06/09/2026
After months of talking about it, I’ve finally done it: I’m sailing along the Mekong on the beautiful Avalon Saigon… and I may never come home.
We’re only 18 passengers on board but there are 24 members of staff looking after us. That’s right: there are more of them than us. If I so much as glance in the vague direction of a coffee cup, someone appears with a fresh brew and a smile. I am starting to worry that I may forget how to pour my own water by the end of this trip.
The star of the show so far is our Cruise Director, Khanh. He somehow manages to be everywhere at once: quietly organising everything behind the scenes, sharing fascinating stories about life along the Mekong, and still finding time to check in with each of us personally. Nothing is too much trouble, and everything is done with real warmth and humour. You feel less like a guest on a ship and more like a very spoiled friend.
And then there is the food. If you love fresh, fragrant Vietnamese flavours, this is heaven afloat. From delicate spring rolls to beautifully spiced curries, every meal feels like something you’d happily pay good money for ashore. Portions are generous, presentation is stunning, and the staff remember exactly what you like. My only exercise at this point is walking from my cabin to the restaurant and back again, but it feels like a fair trade.
Life on board has slipped into a very pleasant routine: gentle cruising past lush riverbanks, glimpses of local life on the water, then back to being waited on hand and foot. It is relaxed, intimate and very personal, which is exactly what I love about this style of river cruising.
Vietnam has already stolen a piece of my heart, and I’ll be sharing more about my time here separately. For now, I’m going to sit back, enjoy another delicious meal I definitely didn’t have to cook, and watch the Mekong drift by.
Next stop: Phnom Penh, Cambodia… stay tuned.
