Meandering Majestic Mekong – Luxury River Cruise

Xin Chao and welcome to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you will be met by your Emerald Cruises representative and transferred to the Grand Hotel 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.

Today you’ll sail The Cho Gao canal, one of the major arterial canals of Vietnam that connects the Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City. It is a fascinating day, as you get to watch the heavy commercial traffic navigate this important waterway, which can see over 1,800 vessels transit through it each day. Why not watch the scener pass you by from your private balcony or the sundeck, enjoy a swim in the resort-style infinity pool, or maybe treat yourself to a spa treatment during your day of relaxation onboard.

This morning, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the vibrant Tan My Floating community, take an enchanting ride through lush plantations, and indulge in the aromatic delights of mushroom farms, fruit orchards, and honey farms. Once back on board Emerald Harmony, you’ll sail onwards to Sa Ðéc, a hidden gem on the Mekong Delta.

Included excursions: Visit the Thoi Binh hamlet and its farming and fishing communities, untouched by tourism

Take a short ride on a sampan to Sa Ðéc, where you can enjoy a walking tour around town, stopping at the Chinese Congregational House in Kien An Cung; the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le who inspired Marguerite Duras’ novel L’Amant; and the central market place where you can peruse the varied local produce. After returning to Emerald Harmonyby sampan, you’ll sail onward to My An Hung Island, which is recognised as a cultural and historical destination. This small rural Vietnamese village specialises in producing red-hot chilli and peppers. As part of the EmeraldPLUS program, you’ll get to enjoy some local folk singing during this visit.

Included excursion: A visit to the Chinese Congregational House and the bustling Sa Ðéc markets
Included excursion: A visit to My An Hung Village and its Monkey Bridge

When you arrive 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 and creating incense sticks for temples. You can also visit Vietnam’s oldest church. The afternoon is yours to enjoy some free time on board, or, you can choose to partake in a DiscoverMORE optional excursion to the Tam Nông Ramsar Bird Sanctuary in Đồng Tháp.

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)

Today, you’ll embark on a sampan to Evergreen Island for a walk through a local village, getting a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. Afterwards, you’ll reboard your sampan to travel back to Tan Chau, and as part of the EmeraldPLUS program, you’ll visit the recently renovated Cao Dai temple. The region of Cao Dai is a syncretic, monotheistic religion established in southern Vietnam in the city of Tay Ninh in 1926. Here, you will learn more about the mix of ideas that form the basis of this fascinating religion. Afterward, 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.

Once you’re back on board your luxury Star-Ship, you’ll set sail to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. Whilst at the border, as part of the EmeraldPLUS program, you’ll be delighted by a traditional Lion Dance performance on board. Tonight, you’ll celebrate crossing the border with a Cambodian-style family dinner.

Included excursion: A visit to Evergreen Island
Included excursion: Experience a Xe Loi ride, unique to the Mekong Delta

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

This morning you’ll wake up in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. This city, known as the “Pearl of Asia”, was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, and today, you will learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of the country’s history by visiting 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, you’ll visit the Tuoi Sieng Genocide Museum (also known as S-21). This is a former school that was converted into the main prison and torture headquarters of the Khmer Rouge.

You can spend the afternoon as you please exploring the DiscoverMORE excursions or simply relaxing on board Emerald Harmony. In the evening, as part of the EmeraldPLUS program, you will have a chance to experience an evening remork (local Tuk-Tuk) ride through Phnom Penh to enjoy the city lights.

Included excursion: Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and Tuoi Sieng Genocide Museum

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)

In the morning visit the majestic Royal Palace with its beautiful gardens and silver Pagoda, followed a shopping excursion to the art deco style Central Market, located in the heart of the city. After lunch set sail from Phnom Penh and enjoy an afternoon of relaxed sailing as you cruise further up the Mekong River to Angkor Ban.

Included excursion: A visit to the Royal Palace and Central Market

Today you’ll disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning and transfer back to Phnom Penh airport for your onward flight. Want to extend your stay in Cambodia? Just ask your Cruise Travel Advisor and we’ll help you create the ultimate holiday package.