Grand Tour of Vietnam & Cambodia - 7 or 9 night cruise

Sous Sdei and welcome to Cambodia. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for your included three-night stay in Siem Reap.

In the evening, you’ll meet your Cambodian tour director to learn more about the days ahead, before enjoying a welcome dinner show with Apsara dancers.

Meals Included: Dinner

Today, start with a visit to 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.

This afternoon and evening is at your leisure or undertake a DiscoverMORE option.

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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Rise early and witness the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Afterwards, walk through this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site known for its elaborate decorations and intricate carvings throughout.

Return to the hotel and enjoy the day at leisure or continue touring with DiscoverMORE. Later you may also choose a DiscoverMORE evening option.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, leave Siem Reap and venture to the town of Koh Khsach Krao to embark your Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship. En route, stop in Kampong Kdei to see the impressive Angkor Bridge, before having lunch at a local restaurant and a further stop in the spider village of Skol.

On arrival in Koh Khsach Krao, you’ll be welcomed by your captain and crew. Later, set sail whilst you enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow travellers.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start your day with a visit to the Oudong Monastery and Temples. 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 sight 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 on board 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 on board 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 Organisation, before setting sail to the border where you will anchor for the night. Tonight enjoy a Cambodian-style family dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, 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 Tây 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 enroute 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 on board.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Relax on board this morning or join our DiscoverMORE tour of Tràm 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 our EmeraldPLUS programme. Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small village in rural Vietnam specialises 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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’ 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 on board, you’ll arrive in Cai Be. Travelling 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bid farewell to your luxury Star-Ship in the morning and 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.

Upon your return to Ho Chi Minh City, check into your hotel for your included two-night stay, and enjoy a free afternoon.

This evening choose between two DiscoverMORE options to experience the night life of HCMC.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City, starting with a visit to the city’s most iconic building, the Reunification, or Independence, Palace. Formerly the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace, images of the building were seen around the world on 30 April 1975 when tanks stormed the gates as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese.

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, Notre Dame Cathedral, City Hall and the old Saigon Post Office and listen to the stories about the glory days of French Indochina and how that era continues to influence aspects of modern Vietnamese culture.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, transfer from your hotel to the airport to catch your connecting flight to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Cruise along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda before checking into your hotel for the night.

This evening, experience a Royal Dinner with full ceremony at a local restaurant.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Begin the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. As part of EmeraldPLUS, take a cyclo (bicycle-style rickshaw) from Dai Noi “Old City” to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax.

Leaving Hue, drive through the picturesque Hai Van Pass, then Danang and other small fishing villages to reach Hoi An. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for your three-night included stay in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed port town of Hoi An, where you can enjoy a relaxing evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, start with our EmeraldPLUS visit to the Reaching Out Project. Reaching Out is an NGO established in 2000, which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to learn skills and gain meaningful employment. Visit the workshop and get a glimpse how this NGO helps them to integrate fully with their communities and lead independent and fulfilling lives.

In the afternoon, enjoy a half day tour of Hoi An and see the old merchant’s houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge (currently undergoing renovations, views may be restricted) and the Assembly Hall of the Chinese Congregation.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a day of leisure to explore Hoi An and its surroundings. Perhaps take the time to compare the tailors of Hoi An or take a cyclo to An Bang Beach.

Alternatively, choose one of the optional DiscoverMORE experiences of a Vietnamese cooking experience, life as a farmer and fisherman in Hoi An or a visit to the Cham ruins of My Son. The choice is yours.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Transfer to Danang Airport for your flight to Hanoi. As part of our EmeraldPLUS programme, lunch in Hanoi will be at KOTO (Know One Teach One), a restaurant set up to train and educate disadvantaged children in English and hospitality skills.

This afternoon, you’ll embark on a city tour of Hanoi. Enjoy the view from outside ‘Uncle Ho’s’ mausoleum, considered the father of modern Vietnam, and continue to the small but iconic One Pillar Pagoda and to the Temple of Literature. The Temple of Literature was Vietnam’s first university and it was established to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning after breakfast, leave Hanoi and travel to Halong Bay, where you will board your traditional-style junk boat. Cruise through the bays and islets enjoying the stunning scenery of this magnificent region. Enjoy some tours offered on board, learn more about the main livelihood of the locals in the area, or simply take some time to relax. Towards the end of the day, the boat anchors for the night in the Trinh Nu area amongst the karst formations, and dinner will be served on board.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, continue sailing further into the region’s more untouched areas towards Lan Ha Bay. From a smaller boat, enjoy swimming on quiet beaches and kayaking in Ho Ba Ham Lake. Then visit Cua Van fishing village by rowing boat. Return to your traditional junk boat after full day of exploration. Tonight, try squid fishing.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy the sunrise and breakfast before beginning your cruise back through the magnificent rock formations, visiting Sung Sot Cave and arriving back at port. Bid farewell as you transfer back to Hanoi with a stop for lunch en-route.

Upon arrival, visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the ‘36 streets’. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake, and stop at Ngoc Son temple. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It is a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities.

Later, enjoy a traditional water puppet show. The Water Puppets are a unique Vietnamese art form that dates back to the 11th century depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of historical significance. Afterwards enjoy your farewell dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such, the tour may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions.

Meals Included: Breakfast