Aqua Mekong

Though it only sailed its maiden voyage in 2014, the brand new Aqua Mekong is already making waves in Southeast Asia as the first five-star vessel to course the Mekong River between Vietnam and Cambodia. This luxury floating boutique hotel brings the colorful cultures and timeless traditions of the Mekong to life through personalized, enriching, and unique experiences, all from the comfort of the spacious yet intimate quarters on board.

Property Details

Cruising Asia’s Mekong River between Vietnam and Cambodia, the 205-foot Aqua Mekong is a floating five-star hotel with a guide to guest ratio of one to one. The sustainably-crafted ship’s 20 designer suites—the river’s largest guestrooms—overlook the Mekong through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Conceived by Saigon-based Noor Design, Aqua Mekong embodies the aesthetic of a modern luxury hotel infused with artisanal touches of the Mekong’s multifaceted cultures. The ambiance is intimate with a refined Indochine spirit conveyed through local wood, stone, and natural materials. The tranquility is further matched by an impressive suite of eco-sensitive technology, from iPod docking stations to sleek bathrooms with walk-in rainforest showers and organic bath amenities. Eight Design Suites boast private balconies, and four can be connected to form a large floating apartment suitable for families and groups.

Though the Aqua Mekong measures only 205 feet in length, the black-hulled beauty is equipped with a series of unexpected “firsts” on the Mekong. This is the only ship on this stretch of the river to offer a fully-equipped gym, screening room, outdoor cinema, observation deck, and an upper-deck pool. including a fitness center, library and game room, screening room, and observation deck. It also incorporates plenteous lounging and dining areas, all of which are designed to seamlessly connect guests with the shifting landscape of Vietnamese villages, French colonial church spires, and gilded Buddhist stupas.

Cool off with a plunge in the shimmering pool on the top deck, where the river always remains in full view and the bar is never more than an arm’s reach away, and relax with an authentic Southeast Asian massage at the spa. Dine on world-class dishes created by top Southeast Asian cuisine chef, David Thompson and board the Mekong’s only private tenders for expert-guided shore excursions to serene Buddhist temples and stilted villages or explore the unique landscape by bicycle and kayak. A full-time paramedic ensures guest safety on every adventure.

Each morning brings with it the opportunity to hop on a skiff and glide deep into the river’s tributaries through hidden flooded forests and remote stilt villages to uncover over two-thousand years of Indochina’s human history. Three-, four-, and seven-day journeys explore the vibrant floating markets of Cai Be at the center of Vietnamese culture, visit local craftspeople at work in the traditional silversmith, bronze, and silk weaving villages of Cambodia, and provide private audiences with the monks at Moat Kla’s Buddhist Temple and Long Son Tu Temple.

Aqua Mekong even provides a fleet of complimentary bicycles for up-close excursions through the fascinating riverside, as well as a sequence of private lectures, videos, and presentations recapping each day’s highlights and bringing to light local history and traditions.