Step back in time on voyage to Southeast Asia
Explore Mekong River in modern comfort on board Avalon’s river cruiser Saigon
In a world filled with interesting places, one of the more fascinating rivers I’ve sailed on is surely the mighty Mekong River. Running over 4,000 kilometres in length, it flows through six countries and is perhaps most well-known to travellers for being the site of river cruises through the heart of Cambodia and Vietnam.
Unlike European river cruising, with its polished cities and quaint villages, river cruising along the Mekong is akin to stepping back in time. Once you’ve left the confines of more modern cities like Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, you’ll find an assortment of rural villages where life exists largely as it always has, untouched by time or, in many cases, technological progress.
There is an authenticity to this region that is undeniably alluring.
Exploring the Mekong doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable proposition, though. Numerous river cruise lines offer journeys along the Mekong, spanning in length from a few days to a few weeks.
One such line is Avalon Waterways (cruise.center/avalon). The popular river cruise line is perhaps best known in Europe for its blue-hulled Suite Ships featuring staterooms and suites that have been elegantly designed, with beds carefully positioned to face the wall-towall French balcony.
It is a small but important touch; there is nothing like waking up to the sight of the Danube gliding silently by.
Avalon Waterways has brought that level of careful luxury to the Mekong now, with the introduction of the brand new Avalon Saigon. The intimate two-deck ship will carry just 36 guests in 18 suites, served by a crew of 24. All 18 staterooms are identical, with colonial motifs and 245 square feet (23 square metres) of living space accented by a series of gorgeous floorto-ceiling windows that open to create what Avalon calls its Open-Air Balcony.
“Any trip to Southeast Asia is special, but with just 18 incredibly comfortable staterooms and delicious local and Europeanstyle food, we will make it even more special,” says Stéphanie Bishop, managing director of the Globus family of brands, Avalon’s parent company, in Canada.
Some river cruise ships sailing throughout Southeast Asia are much more modest vessels, with tiny cabins that barely span 100 square feet (9.3 square metres) opening up to a shared promenade deck. They are comfortable, but decidedly not lavish. For those who value privacy and living space, Avalon’s new Avalon Saigon just might tip the scales in favour of a journey along the Mekong for those who have been considering a river cruise to this spectacular region.
The other thing Avalon has working in its favour are Avalon Saigon’s two itineraries: the 13-day Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River; and the brand new 18-day Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam.
Both of these journeys explore the heart of Vietnam and Cambodia, from the contrasts of Phnom Penh’s colonial past and uncomfortable remnants of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime, to the small villages and woodlands that line the Mekong en route to the massive Tonle Sap Lake; a body of water so large that it is frequently referred to as the Great Lake.
At the other end of the spectrum is Siem Reap, home to the fabulous ruins at Angkor Wat. Originally constructed as a Hindu temple in the 12th century, it was the capital of the Khmer empire and is recognized today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To construct an independent overland journey through this remarkable part of the world would be difficult, costly and time-consuming. Sailing the Mekong, particularly aboard the new Avalon Saigon, makes exploring this wonderful part of Southeast Asia a rewarding — and relaxing — journey.
Happy cruising.
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