bleacher04

Thank you both. We have a 30% DEET cream/lotion that works pretty well.

New question — malaria pills? We have prescriptions for Malarone, my past experiences with other malaria pills has not been pleasant. We’re going up to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat after the river cruise, and then cruising to Malaysia and Indonesia after that. I’m not asking for medical advice — we’ve seen a travel doctor and I know this is a cruise forum on the internet LOL — just wondering about others’ experience with mosquitos on the Mekong. Thanks.

Thanks Fran. We have started the regular pilgrimages to the bank to try to get crisp $1 and $5 US bills. Fortunately we keep a USD bank account. But we’re going to take some VND as well, also for tips and small purchases.

So, we got our Vietnamese visas and we received our documents from Ama. And we're vax'd up for polio, JE, and typhoid, with a scrip for malaria pills that I'm undecided on. I was surprised how much bus travel their was for the daily tours, even with the "active walking" tours, but then I realized that docking along the Mekong is not going to be the same as docking on a big European river...

I'd very much appreciate hearing your thoughts and any tips, @hoosier2017 Have a great trip!

Thanks! Did they send you these documents after you completed the online check-in? We just did that on the weekend but have not received anything else yet (except the paid-up invoice).

Thanks very much @gnome12 -- I prefer to tip in the local currency as well, whenever possible. I don't think we can get Cambodian riel from our bank, but I know we can get Vietnamese dong. Do you recall what type(s) of electrical outlets they had on the AmaDara? And also the typical dress for dinner? We are transferring to a Holland America cruise after this river cruise, so we will have some semi-formal attire with us, but would prefer not to "dress up" unless everyone else is. Thanks for your help! Paul

Hi All -- my wife and I will be sailing with AmaWaterways on the AmaDara on one of the their Mekong River cruises, Nov-Dec 2023. Our first river cruise. We're also doing the pre-cruise option in HCMC/Saigon and the post-cruise tour to Angkor Wat from Siem Reap. I read a thread on this forum a few weeks ago where a poster commented about tipping guides and drivers each day, but I can't find it now (yes, I should have bookmarked). I have no problem with the tipping, I just want an idea of how much cash to take! (i.e. an estimate of how many different guides to expect over the course of the trip). And what currencies? I recall from a previous visit to Vietnam and Cambodia that US dollars were readily accepted. Any other tips and comments are of course welcome! Thanks! Paul