10-Day Meandering Majestic Mekong Cruise

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.

Xin Chao and welcome to Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon), Vietnam’s largest city. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to the Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers, before transferring to Saigon Port to board your Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship. You’ll be welcomed aboard Emerald Harmony by your captain and crew, before setting sail after lunch down the Saigon River to Cho Gao canal. This evening, enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow guests and an informative port talk hosted by your Cruise Director.

Please book your flight to arrive into Ho Chi Minh City prior to 08:30 AM.

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

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

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

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)

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

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.

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)

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.

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

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

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.

Disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning and transfer back to Phnom Penh airport for your onward flight.

Please book your flight to depart out of Phnom Penh after 10:00 AM.

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.