River cruise on The Mekong
The Mekong Delta stretches over an area of 39,000 square kilometres and at its heart is the city of Can Tho in Vietnam. It is known by many different names as it flows through countless districts, provinces, and several countries. Though it may be only the seventh longest river in Asia and the 12th longest in the world, the Mekong River boasts one of the richest areas of biodiversity on the planet.
Many of Southeast Asia’s largest cities lie on the banks of the Mekong—Ho Chi Minh City, for example. Cambodia depends largely on the river for food and other aspects of their fledgling economy. The Mekong rises from the Tibetan Plateau and flows southwest through Yunnan Province in the Hengduan Mountains. Flowing southeast out of China, it continues through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. After Cambodia, the Mekong then enters Vietnam, dividing into the nine channels that comprise the Mekong Delta—adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City. The waters of the Mekong then continue southeast through the delta and flow into the South China Sea.
Three countries in particular on the Mekong - Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, offer an opportunity to see and experience countries with traditional charm and exceptional beauty that are each quickly opening up to the outside world. Old-world markets are harmoniously intertwined with the incredible boom of modern architecture when you visit Vietnam’s energetic Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh. From these frenetic cities, you can step back in time to uncover the peaceful rhythm of rural life and landscapes.
In Vietnam, shore excursions give an opportunity to absorb the sights and sounds of Cholon, the vibrant Chinatown district of Ho Chi Minh City, and then to descend into the Cu Chi Tunnels, the subterranean network used by the Vietcong. In Cambodia, centuries of earthly and ethereal wonders will astound you when you visit the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat, the most recognizable landmark in Cambodia and a designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Laos there is the relaxed grandeur of Luang Prabang. The city is another UNESCO World Heritage Site: colonial buildings share quaint lanes with Buddhist temples and traditional Lao wooden homes.
Both western and regional à la carte cuisines are offered along with European and Australian wines onboard Mekong River cruises. Entertainment is sometimes presented in the evenings to enhance your knowledge of the local culture.
Mekong River cruises offer a real adventure experience where travellers can be cushioned with incredible comfort, fine dining, great cocktails and wines, and mostly extraordinarily good levels of service.
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