The Mekong river is one of the worlds most dramatic stretches of river, yet it gently meanders its way through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Travelling by boat  along this massive body of water you are struck by the calm and peace that surrounds you. Gentle breezes, bright blue skies and the sound of birdsong guarantee a supremely relaxing trip. Your eyes constantly feast on views of forested mountains and plains of copper and green, while the river itself never fails to surprise you, in some areas expanding almost to the size of a lake, in others shrinking to a more humble stream.

The stunning natural landscape that frames the Mekong is never the same for long. Inspiring limestone mountains break from the earth like rockets with vegetation clinging to the peaks of their giant escarpments. A boat trip lets you follow the river as it twists and cuts through the red earth and green vegetation. Before long you feel totally free of the modern world and can relax into the gentle flow of life by the water.

Naturalists will particularly enjoy the chance to spot all manner of wildlife from the deck of their boat on a river trip, both up in the sky and below the river's murky waters. Giant catfish are unique to this region and sometimes come to the surface. Birds of prey are also a regular sight. Diving to for their daily feed. The river's grassy banks also protect animals as they scramble to drink from the flowing waters.

For human interest, the Mekong's banks are lined with local villages, some of them no more than a collection of bamboo structures designed to provide shelter for farmers and fishermen. Smoke rises from the wood fires used for cooking, women wash their family's clothes in the river while their naked children  splash and play, calling out to passing boats.

Mooring the boat to head ashore and see the way people live is another fascinating part of a boat trip on the Mekong. Although the villagers live simple lives, surviving from the land and river, they are still keen to share everything they have with visitors, just as they would with friends. If you are lucky enough to visit during a local celebration or festival, you will almost certainly be invited to join the fun. Bowls of food are prepared for everyone to share, while music and dance create a spirited atmosphere, often fuelled by the local rice whiskey.

The calm, smiling hospitality of the Lao people is well known throughout South east Asia. Even when they celebrate they always hold on to a special gentility. A popular Asian saying captures the essence of these villagers and their way of life: “The Vietnamese grow rice, the Cambodians watch it grow, the Lao listen to it grow.”

Travelling by boat along the Mekong you relax into a slower pace of life where nothing is pressured or time bound. The days drift past with the delightful scenery and reclining in a chair to watch the world go by is the ideal way to experience this unique, unhurried part of the world.