Travel Dates
Departing 5th May 2026
Package Provider: Emerald Cruises
Package Type: Package
Region: Asia
Duration: 16 Nights
Discover the mighty Mekong River aboard the luxury Star-Ship Emerald Harmony, to uncover the region’s rich tapestry of history and culture, along with a treasure trove of traditions and customs.
Your journey begins in Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis and one of the most vibrant cities in Vietnam. From there, you’ll witness the traditional way of life found in Ben Tre and on Gieng Island, stopping to explore My An Hung village and the Cao Dai Temple in Tan Chau along the way. Crossing the border into Cambodia, you’ll arrive at Phnom Penh before venturing to Siem Reap, where the otherworldly site of Angkor Wat awaits.
Your Fly, Stay & Cruise Package Includes:
Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 05 – 21 May 2026
Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong Cruise Itinerary:
Day 1 – Ho Chi Minh City
Xin Chao and welcome to Ho Chi Minh City! On arrival, you will be met by your Emerald Cruises representative and transferred to your hotel, situated in downtown District 1, for a two-night stay. After checking in, you will be free to explore the city before meeting your tour director for your welcome briefing and dinner at a local restaurant.
Inclusions: Dinner
Day 2 – Ho Chi Minh City
Drive north of Ho Chi Minh City to the 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 legendary grounds with a local guide. Upon your return to Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy a traditional Pho (noodle soup) lunch with the 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
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Ho Chi Minh City – 7 Night Mekong Cruise
After checkout, enjoy a guided city tour, 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 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
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Ben Tre
This morning, sail through the bustling Cho Gao, one of the major arterial canals of Vietnam connecting Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City. Today makes 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 Tan My Floating community, followed by a ride through the local plantations to visit a mushroom farm, a fruit farm with sampling and a honey farm with local sweets. You’ll then return to Emerald Harmony to sail onwards to Sa Ðéc, a hidden gem on the Mekong Delta.
Included Excursion
Visit Thoi Binh hamlet and its farming and fishing communities, untouched by tourism
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Sa Ðéc – My An Hung
After a short sampan ride to Sa Ðéc, enjoy a walking tour around town with a stop at the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras’ celebrated novel, L’Amant, and a walk through the town’s 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 Mekong Delta village specialises in cultivating red-hot chilli and peppers. As part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy some local folk singing during your visit.
EmeraldPLUS
Listen to some local folk singing in My An Hung
Included Excursion
A visit to My An Hung village and its Monkey Bridge
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Gieng Island – An Long
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 a variety of local industries including Mango farming, different types of boat building and a factory making incense sticks for temples.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure on board, or alternatively, partake in a DiscoverMORE excursion to the Tam Nong Ramsar Bird Sanctuary in An Long. As part of our EmeraldPLUS experience, you’ll delight in a traditional Lion Dance performance on board.
EmeraldPLUS
A Lion Dance performance on board
Included Excursion
See the local industries in Gieng Island
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Tan Chau – Vietnam/Cambodia Border Crossing
Embark on a sampan ride to Evergreen Island for a walk through a local village, giving you a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. Reboard your sampan and return to Tan Chau and as part of our EmeraldPLUS experience, visit the local Cao Dai Temple. Cao Dai is a syncretic, monotheistic religion established in Tây 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 returning to Emerald Harmony. Back on board your Star-Ship, you’ll sail to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.
EmeraldPLUS
A visit to a local Cao Dai Temple and Xe Loi ride, unique to the Mekong Delta
Included Excursion
A visit to Evergreen Island
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Phnom Penh
This morning, you’ll awake in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Known as the ‘Pearl of Asia,’ the city was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Today, you’ll learn about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of Cambodia’s history. A short drive will take you to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek, where you’ll have the opportunity to stroll through the fields, visit the memorial and understand more about this country’s sombre chapter.
Afterwards, visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as ‘S-21’), a former school converted to the Khmer Rouge’s main prison and torture HQ. Spend the afternoon as you please, either exploring our DiscoverMORE excursions, visiting the Central Market located in the heart of Phnom Penh, or simply relaxing on board Emerald Harmony.
This evening, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy a remork (local Tuk-Tuk) tour through Phnom Penh to admire 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
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 – Phnom Penh – Oudong – Prek L’Dam
Located north of Phnom Penh, Oudong was the former royal capital of Cambodia until it relocated to Phnom Penh in 1866. Start your day with a visit to the Oudong Monastery and Temples. Important remnants here include the burial sites of Khmer kings as well as religious artefacts dating back more than a century. In Oudong Monastery’s main temple, receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the resident monks, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the majestic Royal Palace, with its French-inspired gardens and Silver Pagoda. Back on board, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation. Afterwards, make the short sail to Prek K’Dam, gliding past Phnom Penh illuminated at night.
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
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 – Prek K’Dam Disembarkation – Siem Reap
Disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning and continue by road to Siem Reap for your included three-night stay. Your hotel, 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. Take advantage of our DiscoverMORE dinner at the circus to further support Phare’s work.
EmeraldPLUS
Phare Cambodian Circus performance
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 – Siem Reap
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.
Included Excursion
Visit to Angkor Thom
Included Excursion
Visit to Ta Prohm Temple
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 – Siem Reap
Witness a mesmerising sunrise over Angkor Wat. Afterwards, walk through this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, renowned for its intricate carvings. This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to explore the town, or join a DiscoverMORE excursion. Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy an immersive evening and farewell dinner at Satcha Handicraft Centre, accompanied by an Apsara dance performance.
EmeraldPLUS
Apsara dance performance and dinner show
Included Excursion
Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat
Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13 – Siem Reap
Inclusions: Breakfast
Conditions apply. Subject to availability and change without notice. Full supplier conditions apply. Valid for new bookings only. Prices valid at the time of publication. Prices are per person based on twin share occupancy unless otherwise stated and displayed in AU$. Member savings are calculated using the original advertised price.