Five Fun Facts to Discover in Southeast Asia

If cruising the Mekong river through Vietnam and Cambodia has not been on your radar, it should be. Today, our friends at Emerald Waterways share five wonderful cultural encounters and educational experiences that you could discover along the way.

Traditional Lion Dance

Celebrated in many countries in Southeast Asia, the colorful lion dance is performed with two dancers in a lion costume and is meant to bestow good luck and fortune on those witnessing it. New year celebrations, weddings and other special occasions are typical events where you could see a lion dance. A special one is performed for all guests on board Emerald Harmony.

Life “in” the Mekong River

The Mekong River basin has a very diverse number of fish that is rivaled only by the Amazon River basin. Endangered freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins, the giant freshwater stingray, giant turtles, Mekong giant catfish, waterbirds, and Siamese crocodiles all can be found in the Mekong.

Performing Sampeah

“Performing sampeah” is the way to greet people in Cambodia. Sampeah is an important part of the Khmer culture. It´s not only a form of greeting but also used to say ‘thank you’ and apologize. Presenting Sampeah is a sign of respect and politeness and it is considered impolite not to return Sampeah. One example of sampeah with friends: place both palms together at the chest level and bow.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat remains the largest religious complex in the world. In fact, it measures four times larger than Vatican City in Rome. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it represents one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cambodia. Built between 1113 and 1150 AD, the bricks used by the Khmer Empire to construct Angkor Wat were bonded together using a vegetable compound instead of mortar. As a result, this has endowed the buildings with nearly invisible bonding.

Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup

Pho is just one of the many noodle soups in Vietnam. It’s become synonymous with the staple soup served with meat (usually beef or chicken), bean sprouts, lime wedges, onions, greens (basil, mint, cilantro), and whatever chili sauce and fish sauce you would like to add. It’s tasty and especially popular for breakfast in Hanoi.

Ask us about the 13-day Majestic Mekong Discoverer Cruise or any of the other great itineraries on rivers around the world with Emerald Waterways.