Aqua Mekong: Along the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam

Type: JourneysExperience: NatureExperience: CultureExperience: CruiseTarget audience: CouplesContinent: AsiaCountry: CambodiaCountry: Vietnam

9 Feb

Written by Jan Bikkembergs

⁍ Journeys ◦ Asia ◦ Vietnam ◦ Cambodia ◦ Nature ◦ Culture ◦ Cruise ◦ Couples

Highlights

Boutique Cruise: Travel in Style Through the Heart of the Mekong

✓ Luxury boutique cruise with just 20 suites, all with river views.

✓ Daily excursions in small groups, by bike, skiff (a small rowboat), or on foot.

✓ A tour of Vietnam and Cambodia, focusing on culture and daily life.

✓ Refined cuisine on board, curated by an award-winning chef.

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Mekong River Cruise: Vietnam & Cambodia

The best way to explore the Mekong is aboard the luxurious Aqua Mekong cruise ship. During this exclusive river cruise, you’ll sail between Vietnam and Cambodia and experience daily life along the river, from floating markets and villages to Buddhist monasteries and historic trading posts. Accompanied by experienced guides, you’ll go ashore for visits and encounters that bring the region to life. On board, every need is taken care of: from refined cuisine by an award-winning chef to relaxation in the spa and panoramic views from the Observation Deck. This is a unique adventure you won’t want to miss.

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Itinerary

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the port of My Tho. Here, you will board the Aqua Mekong, where the crew will welcome you and show you to your spacious suite with floor-to-ceiling windows and a view of the river. As your ship departs, you’ll get acquainted with the comfort and facilities on board. The first evening is all about relaxing and enjoying the view as the Mekong unfolds before you.
This morning, you can choose between two excursions: the weavers’ village of Binh Thanh, where grass mats are still made using traditional methods, or Sa Dec, a charming town with colonial architecture, markets, and flower gardens. In the afternoon, you’ll visit My An Hung, a village in the heart of the Mekong Delta. You’ll stroll past plantations, sample local fruits, and experience folk music and traditional dance. If you’d like, you can also cycle through rice fields and villages.
You’ll take a skiff across the Bassac Canal to Chau Doc, where you’ll visit the floating market and the Cham community. Afterward, you’ll drive to Long Son Pagoda on Sam Mountain, where monks will explain Buddhist rituals and customs. Back on board, you can explore Long Khanh Island by bike or join the chef in searching for local ingredients at the market (optional). In the afternoon, the ship sails toward Cambodia.
Today you’ll discover Khmer crafts and see how the traditional kroma scarf is woven and dyed. You’ll cycle along the river, passing Buddhist temples, stilt houses, and farmland. In the afternoon, you’ll take a skiff to Preah Prosop, a remote village with wooden stilt houses where daily life revolves around the river. The surroundings offer a vivid glimpse of rural Cambodia.
Explore Phnom Penh by motorized tuk-tuk. You’ll visit the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum with its extensive collection of Khmer art. Those who wish may optionally visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. In the evening, you’ll enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance on board as the ship continues its journey.
In Koh Chen, you’ll visit silversmiths renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship and ceremonial bowls. The tour then continues to Kampong Chhnang, also known as the city of potters, where archaeological finds date back to the 6th century. You’ll explore the riverside village and have the option to join a bike tour of the surrounding area.
Today you’ll explore Tonlé Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. During a boat tour, you’ll discover floating villages where schools, markets, and workshops are located on the water. In Chhnok Tru, you’ll visit an ice factory and learn how life is organized here. In Moat Khla, you’ll attend a Buddhist blessing ceremony, accessible only by boat.
The trip concludes with a visit to the Prek Toal Bird Reserve, a protected nature reserve and important habitat for waterbirds. You will then sail to Siem Reap, where you will say goodbye to the crew and your fellow travelers. Those who wish to do so can extend this cruise with a visit to Angkor Wat, a beach stay, or a further tour through Cambodia or Vietnam.

Practical Information

Duration 8 days, 7 nights

Indicative price €9.036 per person

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ⓘ 
This price is subject to change. The estimated price includes the cruise itinerary but excludes flights.
With Pegase Tailored, we bring your travel dreams to life, tailored entirely to your wishes. No standard package—just a unique journey that lets you discover the world on your own terms.

Best time to visit

The highlight of our trip

“At various stops, you’ll disembark and transfer to a small skiff. This allows you to reach villages, workshops, and landing sites that aren’t located along the main route. You’ll sail close to the banks, see how houses, boats, and markets are directly connected to the river, and witness just how important this river is to this destination. You’ll experience the true stories of the Mekong by staying right in the middle of it.”

Axel Aedens, Luxury Travel Advisor

Featured stay

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Aqua Mekong

On board the Aqua Mekong, you’ll stay in one of the 20 spacious suites, each offering panoramic views of the Mekong. The ship combines contemporary design with open, comfortable living spaces. On board the cruise ship, you’ll be completely pampered: treat yourself to a delicious menu created by an award-winning chef, enjoy a rejuvenating Khmer massage in the ship’s spa, or take in the view from the Observation Deck with its swimming pool.

Featured experiences

Ho Chi Minh City: An Introduction to Vietnam

You’ll start in a bustling metropolis where French colonial facades, Buddhist temples, and lively street life all come together. Markets, scooters, and coffee shops offer a first glimpse into daily life. It’s an energetic and cultural introduction to Vietnam, before you slow down along the river.

Royal Heritage in Phnom Penh

By tuk-tuk, you’ll discover a city where the royal past and modern life coexist. Palaces, pagodas, and historic sites tell the story of Cambodia—sometimes challenging, but always authentic. A visit that offers insight into the soul and resilience of the country.

Cycling along the banks of the Mekong

On your bike, you’ll ride through quiet villages, rice paddies, and narrow paths along the water. The landscape unfolds at a natural pace, far from traffic and crowds. It’s an intimate way to experience daily life along the Mekong up close, in direct contact with the locals.