| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 18th18 | JanJan | 202020 | 7 nights accommodation before your cruise, staying in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ho Chi Minh City | | |
| 25th25 | JanJan | 202020 | Prek Kdam, Cambodia, embark on the Emerald Harmony | | |
| Today, leave Siem Reap and venture to the town of Prek'kdam to embark on your Emerald Waterways award-winning river cruise Star-Ship. On route to the ship, stop in Kampong Kdei and see the impressive Angkor Bridge, continue and have lunch on a local restaurant. Arrive in Prek'kdam and be welcomed by your Captain and crew. Later, set sail to Kampong Tralach and enjoy your first dinner on-board with your fellow travellers. |
| 26th26 | JanJan | 202020 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | | |
| Start your day with a visit to Wat Kampong Tralach and the Oudong Temples. Located North of Phnom Penh, Oudong is the former royal capital of Cambodia up until it moved to Phnom Penh in the 1800s. 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 resident monks as part of EmeraldPLUS. The afternoon is yours to continue exploring or simply relax on board of your Star-Ship. Dinner this evening will be Cambodian Family Style in Reflections Restaurant. After dinner this evening, enjoy a traditional shadow puppet show. EmeraldPLUS: Traditional Buddhist Monk blessing DiscoverMORE: Silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense) OR Visit to Koh Chen Silversmith village (extra expense) |
| 27th27 | JanJan | 202020 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | | |
| Wake up in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. The city was once known as the 'Pearl of Asia', but it was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. This morning, we learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of Cambodian history. A short drive will take you to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. Where you will have the opportunity to walk through the fields and learn about this sad chapter in history. 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 onboard Emerald Harmony; enjoy a Cambodian Street Fair lunch. This afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the majestic Royal Palace with its French inspired gardens, followed by the central market located in the heart of the city. In the evening, experience a tuk-tuk ride through the buzzing streets of Phnom Penh. EmeraldPLUS: Phnom Penh tuk-tuk drive by Night DiscoverMORE: Champey Academy of Arts Visit (extra expense) |
| 28th28 | JanJan | 202020 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | | |
| As part of your EmeraldPLUS, visit a unique family-owned Lanh My A silk producing factory. Learn more about the long-complicated silk making process and have a chance to touch the real Lanh My A silk, created with dyes made from the mac nua fruit, originating from Tan Chau silk village around 100 years ago. Board a sampan to Evergreen island for a walk through a local village to get a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. This afternoon visit Long Khanh Island, known for its scarf weaving, grapefruit gardens and Hoa Hao Buddhist pagoda. EmeraldPLUS: to enjoy an onboard performance of traditional Lion Dancing EmeraldPLUS: Visit to family-owned Lanh My A silk producing factory and a Lion Dance Performance on board. |
| 29th29 | JanJan | 202020 | My An Hung, Vietnam | | |
| Relax on board this morning, or join our DiscoverMORE tour of the Ramsar Bird Sanctuary. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to My An Hung village, as part of our EmeraldPLUS program. Wander through coconut farms, meet the locals and learn about life in the village. EmeraldPLUS: a visit to My An Hung Village DiscoverMORE: Visit to Ramsar Bird Sanctuary (extra expense |
| 30th30 | JanJan | 202020 | Cái Bè, Vietnam | | |
| This morning, we arrive in Sa Dec, for a visit to the Chinese congregational house in Kien An Cung. Afterwards, visit the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras' novel, L'Amant, and take a walk through the central market in town. After lunch on board, arrive in Cai Be via sampan and visit a coconut candy workshop followed by performances of traditional music and fruit tasting. |
| 31st31 | JanJan | 202020 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | | |
| Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future. Sit back, relax and take in a full day of sailing the magnificent Mekong River. Watch as life on the Mekong awakens for another day as the ship departs early this morning to begin crossing the Cho Gao canal before meeting the Mekong Delta, known as the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the ever changing vista's from the pool, enjoy a treatment in the Wellness Area (additional expense), read a book or converse with new friends as you cruise past mangroves, narrow canals, floating markets, fish farms and pass by busy barges and local fishing boats alike. Tonight, dock in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City with views of the city lights. |
| 1st01 | FebFeb | 202020 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | | |
| Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future. Bid farewell to your luxury Star-Ship in the morning and transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. You will have a guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City, starting with a visit to the city's most iconic building: Reunification Hall. Formerly called the 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 the Ho Chi Minh City's colonial quarter, walking past scenes of everyday life on the way. Admire the beautiful architecture of the Opera House, City Hall, the old Saigon Post Office, listen to the stories about the glory days of French Indochina and how that era continues to influence aspects of modern Vietnamese culture. Included is a two-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City. DiscoverMORE: Evening Saigon street food tour (extra expense) |
| 2nd02 | FebFeb | 202020 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, disembark the Emerald Harmony | | |
| Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future. Drive away from Ho Chi Minh City, watching the city skyline fade into the distance as the road winds through rice paddies, villages and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam. Spend a couple of hours walking around Cu Chi's rugged grounds with a local guide. Hear how the residents constructed an intricate, underground network of tunnels during the French and American Wars. Hear incredible tales about the unusual foods the residents ate to survive and much more. Once above ground, see other ingenious items used by the residents to defend themselves such as bamboo traps and camouflaged pits. Upon your return in Ho Chi Minh City, your afternoon today is free at leisure to relax. |
| 2nd02 | FebFeb | 202020 | 2 nights accommodation following your cruise, staying in Ho Chi Minh City | | |
| 4th04 | FebFeb | 202020 | Check out of accommodation | | |
