How to Plan a River Cruise from Thailand to Vietnam?

Southeast Asia is one of the hottest destinations for international tourists around the world, and with a host of countries to visit, there is an endless wealth of things to see and do. Southeast Asia includes the countries of Mainland Southeast Asia (the Indochinese Peninsula); Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam; as well as the Maritime Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, and East Timor.

Thailand beach

Halong Bay Vietnam

For most travelers to tour Southeast Asia, the Indochinese Peninsula is one of the most popular destinations, and in this region, river cruises have become one of the most popular tours available. The massive Mekong River - which runs from the Tibetan plateau, through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam - is one of the most popular places for river cruises, and there are a huge number of tourists that opt for this stunning boat ride along the Mekong traveling from Thailand to Vietnam. An awesome slow-boat cruise, there is no better way to travel from Thailand, across Laos and Cambodia, and ending in Vietnam.

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Best Time to Have a River Cruise from Thailand to Vietnam

The vast region of the Mekong River in Southeast Asia actually crosses through several different climate zones, and knowing when the best time to travel through them all is, is important if you are planning a cruise along the Mekong River. While most of the region has the typical two-season climate of Southeast Asia, the seasons can overlap somewhat, and the dry season can start at different times in different areas. The best time to travel along the Mekong River is in the dry season, which mostly runs from November to April, across the region. However, the optimum time of in the period of the dry season from November to January.

The rainy season across the region has ended by the beginning of November, and while the dry season has started, the land is still lush and green from the rains, and the river is still slightly swollen from the monsoon. Moreover, without all the rain, you will not be restricted to spending any time in the cabin. From February to April, the weather across the region tends to start getting hotter, and can be uncomfortable for travel, not to mention that the river starts to dry up a little in this period. While not completely dry, it does have stretches where there is little water for the boats to travel along.

While the dry season is the best time to take a Mekong cruise, it is possible to take it in the wet season, and since the rain usually falls in the late afternoon and evening, you may not find yourself confined to your cabin as much as you thought. This is another attraction that brings passengers to the cruises, as they want to experience the season where the landscape and scenery is at its greenest and most vibrant.

The Most Recommend Cruise

Cruises along the Mekong River can be done in many different ways, from taking the cruise in small chunks, visiting other areas along the river as you go, to making it one big trip from the border of Thailand and Laos all the way to the Vietnamese city of Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City. Cruises that run along the Mekong can be for as little as a day or two, to as much as 8-11 days, depending on where you are traveling from and to, and whether you plan on stopping at different points to explore before carrying on along the river.

The main route that runs from Thailand to Vietnam does not actually start in Thailand, since the Mekong only actually runs along the border, separating Thailand and Laos all the way to the Golden Triangle area where Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar all converge. However, there is no cruise that runs all the way from the Golden Triangle to the Mekong Delta, so it would have to be done in stages. Travelers need to make the trip in short boat rides, from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang or Vientiane, and then from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh or on to Saigon.

River cruise to Vietnam

Day 1 – Huay Xai to Pakbeng

Day 1 – After leaving Chiang Rai for Chiang Khong, you cross the border to Huay Xai, just inside Laos, where you will board the boat for the first day of the cruise. As you drift along the river, the jungles of Laos and Thailand on either side soon give way to rolling hills, and by lunchtime, you will dock in one of the small villages along the river to explore the local Laotian culture. In the afternoon, your cruise continues along the river, and the shores slowly turn to jungle again, as you near the small town of Pakbeng, where the boat stops for the night.

Day 2 – Pakbeng to Luang Prabang

Day 2 – After a good night’s sleep, your journey continues, and the hours tick by as the scenery passes you by on the banks of the river. As the boat nears Luang Prabang in Laos, the hills turn to mountains, and the mountains slowly get bigger. In the afternoon, just after lunch, you will dock at a small village on the northern shore called Pak Ou, from where you will be taken on small boats across the river and into the famous Pak Ou Caves. The caves area a revered Buddhist shrine in Laos filled with hundreds of Buddhist statues. After a few hours, the boat continues and an hour later you will reach Luang Prabang and the next stop for the night.

Royal Palace in Luang Prabang

Day 3 – Luang Prabang to Ban Muang

Day 3 – The start of the day sees you heading off downriver from Luang Prabang, and around lunchtime you will reach the newly-built lock that is part of the Xanyaburi Hydro Electric Power Plant. From the lock, you will continue down to the Kmu Tribal Village at Ban Park Bor, where you can stretch your legs for the afternoon, before continuing on to the next stop at Ban Muang.

Day 4 – Ban Muang to Vientiane

Day 4 – The trip continues from Ban Muang to Vientiane, passing through the French Administrative town of Pak Lai, with its colonial buildings and bustling markets, where you can stop off for an hour to explore. As this is your last night on the boat, you will have a farewell dinner, before heading for bed and the view of Vientiane as you rise in the morning.

Day 5 – Flight to Siem Reap

Day 5 – You will need to get a flight from Vientiane to Siem Reap, as it is not possible to travel most of the Mekong along the Laos border with the Thai provinces of Sakon Nakhon and Ubon Ratchathani due to waterfalls and rapids. It is also not possible to cross the border between Laos and Cambodia along the river.

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap

Day 6 – Siem Reap to Tonle Sap by car; Chong Khneas to Kampong Tralach

Day 6 – Board the ship in Siem Reap at the northern end of the Tonle Sap Lake, and sail down the lake to the first stop at the village of Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap River. Continue on down the Tonle Sap River to Kampong Tralach, where you will moor for the night.

Day 7 – Kampong Tralach to Neak Loeung

Day 7 – Your journey continues in the morning, heading south along the Tonle Sap River, until you reach the Mekong again, just to the north of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. Most tours do stop in Phnom Penh for an afternoon, before heading on to the border and mooring at Neak Loeung for the night.

Day 8 - Neak Loeung to My Tho

Day 8 – The day begins with the short trip to the border, where you will spend around 2-3 hours while your passports and visas are checked for entry into Vietnam. Once complete, you will cross the border on the river, and follow the upper reaches of the Mekong Delta as far as My Tho.

Day 9 – My Tho to Ho Chi Minh City

Day 9 – Finish your cruise with the short journey from My Tho through the Mekong Delta to the Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon, where you will disembark.

Check for a 11-days Thailand and Vietnam tour with river cruise.

Attentions during River Cruise from Thailand to Vietnam

There are a large number of ships that run the two main stretches of the Mekong, and for the stretch from Huay Xai to Vientiane, it is important to pick your ship carefully, as many of the boats that run the route along the Upper Mekong are little more than barges that overcharge and have no accommodation. Find a decent cruise boat that has cabins included, and that does not require you to stay in hotels along the river, as the hotels give a kickback to the boats to only stop at their own dock for the night.

Some parts of the river cruise can leave you cold and shivering, especially in the period of the dry season, from November to January. Make sure that you bring a warm coat to wear when the weather gets cold, normally in the evenings and early mornings. And if you are prone to being a little seasick, remember to bring sea sickness tablets, as they may not be available once you board.

The Lower Mekong is much more commercial than the Upper, and the boats that run the routes from Siem Reap and Saigon or Saigon to Stung Treng are a little more expensive than those of the Upper Mekong. Look for a reputable company, rather than just the cheapest, as there are many unregistered boats that will offer their services for a private cruise.

Summary

Taking a cruise along the Mekong River is one of the most stunning cruises in Southeast Asia, and gives you a great look into the cultures of the river tribes that still live alongside the river and make a living from its waters. It is unfortunate that the river cannot yet be navigated for its entire length, from the Golden Triangle to the Mekong Delta, although there are plans underway to try and rectify this in the future, to make one long cruise possible.