8-Day Majestic Mekong River Cruise with Celebrity Chef Chanthy Yen: 8 days Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh

On arrival, you’ll be transferred downtown to the Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers before transferring to the Saigon Port to board your Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship. You’ll be welcomed on board Emerald Harmony by your captain and crew before setting sail after lunch down the Saigon River towards Ben Tre, in the Mekong Delta. This evening, enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow guests and an informative port talk hosted by your Cruise Director.

Please book your flight to arrive into Ho Chi Minh City prior to 08:30 AM.

This morning, you’ll cruise through the bustling Cho Gao canal, one of the major arterial canals of Vietnam connecting Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll be fascinated watching the heavy commercial traffic navigate this important waterway, where upwards of 1,800 vessels transit each day.

Once on the Mekong River, this afternoon you’ll visit the Tan My Floating community followed by a ride through local plantations to visit a mushroom farm, a fruit farm with sampling and a honey farm with local sweets. Later, you’ll sail onwards to Sa Ðéc, a Mekong Delta hidden gem.

Included Excursion
Visit the Thoi Binh hamlet and its farming and fishing communities, untouched by tourism

Chef Chanthy Yen Exclusive
Join Chef Chanthy Yen for an intimate evening cocktail reception on board your cruise.

After a short sampan ride to Sa Ðéc, enjoy a walking tour with a visit to the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras’ celebrated novel, L’Amant, and the town’s bustling central market.

Return to Emerald Harmony by sampan, then sail on to My An Hung Island. Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small rural village specialises in cultivating red-hot chilli and peppers. As part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, listen to local folk singing during your visit.

EmeraldPLUS
Listen to some local folk singing in My An Hung

Included Excursion
A visit to the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le and the bustling Sa Dec Markets

Included Excursion
A visit to My An Hung village

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. 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

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

Chef Chanthy Yen Exclusive
A Taste of Cambodia with Chef Chanthy Yen - Spend an afternoon with Chef Yen as he hosts a cooking demonstration.  Chef Yen will share his personal story and introduce you to traditional Cambodian ingredients. Learn about the flavours, techniques, and traditions behind his cuisine.

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

DiscoverMORE
A silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE
Craft Beer Adventure by remork (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE
Samai Distillery (extra expense)

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 set sail, gliding past the illuminated Phnom Penh at night, to Rokar Koang, a small town located further up along the up the Mekong River.

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

Chef Chanthy Yen Exclusive
Celebrate your final evening on board with a special farewell dinner crafted by Chef Chanthy Yen, inspired by the authentic flavours of his Cambodian heritage.

Disembark Emerald Harmony in the morning and transfer to Phnom Penh airport for your onward or homebound flight.

Please book your flight to depart out of Phnom Penh after 12:00 PM.

While every effort is made to adhere to the planned itinerary, changes in river conditions, ad hoc local government regulations or local festivities may require journey modifications. These will be made based on the advice of local authorities or for safety reasons. Hotels are indicative and are subject to change.