When visiting a foreign country, I think there is no better way to get a feel for a place than to do what local people do; to eat, travel, and experience what their lives are like on a day-to-day basis. Today we got to do just that in the Vietnamese town of Chau Doc. We started our day with a local boat ride to town, then a tour of the city on a cyclo, followed by a visit to the local market where we were free to explore on our own, and finally a visit to one of the main businesses of the town, a fish farm. We immersed ourselves and enjoyed every minute.
2/14/2025
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The Jahan
Angkor Ban and Kampong Cham
We started our final day on The Jahan visiting the remote village of Angkor Ban, which is one of only a handful of villages with traditional wooden houses dating back over 100 years. These types of homes are a rarity due to neglect and the decades of conflict in the country. We entered the village through a large pagoda complex before walking around the narrow streets to see the homes. Afterward, two local monks came on board to chant and preform a blessing for the ship and guests. Guests were also able to get individual blessings and red string bracelets, a Buddhist tradition for luck and protection. National Geographic Archeologist Fabio Esteban gave a talk on, “Parallel Civilizations and Sacred Landscapes between the Maya and Angkor”. In the afternoon, we visited Wat Nokor, our first Angkor period temple that featured a colorful monastery built inside a 12th-century enclosure. Then, we stopped at a famous bamboo bridge in the provincial capital of Kampong Cham. Guests had the option of walking on a portion of the bridge or walking along the riverside back to the ship. To conclude our voyage, we celebrated with a farewell party on the terrace deck at sunset and enjoyed the world premiere of the guest slideshow.
