Mekong River

Only by sailing the mighty Mekong River, can one understand its life-sustaining force. The riverbanks are a thriving labyrinth of mangroves, wetlands, and irrigated paddy fields, while the waters teem with aquatic life and the bustle of floating markets.

Sailing the magnificent Mekong

The Mekong River is the longest in Southeast Asia. Rising in the dizzying altitudes of the Tibetan Plateau, it meanders its way through the snow-capped peaks of Southwestern China, flowing onwards through the Laotian cities of Luang Prabang and Vientiane and Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, before draining into the South China Sea in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

A great diversity comprises the lower Mekong basin. Topographically varied, the terrain metamorphoses from the rugged northern highlands to the natural floodplains of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong Delta. With such wide-ranging geography, it’s of little surprise that people of the Mekong are equally as diverse. The sustaining life force for 60 million people representing more than 95 different ethnic groups, the vast majority of the Mekong’s inhabitants constitute large-scale agricultural farming and fishing communities.

Over 65 million people depend upon the river’s rich resources, and along our Mekong voyages, locals invite you to see the landscape from their perspective. Following the river’s flow, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in local villages, historic residences, and bustling markets. Visit a local monastery and receive a traditional blessing from resident monks. Pay your respects in the Killing Fields of Phnom Penh, a sobering reminder of one of the darkest periods of recent history. And, travel via remork (Tuk-Tuk) to discover the nightlife of Phnom Penh.

The lifeblood of the region, through the Mekong and its people, one can begin to unravel millenniums of the region’s history. Local storytelling relays tales of a grand reawakening—in the ancient natural landscapes, modern hands craft stories anew.

Endlessly rewarding, to voyage the Mekong is to gain everlasting memories of one of Earth’s most vibrant and compelling regions.

Highlights:

Each of our itineraries has been carefully designed to give you the freedom to explore at your own pace.

■ Ho Chi Minh City: Explore the French Quarter including the Old Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Opera House and Town Hall.

■ Gieng Island: Visit an incense factory, local boat builders and see Vietnam’s oldest church.

■ Tan Chau: Evergreen Island, a unique and traditional Cao Dai temple and a Xe Loi ride.

■ The Killing Fields: Now a place of peace, pay your respects to the victims of the infamous Khmer Rouge.

■ The Silver Pagoda: Adjacent to the Royal Palace, the ‘Temple of the Emerald Buddha’ has a floor covered in silver.