Day 1 (Sun, May 16, 2021): Arrival Hanoi

Xin Chao and welcome to Hanoi! On arrival you will be met by your Emerald Waterways representative and transferred to your hotel situated in downtown Hanoi. Relax at the hotel or explore the city, strolling along the tree-lined avenues or wander Hanoi's romantic West Lake. This evening, meet your Tour Director for your welcome briefing.

Day 2 (Mon, May 17, 2021): Hanoi

Today you will enjoy a full-day city tour of Hanoi. The tour includes the main sights of the city including the outside view of by the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, which is the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam. Continue to the small but iconic One Pillar pagoda and to the 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 Vietnam’s past. As part of your EmeraldPLUS, you will enjoy lunch at KOTO (Know One Teach One), a unique restaurant set up to train and educate disadvantaged street children. After lunch, continue with a visit to Hanoi’s Old Quarter also known as the ‘36 streets’. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake, as well as a stop at Ngoc Son temple. 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. This evening, enjoy a traditional Water Puppet performance.
EmeraldPLUS: Lunch at KOTO Restaurant

Day 3 (Tue, May 18, 2021): Hanoi - Halong Bay

This morning after breakfast, leave Hanoi and travel to Halong Bay, where you will board your luxurious traditional style junk. Cruise through the bays and islets enjoying the stunning scenery of this magnificent region. Enjoy some tours offered on-board and learn more about the main livelihood of the locals in the area or relax on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.
DiscoverMORE: Scenic flight over Halong Bay (extra expense)

Day 4 (Wed, May 19, 2021): Halong Bay

Today, you will be transferred to your day trip boat tour with private crew and cruise to the bay’s most untouched areas. Enjoy swimming on quiet beaches, visiting water tunnels, fishing villages or kayaking. Lunch is served on-board of the boat by your private chef. Return in the evening hours after a full day of exploration to your traditional junk boat.

Day 5 (Thu, May 20, 2021): Halong Bay – Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy the fresh morning in the middle of the bay while having breakfast and cruising through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Bid farewell to the traditional style junk boat on Halong Bay and transfer to Hanoi airport, with a stop en-route for a light lunch at a local restaurant. At the airport in Hanoi, board your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Included is a two-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 6 (Fri, May 21, 2021): Ho Chi Minh City

Drive away from Ho Chi Minh City, watching the city skyline fade into the distance as the road winds through rice paddies, villages and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam. Spend a couple of hours walking around Cu Chi’s rugged grounds with a local guide. Hear how the residents constructed an intricate, underground network of tunnels during the French and American Wars. Hear incredible tales about the unusual foods the residents ate to survive and much more. Once above ground, see other ingenious items used by the residents to defend themselves such as bamboo traps and camouflaged pits. In the afternoon, you will have an orientation tour of Ho Chi Minh City, starting with a visit to the city’s most iconic building, Reunification Palace. Then, stroll through Ho Chi Minh City’s colonial quarter, walking past scenes of everyday life on the way. Admire the beautiful architecture of the Opera House, City Hall and the old Saigon Post Office, and listen to the stories about the glory days of French Indochina.

DiscoverMORE: Evening Saigon street food tour (extra expense)

Day 7 (Sat, May 22, 2021): Ho Chi Minh City Embarkation - My Tho

Today, transfer from your hotel and embark on your Emerald Waterways award-winning river cruise Star-Ship and be welcomed by your Captain and crew. Set sail to My Tho in the Mekong Delta, and this evening, enjoy your first dinner on-board with your fellow travellers.

Day 8 (Sun, May 23, 2021): My Tho – Sa Dec

This morning you will be taken to the village of Ðat Dua, where you will watch a coconut candy and other fruits workshop. Then, visit the Tan Long Pagoda. Return to the star-ship and sail to Sa Dec.

Day 9 (Mon, May 24, 2021): Sa Dec – My An Hung - Hong Ngu

Start your day with a visit to the Chinese congregational house in Kien An Cung. Afterwards, visit the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras’ novel, L’Amant, and take a walk through the central market in town. Return to the star-ship and sail to My An Hung village. In the afternoon, as part of EmeraldPLUS, you will have a chance to visit this lovely and unspoiled place.
EmeraldPLUS: Visit to My An Hung village

Day 10 (Tue, May 25, 2021): Hong Ngu – An Long – Long Khanh

This morning is at leisure for you to relax onboard the ship or if you prefer, to take part on the DiscoverMORE - optional tour (at additional expense) of the Ramsar Bird Sanctuary. In the afternoon, embark on a visit to the Long Khanh Island. There, you will visit a local family and learn about scarf weaving. Then, visit the Hoa Hao Buddhist pagoda and a grapefruit garden. Return to the star-ship and this evening be delighted by a Lion Dance performance on-board.
EmeraldPLUS: Lion Dance performance on-board
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Ramsar Bird Sanctuary (extra expense)

Day 11 (Wed, May 26, 2021): Hong Ngu – Vietnam / Cambodia Border Crossing - Phnom Penh

As part of EmeraldPLUS, visit a unique family-owned Lanh My A silk producing factory. The silk product is created with dyes made from the mac nua fruit, a kind of wood tree, which originally came from Tan Chau silk village about 100 years ago. Here, you will learn more about the long-complicated silk making process and have a chance to touch the real Lanh My A silk. Continue the visit, embark one of our sampans to Evergreen island for a walk through a local village to get a glimpse into the lives of the local farming community. Re-board your luxury star-ship and cruise to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.
EmeraldPLUS: Visit to family-owned Lanh My A silk producing factory

Day 12 (Thu, May 27, 2021): Phnom Penh

Wake up in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. The city was once known as the “Pearl of Asia”, but it was almost entirely evacuated by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. This morning, we learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of Cambodian history. A short drive will take you to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. Where you will have the opportunity to walk through the fields, visit the small museum and learn about this sad chapter in history. Then, you will 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. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the majestic Royal Palace with its gardens and Central Market located in the heart of the city. In the evening, you will have a chance to experience an evening tuk-tuk ride through Phnom Penh ending on a rooftop terrace, where you will enjoy a beverage and take in the great views of the city as part of EmeraldPLUS.
EmeraldPLUS: Phnom Penh tuk-tuk drive by Night
DiscoverMORE: Champey Academy of Arts Visit (extra expense)

Day 13 (Fri, May 28, 2021): Phnom Penh – Prek’kdam

Start your day with an ox cart ride before visiting the Wat Kampong Tralach and the Oudong Temples. Located North of Phnom Penh, Oudong is the former royal capital of Cambodia up until it moved to Phnom Penh in the 1800s. Important remnants on the temple sight include the burial sites of Khmer kings as well as religious artefacts dating back more than a hundred years. In one of the Oudong Temple there was a known large Buddha statue which was damaged during skirmishes with the Khmer Rouge which had the hill as one of their last strongholds. Receive a traditional Buddhist Blessing from the temple resident monks as part of your EmeraldPLUS. The afternoon is yours to continue exploring or simply relax on board of your Star-Ship.
EmeraldPLUS: ox cart ride & traditional Buddhist Monk blessing
DiscoverMORE: Silk Farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense) or Visit to Koh Chen Silversmith village (extra expense)

Day 14 (Sat, May 29, 2021): Prek’kdam Disembarkation – Siem Reap

Bid farewell to your luxury Star-Ship in the morning and continue by road to Siem Reap. On route to the city, you will have a chance to view and walk over the impressive Angkor Bridge in Kampong Kdei. Continue to Siem Reap, where you will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Siem Reap is known as the gateway to the magnificent temples of Angkor, and this vibrant city has a lot to offer. 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. Included is a three-night stay in Siem Reap.
EmeraldPLUS: Phare Cambodian Circus performance

Day 15 (Sun, May 30, 2021): Siem Reap

Today, start with a visit to the Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. It was a fortified city, home to priests, officials of the palace and military, as well as buildings for administering the kingdom. The city was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII and covers an area of 9 square kilometres. After the tour, visit the sacred Temple of Ta Prohm, overgrown by jungle trees.
DiscoverMORE: Vespa Tour of Siem Reap (extra expense)

Day 16 (Mon, May 31, 2021): Siem Reap

Rise early and embark on a fascinating journey to Angkor Wat. This UNESCO World-Heritage Site is known for its elaborate decorations and intricate carvings throughout. Enjoy a sun rise views and take the opportunity to capture quintessential pictures of Angkor Wat. Return to the hotel and enjoy the day at leisure. This evening, enjoy a farewell evening dinner together with a performance.
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Banteay Srei or Visit to Tonle Sap or Culinary Cambodia tour (all extra expense)

Day 17 (Tue, Jun 01, 2021): Siem Reap Farewell

Today you will be transferred to the airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.