Mekong river cruises

The Mekong: Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap through the Delta, Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat.

A Mekong cruise joins Vietnam and Cambodia in one trip: a week on the river from the Mekong Delta near Ho Chi Minh City up through Cai Be, Sa Dec, Tan Chau and the border to Phnom Penh and the Tonle Sap, with hotel nights at both ends for Saigon and for Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. Many programs add Hanoi and Halong Bay first. The ships carry 40 to 120 guests, the villages come to the riverbank by sampan, and the food is as much the point as the temples. Every Mekong program from Emerald, Viking, Avalon, Scenic, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, Aqua Expeditions and Pandaw is here, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. Call 1-800-444-1560 and a river cruise expert prices the lines against each other for your dates.

7 nightson the river, inside a 12 to 15 night program
All inevery price includes taxes and port fees
Angkor WatSiem Reap hotel nights on nearly every program
Aug to Aprseason; high water in the fall, dry season in winter
Start here

Three ways to do the Mekong

Pick an option and the list below filters to it.

The classic

Saigon to Siem Reap

  • Ho Chi Minh City hotel nights, the Delta, Phnom Penh, the Killing Fields and the silver pagoda, then Siem Reap and Angkor
  • Every line runs it in both directions
  • 12 to 13 nights in all

Best for: first trip to Southeast Asia, Angkor Wat, food

With Hanoi

Hanoi and Halong Bay first

  • Three or four nights in the north with a Halong Bay junk cruise before flying south
  • Viking, Avalon, Scenic and Uniworld sell it as one 15 night program
  • The best of Vietnam north and south plus Cambodia

Best for: two weeks away, first-time visitors to Vietnam

Northbound

Siem Reap to Saigon

  • Start with Angkor Wat and finish in Ho Chi Minh City
  • Boarding at Phnom Penh or Kampong Cham after the Siem Reap nights
  • Same stops, reversed; pairs with Thailand or Bali afterwards

Best for: anyone continuing on to the rest of Southeast Asia

Live from the cruise lines

Mekong river cruise deals: SmartCruiser picks first

Every Mekong program from every river line, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. The picks at the top are sailings where booking with SmartCruiser gets you something extra; below them, every departure with full sorting by line, month, length and price.

SmartCruiser picks

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Every Mekong program

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Timing

When to go

The Mekong sails from August to April. Match the month to the water level and the heat.

August to OctoberHigh water after the monsoon: the ships reach Siem Reap’s Tonle Sap and the floating villages; warm and green.
November to FebruaryThe dry season and the most popular weeks: cooler, clear skies at Angkor, the longest cabin lists sell first.
March to AprilHot and dry, low water means coach transfers near Siem Reap; the lowest fares of the season.
May to JulyMost ships pause for the monsoon; a few Emerald and Pandaw departures run.
Good to know

Mekong river cruise questions we answer every day

Where does a Mekong cruise go?

Between the Mekong Delta near Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh or Kampong Cham in Cambodia: Cai Be, Sa Dec, Tan Chau, the border crossing, Phnom Penh, Oudong and the Tonle Sap villages, with hotel nights in Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap for Angkor Wat. Many programs add Hanoi and Halong Bay.

How long is a Mekong cruise?

7 nights on the river inside a 12 to 15 night program with hotel nights at both ends. A few lines sell 4 night river-only segments.

Can the ship reach Siem Reap?

Only at high water in the fall on some lines; otherwise the last stretch to Siem Reap is a 5 to 6 hour coach ride or a short flight. We tell you how your exact departure handles it.

Do I need visas?

Yes, for both Vietnam and Cambodia; e-visas are straightforward and the lines walk you through it. We send you the instructions when you book.

Are taxes and fees included in the prices here?

Yes. Every price on this page includes cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses. International flights, visas, gratuities where not included and optional excursions are extra. Flights inside Vietnam are usually included.

Do you have other exotic rivers?

Yes: the Nile through Egypt, and every river on our river cruises page.

Talk to a Mekong river cruise specialist

Tell us your dates and we price every Mekong line side by side, with taxes and port fees included and the Saigon, Hanoi and Siem Reap nights and internal flights worked out. Monday to Thursday 9 to 6, Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 ET.

1-800-444-1560