Aqua Mekong
Specifications of Aqua Mekong
| Year of build | 2014 / Age: 11 |
| Builder | Hai Minh Shipyard / Saigon Shipyards Co Ltd (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) |
| Class | Mekong riverboat / houseboat |
| Speed | 12 kn / 22 km/h / 14 mph |
| Length (LOA) | 62 m / 203 ft |
| Beam (width) | 12 m / 39 ft |
| Gross Tonnage | 1555 gt |
| Passengers | 40 |
| Crew | 20 |
| Decks | 3 |
| Cabins | 20 |
| Decks with cabins | 2 |
| Sister-ships | Aria Amazon, Aqua Nera |
| Owner | Compagnie du Ponant (via Aqua Expeditions) |
| Operator | Aqua Expeditions Mekong |
Aqua Mekong Review
Review of Aqua Mekong
The 2014-built RV Aqua Mekong cruise ship is one of the newest vessels in the Aqua Expeditions fleet. This top-luxury riverboat cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia (Southeast Asia), offering itineraries along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. Departures are available from Cambodia (Siem Reap and Phnom Penh) or Vietnam (Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City). Itinerary options include 7-night, 4-night, and 3-night cruises.
Alongside Aqua Mekong, the Aqua Expeditions fleet also includes Aqua Nera (2020/Peruvian Amazon), Aqua Blu (2019/East Indonesia), and Aria Amazon (2010/Peruvian Amazon).
In January 2025, the French company Ponant acquired a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions, a cruise travel company founded in 2008 and headquartered in Singapore.
Mekong River cruises aboard the 205-foot Aqua Mekong offer a true 5-star hotel experience combined with ultra-luxury river travel. The vessel features 20 sustainably crafted designer suites—among the largest staterooms on the Mekong River—each with floor-to-ceiling windows. Aqua Mekong is the only ship on this stretch of the river with a fully equipped gym, outdoor cinema, screening room, observation deck, and sundeck pool. Expert-guided shore excursions include visits to Buddhist temples and remote villages, while guests can also explore the scenic landscape by kayak or bicycle. A full-time paramedic is onboard to ensure passenger safety during all adventures.
Aqua Expeditions’ Mekong River cruise rates include all meals, selected wines and beers, non-alcoholic beverages, Design Suite accommodations, onboard lectures, evening entertainment, and guided excursions with local experts. The company also provides complimentary pre- and post-cruise ground transportation between the ship and the rendezvous point. Breakfast on the final day is included. Additional expenses may include airfare, boutique purchases, cocktails, gratuities, and spa services.
Following a 2.5-year operational pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aqua Mekong resumed passenger services on September 2, 2022. The post-pandemic program featured itineraries departing from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Aqua Mekong ship related cruise news
- Cruise Industry
River cruise ship Aqua Mekong returns to Vietnam and Cambodia in September
The river cruise ship Aqua Mekong returns to Vietnam and Cambodia in September to unravel the legends surrounding the Mekong Delta. On the...
August 19, 2022 - Cruise Industry
Aqua Expeditions’ ship Aqua Mekong restarts Cambodia-Vietnam sailings on September 2
Aqua Expeditions (fleet) announced the long-awaited return of its Aqua Mekong ship which will once again set sail through Cambodia & Vietnam...
March 21, 2022 - Cruise Industry
Aqua Expeditions adds newbuild Aqua Nera to its fleet
Currently docked in Hai Minh Shipyard's District 2 in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), Aqua Nera is a one-of-a-kind vessel in the world of small...
August 24, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Aqua Expeditions to Launch Coastal Fleet
The boutique luxury river cruise line, Aqua Expeditions, is planning to enter the coastal cruise market in the fall of this year, after operating as...
April 11, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Aqua Expeditions to Increase Fleet Size by 150%
The river cruise company Aqua Expeditions announced it was set to increase the size of its fleet by 150% and expand into new geographic destinations...
November 12, 2018 - show more news
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Aqua Mekong Wiki
In November 2016, Aqua Expeditions announced two female-only themed cruises for 2017—on the ships Aria Amazon and Aqua Mekong. Aqua Mekong's cruise (January 17-20, 2017) was a 3-day itinerary departing from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The women-only cruising experience featured a live Khmer Apsara dance performance onboard, a tour of the Vipassana Dhura Mandala (Udong Pagoda) meditation center, a bike ride through rice paddies, and visits to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Cambodia’s National Museum. Onboard enrichment activities included guide presentations and cooking classes, while culinary experiences ashore featured chef-guided visits to local food markets. The package also included a complimentary 60-minute spa massage.
Like her sisterships Aria Amazon (2010) and Aqua Nera (2020), Aqua Mekong’s design, limited number of passenger accommodations, premium amenities, and all-inclusive offerings classify her as a “houseboat.” These houseboats were built at Hai Minh Shipyard in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam.
The following YouTube video shows the construction of the Aqua Mekong river cruise ship in time-lapse.
Note: You can find CruiseMapper’s full list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.