We read about the Aqua Mekong in the Andrew Harper Hideaway Report and decided to make it the centerpiece of our tour to Vietnam and Cambodia. We came at the perfect time of the year, at the very end of the rainy season when the weather was perfect and the water high enough to make it into the Tonle Sap Lake to see the floating villages. The boat itself was just fabulous, our room extremely well appointed and the public areas delightful. The staff was uniformly excellent and the excursions fascinating, it was truly a life-changing experience to kayak past floating villages and realizing we are some of the only westerners these children had ever seen. If you’re wanting to cruise the Mekong River, I highly encourage you to go with Aqua Mekong, rather than Viking or Uniworld. We are big Uniworld Fans, but in this area of the world, the experience on the Aqua Mekong is more specialized and authentic. David Thompson, the famous Thai chef, developed the menus and the areas we visited are exclusive to this ship. We saw no other boats on the river the entire trip until we got to Siem Reap. Read Less

We booked this cruise directly with Aqua Expeditions, and the reservation team was very reactive and helpful. For the two hour transfer from Ho Chi Minh to the ship, we had opted for a Mercedes S-class transfer, which was excellent. The ship is gorgeous, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space. We had chosen a double cabin, which means that one cabin was set up as a living room and the other one as a bedroom. Consequently, we also had two bathrooms, which was extremely convenient. We were very happy to have chosen the double cabin, as the cabin otherwise would feel very small. However, other guests seemed perfectly happy with their cabins. The gym is obviously small and only offers some cardio equipment, but it was sufficient for a few days. I had three massages during the cruise, which were excellent. The free laundry service was great. There were only 18 guests (+38 staff) on this cruise, and we quickly got to know each other and it almost felt like travelling with a group of friends. Excursions are offered in the morning and afternoon, and there are often different options to choose from. The excursions were extremely well organised. We particularly enjoyed the bike rides, which was a great way to explore the country side. The biking was pretty easy as it always took place on a flat solid surface, and the bikes are well maintained. There are not really any big sights to be seen. The excursions are all about exploring the local life and people, and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. The food was really great with a variation between Asian and western dishes, sometimes served on the outside deck. The free flow of good wine and beer was a great feature. The service was truly outstanding. The wait staff quickly learned our names, and it was a very warm and personal service. Wifi is only available in public areas, and the speed varies a lot. We had asked to reservation team to provide local SIM cards for us, and it worked very well. It was an unforgettable experience, which I highly recommend. Read Less

5 members of my family went on the cruise in Cambodia, 3 generations. From the start to the finish everything was seamless and thoughtful, especially on my daughter's birthday. The crew were exceptional and the daily excursions very enjoyable, with options for all ages and fitness levels. The dining varied daily and there were western options available. The rooms were a generous size and we had four interconnecting rooms, which allowed privacy as well as a sense of togetherness for the whole family. Each night we had a different place for drinks and sometimes dinner, some activities couldn't go ahead sadly due to weather, I would have loved the sundowner drinks on the riverside. I would highly recommend Aqua Mekong to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in a new culture, with luxury every day. Every bit of it was excellent, the last night a highlight, as well as watching the World Cup Soccer final with some of the crew. Read Less

An amazing experience that combines fun, engaging activities (bike, kayak, skip rides and walks) with introductions to culture, history, and local customs. The staff is fabulous and attentive to everyone's needs - beyond belief: They address you by name, respond to your wishes promptly and share of themselves in lectures, tours, and conversation to give you an authentic experience with real people. The food is an awesome combination of local and (to us) new and exciting flavors - and also familiar fare, but all exquisite and fresh and beautifully presented - in various settings (inside and outdoors). Wine and other drinks were of very good quality and generously provided. Accommodations are a dream for a cruise ship: with floor to ceiling windows and a balcony (in our case), we enjoyed the spacious room (and bathroom with two sinks!!) and the views from the first glimpse in the morning in our very comfortable bed. The boat is immaculate, and cleaning service (incl. free laundry service) is seemingly instantaneous. We picked shoulder season (mid-June) which was perfect: lower price, great weather, and the staff outnumbered the guests 2:1. It is well worth to save up for this trip - it was our second with Aqua Expeditions - the Aqua Amazon experience was our first, and equally rewarding. Read Less

My first cruise and what a wonderful experience we had. The boat is perfect for this river. The suites were beyond my best expectations...I could actually unpack!! The designers definitely knew what they were doing. A big king bed, comfy too. Drawers and shelves everywhere so you could easily unpack, find your stuff, and repack with no hassles. The bathroom was over the top. Huge Shower for a boat, bigger than some hotels we have stayed at. Lots of water pressure, nice hot water. Rooms were cleaned 3x per day!! I loved this room, we did have a balcony but couldn't use it due to the high heat and humidity plus the bugs at night. So if I were to do this again, I would pass on the balcony. No big deal. The ship manager was running a well oiled machine, she did a fantastic job and whenever we had an issue, she resolved it. Kudos to her. The crew, half Vietnamese and half Cambodian were so nice, helpful, courteous, and wanted us to be happy and satisfied. WE WERE!!! This is the way to travel with their guides, who I think are some of the best guides I have ever met. So informative, they want to teach you about their countries, half were Cambodian and half Vietnamese. There is a definite difference between the two nationalities that really comes out in their personalities and how they deliver the information. We loved the guides. So between the ship manager, crew, guides, design of the boat, everything was more than I every expected. Read Less

I wanted to understand some of the history...as a child who grew up in the Vietnam era. So special to spend time in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos - beautiful and unique countries. The people there are largely open to foreigners, the children cry out - hello! what is your name? press gifts of woven reeds upon us. Motorbikes! On the boat - What a relaxing and fasciniating way to spend a week Service was amazing, the staff learned our names right away so we worked to learn theirs. Laundry service every day - what a luxury! Guides excellent - we started in Vietnam with Vietnamese guides and as we crossed into Cambodia another guide, a local Cambodian, was introduced. Very educational and moving. The food was excellent and varied. At breakfast an array of fruit, yogurts and breads - or you could order custom made eggs. Lunch was always a feast - wine pored liberally guaranteed a nap before the afternoon excursion. Dinner also a feast! The vistas amazing....just amazing. I am now exploring dates for an Amazon cruise. Read Less

Mekong Delta cruise Aqua Expedition Mekong delta is outstanding. Delivers everything it promises. The guides are extremely smart and knowledgeable about history, nature, politics, geography and more. All the staff are wonderfully obliging and sweet. We booked the 7 day upriver cruise (from Vietnam to Cambodia) and we were glad we did as Cambodia is much less populated and more unspoiled than the Vietnam section of the delta so this way the trip just got better and better. It ended at Siem Reap (a few minutes from Angkor Wat) which is a highlight in itself. The 7 day cruises can only be taken for the few months that the water is high enough to reach Siem Reap. Early October seems to be the safest and best time. Note that the weather is very hot and humid so wear extremely light clothes. Also note though that you will need to have your shoulders covered and have shorts to your knees when visiting temples. If you only want to do a 3 or 4 day cruise we suggest the 4 day section from Phnom Peng to Siem Reap. The South East Asian food was totally delicious and the chef very approachable. He took us on a tour of a Mekong Delta village food market where he bought the fresh vegetables and fruits for that night’s dinner and described what he was buying and how he would prepare them. Our only criticism of the trip was that smoking was allowed in the swimming pool area and should be limited to one side only. Read Less