The Mekong & Its Cruises
Visiting Vietnam and Cambodia may be a vacation not many travellers would wish to take on their own, dealing with unfamiliar languages and customs alien to their experience, and half a world away from home. Enter your travel professional’s recommended river cruise line with a seven plus days of river cruising and land stays that explore these exotic countries and the Mekong River in particular. What a delightful way to see the vibrant colors of everyday life while experiencing the culture and customs of friendly people, secure in the knowledge that you are being guided by trained and trusted local experts, that your personal health and safety are being taken care of by the cruise line, and your every accommodation, meals, and entertainment are on tap so to speak – and all included in your fare. Sometimes there are short inter country hops between destinations by plane, but these are arranged by the cruise line and are usually extra only if in conjunction with an optional land stay.
Halong Bay
On board the river cruise line, you experience:
• Spacious staterooms with high quality fittings and linens, and air conditioned comfort
• Four to Five star service with expert staff
• Your choice of gourmet cuisine, either Western or local dishes
• Complimentary beer, wine and spirits during your cruise
• Local authentic musicians and entertainers
• Most of the services found on a bigger ship including spa, gym, perhaps a sun deck with pool and bar, lounge and gift shop, and
• Something you won’t find on an ocean cruise : constantly changing and fabulous views !
Angkor Wat in Cambodia
On shore, you may enjoy:
• Visits to local craft workshops, such as weavers of mats, weavers of silk, and makers of rice paper ( you might even give it a try!), silver articles and candy
• Rides by traditional methods such as trishaws and ox carts
• Shopping in local markets for exotic delicacies and crafts while enjoying the rich colors and friendly bustle of locals and tradesmen
• Buddhist monasteries with colourfully clad monks, and ancient temples
• Museums
• Authentic villages, and all the while
• Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of river life where fishermen cast nets using age old traditions, and sellers peddle their wares from tiny paddle boats.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
And then there’s the pre or post land stays… imagine a night on a luxury junk in Halong Bay …or watching a water puppet show … or visiting the old quarter of Hanoi. When you travel this far, it may make sense to continue your adventures with an optional couple of days to a further week all under the auspices of the river cruise line where you will experience the local treats mentioned and more to fill your every day with excitement and wonder at the marvels of Vietnam, Cambodia and the exotic daily life of the Mekong.
Many river cruises lines ( AmaWaterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Avalon Waterways & more) have various Mekong River cruise programs that will provide an unparalleled experience in this part of the world … contact your cruise professional at Cruise Holidays of Burlington to find the itinerary and the cruise line that is a perfect fit for you.
Article originally appeared in The Travel Bucket.
Photos courtesy of pixabay.com and bigstock.com