Viking Tonle

The 2025-built RV Viking Tonle cruises on the Mekong River (Vietnam and Cambodia), departing from homeports Saigon, Vietnam and Kampong Cham, Cambodia (with bus travel to Siem Reap and a flight to Hanoi).

Viking Tonle is a modern, custom-built vessel designed to safely navigate the Lower Mekong River.

Viking Tonle’s fleetmates deployed in the Cambodia–Vietnam region are the sistership Viking Saigon (2021-built) and the 2002-built Viking Mekong (the brand name for the riverboat "Mekong Pandaw," chartered from Pandaw Expeditions).

The word "tonle" translates from Khmer as “fresh water.”

The newbuild riverboat Viking Tonle has a maximum passenger capacity of 80 (plus 35 crew). She offers excellent riverside views from every stateroom due to large windows, as well as ample open-deck space. The onboard atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed, with attentive service provided by a professionally trained, English-speaking crew.

The vessel was built by Hai Minh Shipyard (Saigon Shipyards Co Ltd) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The ship was officially delivered on September 16, 2025.

Viking Tonle’s inaugural cruise departed on October 13, 2025 (15-day “Magnificent Mekong” itinerary).

Viking officially christened Tonle on October 21, 2025. The naming ceremony was part of a group event for a total of nine new riverboats welcomed into the fleet globally—Annar, Dagur, Eldir, Honir (the 100th vessel), Nerthus, Gyda (Douro), Amun and Thoth (Nile), and Tonle (Mekong).

Decks and Cabins

Viking Tonle staterooms (40 in total) are all outside (French Balcony) cabins, each fitted with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a railing (false balcony). Staterooms are available in 4 categories and are located on 3 decks (out of 4). The lowest deck (Deck 0) is crew-only, housing all staff and crew cabins (midship), machinery spaces (wastewater treatment plant, engines, propulsion, air conditioning), and storage areas (freshwater and ballast tanks).

All staterooms feature modern furnishings (Scandinavian interior design), hotel-style beds (with headboards, premium bedding, under-bed storage for suitcases, and optional twin-bed configuration), bedside cabinets (with wall-mounted reading lamps), a seating area (coffee table with armchairs), a mirrored dressing table (with chair), two wardrobes (with hangers and drawers), an electronic safe (in the closet), HDTV (infotainment system with Internet, satellite reception, and English-language programming), IDD phone (international direct dialing), minibar/refrigerator, tea/coffee maker, and complimentary bottled water replenished daily. Each cabin includes an en-suite bathroom (WC-toilet, washbasin, anti-fog mirror, glass-enclosed shower, hairdryer, premium-brand bath products; plush bathrobes and slippers are provided upon request), power outlets (110-220V), USB charging ports, individually controlled air conditioning, and twice-daily housekeeping service.

The ship has 2 Explorer Suites (category ES) located forward (at the bow) on the Upper Deck. Each suite measures 735 ft2 (68 m2, including the terrace) and features a large step-out balcony (full veranda with live plants and premium garden furniture—2 sunbeds, 2 armchairs, and 2 low tables), a separate lounge (HDTV, 3-seater sofa, 2 armchairs, low table, vanity table with chair, and direct access to the veranda), a separate bedroom (twin beds convertible to a queen-size bed, HDTV, and 3 wardrobes), and a large bathroom (separate WC, double-sink vanity, and glass-enclosed shower with whirlpool bathtub).

All other cabins are equally sized at 305 ft2 (28 m2) and also feature French balconies. However, Viking Tonle has 12 Veranda Staterooms (category A) which, in addition to the French balcony, also include a small step-out balcony. These are located forward on Deck 3 (Upper). The remaining cabins are standard French Balcony Staterooms (categories B and C), located forward on Deck 1 (Main) and Deck 2 (Middle).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Viking Tonle’s onboard facilities all feature floor-to-ceiling windows and include the Mekong Restaurant (full-capacity dining room with adjacent galley/ship kitchen and storage rooms), Viking Lounge & Bar (indoor, with outdoor seating and stern views), a wellness complex (Spa, Fitness Center, massage rooms, and gym), a Library, a 24-hour complimentary Coffee Station, a Lobby Hall (Reception), and a Shop (offering traditional handmade gifts and souvenirs).

The Wheelhouse (Navigation Bridge) is located forward on Deck 2 and is not accessible to passengers. On the Sun Deck (Deck 3) are the Spa and Fitness facilities (indoor), the Shop, and the aft sundeck area, which features the Sky Bar (open-air bar), a swimming pool (Infinity Pool), and a roof-covered seating area with premium garden furniture (four-seat tables and padded sun loungers).

One elevator (midship-located passenger lift) and a Grand Staircase (indoor) interconnect all decks and form part of the three-deck-high Atrium (open-floor design).

Viking Tonle cruise deals include Internet (Wi-Fi with shipwide coverage), all Vietnam and Cambodia tours and excursions, flight and coach transfers, live evening entertainment, daily expert lectures, food tastings, 24-hour coffee and tea, and replenished daily bottled water. Also included are concierge room service and onboard laundry and tailoring services. Medical services (doctor on call) are available at an additional cost.

Viking Tonle cruise prices are per person, based on double occupancy. These are indicative rates and may vary when booking Viking River Cruises Asia packages, depending on travel agency promotions, special offers, discounts, group bookings, or last-minute deals. On selected itineraries and departure dates, the company may also offer discounted roundtrip airfare from the USA.

Viking Cruises Mekong River Itineraries (MAGNIFICENT MEKONG)

On the Mekong River, Viking Cruises ships Viking Mekong (2002-built), Viking Saigon (2021), and Viking Tonle (2025) operate the “MAGNIFICENT MEKONG” cruisetour itinerary between Hanoi (Vietnam’s capital) and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city).

“MAGNIFICENT MEKONG” is a 15-day river cruise program departing either from Hanoi to Saigon or in reverse, visiting two countries (Vietnam and Cambodia) and including 16 complimentary land tours (shore excursions included in the cruise fare).

Viking Cruises’ MAGNIFICENT MEKONG packages include a 2-night luxury hotel stay in Hanoi (with museum visits and a scenic electric car ride), a flight transfer from Vietnam to Cambodia (Hanoi to Siem Reap, including a 3-night hotel stay), and bus travel from Siem Reap to Angkor Wat (temples, Angkor Thom, local craft workshops, and countryside touring), followed by embarkation in Kampong Cham, Cambodia.

The itinerary continues with the Twin Holy Mountains excursion, Kampong Cham (including an orphanage visit and coach transfer to Udon Monastery), Phnom Penh (1-night hotel stay, cyclo tour, and visits to the Killing Fields and Khmer Rouge detention center at Choeung Ek), crossing the Cambodia–Vietnam border (Tan Chau overnight docking, rickshaw/trishaw ride, small boat excursion to Vinh Hoa Island, also known as Evergreen Island), tendering to Sa Dec (including a sampan boat tour of the Mekong Delta), and Cai Be (floating market), followed by disembarkation in My Tho (gateway port to Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon) and a bus transfer to Saigon (2-night luxury hotel stay).

Viking Tonle’s inaugural cruise prices started from GBP 5220 per person (~USD 6500 / ~EUR 5980), with discounted airfare from USD 1200 per person when booked through Viking Cruises. Bookings for Viking Tonle cruises opened on November 15, 2023.

Next is the Viking Cruises Mekong itinerary map.

Optional is the 3-night Bangkok, Thailand hotel package. Departures from Saigon may include two 2-night hotel packages (Saigon and Hanoi) or a 2-night Halong Bay, Vietnam hotel package.

Note: You can see CruiseMapper’s list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.