Winding Its Way South For Nearly 3 000 Miles Southeast Asia s Longest River The Majestic Mekong Is Just Waiting To Be Explored
Winding its way south for nearly 3,000 miles, Southeast Asia's longest river, the majestic Mekong, is just waiting to be explored.
Boasting a vast diversity of rainforests, wildlife, du lịch hạ long culture and cuisine, the river is best appreciated on a cruise.
If you first found your passion at sea on an ocean cruise, then be prepared to fall in love all over again, this time with a very different but equally rewarding experience. River cruising in Asia is becomingly increasingly popular. Here's why...
Vang Vieng, Laos, on the Mekong River
Why cruise Asia by river?
Guests love the relaxing small-ship experience.
With an average of around 150 passengers, a holiday focused on destinations and scenery, and a constant closeness to shore, it's an altogether more intimate way to cruise. Imagine lying on the bed in your stateroom, looking out of the panoramic window and watching a mystical, meandering journey unfold outside, with temples, shrines and wildlife including kingfishers and cheeky gibbons.
It's so far removed from the usual pace of life.
How about the on-board experience?
You can enjoy evening entertainment, wellness and fitness facilities, knowledgeable cruise directors to guide and assist, and free wi-fi.
There's also the peace of mind of leaving the ship every day at your leisure, never having to wait for a tender to take you ashore. River and ocean cruises really do meet when it comes to one thing, and that's the food. River cruise guests can expect the same high standards of dining as ocean, created with the very best locally sourced produce.
What's included in the price?
Asian river cruise packages include all meals (plus tea, coffee and water), return UK flights from a choice of regional airports including London and Manchester, kynghidongduong.vn transfers, hotel accommodation and expert tours at every port of call.
What to see, where to go?
Ho Chi Minh City: Still known locally as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh is a magnetic hustle-bustle of a city, home to seven million people, and renamed after the Vietnam War ended in 1975.
Must-see attractions include the War Remnants Museum and US Embassy - scene of the famous fall of Saigon, when American helicopters left for the final time. Sample the local ‘pho' soup, or visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, where US troops took on the Viet Cong - you can take a crawl through one if you're brave enough!
Hoi An: UNESCO-listed since 1999, Hoi An is a beautiful Vietnamese trading town, filled with 19th-century timber-framed buildings.
Hire a bike and meander through the narrow streets of the old town - a welcome relief after the traffic of Saigon. But it's at night that Hoi An comes to life. The colourful, lantern-filled walkways are a joy to behold, and bursting with markets, restaurants, craft shops and galleries.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Halong Bay: A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994, Halong Bay is a treat.
Take a traditional Vietnamese wooden junk to experience the limestone mountains and emerald waters, thousands of years in the making. Explore the amazing caves of Halong, or hạ long take it easy and relax on one of the beautiful sandy beaches.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Siem Reap: Follow in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider to the ancient kingdom of Angkor Wat.
Built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple, it's the largest religious monument in the world, and just five miles from the Cambodian town of Siem Reap. Go at sunset (perfect for the colours), and marvel at the majesty of the temples and sculptures, many of them perfectly preserved.
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox travel" data-version="2" id="mol-a6319420-aa64-11ea-b129-a9593e0c48f9" website magic of the Mekong! Exploring Southeast Asia's longest river
