Avalon Waterways will cruise on Mekong

Avalon Waterways will cruise on Mekong from Ho Chi Minh City all the way to Siem Reap.

Fast-growing river cruise line Avalon Waterways plans to add the Mekong River to its list of destinations, a top executive revealed today.

Avalon Waterways is building a 32-passenger vessel, the Avalon Angkor, which will sail the Mekong between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia starting in early 2012.

The line's newest ship in Europe is the 166-passenger Avalon Panorama.

Founded in 2004, Avalon operations are primarily in Europe, operating nine ships on such rivers as the Rhine, Main, Danube and Mosel. The line also offers cruises on the Nile in Egypt, the Yangtze in China and around the Galapagos.

Avalon is following in the footsteps of several other lines including AmaWaterways in adding Mekong trips. But, Avalon’s plans for the Mekong are different than its competitors. What’s unique thing about Avalon’s plans are; it's going to be a small vessel.  The competitors larger ships on the river aren't as flexible. It will be the only ship that can sail from the center of Ho Chi Minh City all the way to Siem Reap.

The new ship is to be called Avalon Angkor, after the ruins of Angkor, which are located near Siem Reap -- a highlight of trips to the region.

The company plans to combine a seven-night sailing on the Mekong with pre- and post-cruise hotel stays in Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap. The total package will be nearly two weeks.

The Mekong, area remains wonderfully unspoiled, with small little villages along the river, and you can get into the markets. The region has a lot to offer, from great food to historical sites, and demand is bound to grow.

Tourism along the Mekong still is in its early days, with a relatively small number of ships sailing the river.