Ho Chi Minh City river cruises start or finish in buzzing Saigon, the southern gateway where most Mekong River cruises begin or end, so your time here bookends the whole journey rather than passing in a blur. It is the natural place to add a night or two either side, and there is plenty to fill them. The colonial core is walkable: the red-brick Notre Dame Cathedral, the ornate Central Post Office, and the grand Reunification Palace all sit within a few streets of each other.
Beyond the architecture, the city rewards the curious. Spend a morning haggling through Ben Thanh Market, take in the sobering history of the War Remnants Museum, or head out to the Cu Chi Tunnels for a half-day before you sail. Saigon is the fast, loud, exhilarating counterpoint to the slow rhythm of the Delta you are about to discover.
Booking it all is the easy part: your UK-based Crui.se concierge negotiates hard on the price and arranges flights, transfers and hotels, so you only have to turn up.
We won’t be beaten on price...