No matter how many times you have come to the Southeast Asia, you never know enough about this land without taking a proper cruise on Mekong River. A cruise on the Mekong River offers a fresh perspective and deeper insights into the diverse history, esoteric cultures and remote nature of this region.
At 4,350 km (2,700 miles), the Mekong River is the longest in Southeast Asia. It rises from the Tibetan Plateau and passes through China, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to make the world’s twelfth longest river system. The river is famous for its diversity, which is second only to the Amazon.
Downstream the Mekong River is the Mekong Delta of Southern Vietnam. Like all deltas, it receives silts from the upper Mekong, making its soil fertile and nutrient-rich to cultivate endless fields of rice and hundreds kinds of tropical fruits, vegetables and flowers. The Mekong River in Vietnam splits into a complex network with a maze of canals, small rivers and arroyos interspersed with villages, floating markets, rice paddies, fish farm, fruit orchards, and more. A cruise on Mekong River will take you to an orchard in Can Tho or Tien Giang, where you can stuff yourself with whichever fruit you can get. Following the cruise, you will boat through the lush green vegetation of the canals to visit the floating markets of Cai Be, Cai Rang or Phong Dien and watch the hustle and bustle life and business of the vendors along the river. You can also take a break from the scenery of the Mekong River to venture into the dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, which is formerly known as “the Pearl of the far East”. Visit Mekong with Indochina tours
Boating upstream the Mekong River, you will leave the bustling Vietnam for the tranquility of Cambodia. Traveling through the river, you will encounter various gorges, swift rapids, mirror-like lakes, flooded emerald forests, bamboo stilt villages, and remote Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries. Along the Mekong River cruises, you will explore the elegant French-influenced capital of Phnom Penh, the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the most fascinating destination – the Cambodia’s iconic temple of Angkor Wat, an architecture ensemble of ornate 12th-century stone structures and beehive like towers built in the jungle near Siem Reap, to learn about the ancient Khmer regime.
You may extend your trip and cruise the Upper Mekong River into Laos and Thailand and visit the famous Kuang Si Falls and Luang Pha Bang to immerse yourself more into the local nature and culture of Southeast Asia countries.
The Mekong River carves a lifeline into the heart of Cambodia and through southern Vietnam. Mekong River cruises which offer you a chance to explore the thriving cultures of the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam and Cambodia’s ancient ruins and colonial charms are always proved to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors. To save your time and budget, it is a smart choice to contact an agent travel. Now there is no reason to hesitate.
The Indochina Voyages team.
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