An Asia cruise with Viking River Cruises is full of diverse and unforgettable experiences. You’ll have your choice of cruising through China on the Yangtze River, sailing into Southeast Asia along the Mekong or discovering Myanmar along the Irrawaddy River. Each region offers a unique perspective of the history and cultures of Asia. Plus, only river cruising gives you the most in-depth experience where you can visit a small fishing village in the morning, sail by rice paddies in the afternoon and stop for lunch in an ancient temple complex. With Viking River Cruises, you’ll see more of Asia’s mesmerizing mountain ranges, lush jungles and terraced rice fields. Almost every day you’ll wake to a new city with new experiences, like the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, the Great Wall outside Beijing, the French-influenced city of Phnom Penh, the astounding Angkor Wat temple complex and much more.
Things to Do on a Southeast Asia Cruise with Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises sail throughout the Far East and Southeast Asia to provide travelers with a unique and fully immersive Asia vacation experience. You’ll spend more time at fantastic sites throughout China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and more. Continue below for a preview of the experiences waiting for your along the rivers of Asia with Viking River Cruises.
Yangtze River – Explore China from the third longest river in the world. With Viking River Cruises, this is your pathway to cultural discovery in China; learn about the Terracotta Warriors, Forbidden City, Yuyuan Gardens and more.
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Forbidden City (Beijing, China)
Spend time in Beijing’s famous Forbidden City, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of beautiful temples, palaces, pavilions and open spaces. You’ll be thankful that the city is no longer forbidden, because this palace complex features more than 10,000 pieces of bronzeware, 30,000 jade artifacts, 50,000 paintings and over 300,000 ceramic or porcelain pieces.
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Terracotta Warriors (Xian, China)
More than 2,000 years ago, China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, was buried with his army – but this was no ordinary army as it was full of life-sized terracotta warriors. You can now visit this unique site where his army stands in formation. Make time to marvel at the recently unearthed figures and view the individual attention that each soldier, chariot and horse received.
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Yuyuan Garden (Shanghai, China)
Travel along the famous waterfront district of Old Shanghai and take in the wide views of this bustling city. The Shanghai Museum features an excellent collection of Chinese artwork while the nearby Yuyuan Garden holds a different kind of treasure – a 5-ton boulder known as the Jade Rock. Spend time exploring all of this 5-acre garden which dates back to the Ming Dynasty.
Mekong River – Sail through the lush jungles along the Mekong River on your way to an inspirational Southeast Asian river cruise vacation. You can explore the unbelievable Angkor Wat temple complex, learn about rice agriculture at a terraced farm or dig into the region’s fascinating history.
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Temples of Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
Built during the 12th century, the intricate Angkor Wat temple is actually referred to as a complex because of its sheer size. You can travel over the surrounding moat to explore this architectural and archaeological gem firsthand. Take the time to get an up-close glimpse of the carvings along the temple walls.
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Cultural Exploration of Vietnam (Sa Dec and Cai Be, Vietnam)
Viking River Cruises focuses on providing an in-depth cultural experience with every vacation, and this is your chance to learn more about the daily lives of many Vietnamese. You’ll visit a factory to see how rice noodles and coconut candies are made, and then you can tour a floating market. Sa Dec offers a chance to visit the famous house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le of Marguerite Duras’ The Lover.
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Hanoi Discovery (Hanoi, Vietnam)
Visit the Museum of Ethnography in Hanoi, Vietnam to learn about the nation’s history and multi-cultural influences. Afterwards, learn about a darker time in Vietnam’s history at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison which held American soldiers captive during the war in Vietnam. Continue your Vietnamese cultural discovery at the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, which is housed in a maze-like structure of pavilions, walkways, lakes and courtyards.
Irrawaddy River – Now is one of the best times to visit Myanmar (Burma), which is now experiencing a revitalization in scenic tourism. Viking River Cruises will take you up and down the Irrawaddy to discover more about these mysterious lands covered in ancient temples and pagodas.
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Bright Lights (Bangkok, Thailand)
Tour the vibrant city of Bangkok by starting on the city’s famous canal. You’ll explore the walled Grand Palace which has housed the royal family for over 150 years. While touring the Grand Palace you’ll see golden pagodas, sparkling shrines and priceless sculptures. After your tour, enjoy time to yourself to tour a museum or shop in the colorful open air markets.
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Ancient Pyu (Thayetmyo, Myanmar)
Find out what’s been unearthed at the excavation site of the ancient palace city of Pyu. In the 5th through 8th centuries, Pyu was a prominent center for Buddhism and featured several detailed pagodas. Walk the grounds of this ancient palace or return to the comfort of your Viking river ship to rest up for your next adventure.
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Monasteries, Temples and Pagodas (Bagan, Myanmar)
There are over 3,000 temples and monasteries around Bagan, and you’ll have a chance to visit some of the finest with Viking River Cruises. Dhammayangyi is near the top of the list, considered by many to be the best preserved temple in all Myanmar. Next on the itinerary is a trip to a lacquerware workshop which produces the special lacquers that help wood maintain a hard and glossy surfaces.