Avalon Waterways · All Avalon Waterways ships · Avalon Mekong Suite Ship

Avalon Saigon: ship guide

Just 36 guests in 18 Panorama Suites on the Mekong between Saigon and Phnom Penh.

Best for: Experienced travelers who want a 36-guest ship, an all-suite layout and a slow, immersive Mekong journey between Vietnam and Cambodia, usually paired with Siem Reap and Angkor. Sails from Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh in 2026 and 2027.

See every Avalon Saigon sailing Deck plans Avalon Waterways policies

36guests at double occupancy

2017entered service

200 ftlong

18staterooms

About Avalon Saigon

Avalon Saigon is Avalon Waterways’ purpose-built Mekong ship, a 200-foot vessel for a maximum of 36 guests that entered service in 2017. Every one of its 18 staterooms is a 245-square-foot Panorama Suite, larger than the European Suite Ships’ suites, with a 14-foot-wide floor-to-ceiling window that slides open nine feet to form the Open-Air Balcony and a Comfort Collection bed facing the river. The two suite decks are named for the Mekong and the Tonle rivers.

Life on board is relaxed: a single dining room serving Vietnamese, Cambodian and Western dishes, the Panorama Lounge, which is also where the ship’s Wi-Fi works, and an open-air top deck with loungers for watching the delta go by. Wine is served with dinner; Avalon’s drinks inclusions in Asia are shorter than in Europe, and other drinks are charged to the onboard account. Excursions go ashore by sampan, on foot, by ox cart and by bicycle to villages, markets, temples and silversmith workshops.

In 2026 and 2027 the ship sails eight-day Mekong Discovery cruises between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh in both directions, which Avalon also sells inside 13-day Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong River programs with Siem Reap and Angkor, and 16- to 19-day versions adding Hanoi, Ha Long Bay or Bangkok. It suits well-traveled couples who want a very small ship and a slow, immersive look at the delta.

Maximum of 36 guests, one of the smallest ships in the Avalon fleet
All 18 staterooms are 245-square-foot Panorama Suites, bigger than the European Suite Ship standard
Open-Air Balcony with a 14-foot-wide window that slides open a full nine feet, and a private sitting area
Comfort Collection beds that face the Mekong rather than the wall
Two suite decks named for the Mekong and Tonle rivers, with a shaded open-air top deck
Excursions by sampan, ox cart and bicycle to Vinh Long, Cu Lao Gieng, Angkor Ban, Wat Hanchey and a silversmith village
Sold as an eight-day cruise or inside 13- to 19-day Vietnam and Cambodia programs with Siem Reap, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Bangkok
Avalon reports Mekong sales up 76 percent year over year going into 2026

Staterooms and suites

Panorama Suite, Tonle Deck

245 square feet on the lower suite deck with the Open-Air Balcony: a 14-foot-wide floor-to-ceiling window that slides open nine feet, a sitting area at the window, a Comfort Collection bed facing the river, a bathroom with shower, safe and individual climate control.

Panorama Suite, Mekong Deck

The same 245-square-foot suite on the upper deck, closer to the lounge and the open-air top deck; the deck most guests ask for first.

Suite amenities

Every suite has the Open-Air Balcony with a private sitting area, a Comfort Collection bed, individual climate control, a safe, a hair dryer and a bathroom with shower; there are no Royal Suites or Deluxe Staterooms on this ship.

Solo travelers

There are no dedicated single suites; solo guests book a Panorama Suite and Avalon applies a single supplement, as it does fleet-wide.

Avalon Saigon deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Tonle Deck

Open-air Observation lounge with Premium Lounge and Chairs, Panorama Lounge, Bar, Reception, Spa Treatment Room, Dining Room, Gallery.

A Panorama Suite

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board Avalon Saigon

Dining on Avalon Saigon

Dining RoomIncluded

A single open-seating restaurant serving buffet breakfast and lunch and a served dinner of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Western dishes, with Avalon Fresh healthy options.

Panorama LoungeIncluded

The ship’s social hub for coffee and tea, cocktails, port talks and evening entertainment, and the one area with Wi-Fi coverage on the Mekong.

Open-air top deckIncluded

Shaded seating and loungers for afternoon tea and sunset drinks while the delta slides past.

Included drinksIncluded

Wine with dinner, plus coffee, tea and filtered water; Avalon’s drinks inclusions on the Mekong are shorter than its European list.

Bar drinksSpecialty

Beer, cocktails, spirits and wine outside dinner are charged to the onboard account.

Entertainment and activities

Open-air top deck with loungers and shade for watching life on the Mekong
Panorama Lounge for port talks, cocktails and the evening program
Shore visits by sampan to Vinh Long and Cu Lao Gieng, by ox cart through Cambodian villages and on foot at Wat Hanchey and Angkor Ban
Phnom Penh touring to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum
Avalon Fresh menus with local vegetables, fruit and lighter dishes suited to the climate
Relaxed dress code: Avalon suggests light, modest clothing for temple visits and advises against dressy evening wear in this climate
Wi-Fi in the Panorama Lounge; Avalon warns coverage is limited on the river

Families and who it suits

Avalon does not accept children under eight years of age, and this 36-guest ship has no children’s facilities; the Mekong program is for adults and older teens traveling with parents.

Best for: Experienced travelers who want a 36-guest ship, an all-suite layout and a slow, immersive Mekong journey between Vietnam and Cambodia, usually paired with Siem Reap and Angkor.

Sails from: Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh · Regions: Mekong

Avalon Saigon questions we answer every day

How big is Avalon Saigon?

Avalon Saigon is a 200-foot river ship built for the Mekong, carrying a maximum of 36 guests in 18 Panorama Suites across two decks named for the Mekong and the Tonle rivers. It entered service in 2017 as the sister of Avalon Siem Reap. It is a fraction of the size of Avalon’s 166-guest European ships, so the whole ship feels like a private charter.

Where does Avalon Saigon sail in 2026 and 2027?

The ship sails the Mekong between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh in both directions on the eight-day Mekong Discovery cruise, with stops at Vinh Long, Cu Lao Gieng, Angkor Ban, Wat Hanchey and a silversmith village. Avalon also sells the cruise inside 13-day Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong River packages that add Siem Reap and Angkor, and 16- to 19-day versions with Hanoi, Ha Long Bay or Bangkok.

What are the suites like on Avalon Saigon?

All 18 staterooms are 245-square-foot Panorama Suites, larger than the 200-square-foot suites on Avalon’s European ships. Each has a 14-foot-wide floor-to-ceiling window that slides open nine feet to become the Open-Air Balcony, a private sitting area at the window, a Comfort Collection bed facing the river, a bathroom with shower, a safe and individual air conditioning.

What is included in the fare on the Mekong?

All meals on board, wine with dinner, coffee and tea, daily excursions with local guides, transfers between the ship and the hotels in the package, and Wi-Fi in the Panorama Lounge. Avalon’s drinks list in Asia is shorter than in Europe, so beer, cocktails and spirits are charged to your account, as are optional excursions and gratuities. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Avalon allows it, not available when you book direct.

When is the best time to cruise the Mekong?

Avalon lists Mekong departures through most of the year. November to February is the dry, cooler season with the most comfortable touring; March to May is hot; June to October is the green season with afternoon showers and the highest water, which lets the ship reach some villages more easily. Avalon recommends light, modest clothing for temple visits and advises against dressy evening wear in this climate.

Can children sail on Avalon Saigon?

No child under eight may sail with Avalon, and this 36-guest ship has no children’s facilities or programs. The Mekong itinerary involves long touring days, heat, sampan transfers and temple visits, so it suits adults and older teens who are comfortable with active, culturally focused travel rather than families with younger children.

Facts checked against Avalon Waterways: Avalon Saigon, Avalon Waterways: Mekong Discovery, Avalon Waterways: Explore our Suite Ships, River Cruise Advisor: Avalon welcomes Avalon Saigon to fleet on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every Avalon Saigon sailing, priced all-in

Every Avalon Saigon departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every Avalon Saigon sailing

Stack any filters, then pick a sort

Loading sailings…

Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.