The Mekong River Cruises are some of the most unique trips you can take in the world. Usually, the trip either begins or ends in Ho Chi Minh the capital of Vietnam, and/or in Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia.
Adventure life offers breathtaking trips from both of these destinations.
Activities During the Cruise
There are many floating markets throughout the Mekong, and they’re definitely worth checking out. They provide a great opportunity for taking memorable photos of these markets which are more or less constricted to Southeastern Asia. Additionally, there are a bunch of locals there to meet and interact with. Of course, there is also shopping at these markets, they have fresh fruit, flowers, decadent cuisines like Hu Tieu (a southern style Pho), and souvenirs to bring home with you. The most well-known floating market is in Chau Doc because, in addition to being a floating market, it’s also a floating village. In Chau Doc (and much of Vietnam for that matter) locals have fish farms in their house to get extra passive income. This makes for both a unique and breathtaking sight that’s not quite like anywhere else in the world.
The Sa Dec Village is a traditional Vietnamese village in the Mekong Delta. There’s a variety of foods some tourists might not be daring enough to eat such as fried frogs, duck, and flower-based dishes although it is recommended to give it a try as they are traditional plates. This village also has a beautiful traditional inn featured in a movie from the ’90s called, “L’Amant” or “The Lover”.
On the
Siem Reap tour, you are sure to see Angkor Wat, which is Cambodia’s most revered temple, so much so in fact that it’s on their nation’s flag. Angkor Wat was thought to be created by the Khmer empire which stretched from Burma to Vietnam until the 15th century. It is definitely worth the visit to see this historical and architectural masterpiece.
- The Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Located in Phnom Penh, this is a must-see. These historical sights bring to light what the Khmer Rouge did to their fellow countrymen. Although this is not the most relaxing destination to visit, it’s highly recommended because of its historical significance. There are graphic pictures in the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum so it’s not recommended to bring children.
- Bird Sanctuary in a Sunken Forest
The Tra Su Bird Sanctuary is near Chau Doc in Vietnam. It is a 1,500-hectare marvel filled with birds in an absolutely gorgeous sunken forest. To get there you need to switch from your boat to a speed boat, and then when you get in the sanctuary to a rowing boat so you don’t disturb the birds. This makes the adventure through this forest extremely meditative and relaxing.
Every year in October the Bay Nui ox race happens in An Giang. Usually, this coincides with the festival, Khmer Delta. This is an extremely good place to meet locals and enjoy something that you’re likely to never see again. The race originates from the tradition of bringing an ox to the farmlands of the clergy so they can plow it for the next agricultural season.
The Mekong offers a variety of wildlife for those willing to look for it on a cruise. This includes Irrawaddy dolphins, elephants, Asiatic black bears (moon bear), a variety of monkeys, many farm animals, many species of fish, and around 1,200 bird species.
