Upper Mekong River

About the Upper Mekong

UNESCO Heritage Sites

Sail the Upper Mekong for a truly extraordinary adventure in river cruising

Ports-of-Call on the Upper Mekong River

Here you can find a list of some of the more common river cruise ports along the Upper Mekong River as it flows through Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. These may be the most common, but there may be others that can be found on select river cruises. Your River Cruise Artist can provide you with the full itinerary and all ports for any river cruise that you may be interested in, on any river cruise operator. Explore the Upper Mekong River further and learn more about it’s ports-of-call.

Chiang Saen

Thailand

Once one of the major cities of the Lanna kingdom, it once served as the capital before King Mengrai established Chiang Rai in 1262. The town was captured by the Burmese in the 16th. Left a ghost town for a hundred years, it was repopulated around 1900, but still hasn’t really staggered to its feet. Traces of old double city walls and many other antiquities still remain in and outside the town. On your Upper Mekong River cruise, you can visit Chiang Saen and its National Museum, a 14th century ancient site Wat Phra That Chedi Luang, and other ancient sites.

Houay Xai

Laos

Houay Xai is the capital of the Laos province of Bokeo. It lies on the banks of the Upper Mekong river, which here forms the border with Thailand. A visit to the local Morning Market is popular and a great way to experience local life in rural Laos. There are also ruins of a French colonial fort called Fort Carnot on one of the hills in the center of town. Or visit Daauw Village in the city center next to the main Temple where you can see local handicrafts being made and sold to visitors.

Jinghong

China

Jinghong is the capital of Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan. It is a hub for Chinese package tourists as well as for travelers passing between China and Laos. A prime area for backpackers, it is an interesting alternative to Laos or northern Thailand. Enjoy the local markets and walking along River Walk on the Upper Mekong River. This stop in China will be a great was to explore the uniqueness of the Chinese culture in clear contrast to your earlier stops in Laos and Thailand.

Luang Prabang

Laos

Located at the confluence of two rivers that almost surround the city, Luang Prabang is a wonderful illustration of traditional Lao wooden houses and hints of European architecture that are reminders of when Laos was part of the French colony of Indochine. Golden-roofed temples, decorated with mosaics and murals of the life of Buddha abound here. Visit the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Gardens or witness the Alms Ceremony by local monks. There is so much to see and do in this amazing city its cleanliness, organization and friendly locals will be highlights.

Pak Beng

Laos

This small village, Pak Beng, lies half-way between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang, perched high on the banks of the Mekong river. This popular boat stop-over is a look into rural and local Lao life along the mighty Upper Mekong River. There are a couple of temples you can explore like the Wat Khok Koh and the Wat Sin Jong Jeang. There are some small market stalls along the river banks and the local people are friendly and a pleasure to meet.

Vientiane

Laos

Vientiane is the capital of and largest city in Laos, on the banks of the Upper Mekong River near the border with Thailand. Vientiane became the capital in 1563 but was later looted then razed to the ground in 1827 by the Siamese. Vientiane was the administrative capital during French rule and, due to economic growth in recent times, is now the economic center of Laos. This relatively small city features many popular sites like the Pha That Luang, an centuries old cultural monument called a stupa. Also, you may visit the Wat Si Muang, a temple that was built on the ruins of a Khmer Hindu shrine. Buddha Park is as well popular with visitors as they shop the many city markets.

Your Upper Mekong River Cruise Awaits!

Are you ready to start planning your Upper Mekong River Cruise Vacation Your Way? A River Cruise Artist at River Cruise Your Way is ready to be your vacation concierge. Contact us today at 1-800-259-7612 or use the form below and let us know when it is most convenient to call you, we will confirm via e-mail, and then reach out at the agreed upon time and date.