Colourful Mekong tapestry
Cruise through beautiful Cambodia and Vietnam
AWOMAN wearing a conical hat motors past in a low-slung boat with eyes painted on its bows. Buffaloes wallow among water hyacinths in the shallows, and a family hauls in fishing nets to a flimsy craft.
As villages near, children run down from stilted houses to the river, waving and calling a cheery ‘hello!’
Here on the Mekong, life is lived as much on and in the water as along the tranquil, verdant banks.
A river cruise on this legendary river is a meditative and photogenic journey, with visual treats around every bend — from floating villages to paddy fields and ornate Khmer temples that reach for the sky.
The magic of this colourful tapestry is clear from the moment you arrive — flying either to the Cambodian temple town of Siem Reap or to Vietnam’s southern powerhouse, Ho Chi Minh City, still known unofficially as Saigon.
And the best way to get close to the must-see sights and local way of life is to take a relaxed and luxurious river cruise on a boat that has been meticulously crafted to offer all the modern features you’d expect.
Avalon Waterways, for example, has two stunning Suite Ships plying the mighty Mekong, and is offering savings of up to £1,600 per couple, until July 31.
The newest vessel, Avalon Saigon, gives wonderful views of the river, thanks to its innovative 14ft floor-toceiling windows that slide a full 9ft, creating open-air balconies.
There’s a love seat and chair to lounge on, so you’ll feel as if you are sitting outside. The ultra-comfortable beds also face those windows and the passing scenes of daily life.
Carrying just 36 guests and two panoramic lounges, the ship is as long and wide as others hosting twice as many guests, so there’s a real feeling of space.
A southbound adventure begins at iconic Angkor Wat, a symphony in stone once hidden within the jungle, where awe-inspiring scale combines with the unexpected intricacy of the carvings. At striking Bayon some 200 carved faces smile down from 54 towers. And you’ll also see evocative Ta Prohm, where muscular tree roots wrestle with ancient stone temples.
With traditional apsara dancing in the evening, Cambodian culture really comes to life.
Soon it’s time to fly south to Phnom Penh where the Mekong cruise aboard your intimate, welcoming Suite Ship begins. This friendly city combines Indochinese and colonial French architecture, while the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda reveal the elegance of classic Khmer design. Browse street food in the lively central market, visit fascinating museums or call in on a brewery with free-flowing local beer.
More experiences are included nearby — a visit to an 8th-century hilltop temple, an ox-cart ride — and chances to meet schoolchildren, a local farmer and talented village silversmiths.
After crossing into Vietnam, you’ll stroll ashore to the colourful street market at Chau Doc, where the fish are so fresh they are splashing about in their bowls.
You’ll also be able to explore the backwaters by boat, visit families making conical hats and sampans and learn how rice paper, rice wine and traditional candies are made.
Saigon is a thrilling, dizzying whirl, where gleaming towers rub shoulders with ancient temples and street food vendors dish up food on every corner. You can take a walking tour of the historic landmarks, visit the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market, and even try your hand at some easy Vietnamese cooking.
And a final highlight is a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels — an extraordinary network used as a hideout and secret village by the Viet Cong.
The mighty Mekong has brought you gently through laidback Cambodia and into the bustling south of Vietnam, revealing moving history, colourful traditions and memorable experiences at every turn.