Meandering through six countries and the pulse of Southeast Asia, the Mekong River is not just a river; it’s a living, breathing passageway into time, culture, and community. That’s why cruising along the Mekong River has become one of the most meaningful experiences to discover the wonder of this region. Whether you’re gliding past verdant orchards in Ben Tre or visiting colorful floating markets outside of Can Tho, Mekong Tours immerse you in the land, the people, and the rhythm of existence along one of the planet’s most intriguing waterways.
From traditional sampans to comprehensive luxury ships, Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River, catering to every type of traveler. Whether you opt for gliding through nipa palm canals in a hand-rowed boat or sipping sunset cocktails on a four-star cruise, each approach offers a different window into life along the Mekong River. On Mekong Tours, you can visit floating markets at dawn, walk through quiet riverfront villages, and visit workshops for coconut candy and fruit orchards in places like Ben Tre and Cai Be.
While day cruises are ideal for those pressed for time, providing a condensed taste of river living, it’s an overnight journey where the magic sinks in. Sleeping on a lightly drifting boat and waking up to sunrise’s golden light shimmering on the water makes travel feel ageless. Be it for a few hours or a full weekend, every Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River offers not just a guide for the sights you won’t want to miss along the route, but soul-touching experiences with culture, nature, and community.
Mekong River Cruise (Sours: cruisemekong)
Kick off your trip as our private vehicle and local guide from Impress Travel welcomes you at your hotel lobby in Ho Chi Minh City. Relax as we drive south to My Tho, the entrance to the verdant Mekong Delta. The ride takes roughly 1½ hours and passes scenic rice paddies and village countryside en route.
Arrive at My Tho pier, transfer to a wooden boat, and start your Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River. You’ll glide along the Tien River, skirting the Four Sacred Islands: Long, Lan, Quy, and Phung, all of which are intertwined in local legend and verdant landscapes.
But we finally make our first stop at an agricultural bee farm, where you’re offered freshly brewed honey tea and seasonal tropical fruit to taste under the fruit tree canopy. It’s a welcome moment of stillness before the next step of the path.
Next, we stop at a coconut candy workshop — a staple stop on many Mekong Tours. See artisans at work making chewy and delicious sweets from coconuts, then taste warm samples directly from the cutting board.
It’s time to take things slow, to connect with the land in the most intimate way possible: Rowing a sampan along narrow canals lined with swaying nipa palms. This peaceful, early morning, authentic experience is one of the most favourite, every day highlights on all the Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River.
We reach a garden-style riverside restaurant on Con Phung (Phoenix Island), where a hearty lunch of Mekong Delta specialties awaits:
For lunch, listen to the sound of Don ca tai tu, a form of traditional Southern Vietnamese music that has been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
In the afternoon, we board the boat again and take a short cruise to the Ben Tre side of the river. Here you’ll walk past quiet villages, meet amiable residents, and appreciate the ingenuity of coconut-based craftsmanship, wooden implements, mats, and natural souvenirs.
Say farewell to the tranquil countryside as we head back to My Tho, where our driver is waiting. The drive back provides time to relax or think about the day’s highlights.
Safely dropped off at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, the end of a fantastic experience! Whether it’s your first time in southern Vietnam or just one stop on a longer adventure, make this day excursion an experience that’ll be included with your favorite memories from any of your Mekong Tour experiences.
Coconut Villages in Ben Tre (Sours: vntrip)
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05:30 – Sunrise boat ride to Cai Rang floating market
Begin your day early with a scene straight out of a fairy tale: boats stacked high with pineapples, pumpkins, and watermelons drift by as locals barter and swap. Traveling with coffee on a boat like a local breakfast on the boat on a signature experience of every Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River.
09:00 – Visit local workshop and fruit orchard
We sail down nearby canals to a fruit orchard, where you can sample fresh seasonal produce and visit a family-run noodle-making workshop, a highlight of many Mekong Tours.
11:30 – Transfer to Chau Doc (by private car or boat)
Post the morning cruise, we’ll head towards Chau Doc, a town at our border with Cambodia noted for its legion of faith, and river-based way of life.
15:30 – Visit Sam Mountain & Ba Chua Xu Temple
Ascend the foothills of Sam Mountain for panoramic delta views. Then visit the celebrated Ba Chua Xu Temple, a popular pilgrimage destination.
Overnight in Chau Doc – stay at a comfortable riverside hotel, then prepare for the next day’s international cruise segment.
Cai Rang Floating Market (Sours: kenh14)
07:30 – Board your international river cruise to Phnom Penh
Breakfast, then on board your cross-border Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River. As you paddle slowly upstream, you’ll handle immigration procedures at the riverside border checkpoint.
12:00 – Cruise into Cambodian waters
Transfer for a lunchtime cruise on board as you watch the Mekong slowly change. The river squeezes, the banks lift, and you’ll start to spot floating villages and fishing boats with unique Khmer flair.
15:30 – Arrival in Phnom Penh
Disembark and check into your hotel in Phnom Penh. Spend the afternoon walking along the Riverside Promenade, or settle in at a local café with views of the Royal Palace.
Optional afternoon: Apsara dance performance and delicious Cambodian dinner on the riverside.
Royal Palace (Sours: cambodialifestyle)
08:30 – Guided city tour of Phnom Penh
Begin your day with a closer look at Cambodia’s cultural and political history. Visit:
12:30 – Lunch at a riverside restaurant
For Khmer fare, try amok fish, banana blossom salad, or beef lok lak.
14:00 – Free time or optional boat ride at sunset
You can either visit local markets or just stay at the hotel. For the truly river-obsessed, we recommend a sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap confluence, one of the scenic highlights of many Mekong Tours.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
A sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap (Sours: phuotvivu)
08:00 – Transfer to Siem Reap (6 hours by car, or 1-hour flight)
Depending on your selection, drive overland through the Cambodian countryside or take a quick flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to the famed Angkor Wat.
15:00 – Arrival in Siem Reap – End of Cruise Journey
Your cross-border Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River ends here, but your adventure can go on with a temple discovery tour in Angkor, or a relaxing lakeside escape on Tonle Sap.
Angkor Wat (Sours: hanhhuonghoasen)
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If you’re setting off on your very first Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River, getting prepared is the key to an easy and enjoyable journey. Don’t forget sun protection such as sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses, as the delta sun can be fierce. So is some sort of insect repellent, particularly when you are visiting fruit orchards and canals.
Have a few notes on local currency in a small satchel, as many of the enchanting establishments along the river, like floating markets and riverside workshops, lack card readers. It’s your opportunity to purchase directly from locals while helping preserve traditional crafts!
Mekong Tours we be the comfort of the king. Pack breathable fabrics like cotton or linen, footwear that you can slip on easily, and basic sandals to ensure you can board the ship quickly and walk around in the villages. The overall atmosphere is laid-back, although modest attire is advised when entering temples or holy places throughout the route.
Quaint Vietnamese phrases, like “Xin chao” (Hello) or “Cam on” (Thank you), can go a long way, and they help the spice of your Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River. Locals will appreciate the effort, and it adds warmth to your experience.
Let the timeless drift of the Mekong River usher you into stories, flavors, and landscapes you’ll remember as long as you live. With every Boat Rides & Mekong tours cruise along the Mekong River, this is no longer the mere act of sightseeing, it’s a journey through the beating heart of Indochina. Regardless of whether it is a one-day getaway escape or a cross-border adventure, Mekong Tours with Impress Travel assures depth, authenticity, and pleasure at every turn. Ready to cruise? Contact us to get your free 1-on-1 consultation today at info@impresstravel.com or +84 912 379 189.
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
Leaving behind the dizzying city of Saigon being onward the tranquil and ultimate beauty of Cai Be Wetland of Mekong Lush-Mighty River Delta, this chance will bring you to explore the most amazing daily...
Mekong Tours will bring you going away from Ho Chi Minh hustle City to the tranquil Cai Be wetland of Mekong Delta for the lovely experience time on the boat trip to visit the world water of a mighty river in Asia...
Mekong Tours will bring you going away from Ho Chi Minh hustle City to the tranquil Cai Be wetland of Mekong Delta for the lovely experience time on the boat trip to visit the world water of a mighty river in Asia...
Visiting the Mekong river delta: Cai Be Floating Market, Can Tho and Chau Doc. Chau Coc to Phnom Penh distance: 130 km The speedboat’s travel time: 4 hours 30 minutes; departing at 7:00 a.m.
