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The lounge of a river cruise boat, cushioned benches facing the river and wooded hills

Photo by Shutterstock

Itineraries along the river

5 ways to follow the Mekong, from a weekend by boat to three weeks between Laos and Cambodia. Each itinerary gives the stops, the transportation and how much time to allow.

By Pierre-Marie Coupry · updated

Looking for a specific town? Mekong River stops

Mekong itineraries on the map

Solid line: by boat. Dashes: by road, along the river. The numbers match the itineraries.

  1. The slow boat, Huay Xai – Luang Prabang 2 days · boat
  2. Phnom Penh – Châu Đốc by river 2 days · boat
  3. The Mekong Delta in 3 days 3 days · boat and road
  4. Southern Laos to the 4,000 Islands 5 days · boat and road
  5. Laos and Cambodia in 3 weeks 21 days · road
MYANMARTHAILANDLAOSCAMBODIAVIETNAMGulfof ThailandSouthChina SeaHuay XaiPakbengLuang PrabangVang ViengVientianeThakhekPakseChampasakDon DetKratiePhnom PenhChâu ĐốcCần ThơHo Chi Minh CityBến Tre12345Natural Earth

All Mekong itineraries, shortest to longest

Each guide gives the stops day by day, the transportation by boat or road, and what to book ahead.

  • 2 days Boat

    The slow boat, Huay Xai – Luang Prabang

    2 days · Laos

    ≈ 285 km of river

  • 2 days Boat

    Phnom Penh – Châu Đốc by river

    1 to 2 days · Kaam Samnor – Vĩnh Xương border

    ≈ 5 hrs by boat

  • 3 days BoatRoad

    The Mekong Delta in 3 days

    from Ho Chi Minh City · Mỹ Tho, Bến Tre, Cần Thơ

    road and boat

  • 5 days BoatRoad

    Southern Laos to the 4,000 Islands

    5 days · Pakse, Champasak, Don Det

    road and boat

  • 21 days Road

    Laos and Cambodia in 3 weeks

    21 days · from Luang Prabang to Phnom Penh

    road along the river

Planning your own Mekong River trip

Three rules to keep in mind before putting together your own itinerary.

The Khone Falls cut the river

No boat runs between Laos and Cambodia: at the border, you take the road.

The current matters

Going downstream, the slow boat is faster than going upstream. Start upstream when you can.

The season decides the boat

At the end of the dry season, low water lengthens trips and makes some stretches difficult.

When to go to the Mekong →Cruises compared →

Questions about Mekong River itineraries

Can you do the whole trip by boat, from Laos to the delta?
No. The Khone Falls, on the border between Laos and Cambodia, cut off navigation. You have to take the road between the 4,000 Islands and Stung Treng.
How long do you need to see the Mekong in Laos?
Two weeks lets you follow the river from north to south: two days on the slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, the train to Vientiane, then the southern buses from Thakhek to the 4000 Islands. One week is enough for the north or the south alone.
Slow boat or cruise: which should you choose?
The public boat costs 400,000 to 500,000 kip for both days; private cruises such as Nagi of Mekong cost $160 to $195 including the hotel night in Pakbeng. The cruise brings comfortable seats, a guide and village stops; the public boat, the company of travellers and locals.
Do you need to book transportation in advance?
Rarely. Slow boat, bus and minibus tickets are bought the day before or on the day. The Laos-China train is booked on the LCR Ticket app, with your passport, as soon as sales open a few days before departure.