River Cruise Itinerary

1. Day 1
   Hanoi

   Sun, Oct 13, 2024

   Xin Chao and welcome to Hanoi! On arrival, you will be met by your Emerald Cruises representative and transferred to your hotel, situated in downtown Hanoi, for a one-night stay. Relax at the hotel, explore the city, or wander Hanoi’s romantic West Lake. This evening, meet your tour director for your welcome briefing.

   
   Meals: Dinner
2. Day 2
   Hanoi – Halong Bay

   Mon, Oct 14, 2024

   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 the tours offered on board, learn more about the main livelihood of the locals in the area or simply choose to relax. Towards the end of the day, the boat anchors for the night in the Trinh Nu area among the karst formations where dinner will be served on board.

   Included Excursion
   A two night Halong Bay cruise

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3. Day 3
   Halong Bay

   Tue, Oct 15, 2024

   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 a full day of exploration. Tonight, try squid fishing after dinner.

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4. Day 4
   Halong Bay – Hanoi

   Wed, Oct 16, 2024

   Enjoy the sunrise and breakfast before beginning your cruise back through the magnificent rock formations, visiting Sung Sot Cave before arriving back at port. Bid farewell as you transfer to Hanoi. As part of EmeraldPLUS back in Hanoi, you will enjoy lunch at KOTO (Know One Teach One), a unique restaurant set up to train and educate disadvantaged children.

   After lunch, you’ll visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter also known as the ‘36 streets’. 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. Visit Hang Be Market, also located in the Old Quarter, before enjoying a walk around Hoàn Kiem Lake located in central Hanoi. Here walk across the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple located on the Jade Islet within the lake. Later, enjoy a traditional water puppet show, a unique North Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of historical significance.

   EmeraldPLUS
   Lunch at KOTO Restaurant

   Included Excursion
   Visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter

   Included Excursion
   A traditional water puppet show

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
5. Day 5
   Hanoi –Ho Chi Minh City

   Thu, Oct 17, 2024

   Begin your morning tour of Hanoi and learn about ‘Uncle Ho’, considered the father of modern Vietnam, by seeing his mausoleum from outside. Continue to Ho Chi Minh Quarter to see his humble stilt house and the small but iconic One Pillar Pagoda before moving to the nearby 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. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into the country’s past.

   Bid farewell to Hanoi and transfer to Hanoi airport to board your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. After checking into your hotel, you will be free to explore the city.

   Included Excursion
   Hanoi’s City Tour, including the Temple of Literature

   
   Meals: Breakfast
6. Day 6
   Ho Chi Minh City

   Fri, Oct 18, 2024

   Drive away from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels, watching the city skyline fade into the distance as the road winds through rice paddies, villages and scenes typical to southern Vietnam. Spend a couple of hours walking around Cu Chi’s rugged grounds with a local guide. Upon your return to Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy a Pho lunch with remainder of the afternoon and evening yours to enjoy at leisure or venture out on one of our DiscoverMORE excursions.

   Included Excursion
   Cu Chi Tunnels

   DiscoverMORE
   An evening Saigon Street Food walking tour (extra expense)

   DiscoverMORE
   One Night in Saigon (extra expense)

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
7. Day 7
   Ho Chi Minh City – 7 Night Mekong Cruise

   Sat, Oct 19, 2024

   After checkout, enjoy a tour of the city, visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, Opera House and Town Hall. Then, visit the Reunification Palace before transferring to the port where you will board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, Emerald Harmony. You’ll be welcomed on board by your captain and crew before setting sail after lunch down the Saigon River to Cho Gao canal where you will anchor for the night. 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.

   Included Excursion
   An orientation tour of Ho Chi Minh City

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8. Day 8
   Ben Tre

   Sun, Oct 20, 2024

   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 samplings and a honey farm with local sweets 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

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9. Day 9
   Sa Dec – My An Hung

   Mon, Oct 21, 2024

   After a short ride on a sampan to Sa Dec enjoy a walking tour around town with stops at 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 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 bustling Sa Dec Markets

   Included Excursion
   A visit to My An Hung village and its Monkey Bridge

   
   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10. Day 10
    Gieng Island - An Long

    Tue, Oct 22, 2024

    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)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11. Day 11
    Tan Chau - Vietnam/Cambodia Border Crossing

    Wed, Oct 23, 2024

    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 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

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
12. Day 12
    Phnom Penh

    Thu, Oct 24, 2024

    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)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
13. Day 13
    Phnom Penh – Oudong – Koh Khsach Krao

    Fri, Oct 25, 2024

    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

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
14. Day 14
    Koh Khsach Krao Disembarkation – Siem Reap

    Sat, Oct 26, 2024

    Disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning and continue by road to Siem Reap for your included three-night stay. Stay at the beautiful Shinta Mani, a deluxe boutique property of world-class design that takes great care in honouring the environment and paying homage to the traditional and local aesthetics. 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.

    EmeraldPLUS
    Phare Cambodian Circus performance

    DiscoverMORE
    Dinner at Phare Circus (extra expense)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
15. Day 15
    Siem Reap

    Sun, Oct 27, 2024

    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 evening is free to visit ‘Pub Street’ or try a DiscoverMORE option this evening.

    Included Excursion
    Visit to Angkor Thom

    Included Excursion
    Visit to Ta Prohm Temple

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

    DiscoverMORE
    Evening - Cambodian Street Food Discovery Tour (extra expense)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
16. Day 16
    Siem Reap

    Mon, Oct 28, 2024

    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 is free time to visit the town and markets or try a DiscoverMORE tour. Later this evening, enjoy your farewell dinner as part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, accompanied by an Apsara dance performance.

    EmeraldPLUS
    Apsara dance performance and dinner show

    Included Excursion
    Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat

    DiscoverMORE
    Vespa tour of Siem Reap (extra expense)

    DiscoverMORE
    A visit to Banteay Srei and Apopo Visitor Centre (extra expense)

    DiscoverMORE
    A visit to Tonlé Sap (extra expense)

    DiscoverMORE
    A culinary tour of Cambodia (extra expense)

    DiscoverMORE
    Senteurs d’Angkor Workshop (extra expense)

    
    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
17. Day 17
    Depart Siem Reap

    Tue, Oct 29, 2024

    After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the Siem Reap 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.

    
    Meals: Breakfast

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