River cruising vacations

For many, the word “cruise” brings to mind multi-story liners and questionable on-board entertainment (that, or Top Gun). There’s a time and a place for both, but neither of those is the type of cruise we’re talking about here.

In Southeast Asia, river cruising is about getting beyond the main sites and into the remote hinterlands. It’s about soaking up riverside life on a Mekong Delta cruise, or taking a private charter cruise to palm-fringed, jewel-like islands that feel like no human has ever set foot there. It’s about river cruising to tiny jungle villages inaccessible by road, and discovering cultures untouched by mass tourism.

From overnight Halong Bay cruises to multi-day Mekong river cruises, below are just a few of our favorite waterborne adventures in Southeast Asia. Get in touch and we’ll weave together a cruising itinerary tailored to you.

Vietnam Rejuvenation

From $4,850 per person

Pamper mind, body and soul on this restorative journey spanning the dense jungles, white-sand beaches and historic towns of Vietnam.

Thailand & Laos Explorer

From $3,635 per person

Experience two unique but intertwined cultures as you cruise along the Mekong from northern Thailand to Laos.

Cambodia in Style

From $16,805 per person

If you’re looking for something extra-special, you’ve found it. This is the most luxurious trip Cambodia has to offer.

Mekong Explorer

From $6,200 per person

Linking two dramatically different cities, this cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia will introduce you to the joys of slow travel.

Vietnam's Greatest Hits

From $2,980 per person

Don’t know where to begin with Vietnam? This trip combines cultural, scenic and historical highlights for a perfectly balanced introduction.

Reclining gold gilt buddha on purple platform surrounded by craggy rocks

Luxurious Laos

From $6,530 per person

Laos’s most magnificent scenery combined with its finest accommodation: this itinerary is the crème de la crème.

Halong Bay

Northern Vietnam

Jungle-clad islands cloaked in atmospheric sea mist and 2,000 limestone pinnacles thrusting skywards: Halong Bay is indisputably one of Asia’s great landscapes.

Mekong Delta

Southern Vietnam

Buzzing with longtail taxi boats and crowded with barges piled with mangoes, pineapples and fresh fish, a Mekong Delta tour is all about getting to know the rhythms of life on the water.

Pakbeng

Laos

It’s the views that make Pakbeng more than just a convenient stopover: this is part of one of Asia’s most stunning river journeys, with lush and verdant mountains rising either side of the broad, coffee-colored waters of the Mekong.

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

Phnom Penh may no longer be the “Pearl of the Orient”, but don’t judge a book by its cover: beneath this chaotic exterior is a city alive with energy, art, and youthful verve.

4,000 Islands

Laos

Si Phan Don, or the 4,000 Islands, is landlocked Laos’s answer to the coast: laid-back, palm-fringed, and lush beyond belief, this riverine archipelago is the ultimate place to relax.

Luang Prabang

Laos

Luang Prabang is Laos’s Shangri-La: sweeping golden roofs and colonial shophouses against a lush backdrop of jungle-covered mountains, and a laid-back atmosphere of peace and serenity.

Cruising on the Lower Mekong

Lower Mekong

From its source in the Tibetan Plateau to its delta in Vietnam, the Mekong has many different personalities.

Halong Bay/Lan Ha Bay cruising

Halong Bay

Every time we do it, cruising on Halong Bay feels almost magical – like we’ve accidentally sailed into a Vietnamese legend.

Cruising on the Upper Mekong

Upper Mekong

Where the Lower Mekong is broad, slow, and pulsing with life, the Upper Mekong is faster, narrower, and altogether more remote.

Isn’t cruising a bit 'vanilla'?

Forget vast ocean liners the size of apartment blocks that turf thousands of people out into port towns. In Southeast Asia, cruising is about traveling by a country's waterways or exploring stunning bays, heading through areas that are only accessible by river, often in wild and remote corners that are far from the beaten path. Cruise itineraries typically include plenty of stops to visit villages, temples and islands, and will often include a program of cultural lectures and demonstrations to help you better understand the places you’re visiting.

How big are the ships?

The cruises we recommend are those that take you away from touristed areas and into otherwise inaccessible parts of Asia. Boats will be traditional wooden riverboats (on rivers), yachts (on the sea), or Chinese-style junks (at Halong & Lan Ha Bay). Sizes range from five to about 30 cabins, depending on the route and vessel.

What’s the food like on a cruise?

All meals are included while you cruise, and ships vary in their offerings from informal buffets to top-of-the-range fine dining — though we’ll never recommend a cruise where the food isn’t delicious! At both ends of the spectrum, expect a range of local dishes, as well as the occasional Western classic. Ships can cater to dietary requirements with prior notice.

When is the best time of year for a cruise?

Cruising is highly season-dependent, and the best time to go depends on which cruise you’re looking at. In Vietnam, Halong and Lan Ha Bay (in the north) and the Mekong Delta (in the south) cruises run throughout the year. River vessels, by contrast, have very fixed schedules. Some routes can run year-round, with tweaks between the high and low water seasons, but some run during the high water season alone. If you’re interested in including a cruise in your itinerary, chat to your consultant and they’ll be able to discuss specific dates.

How long are the cruises?

Cruises can vary from overnight (in Halong and Lan Ha Bay or the Mekong Delta, for instance) to much longer, multi-day routes. The classic Mekong cruise from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap takes seven nights, and some of the expedition cruising in Laos and Myanmar can run to 14 nights. Most cruising areas have a good range of shorter and longer cruises, and we can advise you on the best boats and itineraries for your particular needs.