Tran Khanh Long: The cruise director of APT’s Mekong Serenity

The Mekong River is…

Very important for the life of local people and the Mekong Delta is totally different to the other regions in Vietnam. I’ve been doing this job for more than 10 years and still find the scenery very beautiful and the people very friendly.

My favourite excursions on the Mekong…

Are the Buddhist monastery in Oudong, and the Killing Fields. It may be depressing but in my opinion it is a very good way to learn about the modern history of Cambodia and to understand and sympathise with Cambodian people.

Cruising upstream or downstream…

Doesn’t really matter but I prefer downstream. The reason is we end in the most dynamic, vibrant city, Ho Chi Minh City.

Left or right side…

The scenery keeps changing and on both sides of the ship you can see real life on the Mekong Delta. In poor areas along the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia, both sides of the river are the same.

My favourite port…

Is Tan Chau at the border of Vietnam and Cambodia where the local people don’t seem to be strongly influenced by other cultures and life appears to be very laid back.

It’s important to check your visa…

To make sure you don’t have the wrong day on the E-visa or your name spelt wrong compared to your passport. If there’s a mistake you can’t cross the border. I know another cruise ship that had eight out of 25 passengers sent off the ship at the Vietnamese border because of visa issues.

Don’t forget to bring…

Insect repellent. There will be a lot of mosquitoes flying around, especially in the rainy season and late in the evening.

When you’re packing for a Mekong cruise…

You should bring light clothes and some clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. When we are in Cambodia it is a Buddhist country and we need to wear the right clothes to visit the Buddhist temples.

If you’re looking for souvenirs…

There are lots of handicraft shops along the Mekong Delta. In Cambodia, you can find beautiful silver and copper decorated by very highly skilled workers for a unique souvenir that’s been made by local people.

The best time to travel on the Mekong River…

Is around early December to March. At that time the rain stops. I don’t recommend people book a Mekong cruise in April or May because the weather in Cambodia is extremely hot then and I don’t think you would enjoy the holiday even if you stayed on the cruise ship.

River life changes…

When you cross the border from Cambodia to Vietnam. Firstly, there’s a lot less traffic on the river in the Cambodia portion. After seeing almost no traffic when you’re there, after you cruise into Vietnam you will see hundreds of fishing boats, cargo boats and sand barges. There are also a lot more houses, rice fields and a lot of fish farms. When you cross the border you’re in another world.

For great places to eat before and after…

A Mekong cruise my favourite restaurants in Siem Reap include Malis and Sokkhak River. Or if you want to try street food you can go to the Pub Street area. In Ho Chi Minh City, I recommend my travellers go to Hoa Tuc to try local food. And the Banh Mi at Huynh Hoa is one of the best.

Make sure you close your cabin windows…

When you leave your cabin and especially at night or you could find you have invited some unexpected insect friends inside. Bugs are attracted by the light in your cabin, especially in Cambodia where they have less rice fields and more bushes and trees for them to live in. It’s very nice to have your windows open in the daytime but not at night.