Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia and Mekong

Fly from London Heathrow or Manchester.

Xin Chao and welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam! With large boulevards, tree lined lakes and French inspired architecture Hanoi is blessed with a charming atmosphere. You will be met by an Emerald Waterways representative and be transferred to your hotel. This evening have a tour briefing and welcome dinner.
Two Night Stay: Hanoi

Meals Included: Dinner

This morning visit historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (view from outside), see Ho Chi Minhs former home, then the iconic One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnams first university, then take a walking tour through Hanois historic Old Quarter. EmeraldPLUS: Stop for lunch at KOTO restaurant, a unique restaurant that trains disadvantaged street children. EmeraldPLUS: Attend a traditional Water Puppet performance and after the show go backstage to meet the puppeteers.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Travel to Halong Bay and board your luxurious traditional style junk for a two night cruise. Halong Bay is known for its stunning scenery where thousands of limestone pillars rise dramatically out of the emerald water. Cruise through the bays and islets of this magnificent region. Visit a fishing village to discover more about the main livelihood of the locals in the area. Discover More: Take the opportunity to view this spectacular landscape from the air with a 45 minute seaplane flight from Hanoi over Halong Bay (must be prebooked, additional cost).
Two Night Stay: Bhaya Classic Junk or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast visit an islet to explore one of the many caves with their impressive stalagmite and stalactite formations. After lunch visit Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong Bay which mainly consists of National Park. Tour the town and explore the verdant isle with a Local Guide.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cruise to an island with beautiful beaches and panoramic lookouts before sailing back to the mainland. Transfer to Hanoi for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. More commonly known as Saigon, it is a city with a turbulent and colourful past, although today it is the countrys commercial centre
Two Night Stay: Ho Chi Minh City

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

EmeraldPLUS: Travel to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels. Join a Vietnamese Veteran and learn of the wars, strategies, atrocities and the resourcefulness of the Vietnamese which eventually led to the defeat of their enemies. Your guide will relate fascinating stories from first-hand experience to allow a real insight into the Vietnam War. Discover More: Evening street food walking tour (not available during Lunar New Year), or Saigon old and new tour (additional cost)

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning be guided on a city tour seeing Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office, bustling Dong Khoi Street, Opera House, City Hall and the War Remnants Museum. Transfer to My Tho in the Mekong Delta. From here we will begin our journey upstream aboard the luxurious RV Mekong Navigator. Meet your Cruise Director and crew followed by a welcome reception. This evening enjoy a Vietnamese Mekong Delta Theme Dinner.
Seven Night Stay: RV Mekong Navigator

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Following breakfast we board traditional sampans and sail through Cai Bes floating market, a fascinating and iconic scene of the Mekong Delta. Watch as the locals trade and barter a variety of wares and exchange goods across the river. Sail past the citys attractive French gothic cathedral, then tour the historic Anh Kiet House with its beautiful surrounding gardens. Visit a traditional rice factory where workers produce rice paper, rice wine, popped rice, and many varieties of traditional candies. Afterwards we return to the ship for a sumptuous lunch and enjoy a scenic cruise upstream. We reboard our sampans to navigate the narrow canals of the Mekong, where we can observe daily routines of the villagers en route to the historic town of Sa Dec. Along the way, we stop at a local brick factory to view the complete process of brick-making by local men and women utilising clay from the Mekong. Upon arrival to Sa Dec, we visit the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras novel, LAmant (The Lover), and take a fascinating walk through the towns market experiencing the local sights and sounds.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today enjoy a visit to the local island village of Long Khanh A (Hong Ngu). Long Khanh A produces a large number of traditional, Khmer scarves which are exported to Cambodia and here we will have the opportunity to see the weaving process take place in homes around the village. Interact with the locals, some of whom are embroidery artists, displaying their art in and around their homes. Finish with a visit to the local temple dedicated to a unique religion founded in this area of Vietnam, Hoa Hao.

Return to the ship for lunch and cruise toward the border. Sous Sdei and welcome to Cambodia! Following clearing formalities and crossing the border, we witness a fascinating change in the architecture along the riverfront as we sail into Cambodia. This evening join the culinary team and watch them demonstrate the art of Vietnamese and Cambodian cooking. Please note we are unable to dock or proceed into the city until the customs office is open tomorrow morning.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we learn about the darkest days of Cambodian history. A short drive will take us to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek which is a disconcerting reminder of the recent atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. We have the opportunity to walk through the fields, visit the small museum and Memorial Stupa, and learn about this sad history. We continue to what is possibly the most powerful museum experience in Indochina, 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 and is a chilling reminder of the brutal history.

The afternoon is at leisure to explore Phnom Penh. Go shopping at the local markets, or simply relax at one of the many restaurants and pubs such as the famous Foreign Correspondents Club. EmeraldPLUS: Before dinner, visit the Sun Deck to enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Childrens Group. The performance includes Apsara, Cambodias national dance as well as local traditional folk dances. Discover More: Backstreets, temples and communities tour, or street food tour (additional cost).

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cambodias capital Phnom Penh was once known as the Pearl of Asia, but it was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Today it is an inspiring and buzzing centre of hope and opportunity with plenty to see and do. EmeraldPLUS: After breakfast, we meet our cyclo drivers for an exciting morning city tour of Phnom Penh. Cyclos, a Phnom Penh institution are three wheeled bicycles built for transporting passengers. They are a traditional mode of transport throughout the Mekong and provide a unique view of the capital. Prepare for a leisurely journey as we are taken along the riverfront to the magnificent Royal Palace complex which is a highlight of any visit to Phnom Penh. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the grounds, viewing Throne Hall and Moonlight Pavilion before visiting the famous Silver Pagoda, home of Cambodias Emerald Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, encrusted with more than 9,000 diamonds. The cyclos then transport us to the National Museum, ending the morning with a comprehensive tour of the many Angkorian and pre-Angkorian artifacts discovered in the Angkor Archaeological Area in Siem Reap. Our afternoon is again at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we have a great opportunity to get to know traditional life in the Mekong with a visit to the charming town of Angkor Ban. Here, you will have a glimpse into the lives of the local people starting with a visit to a familys home to see how the locals live, along with an opportunity to meet the family and discuss their lifestyle. Continue through the village to the local school where you will join the children in their classroom and experience what a typical school day is like. Then walk back through the village to the ship, including a brief stop at the local monastery complex.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wat Hanchey is an ancient hilltop pagoda which is the home to Buddhist Monks and offers some of the best views of the Mekong River. EmeraldPLUS: Receive a traditional Buddhist Water Blessing from the monasterys resident monks. After enjoying a walk around the monastery and the amazing views of the Mekong River valley, we descend the enormous stairway, surrounded by the incredible view of the Mekong below. Following lunch, we drive through the city of Kampong Cham to visit the hills of Phnom Pros (man hill) and Phnom Srei (woman hill), the incredible Stupa, the 10-metre long reclining Buddha, and the 13-metre tall preaching Buddha. Todays final visit is to the 12th century, Angkorian-period complex of Wat Nokor Bachey, which features several original statues of Buddha and stone inscriptions. We then return to the ship and gather for a farewell reception and Royal Cambodian Theme Dinner as we prepare for our journey to Siem Reap, home of the archaeological wonders of Angkor Wat.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark and bid farewell to the RV Mekong Navigator and her crew. Transfer from Kampong Cham to Siem Reap, the gateway to the magnificent Temples of Angkor. EmeraldPLUS: 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. Discover More: Uncover the outer lying temples, either Banteay Srei or Beng Mealea, or take a Cambodian cooking class, or explore the Roluos temple group (additional cost).
Two Night Stay: Siem Reap

Meals Included: Breakfast

Start at the famous Angkor Wat, known for its elaborate decorations and intricate carvings throughout. Continue to the unique Ta Prohm temple which is overgrown by jungle trees. Visit the impressive Bayon Temple, and finish at the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King known for their intricate bas-reliefs. This evening enjoy a farewell banquet.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer to Siem Reap airport for your homebound flight.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Welcome Home.

Please Note: The Mekong River is subject to extreme variations in water levels throughout the year. Every effort is made to provide the routing and inclusions stated however depending on water levels prevalent at the time of sailing, this itinerary may be amended.