The vessel, which is due to launch at the end of 2019, will offer four group tours and two private tours through Vietnam and Cambodia.

Victoria Mekong’s six cruise itineraries, which include three- or four-night cruises on the 35-cabin ship, will sail from the “much quieter” port of Can Tho Pier in Vietnam, rather than the traditional Mekong departure point of My Tho.

The four group itineraries, which will have a maximum of 18 people per group, range from the 14-day A Mekong Experience, which includes a sunset cruise on Angkor Thom’s moat, to a 23-day Inspiring Indochina trip featuring a cyclo tour of Hanoi and a night at the Phare Circus in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The two private tours featuring cruises on Victoria Mekong will be the 12-day Mekong Impressions and the 19-day Mekong Discovery trips.

John Warr, global sales director at Wendy Wu Tours, said the ship’s launch “secures our position as one of the key players on the Mekong”.

“The Victoria Mekong is a very exciting addition to our portfolio, filling what is a huge gap in the market,” he added. “The ship has all the deluxe facilities of a five-star standard ship at the price of a four-star cruise offering the utmost in comfort for customers.

“Trade reaction for the ship at ITB Berlin 2019 was very positive, and on the back of this we’re seeing interest from a number of trade partners looking to take an allocation on Victoria Mekong.”

Wendy Wu is also running a promotion for agents, which will see them receiving double incentives for booking tours featuring Victoria Mekong up to the end of April.