Neang Neakii Cruise (formerly Mekong Dawn) Mekong River

Cruising down the river to Phnom Penh was the highlight of our three months in SE Asia. The boat is beautiful; our cabin bed was comfortable; great shower water pressure; the deck seating was a great way to enjoy the beautiful views.

What sent the trip over the top was the crew. Sam, our guide, is… More Cruising down the river to Phnom Penh was the highlight of our three months in SE Asia. The boat is beautiful; our cabin bed was comfortable; great shower water pressure; the deck seating was a great way to enjoy the beautiful views.

What sent the trip over the top was the crew. Sam, our guide, is a gem. He is very knowledgable about Cambodian history, and our shore excursions with him took us into small villages where we met local artisans, wandered through a market learning about local veggies and fruits, climbed to the Oudong Temple - all of which were made more special because of the background we learned from Sam. The highlight was visiting a school and meeting the children. They got a chance to practice English and we got the pleasure of meeting them and learning about the challenges rural schools face in Cambodia. The crew has a special commitment to help the students be successful, and we were honored to be a small part of their support of the school. Sam made sure we were comfortable on board. He truly made the trip feel like we were his main priority. Amazing.

Chef Sophean and her assistant Ms. Lin created spectacular meals. Without exaggeration, she prepared the best meals we had in Cambodia and Thailand. She uses fresh ingredients and created traditional dishes that furthered our understanding of Cambodian culture. It was clear, with each dish, that Chef Sophean cooks from her heart. Thank you!!

Captain Try and Sailor Bros got us safely to each destination, on and off the boat. Thanks for the creative off ramps! We were in great hands.

We were looking for a quiet, slow, educational and cultural trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. This cruise hit all of those goals and more. We would definitely book the Neang Neakii Cruise again.
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Beautiful boat and crew who exceeded our expectations! The boat now has 8 cabins, three of which were claimed by our group of friends. We found the cabins charming, with private bathrooms and great air conditioning. Upstairs, we enjoyed the two enormous outside decks and the bar/dining room with 360-degree… More Beautiful boat and crew who exceeded our expectations! The boat now has 8 cabins, three of which were claimed by our group of friends. We found the cabins charming, with private bathrooms and great air conditioning. Upstairs, we enjoyed the two enormous outside decks and the bar/dining room with 360-degree views. Sam was an excellent tour through the small craft towns and antique temples along the boat route between Phnom Penh and Lake Tonle Sap. The food was delicious, and Sophia treated us to a hilarious cooking demonstration. We drank cold wine and gin/tonics every evening! An unexpected change in our dropoff owing to flooding after this wet season and road construction resulted in a long boat voyage that provided us with an incredible view of a large floating hamlet and preparations for the next boat races. Less

My wife and I recently returned from a beautiful three-night cruise on the Mekong Dawn from Phnom Penh upriver, with the remaining leg of the voyage done by automobile to our hotel in Siem Reap. It may have taken longer to travel than flying, but the experience was far superior.
The crew made it exceptional,… More My wife and I recently returned from a beautiful three-night cruise on the Mekong Dawn from Phnom Penh upriver, with the remaining leg of the voyage done by automobile to our hotel in Siem Reap. It may have taken longer to travel than flying, but the experience was far superior.
The crew made it exceptional, led by Sam, who took us on daily beach excursions and ensured our comfort aboard the boat. Every mealtime brought fresh flavors from well-cooked Cambodian cuisine.
We were the only passengers for the first two days, and then a few other visitors joined us later, but it still felt like our own private journey. Less

The journey is fairly leisurely, with stops at little villages, silversmiths, and potters, as well as historic temples. To our amazement, there was a gorgeous field of Lotus flowers near the bank the first night we docked on an island in the river. The river was low on the final day, so we drove the… More The journey is fairly leisurely, with stops at little villages, silversmiths, and potters, as well as historic temples. To our amazement, there was a gorgeous field of Lotus flowers near the bank the first night we docked on an island in the river. The river was low on the final day, so we drove the remaining distance to Siem Riep in a comfortable car. In the Tonle Sap Lake, we went to a floating town and an ancient bridge.
Although I wouldn't describe the trip as lavish, it was extremely pleasant, and the boat was spotlessly clean and organized. Less

In March 2023, we took the Mekong Dawn for a three-day trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Riep.
Aside from the five individuals who were taking care of us, there were only two of us on board. The meal is excellent, the service was excellent, and the boat is quite comfy. Sam took care of all of our needs.… More In March 2023, we took the Mekong Dawn for a three-day trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Riep.
Aside from the five individuals who were taking care of us, there were only two of us on board. The meal is excellent, the service was excellent, and the boat is quite comfy. Sam took care of all of our needs. He was really helpful and cordial. We felt like we had a new friend in Cambodia when we got off the boat. Less