When talking about cruises, most people will think of exploring exotic, tropical islands, but river cruises are becoming increasingly popular in the past few years. Being the longest river in South-East Asia, Mekong River is also home to some of the most beautiful villages, cultures, animals, flowers and plants in the entire continent.
If you’re planning to visit either one of three countries which the Mekong flows through –Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos – Mekong cruise should be on your list as well. After all, what the Amazon is to South Asia, the Mekong Delta is to Asia.
To help you prepare for your Mekong cruise, we bring you everything you need to know about it, from the days needed to explore it to different types of cruises.
Delta Cruise
Mekong Delta has such diverse beauty and as you’re cruising on the river, you will notice how this raw nature is actually perfect when it’s being respected by the people who live in it. That’s the thing that makes these floating villages so outstanding – their respect for nature.
Besides these lovely villages, if you decide to go on a boat cruise, you will have a deeper understanding of nature as there are numerous animals and plants in this region. If you book a cruise of several days, Mekong Delta will not just be something you’re visiting for a couple of hours before returning to your accommodation, it will become your home.
Cruise Duration
So, you’ve decided to visit the Mekong Delta but are not sure how many days is enough to explore this beauty? Well, the more days, the better. You will find various options when looking for a cruise but mostly, it will depend on your days available. If you’re combining the cruise with exploring the country as well, try to reserve at least 30% of your trip for Mekong Delta.
The ideal time to explore this majestic river is between 12 and 15 days as you will have enough time to visit many villages, get to see a lot of animals, flowers and plants typical for this region and, finally, live the life of the locals. When you book a shorter cruise, you will probably see fewer places and visit only the most popular touristic stops.
But, if you don’t have that amount of time, book for how many days you can. Missing the Mekong Delta just because you can’t enjoy it for two weeks would be a foolish decision you will probably regret later.
Which Cruise to Choose?
As we’ve already said, there are really so many options you will have no problem finding something that suits your needs and your budget. If it’s a cruise that needs to be booked in the last minute, make sure you check the deals of companies in the bigger cities as you will be able to find better prices.
If you’re booking online and in advance, you will have more options to choose and it will be much easier to compare deals. However, booking online should never be done without checking the online reviews of the company you will give your money to. Unfortunately, there are scams which could ruin your cruise experience once you realize you didn’t get for what you’ve paid for.
In case you were looking for a more private, luxury Mekong Delta cruise, you can do that as well. There are plenty of companies that specialize in that type of cruise and ensure you have an unforgettable experience. For instance, by booking the Aqua Mekong cruise, you can even enjoy numerous excursions such as cycling and kayaking.
Conclusion
Mekong Delta cruise is a journey that will definitely transform your life. Living deep within this raw, beautiful nature for a few days or even weeks will make you respect nature more and understand the different cultures that live in Mekong Delta. Luckily, as it’s really an experience that shouldn’t be missed, numerous companies offer various options for all types of travellers. All that is left is to book a cruise and see what makes this region so unique!
To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.