Enchanting Mekong and Siem Reap: 13 days Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City

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.

Today, start with a visit to Angkor Thom, not a single temple such as the historic sites it neighbours, but rather one of the most remarkable royal cities of the Angkor Period and an architectural wonder. As the last capital of the Khmer Empire, it was a fortified city, home to priests, officials of the palace, military and buildings for administering the kingdom. Afterwards, visit the sacred Temple of Ta Prohm. In an incredible standoff between human creation and nature, the jungle's root systems have reclaimed this spiritual location now enshrouded in wild vegetation. The backdrop to many Hollywood scenes, the incredible Ta Prohm is both a cinematic and contemplative location. This afternoon is free time to visit the markets or try a DiscoverMORE tour.

This evening as part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, attend Phare, The Cambodian Circus, where a combination of acrobatics, music and dance tell a uniquely Cambodian story.

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Phare Cambodian Circus performance.

Included Excursion
Visit to Angkor Thom

Included Excursion
Visit to Ta Prohm Temple

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Vespa tour of Siem Reap (extra expense)

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Evening – Sunset Drinks Gondola Boat at Bayon (extra expense)

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Evening - Cambodian Street Food Discovery Tour (extra expense)

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Evening – Local Fare at Phare Circus (extra expense)

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. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Siem Reap, or join a DiscoverMORE excursion. Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy an immersive evening dinner at Satcha Handicraft Centre, accompanied by an Apsara dance performance.

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Apsara dance performance and dinner show

Included Excursion
Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat

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Siem Reap Countryside by Vespa (extra expense)

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Banteay Srei Temple and APOPO (extra expense)

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Tonlé Sap and Lotus Workshop (extra expense)

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Khmer Cooking Class (extra expense)

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Senteurs d’Angkor Workshop (extra expense)

Today, leave Siem Reap and venture to the town of Rokar Koang to embark your Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship. En route, stop in Kampong Kdei and see the impressive Angkor Bridge, before having lunch at a local restaurant. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by your captain and crew. Later you’ll set sail for Angkor Ban while enjoying your first dinner on board.

In historic Angkor Ban, visit the rural wooden houses that survived the Khmer Rouge and a classroom that teaches English to local students after regular school lessons. In the village, you’ll learn how to pray in a Buddhist pagoda and receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the resident monks, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience.

Afterwards, set sail for Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Known as the ‘Pearl of Asia,’ this city was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy an evening remork ride through Phnom Penh, admiring the glittering city lights.

Included Excursion
Walk around the historical village of Angkor Ban

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A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing

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Phnom Penh by night on a remork (Tuk-Tuk) tour

Today, you’ll 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 stroll 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 headquarters. Spend the afternoon as you please, either joining one of our Emerald DiscoverMORE excursions, visiting the Central Market located at in the heart of Phnom Penh, or simply relaxing on board Emerald Harmony.

This evening, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, you’ll enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation

Included Excursion
Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

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Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation

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A silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense)

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Craft Beer Adventure by remork (extra expense)

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Samai Distillery (extra expense)

This morning, you’ll visit the majestic Royal Palace with its French-inspired gardens and Silver Pagoda.

After returning on board and enjoying a Cambodian Street Fair lunch, enjoy a relaxed afternoon of cruising as you move onwards to the Cambodian and Vietnam border. Upon entering Vietnam, you’ll cruise to Tan Chau.

Later this evening, for your EmeraldPLUS experience, you’ll delight in a traditional Lion Dance performance on board.

Included Excursion
Visit to the Royal Palace

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Lion Dance performance on board Emerald Harmony

In Tan Chau, embark on a sampan ride to Evergreen Island for a walk through a Mekong Delta farming village. Reboard your sampan to travel back to Tan Chau for a visit a local Cao Dai Temple. Cao Dai is a syncretic, monotheistic religion established in Tây Ninh, Southern Vietnam, in 1926. At the temple, you can learn more about the hybrid of philosophies that form the basis of this fascinating and complex religion. Afterwards, take a ride in a Xe Loi, a local form of Cyclo, unique to the Mekong Delta, back to your sampan and return to Emerald Harmony. Once back onboard Emerald Harmony, cruise onwards to An Long.

Included Excursion
Visit to Evergreen Island, a Cao Dai Temple visit and Xe Loi ride

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A visit to a local Cao Dai Temple and Xe Loi ride, unique to the Mekong Delta

The morning is yours to enjoy at leisure on board or, if you prefer, partake in our DiscoverMORE excursion to Tràm Chim National Park, home to the Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary.

After lunch, sail to Gieng Island. Locally known as ‘Mango Island,’ Cu Lao Gieng is a small, picturesque 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, various types of boat construction and a factory that produces temple incense sticks.

Afterwards, reboard Emerald Harmony and sail to My An Hung Island.

Included Excursion
See the local industries in Gieng Island

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Visit to Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary in Tram Chim National Park (extra expense)

Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small Delta village specialises in cultivating red-hot chilli. As part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy local folk singing, wander through coconut farms and immerse yourself in traditional village life.

Return to Emerald Harmony and, after lunch on board, you’ll arrive in Sa Ðéc, a delightful old provincial city in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a walking tour around town with a visit to the home of local resident, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras’ novel L’Amant (‘The Lover,’), and the town’s bustling central market to peruse its varied produce.

Included Excursion
Visit to the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le and the bustling Sa Ðéc Markets

Included Excursion
Visit to My An Hung village

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Listen to local folk singing in My An Hung

After a relaxing morning cruising, this afternoon you’ll visit Tan My Floating community in Ben Tre.  Take a ride on a buggy through the local plantations to visit a mushroom farm, a fruit farm with sampling and a honey farm with local sweets. Later, you’ll reboard Emerald Harmony before sailing on to My Tho.

Included Excursion
Visit the Thoi Binh hamlet and its authentic farming and fishing communities

From My Tho, you’ll enter the Cho Gao Canal, considered one of Vietnam’s major arterial canals that connects the Mekong Delta’s Tien Giang Province 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 day of relaxation on board, soak up the everchanging passing scenery, enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, or indulge in a spa treatment (at additional cost). Tonight, you’ll dock in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, where you can admire the city lights; due to Vietnamese customs regulations, you'll not be permitted to venture ashore.

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to Ho Chi Minh City airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.

Rivers and waterways are subject to variations in water levels. While every effort is made to adhere to the planned itinerary, changes in river conditions, ad hoc local government regulations or local festivities may require journey modifications. These will be made based on the advice of local authorities or for safety reasons. Hotels are indicative and are subject to change.