13 nights · Vietnam · River cruise · Departs Hanoi (Vietnam) · Visiting Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Saigon · Aboard Ponant Cruises on the Aqua Mekong
Image courtesy of Ponant Cruises ©
This river cruise sails the Mekong and Saigon, departing Hanoi.
| Cruise line | Ponant Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Aqua Mekong |
| Duration | 13 nights |
| Port calls | 5 |
| Departures | 13 sailings |
| From fare | $10,190 per person |
| Year built | 2014 |
| Guests | 40 |
| Cabins | 20 |
| Crew | 20 |
| Length | 62 m |
| Beam | 12 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Hanoi rewards travelers who look beyond its traffic. In the Old Quarter, narrow streets brim with family shops, temples, and bowls of pho. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, early-morning tai chi gives way to café terraces and the bustle of the day. French-era boulevards and the Temple of Literature reveal a city shaped by layered histories. Hanoi lies inland; cruise visitors usually reach it from Ha Long Bay, roughly three hours away.
Luang Prabang sits between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, where temple roofs rise above leafy streets. Its UNESCO-listed historic centre brings together gilded Buddhist monasteries and French colonial buildings in a remarkably walkable setting. At dawn, residents gather for the quiet alms-giving ceremony; visitors should observe from a respectful distance. Climb Mount Phousi for river views, then explore the Royal Palace Museum and nearby cafés.
Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor, where Cambodia’s Khmer kings left one of Asia’s great archaeological landscapes. At Angkor Wat, galleries of carved stone surround a temple begun in the early 12th century. Beyond it, the vast Angkor Archaeological Park holds the jungle-embraced towers of Bayon and Ta Prohm. Allow time for Siem Reap itself: a lively Cambodian city with markets, cafés, and access to Tonlé Sap’s floating communities.
Phnom Penh rewards a day spent looking beyond its riverfront. Cambodia’s capital pairs the Royal Palace’s gilded roofs and the Silver Pagoda’s silver-tiled floor with the broad Mekong. At Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields, the Khmer Rouge years become painfully tangible. Leave time for the Central Market, where art deco architecture shelters stalls selling silver, silk, and local produce.
Ho Chi Minh City rewards curious travellers with a vivid collision of old Saigon and modern Vietnam. French-colonial landmarks, busy markets and motorbike-filled streets make the centre a study in contrasts. The War Remnants Museum offers a sobering account of the conflict, while local cafés invite a slower pause. For a deeper look at Vietnam’s wartime history, the Cu Chi tunnels make a memorable excursion beyond the city.
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Published August 23, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
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