Cruising along the Mekong
When a friend suggested a holiday cruising the Mekong, it did not take me long to say yes. I had never been river cruising before, but after seven days gliding along this magnificent river between Vietnam and Cambodia, watching life unfold on the banks and stepping straight into villages and markets from the boat, I finally understood why people fall in love with this way of travelling.
I first went cruising for my 40th birthday, when I gathered a few friends and hired a canal boat to potter along a French canal for a week. All but one of us had absolutely no boating experience, apart from sitting on a few ferries, but there we were, slowly floating past vineyards and villages, waving at people on the towpath and mooring up to wander into tiny towns and villages. The pace of travel, the life on the water and the different side of the country we saw from the canal really stayed with me.
So when a friend suggested a river boat cruise on the Mekong, I did not need any convincing.
The Mekong runs between Vietnam and Cambodia and has a rich history. It is still very much a living, working river: a home to communities and an essential route for transporting goods, produce and people. Travelling along it by river felt like stepping quietly into another world, one you simply would not be part of if you were travelling by land.
Most mornings we would look out and see something different: fishing boats heading out, people starting their day on the riverbanks, children waving from stilt houses and floating homes. As we sailed, we saw every way the river is used: floating markets piled high with fruit and vegetables, narrow boats loaded with building materials, families going about daily life in homes only accessible via the delta.
Our days were a mix of exploring off the boat and relaxing on board. Nothing felt rushed and it never felt too quiet. Sitting on deck with a coffee watching village life along the banks became part of the routine, and a swim in the pool often won out over sitting in a lounge or my cabin with a book.
When we stepped off the boat, we really got involved in local life. We took part in a special religious festival, helped out at a local school, met the boat builders and visited families whose business is making incense. Meeting the people who depend on this body of water, hearing their stories and seeing how they live in places that can only be reached by boat was an experience I will always treasure.
Because river boats are small compared with ocean cruise ships, getting off does not involve queues or long bus rides to the sights. It is usually a case of stepping off the boat and simply walking to a local café, village or temple. When we explored smaller waterways and islands, a local boat pulled up alongside so we could easily step on and off.
On board, the space felt more like a relaxed boutique hotel than a big ship. As well as the pool and several deck and lounge areas, there was a spa for those all‑important treatments and massages, and a gym that helped balance out the food, which was so good it was hard to stop before dessert.
After seven days on the boat I was not ready to leave, but leave I had to. There is a reason people return to cruising once they have been: until you have experienced this type of travel it is hard to explain. But trust me, and many others, river cruising is well worth considering.
If you are thinking of cruising and have any questions, or would like some advice on what kind of cruise might suit you, do get in touch. I also have a general Guide to Cruises – link.