Peter Pan." My youngest son, Brad, from about age 4 to 10 was obsessed with BEING Peter Pan (photo at left). So for this to be the story that was picked was quite ironic to me :)

Back on the bus and drove for a little more than an hour and a half before making a stop to eat the box lunch provided by our hotel before we left. The restaurant / picnic area sat right on the largest fresh water lake in SE Asia. John, Valerie, Kim and I wandered around and took a few photos before back on the bus for another 90 minute ride for a "comfort stop" of about ten minutes. And then it was another 90 minutes over so before we reached Kampong Cham where our Viking ship, the Saigon was waiting for us. We were welcomed aboard and how ironic, the girl who escorted us to our stateroom and gave us a tour of the ship was named.....KIM! We had enough time unpack, and then it was time to head up to the lounge for a pre-dinner drink and this evening's introduction to our voyage and the port talk to let us know everything we needed to know for tomorrow's activities. Then it was off to a delicious dinner - in my opinion the food on the Viking River ships is THE BEST food when we travel. We were served by our new-found "Kim" (who'd also been our server for drinks in the lounge). By 8:30 we were all ready to head to our staterooms and call it a day as we have a morning excursion at 8:30am tomorrow.

Our first stop

View of the lake

Welcome to the Viking Saigon

French Balcony Stateroom #102

Welcome aboard!

The first frozen mudslide

The "Two Kim's"

This morning before leaving the hotel, our Program Director, "Bob" sent us a link to the photos he took while we were visiting the temples. Here are the best of those....enjoy!