Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong

Itinerary

Day 1Tue, 29 JulHo Chi Minh City (D)

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.

Day 2Wed, 30 JulHo Chi Minh City (B,L)

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

DiscoverMORE

An evening Saigon Street Food walking tour (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE

One Night in Saigon (extra expense)

Day 3Thu, 31 JulHo Chi Minh City – 9 Night Mekong Cruise (B,L,D)

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

Day 4Fri, 01 AugSail Cho Gao Canal - Ben Tre (B,L,D)

The Cho Gao canal is one of Vietnam’s major arterial canals, connecting Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll find it fascinating to watch the heavy commercial traffic navigate this important waterway, which sees upwards of 1,800 vessels transit each day. During your morning of relaxation on board, soak up the ever-changing passing scenery, enjoy a refreshing dip in the infinity pool, or indulge in a spa treatment (at additional cost). This afternoon, you’ll visit the Tan My Floating community followed by a ride through the local ‘Delta plantations’, visiting a mushroom farm, a fruit farm with sampling and a honey farm with local sweets before returning to Emerald Harmony to sail onwards to Sa Ðéc, a hidden gem on the Mekong Delta.

Included Excursion

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

Day 5Sat, 02 AugSa Dec – My An Hung (B,L,D)

After a short ride on a sampan to Sa Dec enjoy a walking tour around town with a stop at 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. As part of our EmeraldPLUS programme, enjoy some local folk singing during the visit.

EmeraldPLUS

Listen to some local folk singing in My An Hung

Included Excursion

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

Included Excursion

A visit to My An Hung village and its Monkey Bridge

Day 6Sun, 03 AugGieng Island (B,L,D)

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 various local industries, including mango farming, boat construction and production of temple incense sticks. This afternoon sail to An Long.

Included Excursion

See the local industries in Gieng Island

Day 7Mon, 04 AugAn Long (B,L,D)

Today 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. As part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, you can enjoy 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)

Day 8Tue, 05 AugTan Chau - Vietnam/Cambodia Border Crossing (B,L,D)

In Tan Chau, embark on a sampan ride to Evergreen Island for a walk through a local village, affording a glimpse into the ‘Delta farming community'. Reboard your sampan returning to Tan Chau and as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, visit a 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 reboarding Emerald Harmony. You’ll then cruise to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

EmeraldPLUS

Cao Dai Temple visit and Xe Loi ride

Included Excursion

A visit to Evergreen Island

Day 9Wed, 06 AugPhnom Penh (B,L,D)

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

Afterwards, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (infamously known as ‘S-21’), a former school converted to the Khmer Rouge’s main prison and torture HQ. Spend the afternoon at leisure, exploring our DiscoverMORE excursions, visiting the vibrant Central Market, or relaxing on board.

Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, you’ll enjoy an evening remork (local Tuk-Tuk) ride through Phnom Penh, admiring 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 Rum Distillery visit (extra expense)

Day 10Thu, 07 AugPhnom Penh – Angkor Ban (B,L,D)

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

EmeraldPLUS

Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation

Included Excursion

A visit to the Royal Palace

Day 11Fri, 08 AugAngkor Ban - Peam Chi Korng (B,L,D)

In Angkor Ban, explore its historical rural wooden houses which survived the Khmer Rouge and visit a classroom that teaches English to the local students, after their regular school lessons. In the village temple learn how to pray in a Buddhist pagoda and you’ll receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the temple’s resident monks as part of your EmeraldPLUS excursion. Afterwards set sail to your final destination, Peam Chi Korng located further upstream on the Mekong River.

EmeraldPLUS

A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing

Included Excursion

Walk around the historical village of Angkor Ban

Day 12Sat, 09 AugPeam Chi Korng Disembarkation – Siem Reap (B,L)

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 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)

Day 13Sun, 10 AugSiem Reap (B,L)

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)

Day 14Mon, 11 AugSiem Reap (B,D)

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)

Day 15Tue, 12 AugDepart Siem Reap (B)

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the Siem Reap airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.

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.

Description

Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong with Emerald Cruises

Selected departures in July 2025 - May 2026. 

Pricing based on departure date: 16th August 2025

Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap - Reverse itinerary also available

Your journey begins in Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis and one of the most vibrant cities in Vietnam. From there, you’ll witness the traditional way of life found in Ben Tre and on Gieng Island, stopping to explore My An Hung village and the Cao Dai Temple in Tan Chau along the way. Crossing the border into Cambodia, you’ll arrive at Phnom Penh before venturing to Siem Reap, where the otherworldly site of Angkor Wat awaits.

The Emerald Cruises Difference

Experience an unforgettable voyage of discovery with shore excursions, EmeraldPLUS cultural experiences, and the EmeraldACTIVE program all included.

• 8 EmeraldPLUS Highlights
• 15 excursions, including visits to several UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites
• 13 optional excursions, available at an additional cost
• 7 nights on board the luxurious Emerald Harmony
• Deluxe hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage included
• 31 meals: 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 9 dinners
• Complimentary international and local wine, beer & soft drinks to accompany lunch & dinner while on board Emerald Harmony
• Complimentary tea & coffee on board
• Complimentary water provided on board and during excursions
• A variety of on board evening entertainment
• Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
• First-class service from an English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides
• Earn EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty points
• All port charges and taxes
• ATAS protected and CLIA member
• All Tips Included

 Your Ship: Emerald Harmony

Reaching 239ft (73m) in length, 42 cabins accommodate 84 guests and 40 crew members, enabling us to provide spacious suites and public areas, as well as an excellent staff-to-guest ratio. Every minute you spend on board will be one of complete relaxation. Unwind in the serene surroundings of the Lotus Lounge, rejuvenate by the pool on the Pool Deck, or enjoy a locally flavoured cocktail in the Asian-themed Horizon Bar & Lounge.

Terms & Conditions

All fares are displayed in INR, and pricing is per person based on twin share occupancy unless stated otherwise. Although all due care is taken to keep information as up-to-date as possible, pricing and availability are subject to change without notice: due to varying timing schedules of supplier automated update processes; currency fluctuations; fuel surcharges or government tax & fee changes and may not be guaranteed until paid in full. Gratuities may be an additional onboard charge depending on particular cruise line selected. Please ask your cruise consultant for any clarification of Terms & Conditions.