An introduction to cruising the Mekong River

So if you’re considering a Mekong cruise, here’s what you can expect to discover along the way with our guide to the Mekong.

What countries does the Mekong River flow through?

The 12th longest river in the world, and the longest in Indochina, the Mekong travels through six Southeast Asian counties – China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Over 60 million people depend on this majestic waterway and its tributaries, its flowing waters intertwined with their lives.

For much of its length through China and Myanmar, the river isn’t navigable, so it’s only as you reach Laos and Thailand that you can start to sail along its waters, with most Mekong cruises focusing on the final stretch through Cambodia and into the rich delta on the Vietnamese coast.

Flowing through the heart of cities including Luang Prabang in Laos and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, the Mekong can also take you to other highlights of Southeast Asia including Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, along with Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in Vietnam.

Why cruise the Mekong?

A Mekong cruise is a wonderful way to explore the Mekong Delta, but as well as taking you to some of the area’s key sights, it’s also a way to understand daily life in the area, a chance to try some local food, gaze out at the unspoiled scenery and to appreciate local culture on the way.

Sightseeing

The Mekong flows alongside some of South-East Asia’s most enticing destinations for tourists, whether you’re cruising for several days along the river or combining day trips with your sightseeing. In Laos, the Mekong passes the beautiful city of Luang Prabang, with its countless temples, bustling markets and mix of French-influenced architecture. From here, you can cruise along the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves, filled with ancient Buddha statues.

As the river winds its way lazily through Cambodia, it reaches the capital Phnom Penh, where ornate royal palaces and gilded temples glitter amid the modern-day skyline. And at the heart of the city is the Mekong; watching the sun set over the river is unmissable. At some times of the year, you can travel from the Mekong to Tonle Sap lake, a short distance from Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor too.

Ending its long journey in Vietnam, the Mekong river sprawls across the countryside, becoming the vast watery landscape of the Mekong Delta, with branches of the river bringing you close to Ho Chi Minh City.

Culture

One of the highlights of a Mekong River cruise is being able to see not only the bigger tourist attractions but also a taste of daily life as you float along the river. More than 95 different ethnic groups live in the Mekong basin, with the river influencing everything from food to livelihoods, as well as music, dance and crafts.

Some styles were created thanks to the links between different ethnic groups along the river, such as don ca tai tu in Vietnam, which combines music, poetry, and performance, often weaving in local folk tunes and stories of life along the Mekong.

Other crafts have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries, including textile weaving and ceramics, while silversmithing in Cambodia dates back to the Khmer empire with pieces inspired by this long cultural heritage.

Browse for souvenirs at the floating markets of Can Tho in Vietnam, where you can also learn more about the history of the area at the Mekong Delta Museum. There’s a chance to discover another side of the region near Chau Doc too, with mosques and stilted houses in the Muslim Cham villages, or marvel at the floating farms near My Tho.

Cuisine

The Mekong Delta has been called Vietnam’s rice bowl, with most of the country’s rice grown here. Known too for its fruit and vegetable gardens, it’s one of the best areas to tuck in to some of the Mekong’s traditional dishes.

Look out for banh xeo (Vietnamese crispy pancake), and banh trang tron (mixed rice paper salad) alongside other classic rice dishes. And don’t miss the chance to indulge in fresh mango, rambutan and other fruit.

Fish is, unsurprisingly, a staple along the entire length of the Mekong, whether it’s grilled, steamed or fried, and often served with spicy or tangy sauces using chilli and tamarind. Seafood such as soft shell crab, shrimp and clams are also common.

Don’t miss Elephant Ear Fish, fried and served upright, so you can pick off the fish, which is then rolled in rice paper. In Cambodia, you’ll also find amok trey, a fish curry flavoured with coconut milk and lemongrass and cooked in banana leaves.

You’re not limited to fish though. Both Laos and Thailand have their own version of spicy salads served with meat. In Laos, larb mixes minced meat with lime, fish sauce, spices and sticky rice, or som tam in Thailand is a spicy green papaya salad, often served with grilled meat.

Floating market, Mekong River Delta, Vietnam

What kind of wildlife lives in the Mekong?

The Great Mekong area, including the Mekong Delta and the Mekong itself, is a haven for wildlife, with 1,200 species of birds, 430 types of mammal plus around 800 species of reptiles, and more being discovered all the time.

One of the highlights is the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin; there are fewer than 100 left of these shy creatures, so it’s hard to spot them, but the stretch of river between the Khone Falls in Laos and Kratie in Cambodia is one of the best places to try your luck.

The Prek Toal Bird Reserve in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve is unmissable for bird-watchers. One of the most important breeding grounds for birds across the whole of South East Asia, you can see everything from eagles to storks, pelicans, ibises and hornbills here. And wherever you’re cruising on the Mekong, look out for the common kingfisher, which appears in a sudden flash of jewel-bright blue and orange.

One of the best-known but most unusual inhabitants of this area is the Mekong catfish, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world which can reach up to 10ft in length and weigh an astonishing 660lbs.

Other wildlife to watch out for includes the Asian water monitor, the world’s third longest lizard which can grow as much as five feet long, and which is a common sighting on river cruises. You can also spot yellow-cheeked gibbons in the trees along the river – their hooting calls are easy to distinguish even if you don’t see the gibbons themselves.

If you’re travelling through Thailand and Laos, you might also spy Asian elephants at the river’s edge. While there are Indochinese tigers in the region, as well as Asiatic black bears, these live deep in the forests of the Mekong region, and sightings are extremely rare.

When is the best time to cruise the Mekong?

The best time for a Mekong River Cruise is during the dry season, which runs between November and April. The start of the dry season is ideal, from around November to January, with the worst of the wet weather over but before temperatures start to rise to their highest point. During December and February, you can also see flowers blooming along the banks of the Mekong too.

If you visit during the wet season, running from May to October, you can expect heavy downpours each day. These are usually short, intense showers in the late afternoon rather than day-long drizzle, so it’s still possible to enjoy a Mekong cruise during the green season, as long as you’re prepared for this, plus there will be fewer crowds around at this time of year. The best rainy months to choose if you’re visiting Cambodia are from mid-August to early November, known as the high water season. During this time, it’s possible for larger boats to dock at Tonle Sap lake with its floating markets and the Prek Toal Bird Reserve, and to access Siem Reap from here. If you are visiting during the rainiest months, antimalarials and insect repellent are essential, as the wetter weather encourages mosquito breeding.

Temperatures rarely drop much below around 23C, with highs of around 35C in April and May, so you can expect it to be hot year-round.

Cruising on the Mekong River, Laos

What to wear on a Mekong River cruise

There’s rarely a formal dress code on a Mekong River cruise, whether you’re taking a shorter day trip or a longer journey along the river, so you needn’t worry about having to dress up although you may want to include a few smarter outfits for the evening. Instead, the weather is likely to dictate what you wear aboard.

Temperatures hover between 25 and 35C year-round, so lightweight summer clothes are ideal, especially quick-drying and breathable fabrics if the weather is humid. Casual shoes or sandals which are easy to slip off outside temples are also helpful, plus you’ll be expected to cover shoulders and knees inside too.

A hat and sunglasses are also essential against the heat, along with high factor SPF. Temperatures can occasionally dip in the evening, so a light cover-up such as a cardigan, jacket or scarf can also be useful.

If you’re travelling during the rainy season, or the shoulder season months when the weather is more mixed, it’s a good idea to have a lightweight waterproof jacket and travel umbrella. Showers can often be short but intense. You may also want sturdier, closed-toe footwear during the rainy season, although trainers are likely to be fine for wetter days. Insect repellent is essential year-round on the water too.

Bear in mind that you’ll also be able to pick up cheap clothing at a Mekong market or another stop on your South-East Asia holiday, which is designed to cope with the local climate. For more tips, check out our packing guide.

Discover the Mighty Mekong on one of our Asian tours with a cruise of the Mekong River