Good morning Vietnam - Emerald Harmony

By Cruising With Honey - 19:14

Welcome to Vietnam - Emerald Harmony, Day 4

River cruising moved at a different pace to ocean cruising. Aboard Emerald harmony, the experience on board is tranquil, and guests are treated to warm Asian hospitality, delicious food and luxurious amenities.

The last few days onboard have been a combination of immersive cultural excursions and utter pampering. Nothing is too much for the crew who greet you at mealtimes as if you were a long-let friend, greet you back on board after a hot day in the Cambodian sun with a refreshing towel and drink and clean the cabin twice daily, mopping the floors to ensure not a speck of dust is to be seen.

And, every night, a special gift which reflects the places we’d visited that day. These are the special touches that elevate the Emerald cruise experience.

Last night, after returning from the second EmeraldPlus (included) excursion of the day at the Royal Palace, the crew had set up the top deck for a special treat, an Aspara Dance performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation. It was a beautiful show and very entertaining.

Setting Sail to Vietnam

Emerald Harmony crossed the border after breakfast, and soon after docked in Tan Chau. Sampans – traditional Vietnamese boats – pulled up alongside to transfer guest to visit a fish farm.

The beautiful timber boats were a wonderful way to cruise along the Mekong, with our first to at a floating fish farm. Be warned, the smell of the fish food was overpowering but nevertheless it was interesting to see a working farm.

And then, it was time to take a ride in rickshaw – in my opinion the most fun excursion of the whole cruise thus far. As the driver peddled through the streets of Tan Chau, I waved furiously at the locals who were going about their daily lives.

Street food vendors, school children and French-inspired architecture whizzed by as I admired the town. It was a far cry from the chaotic streets of Phnom Penh.

Colours, Colours Everywhere

I’ve been in a lot of places of worship, hundreds perhaps, but never had I visited a place like Cao Dai Temple. Cao Dai is a relatively new religion created in the 1920s by Vietnamese spiritualists who drew upon, and added to, ideas from the four most influential religious philosophies in Vietnam: Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Christianity.

The bright pastels filled every space in the temples. Statutes, murals, stain glass windows – it was hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of colours. I didn’t quite understand what I was seeing or what any of it meant, but at the crux of this religion lies family values and peace. The massive eye symbolising their god, the creator, was a little disconcerting, if I am to be honest.

Evergreen Island

Back on the Sampan and off to a farming village on Evergreen Island. As its name suggests, it’s a lush area with numerous small farms where local families till the land. We walked past crops of vegetables and fruits our way to visit a family who was welcoming us into their home.

The children were excited to see foreign visitors, the mother gracious with her time, explaining to our eager ears what every-day life is like on the island. It was confronting to find out she worked from dawn to dusk to eke out a living, earning about $8USD a day. Its moments like these that puts my life into perspective and to remember to be grateful for the life I lead.

Keeping the Traditions Alive

But the day had not ended yet. Lunch on board and back out on the lovely sampans once again, this time to visit Long Khan Island where the age-old tradition of scarf weaving was still going strong.

As a huge fan of both scarves and textiles, I was in my element seeing how a multi-generational family was still creating these masterful pieces by hand. By the way, each scarf was only $3USD!

Lion Dancing in the Decks

While I had enjoyed yet another jam-packed day of cultural excursions, heading back aboard Emerald Harmony felt like coming home. Except in this ‘home’ my dinner was waiting for me, my cabin was impeccable and entertainment was even included.

Heading up to the Sun Deck, chairs had been set-up once again, this time for a traditional Vietnamese Lion Dance. High energy and loads of fun, I clapped and cheered along with the other guests as the dancers performed acrobatics and stunts.

It was Gala night and a great opportunity to glam up. The dress code aboard Emerald Harmony is very relaxed, but who doesn’t like to dress up dinner? That night we feasted on a specially curated menu that was simply delicious.

Actually, every meal so far had been fabulous and I begged Head Chef Jaya numerous time for his recipes. I suppose he has to keep some secrets close to his chest, otherwise what would be the point of me returning on board (which I gladly would in a heartbeat) if only to be spoilt by his culinary prowess?

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Good morning Vietnam - Emerald Harmony