Vietnam & Cambodia

As the longest river in Southeast Asia, and 12th longest river in the world, the Mekong runs through six countries (China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam) and after enduring a 4,500 km journey and splitting into nine arms, or ‘dragons’, in the Mekong Delta, finally discharges into the South China Sea at an astonishing rate of 475 cubic kilometers of water per year – enough drinking water for 400 billion humans annually. A fifth of Vietnam’s 100 million citizens live in the delta, and a vast majority of them rely on the Mekong for agriculture and fishing. This is made possible because the soil is extraordinary fertile, owing to the vast amounts of sediment and nutrients carried by the river all the way down from the Tibetan plateau (an estimated 1 billion cubic meters annually). Roughly 50% of this water is used as irrigation for the delta’s countless fruit, vegetable and rice fields along the banks and areas crisscrossed by a maze of canals and rivers.

Joining the Mekong River at Phnom Penh is the Tonle Sap, which is connected to its massive reservoir and Southeast Asia’s largest inland lake. The Tonle River’s claim to fame is that it is the world’s only waterway which flows in both directions. During the dry season (Nov. to May), its waters run downstream. However, as the wet monsoon seasons causes the Mekong River to swell, rushing waters take an alternate path up the Tonle Sap, thus reversing its flow for half the year. The area ranges from of 2,500 sqkm (965 sqmi) during dry season to six times its size at 16,000 sqkm (6,000 sqmi), and at some parts, depths can even rise by 10 meters during the wet monsoon.

Not only does the lake act as a safety valve for the Mekong by preventing floods further downstream, it also contributes 50% of the delta’s water flow during the dry season, allowing for balance to triumph.

Today, when an outsider hears the word ‘Khmer’, they are likely to imagine the once sprawling Khmer Empire (which is used interchangeably with Angkor Empire), ancestors of present-day Cambodians. The Angkor empire was founded on the banks of the Mekong River at the turn of the 9th century before eventually relocating to Angkor (near modern day Siem Reap). It was here that the Khmer civilization thrived, feeding their population with the Tonle’s abundant fish and irrigated rice fields. At its zenith, the empire encompassed all of Cambodia in addition to much of Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand – and Angkor was also the largest urban center of the world at the time. In 1181, Cambodia’s greatest monarch, King Jayavarman VII (one of our vessels takes its name after him), united his fractured kingdom to defeat the neighboring Cham empire in addition to converting his kingdom from Hinduism to Buddhism (remnants from both religions are still on display). Today, 2 million tourists flock to this UNESCO World Heritage Site annually.

Any time of the year can be ideal for visiting the lower Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia. Pleasant temperatures and clear skies can be expected in December, January and February, making these months the best, but also most visited season of the year. March is still a very good month to travel with hardly any rain fall but higher degrees though. From April to May then the weather can get hot with temperatures rising may rise up to 35°C (95°F) degree. Around early June the rainy season usually begins (lasting til October or early November) - the weather is still hot, but thanks to the clouds and rain falls temperatures are pleasantly reduced. Scattered showers can be expected mostly in the afternoon. However, these summer months have their advantages: the vegetation is bursting with vivid greenery, much less visitors, and from Mid-August to Mid-November (approx.) the Tonle Lake has enough water to allow a smooth passage.

The Mekong River region is likely to be the second most biodiverse in the world (after the Amazon River) with over 1300 species of fish, including the famed the Mekong giant catfish. It also hosts the world’s largest inland fishery, with Vietnam being the leading exporter (1.3 million tons in 2019) of freshwater fish farmed in the delta. The waters of the Mekong are also responsible for irrigating southern Vietnam’s plentiful rice fields and orchards – the country is the top exporter of the exotic dragon fruit and the world’s 3rd largest exporter of rice (after Thailand and India). Further up the Mekong and across the border, Cambodia is home to a very young population. More than half of its population is under the age of 30. And the famous Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world (over 400 acres). Angkor is also featured on the Cambodian flag – one of the world’s only national flags featuring a building.

When travelling in Southeast Asia, it is important to understand some local etiquette, though locals usually understand cultural differences and are quite forgiving to foreigners. In Cambodia, because a person’s head is the highest part of the body, it is considered sacred and should never be touched, even if done in a kind and loving manner. Similarly, pointing the sole of one’s foot at another person is considered rude. And, while in Vietnam it is very normal offer your hand as a greeting, instead Cambodians welcome each other with a ‘Sampeah’, where the hands are held together in a Namaste prayer position accompanied with a bow of the head. Some other important customs to be aware of in both countries: Avoid public displays of affection or wearing revealing clothing (especially at places of worship). It is also nice to offer someone an item using both hands as a sign of respect, and when pointing in a direction, use the entire hand rather than your index finger. Finally, take off your shoes when visiting a temple or local resident’s home.