Ho Chi Minh City Follows My Tho and More as AmaMaya Mekong River Cruise Unveils a Spectacular 2027 Journey Through Vietnam and Cambodia

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Ho Chi Minh City follows My Tho and more destinations as the AmaMaya Mekong River Cruise prepares for a spectacular 2027 journey through Vietnam and Cambodia. The new AmaMaya Mekong River Cruise brings Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho and other remarkable destinations into one memorable river adventure. Moreover, travellers can discover Vietnam and Cambodia through cultural encounters, riverside communities, historic sites and scenic waterways. With the journey combining Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho and more, the 2027 cruise offers a fresh way to experience the Mekong. Travel And Tour World urges global travellers to read the entire story for essential journey details.

AmaMaya Mekong River Cruise: Detailed 2027 Guide, Comparable Cruises, Routes, Ship Data and Mekong Tourism Statistics

AmaMaya is scheduled to join the Mekong river-cruise market in January 2027, giving travellers another 120-passenger option for exploring Vietnam and Cambodia. AmaWaterways lists the ship at 443 feet with 60 staterooms and 70 crew members. Its two principal seven-night programmes, Charms of the Mekong and Riches of the Mekong, connect river communities, cultural sites and landscapes across both countries.

For travellers comparing Mekong cruises, however, the ship is only one part of the decision. Route length, time on land, ship capacity, included excursions, hotel extensions and access to major cities can significantly change the experience.

The following detailed guide expands the original report with independently researched destination statistics, comparable Mekong cruise programmes and practical planning information. Ship-specific information comes from cruise operators, while tourism statistics and destination context are based on official government or government-managed sources.

AmaMaya 2027: Key Ship and Route Data

AmaMaya is designed for 120 passengers, with 60 staterooms and 70 crew members. Its 443-foot length gives travellers a relatively compact river-ship environment compared with large ocean vessels.

The ship is scheduled to operate seven-night Mekong programmes between Vietnam and Cambodia. The Charms of the Mekong itinerary travels from the Ho Chi Minh City area towards Cambodia, while Riches of the Mekong operates in the opposite direction.

AmaWaterways currently lists 2027 departures for AmaMaya on the Riches programme beginning with January 25, followed by February and March departures and additional sailings later in the season. Dates and itineraries remain subject to change.

AmaMaya at a glance

AmaWaterways currently lists 2027 port charges of US$280 per person for these Mekong programmes. It also lists an intra-Asia air component of US$380 on certain programme combinations, although prices and inclusions can change by departure.

Detailed AmaMaya Travel Plan for Travellers

The Charms of the Mekong programme begins around Ho Chi Minh City, where passengers transfer towards My Tho for embarkation. The itinerary then moves through Vietnam and Cambodia before finishing at Kampong Cham.

Travellers can expect experiences centred on river life, traditional crafts and communities rather than conventional large-city sightseeing.

The Riches of the Mekong route reverses the general direction. It begins around Siem Reap, with passengers transferring to Kampong Cham before boarding. The cruise then continues through Cambodian destinations before entering Vietnam.

AmaMaya route structure

The exact sequence varies according to direction and departure date. AmaWaterways advises travellers to check the individual sailing because excursions and routing can change.

Comparable Mekong Cruise 1: Viking Magnificent Mekong

Viking provides a substantially longer Mekong experience through its Magnificent Mekong programme. The 2027 itinerary is marketed as a 15-day journey covering two countries, with 16 guided tours. The current programme starts in Hanoi and incorporates hotel stays, a river cruise and land touring through Vietnam and Cambodia.

The route includes Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham and Siem Reap. Travellers can experience the river alongside major cultural landmarks, including Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

Viking Saigon carries 80 guests and 58 crew members. The ship is 259 feet long and was built in 2022. Its smaller capacity provides a different scale from AmaMaya’s 120-passenger design.

The itinerary also places more emphasis on combining river cruising with extended city stays. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City create an urban beginning and ending, while Cambodia contributes Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

For travellers with two weeks available, this structure is important. It allows more time for major Vietnamese and Cambodian attractions rather than concentrating primarily on the seven-night river component.

Viking also advertises optional extensions. Current offerings include a three-night Bangkok pre-cruise extension and a two-night Hanoi and Ha Long Bay post-cruise extension.

Viking data table

The current Viking programme includes one complimentary shore excursion in every port, onboard meals, selected drinks with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, port taxes and visits to UNESCO sites, subject to the operator’s terms.

Comparable Mekong Cruise 2: Emerald Harmony

Emerald Cruises offers another distinct alternative through Emerald Harmony. The vessel is specifically designed for Mekong cruising and can sail into central Ho Chi Minh City, according to Emerald.

Emerald Harmony measures 239 feet, accommodates 84 guests in 42 cabins, and has 40 crew members. That creates a smaller passenger count than AmaMaya and Viking’s Mekong ship.

Emerald currently lists several Southeast Asian programmes for 2026 and 2027. These include a 10-day Meandering Majestic Mekong Cruise, a 13-day Enchanting Mekong and Siem Reap itinerary and a 13-day Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong programme.

The 10-day programme currently shown for August 29, 2027, runs from Ho Chi Minh City towards Phnom Penh. It includes the Cho Gao Canal and visits to communities including Ben Tre, My An Hung and Gieng Island.

This makes Emerald particularly relevant for travellers wanting a longer river journey than AmaMaya’s seven-night cruise while retaining a comparatively small ship.

Emerald Harmony data table

The operator describes Emerald Harmony as specifically designed for the Mekong and highlights its ability to dock close to central Ho Chi Minh City.

Comparable Mekong Cruise 3: Avalon Saigon

Avalon Waterways takes a different approach with Avalon Saigon, which accommodates a maximum of only 36 guests. The ship sails between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh without requiring the same amount of coach travel associated with some other Mekong programmes.

The ship’s 36-guest capacity is less than one-third of AmaMaya’s 120-passenger capacity. This makes the vessel particularly relevant when comparing the scale of different Mekong cruises.

Avalon states that its Panorama Suites measure 245 square feet and feature a large wall-to-wall panoramic window. The window opens to create an Open-Air Balcony concept.

The smaller ship focuses on the river journey itself, with Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh forming the key urban endpoints.

Avalon’s wider 2027 programme, Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River with Bangkok, runs for 16 days, begins in Siem Reap and ends in Bangkok on the southbound version. The programme includes Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Phnom Penh and other Cambodian and Vietnamese experiences.

For travellers who value a smaller vessel, Avalon therefore presents a very different proposition from AmaMaya.

Avalon data table

Comparable Mekong Cruise 4: Scenic Spirit

Scenic operates a more ultra-luxury-oriented Mekong proposition aboard Scenic Spirit. The ship accommodates a maximum of 68 guests and is marketed around a five-star river-cruise experience.

Scenic’s published Southeast Asia portfolio includes 11-day, 13-day, 16-day, 18-day and 27-day programmes across different combinations of Vietnam, Cambodia and neighbouring destinations.

Its Journey along the Mekong programme is listed for the 2026/2027 season. Other programmes combine the Mekong with Vietnam and Cambodia land touring.

The small passenger capacity means Scenic Spirit carries considerably fewer travellers than AmaMaya. Scenic also states that the vessel has an almost one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, although exact staffing can vary by operation.

For travellers considering luxury and longer land programmes, Scenic’s approach provides an alternative to AmaMaya’s seven-night focus.

Scenic Spirit data table

Five-Year Vietnam Visitor Comparison

Vietnam provides one of the most important statistical indicators for the future Mekong cruise market.

Official Vietnamese tourism sources show a dramatic change between the pandemic period and the current market. Vietnam recorded roughly 3.7 million international visitors in 2022, followed by 12.6 million in 2023 and 17.6 million in 2024.

For 2025, the national tourism authority reported almost 21.2 million international visitors, while Asia accounted for approximately 16.6 million, or 78.6% of the total.

The 2021 figure must be interpreted differently because international tourism remained heavily restricted. Vietnam’s official tourism authority documented only limited vaccine-passport arrivals during the reopening pilot.

Vietnam international arrivals

The enormous percentage change between 2021 and 2025 should not be interpreted as ordinary annual tourism growth. The base year was exceptionally depressed by pandemic restrictions.

Vietnam’s 2024 total represented about 98% of its 2019 international visitor level, according to the national tourism authority.

The significance for Mekong cruise travellers is geographical. The river cruise market depends heavily on southern Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

Five-Year Cambodia Visitor Comparison

Cambodia provides an equally important picture because many Mekong cruises combine the Vietnamese delta with Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham and Siem Reap.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism reported 196,495 international arrivals in 2021, followed by 2,276,626 in 2022, 5,453,231 in 2023, and 6,700,125 in 2024. In 2025, the country recorded 5,569,752 international tourists.

The 2025 decline from 2024 means the five-year comparison should not be presented as a straight upward trajectory.

Cambodia international arrivals

Cambodia’s official 2025 tourism report also records 25.16 million domestic tourist visits, alongside 5.57 million international arrivals and US$3.878 billion in international tourism receipts.

That domestic market is important because Mekong tourism is not solely dependent on long-haul international travellers.

Vietnam and Cambodia Combined Tourism Context

The two principal countries featured in AmaMaya’s itineraries recorded approximately 26.77 million international arrivals in 2025 when the official national totals are added together.

This is not a measure of unique travellers. The same individual can visit both countries during one trip and therefore appear in both national statistics.

Five-year combined comparison

*Combined figures are arithmetic totals of national arrival statistics, not unique people.

The comparison shows why the Mekong corridor has a substantial tourism ecosystem supporting river cruising, hotels, guides, transfers, restaurants, heritage sites and excursions.

Mekong Cruise Capacity Comparison

The most useful comparison for travellers is often not the advertised cruise price. Ship capacity can substantially change the onboard environment.

Ship comparison

The capacity difference is substantial.

AmaMaya can accommodate 3.3 times as many guests as Avalon Saigon, while Viking Saigon accommodates two-thirds of AmaMaya’s passenger capacity.

Emerald Harmony carries 84 guests, or 70% of AmaMaya’s maximum capacity.

Scenic Spirit carries 68 guests, approximately 57% of AmaMaya’s capacity.

These figures do not establish that one ship provides a better experience. They simply demonstrate how differently the major Mekong operators structure their river products.

Detailed Traveller Planning Guide

Travellers considering AmaMaya should allow additional time around the seven-night cruise.

A practical plan is to spend two or three nights in Ho Chi Minh City before a Vietnam-to-Cambodia sailing. This reduces the risk of an international flight delay affecting embarkation.

Travellers should then allow time for the Mekong Delta, where river channels, agricultural landscapes, markets and rural communities provide context for the cruise.

For the Cambodia side, an additional two or three nights in Siem Reap can make the journey more substantial. This provides time for Angkor’s major archaeological sites without squeezing the experience around the cruise schedule.

Suggested 12–14 day travel framework

This schedule is a planning framework rather than an official AmaWaterways itinerary.

What Travellers Should Budget For

Cruise fares do not necessarily represent the complete cost of a Mekong holiday.

Travellers should separately examine international flights, visas where applicable, pre-cruise hotels, post-cruise accommodation, travel insurance, optional excursions, gratuities and personal spending.

AmaWaterways currently lists 2027 port charges of US$280 per person and certain intra-Asia air components separately within its programme information.

Viking, Emerald, Avalon and Scenic have different fare structures and inclusions. Prices also vary significantly according to departure date, cabin category, promotions and land extensions.

Major cost categories

The Mekong Delta Adds a Strong Nature and Community Dimension

The river journey should not be viewed only as transportation between cities.

Vietnam’s official tourism information highlights the Mekong Delta for its waterways, orchards, rural communities and connected tourism products. A government tourism report noted that 80 tours had been developed through a connectivity programme linking Ho Chi Minh City with Mekong Delta destinations including Tien Giang, Vinh Long and Can Tho.

That landscape helps explain the attraction of a river itinerary.

Instead of travelling between isolated hotel destinations, passengers can observe changing scenery while moving through a working river environment.

Why the 2027 Mekong Cruise Market Matters

AmaMaya enters a market where several operators already offer different interpretations of Mekong travel.

AmaWaterways focuses on a seven-night river experience with a 120-passenger ship.

Viking combines the river with a 15-day Vietnam-Cambodia programme.

Emerald offers smaller-ship programmes ranging from 10 days to longer combinations.

Avalon provides a highly intimate 36-guest ship and broader 16-day Southeast Asian itineraries.

Scenic positions its 68-guest vessel within longer luxury programmes.

Overall comparison for travellers

For travellers planning 2027, the most important distinction is therefore not simply which cruise is operating on the Mekong. The bigger question is how much time they want to spend on the river, how many destinations they want to add and what ship size suits their travel style.

AmaMaya’s 120-passenger format sits between the larger and smaller ends of this comparison. Its seven-night structure also makes it easier to combine with independent stays in Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap or Bangkok.

The Mekong itself remains the central attraction. Vietnam’s international visitor total reached approximately 21.2 million in 2025, while Cambodia recorded 5.57 million international arrivals.

For global travellers, those figures provide useful context rather than a prediction of cruise demand. They show that the destinations surrounding the Mekong already form a substantial international tourism corridor.

AmaMaya’s 2027 debut adds another ship to that corridor, while Viking, Emerald, Avalon and Scenic continue to offer different combinations of river cruising, cultural touring and land extensions.

Conclusion

The AmaMaya Mekong River Cruise brings together Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho and more destinations for an immersive 2027 journey through Vietnam and Cambodia. Travellers can experience the Mekong through riverside communities, cultural traditions, historic landmarks and changing landscapes. Moreover, the seven-night voyage offers an opportunity to combine a river cruise with longer stays in Southeast Asia. As AmaMaya prepares to welcome guests, the journey adds another way for global travellers to discover the Mekong at a relaxed pace. Travel And Tour World will continue tracking this new cruise experience and the destinations shaping Vietnam and Cambodia travel in 2027.