Viking Cruises is to launch a ship on the Mekong river in south east Asia in August 2021.
The 80-guest river vessel Viking Saigon will sail Viking’s Magnificent Mekong cruise itinerary between Kampong Cham, Cambodia, and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, from August 30 next year.
Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said: “For many of our guests, Vietnam and Cambodia remain top destinations because of their significance in world history.
“We have led the river cruise industry with our fleet development and experiences that bring travellers closer to the cultures of the world for more than two decades. This will be the most modern vessel on the Mekong and will feel like ‘home’ to our loyal Viking guests who are familiar with the comfortable design of our ships.”
Viking says the new ship is being ‘purpose-built’ for the Mekong River, with a maximum capacity of 80 guests in 40 outside staterooms. It will have a Scandinavian design and all staterooms will have hotel-style beds and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a Veranda or French Balcony.
Guests on the three-deck Viking Saigon ship can also access a spa, infinity pool and an open-air sky bar on the upper deck.
The 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary includes 16 guided tours in Vietnam and Cambodia. Hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) bracket an eight-day Mekong River cruise, during which guests can shop in Old Hanoi’s markets; explore the Khmer temple complex of Angkor Wat; visit Ta Prohm, and take a cycle rickshaw through Phnom Penh. On the river cruise portion of the itinerary, guests can discover silk towns, fishing villages, monasteries and floating markets.
Multiple departure dates begin in August 2021. Pricing starts from £5,195 including airfare from select UK airports.