7 Night Majestic Mekong Cruise from Phnom Penh

Sous sdei and welcome to Cambodia. You will be met at Phnom Penh Airport and transferred to the Palace Gate Hotel in Phnom Penh. Later, you will be transferred to Koh Khsach Krao to embark your Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship. On arrival, you'll be welcomed by your captain and crew. Later, set sail to Phnom Penh while you enjoy your first dinner onboard with your fellow guests. Please book your flight to arrive into Phnom Penh prior to 3 PM.

Start your day with a visit to the Oudong Monastery. Located north of Phnom Penh, Oudong was the former royal capital of Cambodia up until it moved to Phnom Penh in 1866. Important remnants 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's resident monks as part of EmeraldPLUS. Spend the afternoon as you please, exploring with DiscoverMORE options or simply relaxing onboard Emerald Harmony as you sail to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. The city known as the "Pearl of Asia", was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. After dinner, enjoy a Phnom Penh by City Lights remork (tuk tuk) tour.

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 small museum, and learn about this sad historic chapter. 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, before visiting the majestic Royal Palace with its French-inspired gardens, followed by a shopping stop at the central market located in the heart of the city. This evening, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children's Organization, before setting sail to the border where you will anchor for the night. Tonight enjoy a Cambodian-style family dinner.

This morning, cross the border into Vietnam and continue sailing to Tan Chau. In Tan Chau, as part of EmeraldPLUS, 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 Tay Ninh in 1926. Here, you will learn more about the mix of ideas that form the basis of this fascinating religion. After a xe loi ride, 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. Stop at a local fish farm en route back to the ship. This afternoon, sail to Long Khanh Island, known for its scarf weaving and visit the Hoa Hao Buddhist pagoda. After anchoring for the night near An Long, you'll be delighted by a traditional Lion Dance performance onboard.

Relax onboard this morning or join a DiscoverMORE tour of Tram Chim National Park, home to Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary. Covering a total area of 7,313 hectares, Tram Chim National Park, located in Tam Nong, is currently one of Vietnam's eight most important bird sanctuaries. With a system of swamps, grass plots, and natural canals, the park is an ideal habitat for 191 species of plants, 150 species of freshwater fish, and nearly 231 species of water birds. Some of these are listed in Vietnam's Red Book of rare and threatened species. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to My An Hung village as part of an EmeraldPLUS programme. Recognized as a cultural and historical destination, this small village in rural Vietnam specializes in red-hot chilli and peppers. Enjoy some local folk singing during the visit, wander through coconut farms, meet the locals, and learn about life in the village. Tonight, enjoy a Vietnamese family-style dinner as you sail to Sa Dec.

Visit Sa Dec on a walking tour, with stops at the Chinese Congregational House in Kien An Cung, and see outside the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le who inspired Marguerite Duras to write novel L'Amant and enjoy a walk through the central market to peruse its varied produce. Return to Emerald Harmony by sampan and, after lunch onboard, you'll arrive in Cai Be. Traveling via sampan, visit a coconut candy workshop and learn how coconut candy and other local sweets are made, then visit a local French colonial heritage villa. Continue sailing to My Tho this evening.

Sit back, relax, and take in a full day of sailing the magnificent Mekong River and canals. Watch as life in the Mekong Delta, known as the "rice bowl" of Vietnam, awakens for another day as the ship departs early this morning to begin transiting the Cho Gao Canal. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the ever-changing vista's from the pool, to enjoy a treatment in the Wellness Area (additional expense), or to read a book and chat with new friends. Cruise past mangroves, narrow canals, fish farms, busy cargo barges, and local fishing boats alike. Tonight, dock in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City with views of the city lights. Note: You will not be able to disembark this evening due to Customs Regulations.

Bid farewell to your Emerald Star-Ship after breakfast this morning and be transferred to the HCMC Airport to catch your onward or homebound flight. 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.