Aqua Mekong Cruise

Step aboard the handsome Aqua Mekong for a luxury cruise that charts through the heart of the mighty Mekong Delta. Moving at an unhurried pace, it’s the ideal way to experience this storied waterway.  

Unpack just once along a three-night/four-day route bookended by Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll wake up in Vietnam on the morning of the second day, then experience pastoral countryside and the floating markets of the Mekong Delta before making a final land transfer to Ho Chi Minh City.  

There are just 20 suites on this three-deck river boat for an intimate passenger list that counts just 40 travelers. From excursions to sundowners, a 1:1 crew-to-passenger ratio means highly personalized service is delivered on a first-name basis. 

Aqua Mekong’s cabins are stylishly outfitted with smart hardwood accents and cooled by air-conditioning. Sit back and watch lily-dappled riverbanks drift by through floor-to-ceiling picture windows. Eight cabins boast balconies and a handful of interconnecting suites connect families or small groups. Measuring no smaller than 300 square feet, you won’t feel cramped in these quarters.  

In the communal spaces, Aqua Mekong’s modern aesthetic feels more akin to a sleek hotel than a ship. Sink into a mid-century chair in the movie room, play a competitive game of designer foosball in the games room, or lounge in a cane accent chair on the observation deck—perhaps with a salted watermelon crush in hand. Cardio equipment, Starlink satellite internet, laundry service, and a spa round out a suite of amenities. For a commanding view of the Mekong, lounge in the sheltered plunge pool that overlooks ship’s bow.  

By day, you’ll depart the Aqua Mekong for twice-daily excursions to landmarks, temples, and villages alongside an expert guide. Venture into a Delta town by xe loi (rickshaw) then meet monks at a pagoda stationed on a mountain and blessed with panoramic views. Gentle bike rides invite cruise-goers to stretch their legs while joyfully exploring the countryside on two wheels. Additional activities such as a plantation walk, sampan boat ride, and visit to a local’s home offer snippets into life along the Delta.  

Meals on Aqua Mekong are multi-course rituals that pay homage to Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine. Seasonal produce sings alongside flavors like coconut, lemongrass, and turmeric on a menu designed by Michelin-starred chef David Thompson. Anticipate refined signature creations like lamb curry with Khmer spices and Vietnamese sugar cane prawns. Foodies are welcome to accompany the ship’s culinary team to local markets to help procure vendor-sourced ingredients like Mekong catfish and Asian greens.  

Aqua Mekong passengers can enjoy the entire Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City itinerary as a seven-day journey, or as an abbreviated three-night passage between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. Excursions may be subject to seasonal water levels, but Aqua Mekong can be enjoyed year-round and in either direction.