Depart USA

Depart the US on your overnight flight.

Arrival Ho Chi Minh City

Xin Chao and welcome to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, this is a city with a turbulent and colorful past. Today, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s commercial center with over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes. Included is a two-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Dinner

Ho Chi Minh City

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. In the afternoon, you will have an orientation tour of Ho Chi Minh City, starting with a visit to the city’s most iconic building, Reunification Palace. 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, City Hall and the old Saigon Post Office, and listen to the stories about the glory days of French Indochina.

DiscoverMORE: Evening Saigon street food tour (extra expense)

Meals: Breakfast

Ho Chi Minh City Embarkation - My Tho

Today, transfer from your hotel and embark on your Emerald Waterways award-winning river cruise Star-Ship and be welcomed by your Captain and crew. Set sail to My Tho in the Mekong Delta, and this evening, enjoy your first dinner on-board with your fellow travellers. Your Tour Director will also conduct a port talk to review the activities and itinerary for the days ahead.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

My Tho – Sa Dec

This morning you will be taken to the village of Ðat Dua, where you will watch a coconut candy and other fruits workshop. Then, visit the Tan Long Pagoda. Return to the star-ship and sail to Sa Dec.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sa Dec – My An Hung - Hong Ngu

Start your day with 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. Return to the star-ship and sail to My An Hung village. In the afternoon, as part of EmeraldPLUS, you will have a chance to visit this lovely and unspoiled place.
EmeraldPLUS: Visit to My An Hung village

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hong Ngu – An Long – Long Khanh

This morning is at leisure for you to relax onboard the ship or if you prefer, to take part on the DiscoverMORE - optional tour (at additional expense) of the Ramsar Bird Sanctuary. In the afternoon, embark on a visit to the Long Khanh Island. There, you will visit a local family and learn about scarf weaving. Then, visit the Hoa Hao Buddhist pagoda and a grapefruit garden. Return to the star-ship and this evening be delighted by a Lion Dance performance on-board.
EmeraldPLUS: Lion Dance performance on-board
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Ramsar Bird Sanctuary (extra expense)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hong Ngu – Vietnam / Cambodia Border Crossing - Phnom Penh

As part of EmeraldPLUS, visit a unique family-owned Lanh My A silk producing factory. The silk product is created with dyes made from the mac nua fruit, a kind of wood tree, which originally came from Tan Chau silk village about 100 years ago. Here, you will learn more about the long-complicated silk making process and have a chance to touch the real Lanh My A silk. Continue the visit, embark one of our sampans to Evergreen island for a walk through a local village to get a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. Re-board your luxury star-ship and cruise to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.
EmeraldPLUS: Visit to family-owned Lanh My A silk producing factory

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Phnom Penh

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, visit the small museum 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. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the majestic Royal Palace with its gardens and Central Market located in the heart of the city. In the evening, you will have a chance to experience an evening tuk-tuk ride through Phnom Penh ending on a rooftop terrace, where you will enjoy a beverage and take in the great views of the city as part of EmeraldPLUS.
EmeraldPLUS: Phnom Penh tuk-tuk drive by Night
DiscoverMORE: Champey Academy of Arts Visit (extra expense)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Phnom Penh – Prek’kdam

Start your day with an ox cart ride before visiting the 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. In one of the Oudong Temple there was a known large Buddha statue which was damaged during skirmishes with the Khmer Rouge which had the hill as one of their last strongholds. Receive a traditional Buddhist Blessing from the temple resident monks as part of your EmeraldPLUS. The afternoon is yours to continue exploring or simply relax on board of your Star-Ship.
EmeraldPLUS: ox cart ride & traditional Buddhist Monk blessing
DiscoverMORE: Silk Farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense) or Visit to Koh Chen Silversmith village (extra expense)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Prek’kdam Disembarkation – Siem Reap

Bid farewell to your luxury Star-Ship in the morning and continue by road to Siem Reap. On route to the city, you will have a chance to view and walk over the impressive Angkor Bridge in Kampong Kdei. Continue to Siem Reap, where you will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Siem Reap is known as the gateway to the magnificent temples of Angkor, and this vibrant city has a lot to offer. This evening, witness the incredible Phare Cambodian Circus, a spectacle of acrobatics, theatre and music. Phare is an NGO founded by Cambodian refugees to assist disadvantaged young people by teaching them performing arts. Included is a three-night stay in Siem Reap.
EmeraldPLUS: Phare Cambodian Circus performance

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Siem Reap

Today, start with a visit to the Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. It was a fortified city, home to priests, officials of the palace and military, as well as buildings for administering the kingdom. The city was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII and covers an area of 9 square kilometres. After the tour, visit the sacred Temple of Ta Prohm, overgrown by jungle trees.
DiscoverMORE: Vespa Tour of Siem Reap (extra expense)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Siem Reap

Rise early and embark on a fascinating journey to Angkor Wat. This UNESCO World-Heritage Site is known for its elaborate decorations and intricate carvings throughout. Enjoy a sun rise views and take the opportunity to capture quintessential pictures of Angkor Wat. Return to the hotel and enjoy the day at leisure. This evening, enjoy a farewell evening dinner together with a performance.
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Banteay Srei or Artisans d’Angkor workshop or Visit to Tonle Sap or Culinary Cambodia tour (all extra expense)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Siem Reap Farewell

Today you will be transferred to the airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.

Meals: Breakfast