Travel on the Mekong river

It is possible to travel by boat on the Mekong river from Vientiane to Phnom Penh?

Just a quick note, I was in Cambodia earlier this year and attempted the Mekong River border between Cambodia and Laos. At the immigration office in Stung Treng (the closest town to the border) we had to pay US$15 for an exit permit and then at the border we were required to pay US$1 for an exit stamp. Once over the border we all had valid visas but for the entry stamp we were required to pay US$5. The crossing is therefore possible but it will cost a few dollars in bribes...
We are an operator specialising in trips to Asia and Latin America. I am the South East Asia Programme Manager and we have been operating in Indochina for many years now so know the area very well.

In answer to your question about travel down the Mekong from Vientiane to Phnom Penh: it is not possible to cross the land border between Laos and Cambodia. It has not been yet declared an official land transit point. Therefore surface travel along the length of the Mekong is not possible between these two cities. However, there are many stretches of the Mekong that are safe and pleasant to travel along.

One such stretch is the section from the Lao/Thai border at Huay Xai and Luang Prabang in northern Laos. We use slow river boats which leave time to take in the scennery and visit some villages. There are also several sections in Cambodia and Vietnam along which travel is safe and interesting.

I hope this is of help.
Chris Orme
Audley Travel Ltd
01869 276200
www.audleytravel.com

I went from Siam Reap in Cambodia (home of the amazing Angkor Wat) down the Tonle Sap river and lake to Phnom Pehn and can recommend the experience. Although I know the Cambodia/Laos land border is not open, you can enter Cambodia from Thailand at Poipet. Maybe you can cruise down the Mekong on the Thai side from Nong Khai (directly across the river from Vientiane) to a point on the Thai/Cambodia border and then pick up the river again at Siam Reap. Unfortunately, the roads in Cambodia are not conducive to comfortable travel, but that's part of the experience!

The overland border is technically closed between Laos and Cambodia. It is doable, but you will have some hard slow going for a few days. Here is how: go to Don Det island, (south from Don Khong) then to the Friendship cafe (or something else like that). At the boat landing you can organize a boat to the road then a truck down to the Laos border. At the boarder you must pay $5 (or kip equivalent) to get stamped out of Laos. Onwards, the speedboat to Stung Treng is $10 per person. At the Cambodian border, pay about $10-20 (bargain - don't overdo it). All this may change as the route gets more popular and more and more travellers give it a go.

This information was good in January 2002.

(πηγή: www.telegraph.co.uk)