Choosing a Mekong river cruise
Cruises · Booking
How booking works
From the first form to a confirmed cabin, step by step: what we need from you, how cabins are held, which visas the border crossing needs, how payment works and what happens if the river changes the plan.
The steps
- 01
Send the form
A month, the number of travellers and the kind of cruise you lean towards. Names of ships you have already seen help too.
- 02
We reply with options
By email, to the address you give: two or three boats that sail your dates, each laid out line by line with the operator's own terms.
- 03
You choose, and we request the cabin
We ask the operator for the cabin you picked and tell you what it confirms, including any time limit on a hold.
- 04
You pay as the operator's terms set out
The written quote shows who you pay, how much, by when, and the cancellation scale.
- 05
Documents and the last checks
Boarding times, meeting points and the visa steps for your passports, sent before departure.
What we need from you
- Names as they appear in each passport, and nationalities. The border crossing depends on them.
- Dates, and how far they can move. Ships sail on set days; a two-day shift can open a different ship.
- Cabin preference: entry cabin, balcony, suite, or advise me.
- Anything about mobility. Several ships state there is no lift; others do not say. We ask before we suggest one.
- Dietary needs and children's ages. Child rules vary by operator; Song Xanh publishes child rates through a reseller, and we check the others for your dates.
- Your plans before and after, so the meeting point and the end of the cruise fit your flights.
Sources: CroisiEurope — RV Toum Tiou II; AmaWaterways (AU) — AmaMaya; Mekong-Delta-Tours.com — Song Xanh (reseller) · checked .
Holds and confirmation
Operators handle requests differently. Some hold a cabin for a limited time while you decide; others confirm only once a deposit arrives. We tell you which applies to your ship and pass on any deadline exactly as the operator states it. A cabin is yours when the operator confirms it in writing, not before.
If the cabin you want is not available, we come back with the nearest alternatives on the same ship and on others sailing the same week, rather than booking a substitute without asking.
Visas for the border on the river
Cruises between Vietnam and Cambodia cross at Vinh Xuong on the Vietnamese side and Kaam Samnor on the Cambodian side. Delta boats that stay in Vietnam need no border formalities.
| Country | What the official sources say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | E-visa available to all nationalities since 15 August 2023, applied for through the official Immigration Department portal; Vinh Xuong is on the list of gates where e-visa holders may enter and exit. Some nationalities are visa-exempt; check your own. | VNAT; Government Resolution 127/NQ-CP |
| Cambodia | Tourist visa, single entry, 30-day stay. Cambodian embassies list visas on arrival at Kaam Samnor and do not list the e-visa there. The fee is commonly given as USD 30; confirm before travel. | Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Washington DC; Wikipedia for the fee |
Rules differ by nationality and change. Check the official sources for your own passport before you pay for a cruise that crosses the border.
Sources: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — visa requirements; Nghe An public-service portal — e-visa gates, 14 Aug 2023; Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Washington DC — FAQ; Wikipedia — Visa policy of Cambodia (fee only, unconfirmed) · checked .
Payment safety
Do not send card details by email. Pay only to the account or payment link named in your written quotation. If you receive a request to pay somewhere else, do not pay; send the form and ask us.
Deposits and balances follow the operator's terms, which differ between lines. Your quotation states both, with dates, before you commit.
When the river changes the plan
River itineraries move. Pandaw states that its published itineraries are indicative and can change suddenly; in October and November low bridges in high water can block the way into Chau Doc, and between about December and July ships cannot reach Siem Reap by water. Read the operator's clause on itinerary changes before you pay, and see the water page for the months.
If a change is announced after booking, we pass on the operator's notice and the options it offers, and help with any knock-on effect on your flights or hotels.
Sources: Pandaw — Saigon to Phnom Penh product PDF (new for 2026); Pandaw — The Classic Mekong guide, 4 May 2026; Aqua Expeditions — Mekong river cruise · checked .
Before you travel
- Passports valid for at least six months, with a blank page for the Cambodian visa if you cross the border (a commonly stated rule; confirm for your nationality).
- A Vietnam e-visa or exemption that covers your exit at Vinh Xuong, if your cruise leaves Vietnam by river.
- The operator's meeting point and time in writing; Pandaw's 2026 Saigon departure, for instance, checks in at 10:00 for a 10:30 coach.
- Repellent for shore stops; dengue in Vietnam peaks from June to October.
Sources: Nghe An public-service portal — e-visa gates, 14 Aug 2023; Wikipedia — Visa policy of Cambodia (fee only, unconfirmed); Pandaw — Saigon to Phnom Penh product PDF (new for 2026); WHO Viet Nam — dengue · checked .
Insurance
We do not sell insurance. Take out a policy before you pay a deposit that covers cancellation, medical care and evacuation in both Vietnam and Cambodia, and river travel.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Can we book direct with the operator instead?
Yes, if you prefer. Many operators sell direct. What we add is the comparison across operators, the season check for your dates and one place to ask questions.
How far ahead should we book?
Small boats fill first because they have few cabins: a six-cabin barge takes twelve guests at most. For the high-water months on ships that reach the Tonle Sap, ask early.
Do you need our passport details at the enquiry stage?
No. Nationality is enough to check the border rules. Full passport details are only needed once a cabin is being confirmed.
What happens if the operator cancels a sailing?
The operator's terms decide the refund or transfer. We pass on its notice and help find another sailing if you want one.
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Tell us which cruise you are weighing up
A month, how many are travelling and whether you lean towards a delta boat or a ship into Cambodia are enough to start. We reply by email with the boats that sail your dates and the fares their operators show that day.