Destinations

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon, as it is still referred to by the locals), serves as a popular gateway to the Mekong.  I would suggest arriving at least two days prior to the departure of your cruise; this will give you some time to recover from jet lag while you take in all that the city has to offer.  The French influences are readily apparent in Saigon—the food, the architecture, and the wide elegant boulevards are all testaments to Vietnam’s years of French occupation. Shoppers will delight in the tailor-made clothing and bedding that’s available, and history buffs will enjoy visiting sites such as the War Remnants Museum (which contains exhibits from the American phase of the Vietnam War).  A word of warning: crossing the street in Southeast Asia can be slightly overwhelming.  Be sure to pay close attention to the traffic!

My stay at the Caravelle Hotel was quite pleasant.  A modern hotel with all of the expected amenities, the Caravelle is located in the city’s business, shopping, and entertainment district, and is across from the Opera House.

From Saigon, it takes about two hours to travel to the port of My Tho, the embarkation point for the Mekong Pandaw.  Cruising on a seagoing vessel is nothing like taking a small luxury streamer up the river.  Though I usually get seasick on the ocean, rivers have never posed any problems.  The Mekong was built in 2003, and was designed to replicate the colonial ships of the 1920s.   The ship itself is beautiful; the teak is hand finished, and the rattan furniture adds a nice touch.  Though the cabins are small, this is somewhat irrelevant because you spend so little time in your room.

One Response to “Cruising the Mekong River Saigon to Angkor”

1. Cruising the Mekong River Saigon to Angkor | autocarsinsurance Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 8:39 am

   […] Original post by Tamara Starkes […]

Leave a Reply