9 Night Meandering Majestic Mekong Cruise from Ho Chi Minh City (Formerly Saigon)

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 & 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 onboard 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 8:30 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 onboard, 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 Dec, a hidden gem on the Mekong Delta.

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 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 sail to My An Hung Island. Recognized as a cultural and historical destination, this small village in rural Vietnam specializes in red-hot chili and peppers. As part of an EmeraldPLUS program, enjoy some local folk singing during the visit.

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.

Today is yours to enjoy your free time onboard 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 onboard.

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 Tay 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.

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 onboard. Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, you'll enjoy an evening remork (local tuk-tuk) ride through Phnom Penh, admiring the city lights.

In the morning, visit the majestic Royal Palace with its gardens and Silver Pagoda. Once back onboard, 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.

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 Kang, located further upstream on the Mekong River.

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 AM.