Treasures of Vietnam - A Cruise from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong

Fly by scheduled flight.

Arrive today and transfer to the MS Island Sky for embarkation. Enjoy the welcome drinks and dinner this evening as we moor overnight.

After breakfast we will set out to explore Ho Chi Minh City. Once a city devastated by war, it has become a buzzing metropolis but still retains its character through its French colonial architecture, flourishing markets and peaceful temples. We will start the day with a visit to the Reunification Palace, a wonderful example of 1960s architecture and 1970s interior design. The palace has stood still in time since the Communist tanks rolled into Saigon in 1975. From here we continue to the Central Post Office, designed by renowned architect Gustave Eiffel and reminiscent of an early European railway station, and the Notre Dame Cathedral with its neo-Romanesque façade, two bell towers and iron spires. Our final stop of the morning will be the War Remnant Museum. Outside we will see the giant vehicles of war, whilst inside is a more sombre experience with exhibitions about the war and its lasting effects. Lunch today will be a chance to try a selection of Vietnamese dishes at a local restaurant after which we will visit the sacred Jade Emperor Temple, built in the 20th century in honour of the supreme Taoist God. Return to the ship and moor overnight allowing for the opportunity to go ashore and explore this vibrant city in the evening.

This morning we will delve further into the history of Vietnam. We will begin our tour with a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the biggest museums in Ho Chi Minh City. Built in 1929 it combines Asian and European architecture and was designed by French architect Mr Rivera. The museum houses an impressive collection of Vietnamese art, dating from the 4th century to the more contemporary. From here we will continue to the History Museum which, built in 1929, is another impressive architectural building and traces the history of Vietnam. While at the museum we will enjoy a private water puppet show. Return to the ship for lunch and set sail for our journey along the Vietnamese coast.

This morning we will head into the countryside to explore life along the river. Leaving Nha Trang behind we will drive along the coconut tree lined coast before boarding a local boat which takes us along the picturesque Cai River to Vinh Thai Island. Here we will see traditional farming and catch a glimpse of agricultural practices that have been passed down through the generations. We will disembark our local boat and visit one of the farms where we will meet the farmer and see his home. Later we continue to a village where we will visit a family that has been making rush mats, a traditional craft for many years. Next we will visit a local market taking in the colourful stalls filled with fresh produce and handmade goods before returning to the ship in the afternoon. Alternatively, spend the morning exploring Nha Trang by pedicab. We will pass by a multitude of sights including the French Gothic style stone church, colonial style houses showing off the city’s historic charms, as well as witnessing the daily life of the locals. We will stop at the Dam Market, where there will be time to explore and see the wonderful produce. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Please note that we will be at anchor in Nha Trang and we will use the ship’s Zodiacs to transfer ashore.

This morning we will arrive into the pretty coastal city of Quy Nohn, surrounded by 42 kilometres of coastline and beautiful beaches. Nestled between mountains and rice fields, the city has a rich history and we will discover the heritage of the Champa Kingdom. Our morning tour will start with a visit to the Ong Nui Pagoda, a sacred sanctuary that dates back to 1702 and has the largest sitting Buddha in Southeast Asia. Enjoy the peacefulness of this beautiful setting or those feeling active may wish to climb the 600 steps up to the seated Buddha. From here we will continue to the Thap Doi, or Twin Towers, an architectural marvel built by the Cham people between the 11th and 13th centuries. The red brick towers are intricately carved depicting deities and animals. While here we will have the chance to enjoy a private Binh Dinh martial art performance, renowned for its rich history and diverse techniques. Afterwards, we will continue to the Binh Dinh Museum where, accompanied by an archaeologist and art historian who specialises in the Champa Kingdom, we will learn about the ancient Cham culture and gain a deeper understanding of the region’s history. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure to relax or explore the city of Quy Nohn.

From our berth in Da Nang we will drive along the coast to the beautiful Old Town of Hoi An which has a history dating back almost 2,000 years. We will stroll through the winding streets and past the traditional houses of this historic trading port that flourished through the 15th to 19th centuries. With merchants coming from China and Japan the architecture has a uniqueness to it and we will visit the old house of Tan Ky, a 19th century merchant house which is wonderfully preserved. We will also see the elegant architecture of the Fukien Assembly Hall. From here we will take a peaceful boat ride along the Thu Bon River, watching fishermen work and daily life of the locals. We will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant followed by some free time to explore at leisure before returning to Da Nang.

There will be a choice of tours today. Choose to visit the Imperial city of Hue where our explorations start at the Imperial citadel, the seat from which the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. We will continue to the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest religious monuments in Hue before taking a boat ride along the Perfume River, admiring the beautiful scenery as we make our way back to the city for lunch. Our final stop before returning to the ship will be the Khai Dinh mausoleum which reflects the increasing European style on his reign from 1916-1925. Alternatively, explore Da Nang starting with a visit to the Linh Ung Pagoda, with its unique Lady Buddha statue. Continue on to the Cham Museum, which has the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world, and to the beautiful Marble Mountains, which were a Hindu sanctuary and later dedicated to Buddha and Confucius. Our final stop will be Non-Nuoc which served as a rest and relaxation area for the US soldiers during the Vietnam War; enjoy a refreshment here whilst taking in the beautiful scenery before returning to the ship for lunch.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as we sail north.

From the port of Hai Phong we will head inland to the small elegant capital city of Hanoi. Often called the ‘Paris of the Orient’, the city’s broad tree-lined boulevards, lakes and parks, beautiful villas and temples all reflect a blend of Indo-Chinese and French colonial influences. Our tour will start with a visit to the Mausoleum of former President Ho Chi Minh and from here we will view his humble home and the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda. Also visit the Temple of Literature, a beautiful 11th century Confucian temple renowned as Hanoi’s first university, which educated the royal family and Vietnam’s elite society. After lunch at a local restaurant we will visit the Hoa Lo Prison, historically used to detain political prisoners by the French and later dubbed the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ by US prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. We will take a walking tour through the old quarter of Hanoi, a maze of narrow 15th century streets, each named after the trade that was practiced there, such as ‘Silk Street’ or ‘Rice Street’. Alternatively, there will be an option to explore the charming historic old quarter of Hai Phong. We will start with a panoramic drive along the Delta before visiting the local market that is over 100 years old and the neo-classical Opera House which dates from 1904 and wonderfully reflects the city’s French colonial heritage. We will then visit the Du Hang Pagoda, a 300 year old Buddhist temple that has maintained its traditional Vietnamese architecture before we finish our morning at a local café before returning to the ship for lunch.

Today we explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. This beautiful bay filled with its towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forests rising out of the emerald waters is a sight to behold. We have a choice of tours today, the first being a cruise around Ha Long Bay on a junk boat, a traditional Vietnamese wooden boat. We will cruise around the bay, taking in the beautiful views and watching local fishermen at work as we learn of the history of the area from our guide. Along the way we will stop at the Thien Cung Caves, a place full of myth and geological beauty. We will walk through the caves along a pathway, taking in its vastness, stalactites hanging like chandeliers as well as the various rock formations. Back on board our junk we will enjoy lunch as we continue to sail passing islets and limestone karsts. Alternatively, we will offer a visit and hike to Cat Ba Island. The largest island in Ha Long Bay, this rugged jungle-clad island is relatively untouched and a beautiful place to explore. Boarding a local boat, we will sail the short distance to Cat Ba National Park and hike along a jungle trail towards the peak of Ngu Lam. Along the way we may see some of the 1,500 species of plants or 282 species of animals that call the National Park home. At the peak we will have wonderful views of the island and the bay. Following the hike we will continue to the Hospital Cave, which served as a hospital and bomb shelter during the Vietnam War. After lunch at a local restaurant we will return to the MS Island Sky.

Spend the day at sea, join a lecture in the lounge and relax on deck.

We arrive in Hong Kong this morning. Disembark and enjoy a tour of Hong Kong with lunch before transferring to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Arrive this morning.

Itineraries are subject to change.