A Mekong River Cruise Week, Day by Day
The shape of a typical week on the lower Mekong, and how to choose your direction.
Get Mekong Cruise QuotesThe Shape of a Mekong River Cruise Week
Every line orders its stops differently, but a Mekong river cruise week follows a recognizable pattern. Here it is sailing upstream, from the delta in Vietnam to Cambodia — reverse it for the other direction.
| Part of the week | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Embarkation | Transfer by coach from Ho Chi Minh City hotels to the ship in the delta; first evening on board. |
| Delta days | Sampan rides through canals, a floating or riverside market, cottage industries such as rice paper and coconut candy, and villages around towns such as Cai Be and Sa Dec. |
| Border day | The ship clears formalities on the river near Chau Doc and Tan Chau, and you sail on into Cambodia. |
| Phnom Penh | Usually an overnight: the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, markets and, for many guests, the memorials to the Khmer Rouge years. |
| Upriver Cambodia | Quieter calls at villages, pagodas and craft centers such as pottery and silversmith communities. |
| Siem Reap | Depending on water levels, the ship continues toward the Tonle Sap or you finish by coach to Siem Reap for Angkor. |
A Day on Board
Mornings start early, before the heat, with an excursion ashore. Midday is for lunch, a lecture on Khmer or Vietnamese history, or a cooking demonstration. Afternoons bring a second, shorter outing or simply time on the sundeck watching barges and fishing boats slide past. Evenings are relaxed, sometimes with local musicians or dancers brought aboard.
Dress is casual and light, with something covering shoulders and knees for temples and the palace. Our sister site Mekong River Boat Cruises has more on what each stop is like.
What Is Usually Included Ashore
- Guided excursions at most stops, often by sampan or small local boat.
- Temple and palace entry fees on the included visits.
- Local guides who travel with the ship and know both Vietnam and Cambodia.
- Coach transfers between the ship and your hotels at each end, when the program includes hotels.
Optional extras vary by line: a cooking class, a blessing ceremony with monks, a cyclo ride in Phnom Penh or an extra day at Angkor. Check what is included before comparing two sailings on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upstream or downstream — which is better on a Mekong river cruise?
Neither is better; they end differently. Sailing from Vietnam into Cambodia saves Angkor for the finale. Sailing from Cambodia into Vietnam ends in the energy of Ho Chi Minh City, which suits travelers continuing to Hanoi or home.
How many days is a Mekong river cruise?
The cruise itself is commonly about seven nights. Full programs with hotel stays in Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City and often Hanoi run from about ten days to more than two weeks.
Ask Which Direction Suits Your Trip
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will look at your flights and the rest of your trip and recommend the Mekong river cruise direction that works best.
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