When is the best time to sail along the Mekong?

The best time to sail the Mekong is in the spring, fall or winter. During these seasons, the temperature is mild and there is less rainfall than in the summer months.

What should I pack for my trip along the Mekong River?

For most excursions, lightweight, breathable clothing and comfortable walking shoes are ideal. Some indoor settings can be cool, so it is a good idea to bring items you can layer, such as a light jacket or sweater. Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat are recommended for UV protection, and it may also be advisable to bring mosquito repellent, an umbrella and lightweight rain gear. In religious settings, men and women are encouraged to wear respectful dress, covering shoulders and knees.

What are some of the culinary highlights of a Mekong River voyage?

The hallmarks of Vietnamese food are fresh herbs, seafood, fruits and vegetables, shrimp paste, soy sauce and rice. These ingredients feature prominently in the nation’s most famous dishes, including pho (noodle soup) and gỏi cuốn (spring rolls). Vietnam’s time under French colonial rule has also left its mark on the nation’s food, particularly in its iconic bánh mì sandwich, which is served on a traditional baguette.\nTypical Khmer seasonings used include kaffir lime, red chili paste, palm sugar, lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, garlic, shallots, fish sauce and kapi (fermented shrimp paste). Combining these ingredients together results in a flavor profile that is at once salty, spicy and sweet.\nOne of Cambodia\u0027s signature dishes is a steamed curry called fish amok, which appears on seemingly every street corner and restaurant menu. This ubiquitous favorite makes for a striking presentation, with its brilliant curry powder-like hue set off by colorful garnishes and a bright green banana leaf bowl.

What wildlife live along the Mekong River?

The Greater Mekong region—which covers Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and southern China’s Yunnan province—is home to more than 1,300 species of fish, 1,200 species of birds, 800 species of reptiles and amphibians and 430 species of mammals.\nOne recent find was the Dracula minnow, a tiny fish with bulging eyes and two sharp fangs and the “lipstick gecko” with its bright red mouth. The region is also home to endangered species like tigers, Asian elephants and Irrawaddy dolphins.

Are there UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the Mekong River?

Yes, the most notable UNESCO World Heritage Site along the Mekong River is the Angkor Archaeological Park, which contains the majestic remains of the capitals of the Khmer Empire, dated between the 9th and 15th centuries.\nThe crown jewel of the complex is the 12th-century temple of Angkor Wat. Built for King Suryavarman II, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest, best preserved and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples.\nTravelers may also want to prioritize seeing the Bayon Temple, located in the fortified city of Angkor Thom. Its iconic stone faces and bas-reliefs portray life in this sprawling complex and scenes of battle. Make sure to visit the Terrace of Elephants, a platform that was crafted for Angkor’s king to view his returning armies and as a place for public ceremonies.\nIt is also recommended to visit the Ta Prohm temple, which was founded as a Buddhist monastery during the late 12th and early 13th centuries. This photogenic site has been left largely untouched since its discovery, so you can see the staggering remains much as European explorers did when they first stumbled upon them.

Experience the treasures of the Mekong River

Discover the iconic architecture, distinctive cultures and intriguing history that await you in Vietnam and Cambodia. From its idyllic landscapes to its bustling cities, this captivating region offers curious travelers a wide variety of delights. Read on to learn more about Khmer cuisine, delve into the unique tradition of floating markets and enhance your knowledge of Cambodia’s storied past.

Mekong

As with the Yangtze and Ganges Rivers, the Mekong River begins in Lasagongma Spring on Mt. Guozongmucha in the Tibetan Plateau—the largest source of fresh water outside the polar ice caps. On its 3,000-mile (4,828 km) journey, the Mekong winds through China before forming the international borders of China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand in what is called the “Golden Triangle.” Its most dramatic drop occurs right before the triangle, when the roiling waters plunge almost 15,000 ft. (4,572 m); after that, it straightens and continues another 1,600 mi. (2,575 km) through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before splintering off into a richly fertile delta and flowing into the South China Sea.

Many of Southeast Asia’s largest cities lie on the banks of the Mekong, including Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam. If you are sailing downriver, you will see the scenery change rather quickly. Shiny new skyscrapers and casinos give way to banana trees and fields of rice and corn in the delta, where the majority of people live in the countryside. Opportunities to earn a living here are primarily limited to either farming or fishing.

Second only to the Amazon River in terms of biodiversity, the Mekong is home to at least 1,100 freshwater species, including the Siamese crocodile, some of the last remaining Irrawaddy dolphins, the giant ibis, carp, stingrays—weighing in at 1,300 lbs. (589 kg)—and catfish reaching up to 10 ft. (3 m) in length. The Mekong River basin boasts one of the world’s largest and most productive inland fisheries, yielding about 4.5 million tons of fish and aquatic products annually with an economic value of around $7 billion a year.

People have lived in the Greater Mekong region for more than 4,000 years, during which the Mekong River has been an important thoroughfare for people marketing their goods. Mainly populated by Vietnamese, the region’s floating villages are almost self-contained—a world in which many people spend much, if not all, of their lives without ever setting foot on land, and where local farmers displaying their chickens or crops steer narrow handmade boats through floating markets.

Although navigation conditions vary greatly along the length of the Mekong, this impressive river is also becoming an important link in international trade routes, connecting the six Mekong countries to each other and the rest of the world.

Cuisine—Cambodian cuisine

Although Cambodian—or Khmer—cuisine is often thought to be indistinguishable from that of its neighbors, Thailand and Vietnam, it differs in several important ways. For one, the spice level is comparatively mild. A bowl of small chilies is commonly served alongside meals, allowing the diner to add spice to the food at their discretion. In place of the heat, many Cambodian dishes boast distinct pickled or tangy flavors. This is often achieved through the use of kapi, or fermented shrimp paste, in addition to the ubiquitous fermented fish paste known as prahok. The presence of large amounts of garlic is another hallmark of this singular cuisine, as is a wide variety of locally grown vegetables.

While the Vietnamese adore their pho soup and the Thais their khao tom (boiled rice porridge served with egg and/or meat), Cambodians prefer to start their morning with a steaming bowl of kuy teav, or meat and noodle soup. Nom banh chok (rice noodles smothered in a fish-based green curry sauce) or a simple breakfast of bai sach chrouk (grilled pork and rice) are also popular choices.

When it comes to unusual snacks, fried ants and crickets are found throughout Southeast Asia, but Cambodians also have a particular taste for tarantulas. Eaten in earnest during the famine-stricken days of the Khmer Rouge regime, the arachnid’s crab-like flavor quickly caught on, and today they are considered a delicacy. These crunchy treats are usually stir-fried in a wok and are said to be the perfect accompaniment to a cold glass of beer.

From insects to indigenous herbs, Cambodia boasts a culture and a cuisine all its own. Among the many spices grown in this resilient country, the revered Kampot pepper reigns supreme. Floral and slightly sweet with a long, lingering aftertaste, this exquisite variety has been cultivated in Cambodia for centuries, becoming an important export during the country’s time under French colonial rule. Though the industry was forced into a period of serious decline due to the Khmer Rouge regime’s autocratic policies, it has since begun the slow process of rebuilding. In addition to appearing on the menus of some of the world’s top restaurants, Kampot pepper can now be found locally in dishes including loc lac (stir-fried beef strips set atop a green salad served with a lime-and-pepper dipping sauce) and sautéed crab and pepper.
Culture—Floating markets

The tradition of selling products from boat to boat goes back more than 100 years, and the Mekong Delta is home to hundreds of floating markets. With so many interesting goods for sale in these markets, you can look, smell, taste and buy your way through a veritable cornucopia.

Trading begins before dawn. By sunrise, the waterways are decorated with an army of brightly painted sampans (small, flat-bottomed wooden boats) jockeying for position as everything from pineapples, herbs and citrus to turtles, snakes and potbellied pigs quickly change hands.

Wholesalers moor here, each specializing in one or a few types of fruit or vegetables. Bigger boats snap everything up by the bushel and resell it in the big cities. Vendors of smaller items hoist samples on a bamboo pole so their goods are visible from a distance. Some vendors' lives are so linked to boats that they do not just work on the river; they also live there.

Shoppers arrive by land and water, signaling their wish to purchase by simply whistling or waving their hand. In the future, with more transportation moving to newly built roads, it could become rare to experience this historic boat-to-boat trading atmosphere on the Mekong.
History—The spirit of Cambodia

It would be a mistake to define the spirit of Cambodia strictly by the soaring glory of Angkor Wat, the meandering Mekong River or the heady mix of ancient and modern architecture found in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Beyond these calling cards, Cambodia is—remarkably, after its dark and recent past—a country at peace with itself. What defines the spirit of Cambodia? Surely its people, who leave a lasting impression on visitors.

The story of Cambodia begins in 4000 BC with the first settlements. By the 13th century, it had grown into a major power as the Khmer kingdom, with territory in today’s Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Malay Peninsula. Angkor Wat, built in the then-capital of Angkor in the 12th century, stands today as the most impressive remnant of Khmer might. Its completion as a royal mausoleum punctuated a renaissance the likes of which Southeast Asia had never seen.

With the Siamese insurgence of the 15th century, the capital was moved south to Phnom Penh. Angkor was abandoned and left to decay until French archaeologists, with the support of the French protectorate that had moved in to oversee the country in 1863, began the long work of excavation and restoration.

The French ruled the region for 90 years until independence was gained in 1953. Entanglements with the North Vietnamese and the US in the 1960s and 1970s culminated in the emergence of the brutal dictator Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. The death of millions of Cambodians due to starvation, massacre and disease followed during one of the most notorious genocides the world has ever seen. Approximately 25 percent of the country’s total population met their end during the Khmer Rouge’s four-year reign of terror; any hint of opposition to Pol Pot’s government, including the pursuit of independent thought, led to execution. Vietnam soon intervened to depose Pol Pot and in 1979 the Khmer Rouge regime was soundly defeated, ushering in a new era of peace in Cambodia.

With its freedom to rediscover its rich heritage restored, today’s Cambodia is a vibrant tableau of green rice fields, rolling hills, French-influenced cities and the sinewy course of the Mekong. This is due in no small part to the remarkable resilience and spirit of the Cambodian people, known to be quick with a smile and a warm welcome.

Mekong Highlights

A voyage through Vietnam and Cambodia promises exceptional scenic beauty, historic architecture and rich cultural traditions to discover. Here are some sample highlights you may experience on a voyage along the Mekong River: