Wonders of Vietnam Cambodia & the Mekong

Return economy flights from London Heathrow or Manchester are included in the price of your holiday.

Sous Sdei and welcome to Cambodia. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for your included three-night stay in Siem Reap.

In the evening, you’ll meet your Cambodian tour director to learn more about the days ahead.

Today, start with a visit to Angkor Thom, not a single temple such as the historic sites it neighbours, 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 afternoon is free time to visit the markets or try a DiscoverMORE tour.

This evening as part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, attend Phare, The Cambodian Circus, where a combination of acrobatics, music and dance tell a uniquely Cambodian story.

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Phare Cambodian Circus performance.

Included Excursion

Visit to Angkor Thom

Included Excursion

Visit to Ta Prohm Temple

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Vespa tour of Siem Reap (extra expense)

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Evening – Sunset Drinks Gondola Boat at Bayon (extra expense)

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Evening – Cambodian Street Food Discovery Tour (extra expense)

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Evening – Local Fare at Phare Circus (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, enjoy free time to explore Siem Reap, or join a DiscoverMORE excursion.

Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy an immersive evening and farewell dinner at Satcha Handicraft Centre, accompanied by an Apsara dance performance.

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Apsara dance performance and dinner show

Included Excursion

Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat

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Siem Reap Countryside by Vespa (extra expense)

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Banteay Srei Temple and APOPO (extra expense)

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Tonlé Sap (extra expense)

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Khmer Cooking Class (extra expense)

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Senteurs d’Angkor Workshop (extra expense)

Today, leave Siem Reap and venture to the town of Prek K’Dam to embark your Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship. En route, stop in Kampong Kdei and see the impressive Angkor Bridge, before having lunch at a local restaurant. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by your captain and crew.

Later, set sail up the Tonle River to Kampong Tralach whilst you enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow guests.

Begin the day with an Ox Cart ride in Kampong Tralach to a local temple before driving to Oudong. Oudong was Cambodia’s former royal capital until it relocated to Phnom Penh in 1866. In Oudong Monastery’s main temple, receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the resident monks, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience.

Return to Emerald Harmony and sail to Phnom Penh. Spend the afternoon at leisure, either experiencing one of our DiscoverMORE excursions, visiting the Central Market, or relaxing on board. After dinner, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy Phnom Penh by night on a remork (local Tuk-Tuk) tour.

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A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing

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Phnom Penh by night on a remork (Tuk-Tuk) tour

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A silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense)

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Craft Beer Adventure by remork (extra expense)

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Samai Distillery (extra expense)

This morning, learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of Cambodia’s history. A short drive will take you to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek, where you’ll be able to stroll through the fields, visit the memorial and understand more about the country’s sombre chapter. Afterwards, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (known as ‘S-21’), a former school converted to the Khmer Rouge’s main prison and torture headquarters. Back on board, savour a Cambodian Street Fair lunch, before visiting the majestic Royal Palace, with its French-inspired gardens. This evening, for your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation, before sailing for the border.

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Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation

Included Excursion

Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Included Excursion

A visit to the Royal Palace

Today, you’ll cross the border into Vietnam and sail on to Tan Chau. Relax on board, or join our DiscoverMORE excursion to Tra Su Bird Sanctuary, before returning for a late lunch on board.

This afternoon, embark on a sampan to Evergreen Island for a stroll through a local village, revealing the lives of the local farming community. Reboard your sampan to travel back to Tan Chau and as part of our EmeraldPLUS, programme, 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 before returning to Emerald Harmony where, later this evening as part of our EmeraldPLUS, programme, you’ll be delighted by a traditional Lion Dance performance on board.

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A visit to a local Cao Dai Temple and Xe Loi ride

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A Lion Dance performance on board

Included Excursion

A visit to Evergreen Island

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A visit to Tra Su Bird Sanctuary (extra expense)

Known as ‘Mango Island,’ Cu Lao Gieng is a small, scenic island that is untouched by tourism located along the upper Mekong River. Travel by local motorcycle rickshaw through the island’s villages to visit families who work in a variety of local industries, including mango farming, boat construction and temple incense sticks.

Return to Emerald Harmony by sampan and sail to My An Hung Island. Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small rural village specialises in cultivating red-hot chilli and peppers. As part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, listen to local folk singing, wander through coconut farms and immerse yourself in traditional village life.

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Listen to some local folk singing in My An Hung

Included Excursion

See the local industries in Gieng Island

Included Excursion

A visit to My An Hung village and its Monkey Bridge

Take a short ride on a sampan to Sa Ðéc, a Mekong Delta hidden gem. Enjoy a walking tour around town with a stop at the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras’ celebrated novel, L’Amant, and a stroll through Sa Ðéc’s bustling central market. Return to Emerald Harmony by sampan for lunch, while cruising to Cái Bè.

Upon arrival, travel via sampan to Tan Phong, a small island located nearby, rich in alluvial soil suitable for cultivating tropical fruit orchards year-round. At this established ecotourism destination, try a hands-on experience at a workshop specialising in weaving water hyacinth into artistic crafts. Board a motorised buggy for a ride through fruit orchards, stopping to sample tropical fruits. Reboard the sampan and cruise back to Cái Bè, discovering local cottage industries where families produce rice-paper and sweets from pop-corn, pop-rice and coconuts. Return to Emerald Harmony.

Included Excursion

A visit to the bustling Sa Dec Markets and the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le

Included Excursion

An excursion to the local industries of Cai Be

After sailing from My Tho, you’ll leave the Mekong Delta and enter the Cho Gao canal, considered one of Vietnam’s major arterial canals that connects Tien Giang Province with Ho Chi Minh City. Today, you’ll be fascinated watching the heavy commercial traffic navigating this important waterway, where upwards of 1,800 vessels transit each day.

Relax on board, taking in the everchanging vistas of mangroves, cargo barges and local fishing boats. Tonight, you’ll dock in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, where you can admire the city lights; due to Vietnamese customs regulations, you’ll not be permitted to venture ashore.

After disembarkation, drive away from Ho Chi Minh City port 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, enjoy a traditional Pho (noodle soup) lunch then check in to your hotel for your included two-night stay.

Tonight join a DiscoverMORE excursion.

Included Excursion

Cu Chi Tunnels

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An evening Saigon Street Food walking tour (extra expense)

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One Night in Saigon (extra expense)

Enjoy a guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City, starting with a visit to the city’s most iconic building, the Reunification, or Independence Palace. Formerly the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace, images of the building were seen around the world on 30 April 1975 when tanks stormed the gates as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. Then, stroll through Ho Chi Minh City’s colonial quarter, walking past scenes of everyday life on the way. Admire the beautiful architecture of the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral and the old Saigon Post Office and listen to the stories about the glory days of French Indochina and how that era continues to influence aspects of modern Vietnamese culture.

Tonight, enjoy your farewell dinner with your fellow guests.

Included Excursion

An orientation tour of Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.

Welcome home.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.

Fly from London Heathrow or Manchester

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.

Drive north of Ho Chi Minh City to the 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 legendary grounds with a local guide.

Upon your return to Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy a traditional Pho (noodle soup) lunch with the remainder of the afternoon and evening yours to enjoy at leisure.

Or venture out on one of our DiscoverMORE excursions.

Included Excursion

Cu Chi Tunnels

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An evening Saigon Street Food walking tour (extra expense)

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One Night in Saigon (extra expense)

After checkout, enjoy a guided city tour, 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 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.

Included Excursion

An orientation tour of Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, sail through the bustling Cho Gao, one of the major arterial canals of Vietnam connecting Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City. Today makes a fascinating morning watching the heavy commercial traffic navigate this important waterway, which can see upwards of 1,800 vessels transit each day.

This afternoon, once on the Mekong River, you’ll visit Tan My Floating community, followed by a ride through the local plantations to visit a mushroom farm, a fruit farm with sampling and a honey farm with local sweets. You’ll then return to Emerald Harmony to sail onwards to Sa Ðéc, a hidden gem on the Mekong Delta.

Included Excursion

Visit Thoi Binh hamlet and its farming and fishing communities, untouched by tourism

After a short sampan ride to Sa Ðéc, enjoy a walking tour around town with a stop at the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras’ celebrated novel, L’Amant, and a walk through the town’s central market to peruse its varied produce.

Return to Emerald Harmony by sampan and sail to My An Hung Island. Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small Mekong Delta village specialises in cultivating red-hot chilli and peppers. As part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy some local folk singing during your visit.

EmeraldPLUS

Listen to some local folk singing in My An Hung

Included Excursion

A visit to My An Hung village and its Monkey Bridge

Known as ‘Mango Island,’ Cu Lao Gieng is a small, scenic island untouched by tourism, located along the upper Mekong River. Travel by local motorcycle rickshaw through the island’s villages to visit families who work in a variety of local industries including Mango farming, different types of boat building and a factory making incense sticks for temples.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure on board, or alternatively, partake in a DiscoverMORE excursion to the Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary in An Long. As part of our EmeraldPLUS experience, you’ll delight in a traditional Lion Dance performance on board.

EmeraldPLUS

A Lion Dance performance on board

Included Excursion

See the local industries in Gieng Island

DiscoverMORE

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

Embark on a sampan ride to Evergreen Island for a walk through a local village, giving you a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. Reboard your sampan and return to Tan Chau and as part of our EmeraldPLUS experience, visit the local Cao Dai Temple. Cao Dai is a syncretic, monotheistic religion established in Tây Ninh, southern Vietnam, in 1926. At the temple, learn more about this fascinating and complex religion. Afterwards, ride in a Xe Loi (local form of cyclo) back to your sampan before returning to Emerald Harmony. Back on board your Star-Ship, you’ll sail to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

EmeraldPLUS

A visit to a local Cao Dai Temple and Xe Loi ride, unique to the Mekong Delta

Included Excursion

A visit to Evergreen Island

This morning, you’ll awake in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Known as the ‘Pearl of Asia,’ the city was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Today, you’ll learn about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of Cambodia’s history. A short drive will take you to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek, where you’ll have the opportunity to stroll through the fields, visit the memorial and understand more about this country’s sombre chapter.

Afterwards, visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as ‘S-21’), a former school converted to the Khmer Rouge’s main prison and torture HQ. Spend the afternoon as you please, either exploring our DiscoverMORE excursions, visiting the Central Market located in the heart of Phnom Penh, or simply relaxing on board Emerald Harmony.

This evening, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy a remork (local Tuk-Tuk) tour through Phnom Penh to admire the city lights.

EmeraldPLUS
Phnom Penh by night on a remork (Tuk-Tuk) tour

Included Excursion

Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

DiscoverMORE

A silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE

Craft Beer Adventure by remork (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE

Samai Distillery (extra expense)

Located north of Phnom Penh, Oudong was the former royal capital of Cambodia until it relocated to Phnom Penh in 1866. Start your day with a visit to the Oudong Monastery and Temples. Important remnants here include the burial sites of Khmer kings as well as religious artefacts dating back more than a century. In Oudong Monastery’s main temple, receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the resident monks, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the majestic Royal Palace, with its French-inspired gardens and Silver Pagoda. Back on board, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation.

Afterwards, make the short sail to Prek K’Dam, gliding past Phnom Penh illuminated at night.

EmeraldPLUS

A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing

EmeraldPLUS

Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation

Included Excursion

A visit to the Royal Palace

Disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning and continue by road to Siem Reap for your included three-night stay. Your hotel, a deluxe boutique property of world-class design that takes great care in honouring the environment and paying homage to the traditional and local aesthetics.

This evening as part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, attend Phare, The Cambodian Circus, where a combination of acrobatics, music and dance tell a uniquely Cambodian story.

Take advantage of our DiscoverMORE dinner at the circus to further support Phare’s work.

EmeraldPLUS

Phare Cambodian Circus performance

DiscoverMORE

Evening – Local Fare at Phare Circus (extra expense)

Today, start with a visit to Angkor Thom, not a single temple such as the historic sites it neighbours, 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.

Included Excursion

Visit to Angkor Thom

Included Excursion

Visit to Ta Prohm Temple

DiscoverMORE

Evening – Sunset Drinks Gondola Boat at Bayon (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE

Evening – Cambodian Street Food Discovery Tour (extra expense)

Witness a mesmerising sunrise over Angkor Wat. Afterwards, walk through this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, renowned for its intricate carvings. This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to explore the town, or join a DiscoverMORE excursion.

Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy an immersive evening and farewell dinner at Satcha Handicraft Centre, accompanied by an Apsara dance performance.

EmeraldPLUS

Apsara dance performance and dinner show

Included Excursion

Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat

DiscoverMORE

Siem Reap Countryside by Vespa (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE

Banteay Srei Temple and APOPO (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE

Tonlé Sap (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE

Khmer Cooking Class (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 onward or homebound flight.

Welcome home.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.