Unmissable Asian River Cruise Sights

Some of the world’s greatest rivers are found in Asia and many of them are ideal for river cruising. The variety of landscapes, diversity of cultures and range of options make this a unique river cruise region. One of the reasons for this is that although part of a holiday, an Asian river cruise can also have a functional aspect making it both an enjoyable way to travel but also a way to explore remote regions or cross normally hard-to-reach country borders. From days to weeks, leisurely in style or exploratory, within a single-country or multi-country, an Asian river cruise is certain to include a multitude of unmissable sights, some famous, others little-known. Below are some of our favourites.

Occupying a magical setting at a confluence of the Mekong River, enveloped by jungle-clad hills and framed by misty mountain peaks, arriving in Luang Prabang is an instantly memorable experience. Yet what marks Luang Prabang out as one of the region’s most charming towns is its eclectic mix of architecture, a relaxed atmosphere and first-rate food. In many ways, all three can be related to its cosmopolitan and richly varied history. A royal capital for centuries, a major religious centre, trading outpost and setting for the establishment of the French protectorate, the town has always held a prominent role in Laotian affairs. Historic monastic complexes and elaborately decorated temples stand side-by-side with graceful French colonial mansions whilst the Buddha statues that line the walls of the fascinating Pak Ou caves are a short journey upriver.

Featured in: A River Cruise through the Laos Mekong

India’s remote north east flies under the radar for most visitors to the country. The mighty Brahmaputra River, lifeblood of the region, continues to dominate everyday life and, to this day, retains its status as an important arterial route through what is one of the least-explored parts of India. This section of the river between Patna and Jorhat widens, and the vast plains that stretch north and south pass through a number of ecologically significant areas. One of the best known and most important of these is Kaziranga National Park which is home to a large population of one-horned rhinoceros as well as a wide variety of birdlife. The upper reaches of the Brahmaputra between Kaziranga and Dibrugarh is exceptionally diverse with highlights being the tea estates close to Dibrugarh and the weaving villages of Majuli Island.

Featured in: A River Cruise on the Lower Brahmaputra

Located at the southern reaches of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is where one of Asia’s greatest rivers, divided into a multitude of meandering channels, finally reaches the South China Sea. Vietnam’s rice bowl, this is an incredibly fertile region, constantly growing, vibrantly green, with busy commercial towns but also quiet rural backwater villages. The Mekong here, lined with swaying palms, orchards and coconut groves, is the lifeblood of the region, is famous for its colourful floating markets and, importantly, links Vietnam to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. All of this makes the Mekong Delta a fabulous place for a river cruise, culturally but also logistically, and also provides the opportunity for further travel upriver to Seem Reap and the temples of Angkor Wat.

Featured in: The Classic Mekong River Cruise

A World Heritage Site, Majuli is located in the Brahmaputra River and is the largest inhabited river-island in the world. Located close to Jorhat on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, the island has long served as a monastic retreat to the local Vaishnavite community and is known for its indigenous communities, religious retreats and local crafts. The island is home to a number of small Assamese and Mishing villages, complete with characteristic stilted buildings. Salmora, a village known for its pottery making, and the mask making village of Samoguri are particularly fascinating. Similarly, Majuli is also home to a vibrant religious community with the 16th century Vaishnavite Hindu monasteries of Kamalabari Satra, Auniati Satra and Benganti Satra providing a glimpse into the centuries-old practices of the region.

Featured in: The Ultimate Brahmaputra Cruise

Tonle Sap Lake is South East Asia’s largest body of fresh water and, in many ways, is a remarkable place. Tonle Sap is fundamentally important to everyday life in Cambodia, dominating the geographical centre of the country, playing a major logistical role in linking capital Phnom Penh to the west of the country, providing a huge proportion of Cambodians with food and employment opportunities and one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems to boot. Tonle Sap’s dimensions change tremendously depending on the season – during the rainy period the lake’s width, swollen with water from the Mekong River, increases from 22 to 65 miles – and it is this phenomenon which accounts for both the extraordinary range of birdlife and the numerous stilt villages specifically designed to adapt to the rising water levels.

Featured in: The Classic Mekong River Cruise

Cambodia’s riverside capital is located at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The decline of the Khmer Rouge regime heralded a welcome regeneration in the city’s fortunes yet, despite this growth, Phnom Penh still retains much of its charm. In many ways Phnom Penh is the quintessential South East Asian city. The French influence is seen with sweeping tree-lined boulevards and attractive art deco homes, the grand Central Market is a cornucopia of fresh produce, flowers, clothing and jewellery, the bustling riverfront is ideal for an evening promenade and there are a number of grand Khmer buildings including the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom. The city also provides an opportunity to understand the country’s challenging recent history at Toul Sleng Museum and the Khmer Rouge ‘killing fields’ at Choeung Ek.

Featured in: The Classic Mekong River Cruise

Known in Bengali at the ‘Hooghly’, this major distributary of the Ganges River flows south through West Bengal through Kolkata before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The towns lining the Hooghly River are testament to the original European settlers that set up the first trading outposts here during the 17th century. The arrival of the Dutch, British, Danish and French, and the trade that resulted, brough great wealth to the region and led to the development of many of the neighbouring riverside towns. One of the grandest of these towns is Murshidabad which was the capital of the Nawabs of Bengal and one of the first British trading centres. Today Murshidabad is an enchanting mix of mosques, mansions, tombs and palaces making it a popular stopping point on most Hooghly cruises.

Featured in: A River Cruise on the Lower Ganges

Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi is a bustling metropolis home to over 16 million people. Although very much Vietnamese, Hanoi was once one of the most important cities in the French Empire and boasts a fine collection of European colonial architecture and a charming historic centre of tree-lined boulevards, lakes and tree-fringed parks. Yet Hanoi is also a dynamic Asian city. Scooters vie for space with pedestrians, graceful temples and pagodas offer respite from the hustle and bustle, markets, laden with wares and produce, flow onto the city streets and, at night, informal restaurants serve some of the best street-food in Asia. Linked to the coast by the Red River, a small selection of cruises are now operating between Ha Long Bay and the remote villages to upstream from Hanoi.

Featured in: Cruising Ha Long Bay and the Red River

Laos and the Mekong River are inextricably linked. Hugging the western edge of the country, the Mekong meanders through Laos providing a link between Thailand in the north and Cambodia to the south. Located in the centre of the country is the Laotian capital of Vientiane which lines the eastern bank of the Mekong River. Much the same as the rest Laos, easy going Vientiane is a sleepy city, where everyday life is unhurried, laid-back and serene. A former French trading post, large parts of Vientiane have a Gallic flavour, from patisseries and bakeries to street-side cafes and wide tree-lined boulevards. Highlights include gleaming Pha That Luang stupa, Wat Sisaket and the Anousavari monument which has more than a passing resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Featured in: A River Cruise through the Laos Mekong

One of India’s most important cities, Kolkata is a cultural behemoth, the birthplace and inspiration for many of India’s greatest writers, poets, artists and scientists. During the 17th and 18th centuries Kolkata developed from a quiet backwater to one of the world’s wealthiest trading centres, capital of the British Raj for more than a hundred years and a place that nurtured India’s fledgling independence movement. Evidence of this heritage can be found throughout the city, including the Victoria Memorial, St John’s Church, General Post Office and Writers Building. Bisected by the Hooghly River, Kolkata is the starting point for a number of river cruises – shorter journeys that incorporate the European settlements of Chandernagore, Serampore and Murshidabad, or longer ones that travel all the way to Patna and Varanasi.

Featured in: A River Cruise on the Upper Brahmaputra

Although not technically a river, Ha Long and its less well-known neighbour Lan Ha Bay offer a selection of some of the most acclaimed and iconic cruises in Asia. Located in a region of spectacular limestone scenery of 3000 islands and rocky outcrops, geologically this UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back over 20 million years. Tradition states that the impressive scenery was formed by a dragon that crashed into the sea, forming the fragmented landscape and creating cave systems and jungle-clad islets. Explore the region’s largest island, Cat Ba, lounge by the sea, sunbath on deck or visit a traditional fishing village. The majority of cruises exclusively sail the bays, however exploratory journeys also head inland, following the Red River as it makes its meandering journey north towards Hanoi.

Featured in: Classic Vietnam - Land of the Ascending Dragon