"...one of the most interesting and rewarding vacations I've ever enjoyed."
That's what we hear from our customers upon their return from a Mekong River cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia! When we ask them what made it so special, 99% say, "The people and their culture."
The people of Southeast Asia have traveled its rivers, lakes, and streams for thousands of years. The preeminent river is undoubtedly the mighty Mekong River, where the tapestry of life along its banks is as fascinating and varied as the many twists and turns it takes as it knifes its way through China and eventually through Vietnam and Cambodia. Would it surprise you to learn that the Mekong River is one of the world’s longest rivers? We tend to think of the Nile, the Amazon, or the Mississippi when we think of great rivers — well, the Mekong ranks right up there with them.
In fact, it's the 12th longest river in the world, just a tad over 2,700 miles in length. As with many of the rivers in Asia, the Mekong has its genesis high up in the Thibetan highlands. For much of its length it flows mostly southeast. After leaving China it passes through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and finally Vietnam where it spreads out into an extensive delta near Ho Chi Minh City before ultimately emptying into the South China Sea. Your journey, however, will take up no more than about 300 miles of this passage as you travel from Siem Reap, Cambodia, to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, on a typical 8-day/7-night river cruise.
When you think of a river cruise on the Mekong, don't picture yourself aboard a "junk."
As the popularity and demand for Mekong River cruises has increased, so has the number of new ships plying the river. Uniworld, Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, and the pioneer of the region, Pandaw, have all recently launched new ships containing all the creature comforts you could ever imagine — and all equal to a 5-star land resort. Most of the Mekong River cruise ships are much smaller than the traditional European river ships, holding just 34 to 124 discriminating travelers who want a extraordinary river cruise that allows them to explore by day and enjoy their creature comforts by night.
AmaWaterways. While there have been many new ships, one of the most striking is AmaWaterways premium ship, the AmaDara, launched in 2015. She is one of the larger ships on the Mekong River allowing about 120 pampered guest to sail the Mekong in an elegant and relaxing style. With her breathtaking balcony cabins at a very, very comfortable 226sf, you won't lack for anything in one of these remarkable staterooms. Even better, enjoy a beautiful 334sf suite for only slightly more. Premier has some extraordinary promotions on the AmaDara with SPECIAL SAVINGS on off-season prices for premium 7-night river cruise. Call us to get full details and our low, low prices! (View AmaDara Deck Plan).
Avalon Waterways. For those of us who may be looking for something a bit more traditional without sacrificing any of the extraordinary accoutrements that go along with a 5-star floating resort, you might enjoy sailing aboard Avalon's breathtaking ship, the Siem Reap (View deck plan.).
The Siem Reap is more of a traditional "colonial"-style ship with a very shallow draft. The shallow draft enables her to sail right into Siem Reap and Saigon thus avoiding a 2+ hour bus trip you'd have to make if you sail on one of the larger vessels. That's nice, but what's really nice is that you're in a much more intimate setting with only 36 other pampered guests and a crew of 24. This is the true Vietnam and Cambodia experience that many North American explorers are seeking. The ship is breathtaking with elegant 245sf staterooms with what we believe are the best views from any river ship on the Mekong. Imagine lying in bed in the morning enjoying a cup of coffee with your full-width, floor-to-ceiling glass doors completely open... Can it get any better?
It sure can! Touring with only 36 guests is also completely different on the Siem Reap. Where other ships utilize tour buses to tour, many of your tours from the Siem Reap are enjoyed via... hold on to your hat, Rickshaw, sampans and even, a ox cart or two. Oh, we forgot, an elephant, too. Needless to say, not all the touring is so non-traditional, but much of it is. With a smaller ship such as the Siem Reap, you can get into the smaller, less traveled villages that the big boats can't.
Some of the other Siem reap experiences you'll enjoy are cooking classes teaching you about local dishes you can make at home, visiting local schools and attending/assisting in an English Class, and taking a sampan into one of the floating vegetable markets to shop with the ship's chef, and more.
Now, we did tell you not to picture a "junk" as your river cruise ship. But, you can experience a luxurious overnight cruise on a real, traditional junk if you visit the extraordinary Ha Long Bay (near Hanoi) on an extended Mekong cruise/tour vacation. Check out our Destination Overview of Vietnam's Ha Long Bay!)
Cruising on the Mekong offers an authenticity of experience
that is hard to find in today’s mass tourism industry.
Put this on your bucket list of things to do — we guarantee you won’t regret it! Despite hundreds of years of war, turmoil, and foreign intervention, the Mekong has remained the lifeblood and lifeline of the people and lands that live along its banks. Will the Mekong be exposed to mass tourism in the not-too-distant future? Probably. But for now, the Mekong is still unspoiled.
Think of this Southeast Asian river cruise experience as a classic book whose pages tell the story of ancient empires, colonial subjugation, and finally a modern conflict pitting two diametrically opposed political, social, and cultural entities against each other.
Imagine the beautiful multi-colored villages, eager merchants aboard their bevy of sampans, chock-full of fresh caught fish, dry goods, and other essentials of life on the river. And then there are those charming village ladies all clad in black, their weathered skin full of history, all adorned in their Vietnamese straw conical hats — and just wait till they smile at you as you snap that perfect memory — one that will last a lifetime.
Talking about taking a quick photo... For those of you who are nature photo buffs, this may be the best cruise in the world (apart from Galapagos) as it affords more up close and personal breathtaking photo opportunities than you could ever imagine. There’s the incredible shot in the morning dew, the evening sunsets — just about everytime of the day or evening — as you float through what is almost like a massive rain forest sans the rain. My favorite shots were taken of the many floating markets and villages along the river.
A highlight of any trip along the Mekong is a visit to the old French colonial city of Phnom Penh, justly famous for its architecture, cafes, and lively nightlife. A visit to this city usually combines the good with the “bad,” in this case: a visit to the Royal Palace and spectacular Silver Pagoda with a visit to the “killing fields” of the infamous Khmer Rouge.
Are you claustrophobic? Then, you probably won't want to visit the notorious Cu Chi tunnels located in and around Ho Chi Minh City. This extensive, immense network of connecting underground tunnels served as a major underground base of operations and resistance for the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. They're now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire region and are simply not to be missed, that is, unless you are like me and unable to get down into small spaces!
A Mekong River cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia is probably not the best choice for your first river cruise. It is a extremely rewarding river cruise for those who have an interest in Asian cultures, modern conflicts and just flat out enjoy nature’s bounty and breathtaking scenery at each bend in the river. If you haven’t yet read our articles on Southeast Asia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, we invite you to do so to gain even more clarity into why Premier River Cruises so enthusiastically recommends these cruises.
Now is the time to explore these visually scenic and culturally distinctive lands that lie along as most remarkable river. Experience the old and the new, the ancient and the modern as your trip takes you from the hustle and bustle of Vietnam to the quiet tranquility of Cambodia. The Mekong River and a land famous for its gracious hospitality, exquisite cuisine, incredible natural beauty and a rich history is waiting for you.
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Unless otherwise noted, prices and offers are in USD, cruise only per person, based on double occupancy and do not include airfare, taxes or fees. The displayed prices are based on minimum category riverview window stateroom and applicable only to the sailing date(s) shown. Prices for other dates may vary based on the date and stateroom selected. Other than “Hot Deal” offers, price does not reflect any cruise line or Premier savings. Where Premier includes “prepaid tips” in an offer, it applies only to the cruise portion of the trip and not any land portion or shore excursions. To obtain the best price, please use the "Get Quote" button or call one of our river cruise and small ship cruise specialists. Certain discounts or prices may require full payment at the time of booking in order to be eligible. We urge you to book early as river and small ship cruises sell out almost a year in advance. Prices and availability may change without notice and are not guaranteed until a deposit is received and applied to your reservation. Call 1-855-255-1200, for complete details. We reserve the right to correct any informational or typographical errors. ©2010-2023 Premier River Cruises, LLC, a Travel of America Company. All rights reserved worldwide. CST #1015320-40.
