Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong

Depart the USA on your transpacific flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Xin Chao and welcome to Ho Chi Minh City! On arrival, you will be met by your Emerald Cruises representative and transferred to your hotel, situated in downtown District 1, for a two-night stay. After checking in, you will be free to explore the city before meeting your tour director for your welcome briefing and dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: D

Drive away from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels, watching the city skyline fade into the distance as the road winds through rice paddies, villages and scenes typical to southern Vietnam. Spend a couple of hours walking around Cu Chi’s rugged grounds with a local guide. Upon your return to Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy a Pho lunch with remainder of the afternoon and evening yours to enjoy at leisure or venture out on one of our DiscoverMORE excursions. Meals: B, L

DiscoverMORE: An evening Saigon Street Food walking tour (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: One Night in Saigon (extra expense)

After checkout, enjoy a tour of the city, visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, Opera House and Town Hall. Then, visit the Reunification Palace before transferring to the port where you will board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, Emerald Harmony. You’ll be welcomed on board by your captain and crew before setting sail after lunch down the Saigon River to Cho Gao canal where you will anchor for the night. This evening, enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow travellers. Your Cruise Director will conduct a port talk to review the activities and itinerary for the days ahead. Meals: B, L, D

This morning travel through the bustling Cho Gao. The Cho Gao canal is one of the major arterial canals of Vietnam connecting Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City. Today is a fascinating morning watching the heavy commercial traffic navigate this important waterway hich can see upwards of 1,800 vessels transit each day. This afternoon once on the Mekong River, you’ll visit the Tan My Floating community followed by a ride through the local plantations to visit a mushroom farm, fruit farm with sampling and a honey farm with local sweet before returning to Emerald Harmony to sail onwards to Sa Ðéc, a hidden gem on the Mekong Delta. Meals: B, L, D

After a short ride on a sampan to Sa Dec enjoy a walking tour around town with stops at the Chinese Congregational House in Kien An Cung, the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le (currently under renovation), who inspired Marguerite Duras’ novel L’Amant, and enjoy a walk through the central market to peruse its varied produce. Return to Emerald Harmony by sampan and sail to My An Hung Island. Recognized as a cultural and historical destination, this small village in rural Vietnam specializes in red-hot chili and peppers. As part of our EmeraldPLUS program, enjoy some local folk singing during the visit. Meals: B, L, D

EmeraldPLUS: Listen to some local folk singing in My An Hung

On Gieng Island you can travel through the island’s villages to visit families who work in a variety of local industries including boat building of different types and creating incense sticks for temples. Also visit Vietnam’s oldest church. The afternoon is yours to enjoy your free time on board or, if you prefer, partake in a DiscoverMORE optional excursion to the Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary in An Long. Meals: B, L, D

DiscoverMORE: A visit to Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary in Tram Chim National Park (extra expense)

Embark on a sampan to Evergreen Island for a walk through a local village to get a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. Reboard your sampan to travel back to Tan Chau and as part of our EmeraldPLUS program, visit the recently renovated Cao Dai temple. The religion of Cao Dai is a syncretic, monotheistic religion established in southern Vietnam in the city of Tây Ninh in 1926. Here, you will learn more about the mix of ideas that form the basis of this fascinating religion. Afterwards ride in a Xe Loi (local form of cyclo) from the temple back to your sampan to then visit a Mekong fish farm before returning to Emerald Harmony.

Back on board your luxury Star-Ship, cruise to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. As part of our EmeraldPLUS program, you’ll be delighted by a traditional Lion Dance performance on board. Tonight, celebrate crossing the border with a Cambodian-style family dinner. Meals: B, L, D

EmeraldPLUS: A visit to a local Cao Dai Temple
EmeraldPLUS: A Lion Dance performance on board

Wake up in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. The city, known as the “Pearl of Asia”, was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. This morning, you will learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of the country’s history. A short drive will take you to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. Here you will have the opportunity to walk through the fields, visit the memorial and learn about this sad historic chapter. Afterwards visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as S-21). This is a former school that was converted to the main prison and torture headquarters of the Khmer Rouge. Spend the afternoon as you please exploring our DiscoverMORE excursions or simply relaxing on board Emerald Harmony. In the evening, as part of your EmeraldPLUS program you will have a chance to experience an evening remork (local Tuk-Tuk) ride through Phnom Penh to enjoy the city lights. Meals: B, L, D

EmeraldPLUS: Phnom Penh by night on a remork (Tuk-Tuk) tour
DiscoverMORE: A silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Craft Beer Adventure by remork (extra expense)

Located north of Phnom Penh, Oudong was the former royal capital of Cambodia up until it moved to Phnom Penh in 1866. Important remnants on the temple site include the burial sites of Khmer kings as well as religious artefacts dating back more than a hundred years. In the main temple of the Oudong Monastery, receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the temple’s resident monks as part of your EmeraldPLUS program. In the afternoon, you will visit the majestic Royal Palace with its gardens, followed by the Central Market located in the heart of the city. Back on board, as part of your EmeraldPLUS program, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organization. Afterwards set sail, gliding past the illuminated Phnom Penh at night for a short sail to Koh Khsach Krao. Meals: B, L, D

EmeraldPLUS: A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing
EmeraldPLUS: Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation

Disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning and continue by road to Siem Reap for your included three-night stay. Stay at the beautiful Shinta Mani, a deluxe boutique property of world-class design that takes great care in honoring the environment and paying homage to the traditional and local aesthetics. This evening as part of your EmeraldPLUS program, attend Phare, The Cambodian Circus, where a combination of acrobatics, music and dance tell a uniquely Cambodian story. Meals: B, L

EmeraldPLUS: Phare Cambodian Circus performance

Today, start with a visit to Angkor Thom, not a single temple such as the historic sites it neighbors, but rather one of the most remarkable royal cities of the Angkor Period and an architectural wonder. As the last capital of the Khmer Empire, it was a fortified city, home to priests, officials of the palace, military and buildings for administering the kingdom. Afterwards, visit the sacred Temple of Ta Prohm. In an incredible standoff between human creation and nature, the jungle’s root systems have reclaimed this spiritual location now enshrouded in wild vegetation. The backdrop to many Hollywood scenes, the incredible Ta Prohm is both a cinematic and contemplative location. This evening is free to visit ‘Pub Street’ or try a DiscoverMORE option this evening. Meals: B, L

DiscoverMORE: Sunset Drinks Gondola Boat at Bayon (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Dinner in the Rice Field (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Cambodian Street Food Discovery Tour (extra expense)

Rise early and witness the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Afterwards walk through this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site known for its elaborate decorations and intricate carvings throughout. This afternoon is free time to visit the town and markets or try a DiscoverMORE tour. Later this evening, enjoy your farewell dinner as part of your EmeraldPLUS program, accompanied by an Apsara dance performance. Meals: B, D

EmeraldPLUS: Apsara dance performance and dinner show
DiscoverMORE: Vespa tour of Siem Reap
DiscoverMORE: A visit to Banteay Srei (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: A visit to Tonlé Sap (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: A culinary tour of Cambodia (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Senteurs d’Angkor Workshop (extra expense)

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the Siem Reap airport to catch your homebound flight. Return home with memories of life enriching experiences of your amazing adventure through Cambodia and Vietnam. Meal: B