ITINERARY
A waterway unlike any other.
The essential dynamism of Southeast Asia is unveiled as you travel from Siem Reap in Cambodia to Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City. The way of life on this extraordinarily diverse waterway will wrap itself around your heart, leaving you with a greater understanding of the marvellous Mekong.
Tue, 05 Aug Fly NZ to Siem Reap
Wed, 06 Aug Arrive Siem Reap
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.
Thu, 07 Aug Siem 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 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.
EmeraldPLUS: Phare Cambodian Circus performance.
Included Excursion: Visit to Angkor Thom
Included Excursion: Visit to Ta Prohm Temple
DiscoverMORE: Vespa tour of Siem Reap (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Evening – Sunset Drinks Gondola Boat at Bayon (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Evening – Cambodian Street Food Discovery Tour (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Evening – Local Fare at Phare Circus (extra expense)
Fri, 08 Aug Siem Reap (B,D)
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.
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)
Sat, 09 Aug Siem Reap – Peam Chi Korng – 9 Night Mekong Cruise (B,L,D)
Today, leave Siem Reap and venture to the town of Peam Chi Korng 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 to Angkor Ban whilst you enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow guests.
Sun, 10 Aug Angkor Ban – Phnom Penh (B,L,D)
In historic Angkor Ban, visit the rural wooden houses that survived the Khmer Rouge and a classroom that teaches English to local students after regular school lessons. In the village, you’ll learn how to pray in a Buddhist pagoda and receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the resident monks, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience. Afterwards, set sail for Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Known as the ‘Pearl of Asia,’ this city was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy an evening remork ride through Phnom Penh, admiring the city lights.
EmeraldPLUS: A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing
EmeraldPLUS: Phnom Penh by night on a remork (Tuk-Tuk) tour
Included Excursion: Walk around the historical village of Angkor Ban
Mon, 11 Aug Phnom Penh (B,L,D)
Today, you’ll 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 Rouges’ main prison. Spend the afternoon at leisure, exploring our DiscoverMORE excursions, or relaxing on board. This evening, for your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation.
EmeraldPLUS: Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation
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)
Tue, 12 Aug Phnom Penh – Cross Cambodia/Vietnam Border (B,L,D)
This morning, you’ll visit the majestic Royal Palace with its French-inspired gardens and Silver Pagoda. After returning on board and enjoying a Cambodian Street Fair lunch, enjoy a relaxed afternoon of cruising as you sail onwards to the Cambodian and Vietnam border. Upon entering Vietnam, you’ll sail to Tan Chau. Later this evening, for your EmeraldPLUS experience, you’ll delight in a traditional Lion Dance performance on board.
EmeraldPLUS: A Lion Dance performance on board
Included Excursion: A visit to the Royal Palace
Wed, 13 Aug Tan Chau (B,L,D)
In Tan Chau, embark on a sampan ride to Evergreen Island for a walk through a Mekong Delta farming village. Reboard your sampan to travel back to Tan Chau and as part of our 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 from the temple to your sampan, visiting enroute a Mekong fish farm, before reboarding Emerald Harmony and sailing onwards to An Long.
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
Thu, 14 Aug An Long – Gieng Island (B,L,D)
The morning is yours to enjoy at leisure on board or, if you prefer, partake in our DiscoverMORE excursion to Tràm Chim National Park, home to the Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary.
After lunch, sail to Gieng Island. 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 local industries, including mango farming, boat construction and production of temple incense sticks.
Afterwards, reboard Emerald Harmony and sail to My An Hung Island.
DiscoverMORE: A visit to Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary in Tram Chim National Park (extra expense)
Included Excursion: See the local industries in Gieng Island
Fri, 15 Aug My An Hung – Sa Dec (B,L,D)
Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small ‘Delta village specialises in cultivating red-hot chilli and peppers and is known for its Monkey Bridge. As part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy local folk singing, wander through coconut farms and immerse yourself in traditional village life.
Return to Emerald Harmony and, after lunch on board, you’ll arrive in Sa Ðéc, a Mekong Delta hidden gem. 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 stroll through Sa Ðéc’s bustling central market.
EmeraldPLUS: Listen to some local folk singing in My An Hung
Included Excursion: A visit to the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le and the bustling Sa Dec Markets
Included Excursion: A visit to My An Hung village and its Monkey Bridge
Sat, 16 Aug Ben Tre (B,L,D)
This morning, 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. Later, you’ll reboard Emerald Harmony before sailing on to My Tho.
Included Excursion: Visit the Thoi Binh hamlet and its farming and fishing communities, untouched by tourism
Sun, 17 Aug Cho Gao canal – Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)
From My Tho, you’ll enter the Cho Gao canal, considered one of Vietnam’s major arterial canals that connects the Mekong Delta’s Tien Giang Province 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 day of relaxation on board, soak up the everchanging passing scenery, enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, or indulge in a spa treatment (at additional cost). 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.
Mon, 18 Aug Ho Chi Minh City Disembarkation (B,L)
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
DiscoverMORE: An evening Saigon Street Food walking tour (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: One Night in Saigon (extra expense)
Tue, 19 Aug Ho Chi Minh City (B,D)
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
Wed, 20 Aug Depart Ho Chi Minh City (B)
After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.
Thu, 21 Aug Arrive home in NZ.
NOTE: 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.
Not included in your package…
*Meals and drinks not shown in inclusions.
*DiscoverMORE – optional sightseeing tours at extra cost.
*Travel Insurance = price varies depending on age and pre-existing medical conditions.
*Cambodia & Vietnam Visa fees
*Any vaccinations or health requirements recommended by your GP.
