Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and get picked up for transfer to your hotel in downtown District 1. After you check in, spend some time wandering around the city on your own. Later, your tour director will meet you for a welcome briefing, and then you'll head to dinner at a local restaurant to kick things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Welcome briefing
Landmarks/POIs District 1 - Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels
Start early heading out of Ho Chi Minh City through rice paddies and rural villages to reach Cu Chi Tunnels. A local guide will take you through the grounds for a couple of hours to see this historic site. You'll head back to the city for pho lunch, then the rest of your day and evening are free. You can explore on your own or join optional tours like a street food walk or vintage jeep ride if you're interested.
- Meals
- Lunch (Pho (noodle soup) lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit to Cu Chi Tunnels with local guide
Optional Activities
- Evening Saigon Street Food walking tour (extra expense)
- Saigon After Dark by Vintage Jeep (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City to Emerald Harmony
After checking out of your hotel, you'll take a guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City hitting Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, and Town Hall. Next, you'll visit Reunification Palace before heading to the port to board Emerald Harmony cruise ship. The captain and crew will welcome you on board, then you'll sail down the Saigon River to Cho Gao canal where the ship anchors for the night. Dinner and a port talk about upcoming activities follow.
- Meals
- Dinner (First dinner on board Emerald Harmony)
Included Activities
- Guided orientation tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit to Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit to Opera House
- Visit to Town Hall
- Visit to Reunification Palace
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Ho Chi Minh City Opera House Ho Chi Minh City Hall Reunification Palace - Day 4
Cho Gao Canal to Mekong River to Sa Đéc
The ship cruises through Cho Gao canal, one of Vietnam's major waterways where around 1,800 vessels pass through daily. From there you'll move onto the Mekong River and visit the Tan My floating community. You'll take rides through local plantations, checking out a mushroom farm, a fruit farm where you can sample the produce, and a honey farm with local sweets. Later, you'll sail to Sa Đéc, a quieter spot in the Mekong Delta, including time in the Thoi Binh hamlet with its intact farming and fishing communities.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Cho Gao canal
- Visit to Tan My Floating community
- Visit to mushroom farm
- Visit to fruit farm with sampling
- Visit to honey farm
- Visit to Thoi Binh hamlet and farming and fishing communities
Landmarks/POIs Cho Gao Canal Mekong River Tan My Floating Community Thoi Binh Hamlet - Day 5
Sa Đéc to My An Hung Island
Take a short sampan ride into Sa Đéc for a walking tour through town. You'll visit the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, which inspired Marguerite Duras' novel L'Amant, and browse the bustling central market. After heading back to Emerald Harmony by sampan, the ship sails to My An Hung Island, a village known for its red-hot chilli and pepper production. You'll listen to local folk singing as part of the EmeraldPLUS experience.
Included Activities
- Sampan ride to Sa Đéc
- Walking tour of Sa Đéc
- Visit to the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le
- Visit to Sa Đéc Central Market
- Visit to My An Hung Island
- Listen to local folk singing on My An Hung Island
Landmarks/POIs Sa Đéc Central Market Home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le My An Hung Island - Day 6
Cu Lao Gieng (Mango Island)
You'll explore Cu Lao Gieng, called 'Mango Island', a scenic and untouched spot along the upper Mekong River. Travel by local motorcycle rickshaw through villages to see families working in mango farming, traditional boat building, and incense stick manufacturing. Your afternoon is free to relax on the ship. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Lion Dance performance on board as part of EmeraldPLUS.
Included Activities
- Motorcycle rickshaw tour of Cu Lao Gieng island villages
- Visit to mango farms
- Visit to boat building operations
- Visit to incense stick factory
- Traditional Lion Dance performance on board
Landmarks/POIs Cu Lao Gieng (Mango Island) - Day 7
Evergreen Island to Tan Chau to Vietnam-Cambodia Border
Take a sampan to Evergreen Island for a walk through a farming village, then return to Tan Chau to visit the local Cao Dai Temple and learn about this religion established in 1926. Ride in a cyclo (local rickshaw) back to your sampan and return to Emerald Harmony. The ship then sails toward the Vietnam-Cambodia border.
Included Activities
- Sampan ride to Evergreen Island
- Walk through local farming village on Evergreen Island
- Visit to Cao Dai Temple in Tan Chau
- Xe Loi (cyclo) ride back to sampan
Landmarks/POIs Evergreen Island Cao Dai Temple Tan Chau - Day 8
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
You'll arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. The tour focuses on Cambodia's history with visits to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (the former S-21 prison). Your afternoon is free to check out the Central Market, relax on the ship, or sign up for optional excursions. This evening, take a tuk-tuk tour through Phnom Penh to see the city lights as part of EmeraldPLUS.
Included Activities
- Visit to Killing Fields at Choeung Ek
- Visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Remork (Tuk-Tuk) tour through Phnom Penh at night
Optional Activities
- Silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense)
- Craft Beer Adventure by remork (extra expense)
- Samai Distillery (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Killing Fields at Choeung Ek Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Central Market - Day 9
Oudong and Royal Palace
Visit Oudong, Cambodia's former royal capital until 1866, starting at the Oudong Monastery and temples. You'll see burial sites of Khmer kings and religious artifacts over a century old. Monks at the site will give you a traditional Buddhist blessing as part of EmeraldPLUS. In the afternoon, head to the Royal Palace with its French-inspired gardens and Silver Pagoda. Back on board, there's a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children's Organisation, then the ship sails to Rokar Koang further upriver, passing through illuminated Phnom Penh at night.
Included Activities
- Visit to Oudong Monastery and Temples
- Traditional Buddhist monk blessing
- Visit to Royal Palace
- Visit to Silver Pagoda
- Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children's Organisation
Landmarks/POIs Oudong Monastery Oudong Temples Royal Palace Silver Pagoda - Day 10
Rokar Koang to Siem Reap
You'll leave Emerald Harmony in the morning and travel by road to Siem Reap for a three-night stay at a deluxe boutique hotel. This evening, you'll attend Phare, The Cambodian Circus, where acrobatics, music and dance tell a Cambodian story. Optional dinner is available at the circus if you'd like.
Included Activities
- Phare, The Cambodian Circus performance
Optional Activities
- Evening local fare dinner at Phare Circus (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Phare, The Cambodian Circus - Day 11
Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm Temple
Start with a visit to Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire and a royal city with remarkable architecture. Then head to Ta Prohm temple, where jungle growth has claimed the structures, creating an interesting mix of human design and nature reclaiming the space. Your evening is free to check out Pub Street or join other optional activities.
Included Activities
- Visit to Angkor Thom
- Visit to Ta Prohm Temple
Optional Activities
- Vespa tour of Siem Reap (extra expense)
- Evening Gondola Boat ride at Banyon with drinks (extra expense)
- Evening Cambodian Street Food Discovery Tour (extra expense)
- Evening Local Fare at Phare Circus (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Thom Ta Prohm Temple - Day 12
Angkor Wat
Wake early to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat, then walk through this UNESCO World Heritage site and check out the intricate carvings throughout. Your afternoon is yours to explore the town or join an optional excursion if something interests you. Later, you'll have a farewell dinner with an Apsara dance performance as part of EmeraldPLUS.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner with Apsara dance performance)
Included Activities
- Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat
- Walk through Angkor Wat
- Apsara dance performance and dinner show
Optional Activities
- Siem Reap Countryside by Vespa (extra expense)
- Banteay Srei Temple and APOPO (extra expense)
- Tonlé Sap and Lotus Workshop (extra expense)
- Khmer Cooking Class (extra expense)
- Senteurs d'Angkor Workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Wat - Day 13
Siem Reap to Luang Prabang, Laos
You'll have a free morning in Siem Reap before catching your included flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. After arriving, check in for a three-night stay at your hotel, which is within walking distance of Luang Prabang's well-known night markets.
Included Activities
- Flight to Luang Prabang
Landmarks/POIs Luang Prabang Old Town - Day 14
Luang Prabang
Check out key landmarks in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, including the exquisite 16th century Wat Xieng Thong temple and the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. You'll take a boat cruise along the Mekong River, stopping at a village known for traditional rice wine before continuing to Pak Ou Caves, a sacred grotto filled with thousands of golden Buddhas. Back in Luang Prabang, learn how to play Petanque with locals. Later, explore the vibrant night market for souvenirs and local food.
Included Activities
- Visit to Wat Xieng Thong temple
- Visit to former Royal Palace/National Museum
- Boat cruise along Mekong River
- Visit to local rice wine village
- Visit to Pak Ou Caves
Optional Activities
- Pétanque lesson with locals
Landmarks/POIs Wat Xieng Thong Royal Palace National Museum Mekong River Pak Ou Caves - Day 15
Luang Prabang to Kuang Si Waterfalls
Get up early to watch Buddhist monks silently collecting alms through the streets. Later, travel to Kuang Si waterfalls, tiered falls with swimming holes set in lush jungle. Your afternoon gives you the option to join an EmeraldPLUS excursion. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell Dinner with fellow guests)
Included Activities
- Buddhist monks alms collection walk
- Visit to Kuang Si Waterfalls
Optional Activities
- Ock Pop Tok Living Craft Centre – natural dyeing class (extra expense)
- Ban Chan (Laos Pottery House) – Pottery lesson (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Kuang Si Waterfalls - Day 16
Luang Prabang to Bangkok, Thailand
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to Laos and head to the airport for your included flight to Bangkok, Thailand. This marks the end of your Indochina journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Bangkok
