The Mekong Eyes combines regional boat-building traditions with modern comforts to become the perfect holiday vessel to cruise the Mekong in style.
At 39m long and 8.5m wide, the Mekong Eyes river cruiser was built out of an old, traditional rice barge with the finest quality wood, and artfully decorated by skilled craftsmen of the Mekong Delta.
Technical specifications
- Class: River cruiser
- Max length: 39m (125 ft.)
- Max beam: 8.5m (27 ft.)
- Draft: 1.8m
- Load: 400 tons
- Number of rooms: 15 (9 twins and 6 doubles). All are deluxe standard with hot shower bathrooms attached.
- 1 dining room, 1 lounge/bar, outside sitting area and 1 sun deck.
- Engine: Cummins 450hp.
- 2 Electric generators: Yanmar 100kVA. 24 hour electricity supply.
- Toshiba central-controlled air-conditioning and air ventilation.
- Heat and smoke detectors, Fire fighting system, Fire alarm system (Networks Inc., USA)
Policy
- Credit cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, American Express
- Foreign languages spoken: English, French
It contains 15 lavishly furnished twin and double rooms and can accommodate up to 30 passengers. Each room has a private bathroom with shower and hot water, wardrobe, air-conditioning and fan. The rooms are well insulated against climate and sound, and all offer a phantastic panoramic view of the river.
There is a large dining room in lower deck, and a stylish upper-deck inside sitting lounge, an open sitting area and sun deck on the top.
External doors and the gauze windows should be kept closed at all times -day and night. At night, if on deck or going ashore make sure to rub ankles and other exposed parts with repellent. However, outside urban areas mosquito is less of a problem than other forms of insect life. Make sure to switch off lights when leaving your cabin so as not to lure them in.
The most popular time of year to visit the region is between November and April. With the exception of the mountainous colder parts of Yunnan and Myanmar, the weather is at its most comfortable during this time. However, this means that in some places, accommodation may be harder to find in the high season.
Light clothing made from natural fibres is the best clothing for the region. You will find that all hotels, no matter how small offer a laundry service or can at least arrange someone to launder your clothes for you -in many cases, this may be out by hotel chambermaids free of charge. All towns have laundry services and will usually return your clothes to you within 24 hours. Please remember that you should normally wash your own undergarments. In the rainy season, clothes may take longer to dry.
Warm clothing - for the months of December and January, a light jacket is often necessary in the lowlands - more warm clothing may be needed if travelling in the highlands. Most towns have markets where you can buy a warm jacket for a fraction of the price you would pay at home. All Mekong countries sell sarongs of some form or another that can double as scarves, dressing gowns and towels.
People in the region dress modestly. Women visitors are not expected to wear skirts, but miniskirts and revealing shorts, may often be viewed as 'not polite'. The best plan is to dress modestly like the locals.
Footwear - bring sandals or slip ons to take off easily when entering temples. Flip flops can be bought very cheaply just about anywhere.
A small collapsible umbrella is sensible for the rainy season.
A flashlight is a good idea, in case of power cuts.
Cruise Ships
the boat was excellent, food very good, staff incredible. totally enjoyable experience. Ann, the cruise director is the absolute best. Very accomodating. Recommend highly.
Experience the lush and mystical world of Vietnam's Mekong Delta aboard a luxurious river cruiser. Once a typical rice barge, the Mekong Eyes now offers beautifully decorated cabins and a stylish lounge area. Relax and enjoy the impressions on fantastic 2 and 3 day trips
Mekong Eyes boat is very impressive. I think it has 20 cabins but there was only 4 of us on the boat so we had the whole thing to ourselves - very luxurious. The sun deck was lovely and a great place to watch the sunset on the Mekong as well as have breakfast.
On the tour one of the people from Mekong Eyes took us to a local house to try some fruit which was great - the locals were very friendly. The floating market was amazing as well. The food on the boat was delicious and plentiful (the only thing that was a bit strange was a traditional Vietnamese desert which had beans in!!). One of the people on the cruise had food allergies which hadnt been communicated to the chef but they managed to make her some delicious food at short notice. The cabins were beautiful and the bathrooms were like staying in a 4/5* hotel.