Majestic Mekong River Cruise

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 for an overnight stay.

Formerly known as Saigon, this is a city with a turbulent and colourful past. Today, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s commercial centre with over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes.

Today, embark on your Emerald Waterways award-winning river cruise Star-Ship and be welcomed by your Captain and crew. After lunch on board, set sail to My Tho in the Mekong Delta, and this evening, enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow travellers. Your Tour Director will also conduct a port talk to review the activities and itinerary for the days ahead.

This morning you will be taken to the village of Ðat Dua, where you will learn how coconut candy and other local sweets are made, along with a fruit workshop. Enjoy a ride through the fruit plantations to Tan Long Pagoda on a Lambro before returning to Emerald Harmony to sail onwards to Sa Dec, a hidden gem on the Mekong Delta.

Included Excursion: A visit to a workshop in Ðat Dua and a visit to Tan Long Pagoda

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 sail to My An Hung Island. Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small village in rural Vietnam specialises in red-hot chilli and peppers. Enjoy some local folk singing during the visit.

EmeraldPLUS: A visit to My Ang Hung village

Included Excursion: A visit to the Chinese Congregational House and the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le

The morning 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. 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.

In the afternoon, embark on a journey to Long Khanh Island, visit a local family to learn about scarf-weaving and visit the Hoa Hao Buddhist Pagoda.

Return to Emerald Harmony where, later this evening, you’ll be delighted by a traditional Lion Dance performance on board.

EmeraldPLUS: A Lion Dance performance on board

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

Included Excursion: A visit to a local scarf-weaving workshop and Hoa Hao Buddhist Pagoda on Long Khanh Island

In Tan Chau, as part of EmeraldPLUS, 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.

Back on board your luxury Star-Ship, cruise to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Tonight, celebrate crossing the border with a Cambodian-style family dinner.

EmeraldPLUS: A visit to Cao Dai temple, a religion unique to the Mekong Delta

Included Excursion: A visit to Evergreen Island and Tan Chau

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 small museum 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. The afternoon is yours to continue exploring, experience one of four DiscoverMORE options or to simply relax on board your Star-Ship. In the evening, you will have a chance to experience an evening remork (or Tuk-Tuk) ride through Phnom Penh to enjoy the city lights.

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

Included Excursion: A visit to the Killing Fields & Toul Sleng Genocide Museum

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

DiscoverMORE: A visit to the silversmith village of Kho Chen (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE: Enjoy a craft beer adventure by remork in Phnom Penh (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 sight 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 excursion. In the afternoon, you will visit the majestic Royal Palace with its gardens and the central market located in the heart of the city. This evening, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation.

EmeraldPLUS: A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing

EmeraldPLUS: A cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation

Included Excursion: A visit to Oudong Monastery

Included Excursion: A visit to the Royal Palace and central market

Disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning after breakfast and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your overnight flight to the UK.

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. Please refer to our terms and conditions.

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 Phnom Penh airport and transferred to a hotel for an overnight stay.

You will be transferred to embark your Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship in Prek K’dam. Be welcomed by your captain and crew. Later, set sail whilst you enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow travellers.

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, exploring with DiscoverMORE options or simply relaxing 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.

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

EmeraldPLUS: A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing

Included Excursion: A visit to Oudong Temples

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

DiscoverMORE: A visit to the silversmith village of Kho Chen (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE: Enjoy a craft beer adventure by remork in Phnom Penh (extra expense)

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 French-inspired 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.

EmeraldPLUS: A cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation

Included Excursion: A visit to the Killing Fields & Toul Sleng Genocide Museum

Included Excursion: A visit to the Royal Palace and central market

This morning, cross the border into Vietnam and continue sailing to Tan Chau.

In Tan Chau, as part of EmeraldPLUS, 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.

EmeraldPLUS: A visit to Cao Dai temple, a religion unique to the Mekong Delta

EmeraldPLUS: A Lion Dance performance on board

Included Excursion: A visit to Evergreen Island and Tan Chau

Included Excursion: A visit to a local scarf-weaving workshop and Hoa Hao Buddhist Pagoda on Long Khanh Island

Relax on board this morning or join our DiscoverMORE 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 as part of our EmeraldPLUS programme. Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small village in rural Vietnam specialises in red-hot chilli and peppers. Enjoy some 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.

DiscoverMORE: Tràm Chim National Park with Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary (extra expense)

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.

Included Excursion: A visit to the Chinese Congregational House and the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le

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.

Bid farewell to your Emerald Star-Ship after breakfast this morning and be transferred to a hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your overnight flight to the UK.

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. Please refer to our terms and conditions.