Our Responsibility
Traveling the
Mekong,
Responsibly
The river gives. We believe in giving back.
The Mekong feeds 60 million people. It shapes cultures, carves landscapes, and sustains ecosystems that have evolved over millennia. We don't take that lightly. Every journey we operate is designed to leave the river and its communities better than we found them — or at the very least, no worse.
This isn't a marketing page with vague promises. Below is what we actually do, what we're still working on, and where we know we fall short. Transparency is part of the commitment.
Environmental
- All partner vessels comply with IMO wastewater discharge standards
- Single-use plastics eliminated across 85% of our fleet as of 2025
- Carbon offset program offered at booking (optional, covers full itinerary)
- Preference given to vessels with solar-assist systems and hybrid propulsion
Community
- Shore excursions employ local guides from the communities we visit
- Homestay partnerships directly benefit host families — no intermediary markup
- Annual contribution to floating classroom programs in the Vietnamese Delta
- Craft village visits purchase directly from artisans, not resellers
Cultural
- Guests briefed on cultural etiquette before every excursion
- Photography guidelines: always ask, never intrude
- Support for UNESCO-listed đờn ca tài tử traditional music preservation
- Temple visit protocols developed with local religious communities
Where we're still improving
River cruising uses diesel fuel. There is no way around that yet. We are actively evaluating LNG and electric options as they become viable for the Mekong's unique conditions (shallow draft, variable water levels), but we are not there today.
We also acknowledge that tourism, even done well, changes the places it touches. We monitor visitor impact at our most-visited communities and adjust itineraries when we see signs of fatigue. Sometimes that means removing a popular stop from rotation. It's not good for short-term bookings. It's good for the river.