Take a leisurely cruise along the Mekong from the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia's Phnom Penh. Seven nights on the Emerald Harmony will be sure to provide the most comfortable journey along the mighty Mekong River.
Day
1 Depart the USA
Depart the USA on your transpacific flight
to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Day
2 Arrival Phnom Penh
Sous Sdei and welcome to Cambodia.
You will be met at Phnom Penh airport and transferred to the
Palace Gate Hotel in Phnom Penh. This afternoon you will be
transferred to you Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship
Emerald Harmony in Prek K’dam.
Meals: D
Day
3 Oudong - Phnom Penh
Start your day with a visit to the
Oudong Monastery and Temples. 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 sight
include the burial sites of Khmer kings as well as religious artefacts
dating back more than a hundred years. Receive a traditional
Buddhist blessing from the temple’s resident monks as part of
EmeraldPLUS.
Spend the afternoon as you please or simply relax on board
Emerald Harmony as you sail to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s
capital. The city known as the “Pearl of Asia”, was almost entirely
evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. After dinner, enjoy a
Phnom Penh by City Lights remork (tuk tuk) tour.
Meals: B, L, D
EmeraldPLUS
Phnom Penh by night on a remork (Tuk-Tuk) tour
EmeraldPLUS
A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing
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A silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (additional expense)
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A visit to the silversmith village of Kho Chen (additional
expense)
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Enjoy a craft beer adventure by remork in Phnom Penh
(additional expense)
Day
4 Phnom Penh - Vietnam / Cambodia Border:
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 small museum and learn about this
sad historic chapter. Then you will 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.
Back on board Emerald Harmony, enjoy a Cambodian Street Fair
lunch, before visiting the majestic Royal Palace with its Frenchinspired
gardens, followed by a shopping stop at the central
market located in the heart of the city. This evening, enjoy a
cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s
Organisation, before setting sail to the border where you will
anchor for the night. Tonight enjoy a Cambodian-style family
dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
EmeraldPLUS
A cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and
Children’s Organisation
Day
5 Vietnam / Cambodia Border Crossing – Tan Chau – Long Khanh Island
This morning, cross the border into Vietnam and
continue sailing to Tan Chau.
In Tan Chau, 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. After a Xe Loi ride, embark one of our
sampans to Evergreen Island for a walk through a local village to
get a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. Stop at
a local fish farm enroute back to the ship.
This afternoon, sail to Long Khanh Island, known for its scarf
weaving and visit the Hoa Hao Buddhist pagoda. After anchoring
for the night near An long, you’ll be delighted by a traditional Lion
Dance performance on board.
Meals: B, L, D
EmeraldPLUS
A visit to Cao Dai temple
EmeraldPLUS
A Lion Dance performance on board
Day
6 An Long - My An Hung
Relax on board this morning or join
a tour of Tràm Chim National Park, home to Tam Nong Ramsar
Bird Sanctuary. Covering a total area of 7,313 hectares, Tram
Chim National Park, located in Tam Nong, is currently one of
Vietnam’s eight most important bird sanctuaries. With a system
of swamps, grass plots and natural canals, the park is an ideal
habitat for 191 species of plants, 150 species of freshwater fish,
and nearly 231 species of water birds. Some of these are listed in
Vietnam’s Red Book of rare and threatened species.
This afternoon, enjoy a visit to My An Hung village. Recognised
as a cultural and historical destination, this small village in rural
Vietnam specialises in red-hot chilli and peppers. Enjoy local folk
singing during the visit, wander through coconut farms, meet the
locals and learn about life in the village.
Tonight, enjoy a Vietnamese family-style dinner as you sail to Sa
Dec.
Meals: B, L, D
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Tràm Chim National Park with Tam Nong Ramsar Bird
Sanctuary (extra expense)
Day
7 Sa Dec - Cai Be
Visit Sa Dec on a walking tour, with stops
at the Chinese Congregational House in Kien An Cung, the home
of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, 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, after lunch on board,
you’ll arrive in Cai Be. Travelling via sampan, visit a coconut candy
workshop and learn how coconut candy and other local sweets
are made, then visit a local French colonial heritage villa. Continue
sailing to My Tho this evening.
Meals: B, L, D
Day
8 Sa Dec - Cai Be
Sit back, relax and take in a full day of
sailing the magnificent Mekong River and canals. Watch as life in
the Mekong Delta, known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam awakens
for another day as the ship departs early this morning to begin
transiting the Cho Gao canal. This is the perfect opportunity to
enjoy the ever-changing vista’s from the pool, to enjoy a treatment
in the Wellness Area (additional expense), or to read a book and
chat with new friends. Cruise past mangroves, narrow canals, fish
farms, busy cargo barges and local fishing boats alike.
Tonight, dock in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City with views of the city
lights.
Meals: B, L, D
Day
9* Ho Chi Minh City Disembarkation
Bid farewell to your Emerald Star-Ship after breakfast this morning and be transferred to the HCMC airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.
Meals: B
Itinerary is subject to change.
*Depending on the flight schedule, you may arrive in the USA on Day 10.