From Vietnam’s largest city, you’ll embark your eight-day river cruise along the intoxicating Mekong River. Stop off in small communities along the Mekong Delta, attending craft workshops and perusing ancient pagodas. Visit spectacular premises, some known to have inspired famous novels, learn the tricks of the trade at a local scarf-weaving factory and peruse a Cao Dai temple. Embark on a sobering exploration of the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, before hitting the city’s streets in a Tuk Tuk, and receive a Buddhist blessing by a monk in the Oudong Temple. All intertwined with awe-inspiring cultural performances, like that of a vibrant open-air Lion Dance on the Sun Deck.
Inclusions
- 7 night river cruise from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh aboard Emerald Waterways (or in reverse)
- 21 meals: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
(note: reversed itinerary has 20 meals: 7 breakfast, 6 lunches and 7 dinners) - Complimentary international and local wine, beer & soft drinks to accompany lunch & dinner while on board Emerald Waterways
- The services of an Emerald Cruises Cruise Director
- Included Excursions – 8 excursions, including visits to several UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites
- Complimentary water provided on board and during excursions
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- All tipping and gratuities
- Airport transfers to and from the ship
- Port taxes and charges
- Exclusive Offer – Book by May 31: Second Guest Sails FREE! (pays taxes only)
| 2024 | Guest 1 | Guest 2 (pay taxes only) |
| Oct 12, 19, 26 | from $5249 | FREE |
| Nov 9, 23, 30 | from $5599 | FREE |
| Dec 7, 14 | from $5299 | FREE |
| Taxes & Fees | $430 | $430 |
| Upgrade to Balcony: add from $500 more | ||
Selected Dates – New Bookings Only
Final payment is due at booking.
Promotion is subject to change without notice.
Looking for other 2 for 1 River Cruises, click here
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh (or in reverse)
Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City – Embarkation (L,D)
Xin Chao and welcome to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you will be met by your Emerald Cruises representative and transferred to Sheraton Saigon before transferring to Saigon Port where you will board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, Emerald Harmony. You’ll be welcomed on board by your captain and crew before after lunch setting sail down the Saigon River on your journey towards My Tho in the Mekong Delta. 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.
Please book your flight to arrive into Ho Chi Minh City prior to 08:30 AM.
Day 2 Ben Tre (B,L,D)
This morning travel through the bustling Cho Gao. The Cho Gao canal is one of the major arterial canals of Vietnam connecting Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City. Today is a fascinating morning watching the heavy commercial traffic navigate this important waterway which can see upwards of 1,800 vessels transit each day. This afternoon once on the Mekong River, you’ll visit the 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 sweet 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 3 Sa Dec – My An Hung (B,L,D)
After a short ride on a sampan to Sa Dec enjoy a walking tour around town with stops at the Chinese Congregational House in Kien An Cung, the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le (currently under renovation), 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 Chinese Congregational House and the bustling Sa Dec Markets
Included Excursion
A visit to My An Hung village and its Monkey Bridge
Day 4 Gieng Island – An Long (B,L,D)
On Gieng Island you can travel through the island’s villages to visit families who work in a variety of local industries including boat building of different types and creating incense sticks for temples. Also visit Vietnam’s oldest church.
The afternoon 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.
Included Excursion
See the local industries in Gieng Island
DiscoverMORE
A visit to Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary in Tram Chim National Park (extra expense)
Day 5 Wed Vietnam/Cambodia Border Crossing (B,L,D)
Embark on a sampan to Evergreen Island for a walk through a local village to get a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. Reboard your sampan to travel back to Tan Chau and as part of our EmeraldPLUS programme, visit the recently renovated Cao Dai temple. The religion of Cao Dai is a syncretic, monotheistic religion established in southern Vietnam in the city of Tây Ninh in 1926. Here, you will learn more about the mix of ideas that form the basis of this fascinating religion. Afterwards ride in a Xe Loi (local form of cyclo) from the temple back to your sampan to then visit a Mekong fish farm before returning to Emerald Harmony.
Back on board your luxury Star-Ship, cruise to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. Whilst at the border, as part of our EmeraldPLUS programme, you’ll be delighted by a traditional Lion Dance performance on board. Tonight, celebrate crossing the border with a Cambodian-style family dinner.
EmeraldPLUS
A visit to a local Cao Dai Temple
EmeraldPLUS
A Lion Dance performance on board
Included Excursion
A visit to Evergreen Island
Included Excursion
Experience a Xe Loi ride, unique to the Mekong Delta
Day 6 Phnom Penh (B,L,D)
Wake up in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. The city, known as the “Pearl of Asia”, was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. This morning, you will learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of the country’s history. A short drive will take you to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. Here you will have the opportunity to walk through the fields, visit the memorial and learn about this sad historic chapter.
Afterwards 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. Spend the afternoon as you please exploring our DiscoverMORE excursions or simply relaxing on board Emerald Harmony. In the evening, as part of your EmeraldPLUS programme you will have a chance to experience an evening remork (local Tuk-Tuk) ride through Phnom Penh to enjoy 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)
Day 7 Phnom Penh – Oudong – Koh Khsach Krao (B,L,D)
Located north of Phnom Penh, Oudong was the former royal capital of Cambodia up until it moved to Phnom Penh in 1866. Important remnants on the temple site include the burial sites of Khmer kings as well as religious artefacts dating back more than a hundred years. In the main temple of the Oudong Monastery, receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the temple’s resident monks as part of your EmeraldPLUS programme. In the afternoon, you will visit the majestic Royal Palace with its gardens, followed by the Central Market located in the heart of the city. Back on board, as part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation. Afterwards set sail, gliding past the illuminated Phnom Penh at night for a short sail to Koh Khsach Krao.
EmeraldPLUS
A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing
EmeraldPLUS
Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation
Included Excursion
A visit to the Royal Palace and Central Market
Day 8 Khsach Krao Disembarkation to Phnom Penh (B)
Disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning and transfer to Phnom Penh airport for you flight home.
Please book your flight to depart out of Phnom Penh after 11:00 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.
Flexible Booking Plan
| River Cruising | Yacht Cruising |
| $125 | $200 |
- Should you choose to defer or cancel your booking, the total monies paid to us (less third-party fees) will be applied as a Future Travel Credit which is valid for 24 months for you to use on an alternate tour/cruise.
- If you do not re-book within 24 months, your FTC it will be forfeited.
- Non-refundable. Non commissionable.
- Excludes Russia cruising.
- Not available to guests using COVID Future Travel Credits
Platinum Protection Plan
The Platinum Protection Plan (“PPP”) is available for new river and ocean cruising bookings for travel after 1 January 2022 for Scenic and Emerald Cruises (“Eligible Booking”). By adding this plan, you are covered if you unable to travel due to health reasons, or your travel plans are impacted by COVID-19, up to 31 days prior to departure with a 100% refund (less airline cancellation fees and PPP cost), or a 70% refund between 15 and 30 days prior to departure (less PPP cost). The PPP must be purchased together with the Eligible Booking at time such booking is made and may not be added at a later date. The PPP is provided at a cost of $395 per person per river cruise, $495 per person per cruise on Emerald Cruises yacht cruising and $595 per person per cruise on Scenic Eclipse voyages (“PPP Fee”).
