Vietnam Explorer

Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam / Embark

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, you will quickly note the influence of the former French colonial masters which is still evident with wide elegant boulevards and historical colonial buildings. The markets are jumping with life and items such as the stylish lacquer ware found throughout Vietnam are on display everywhere to tempt those looking for local souvenirs to take home. The reunification museum is a popular attraction, the reminders of the turbulent and violent history of this vibrant nation are never far away. Embark on the Orion II and overnight at port.

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City

You will take your time making your way out of this dramatic city. The Song Sai Gon (Saigon River) will take you on a remarkable journey of several hours from Ho Chi Minh City. The 60km of river that you will travel to get to the city is an attraction in itself. Fisherman, traders, floating markets, the river is the life blood of the city.

Day 3 Nha Trang, Vietnam

Nha Trang is well known for its extensive white sand beaches and is fast becoming a recognized destination on the international travel map. This coastal city is capital of Khánh Hòa province and is home to over 300,000 people. Seafood restaurants and cafes ring the beach side area and the food is excellent. Not far from the town the 7th century venerated towers of the Cham Ponagar Temple complex is still very much intact. The Cham people were the original Hindu inhabitants of the area of Central Vietnam, and in the centuries since have essentially become displaced and are now distributed throughout the Indochina region and their Hindu beliefs long lost in the passages of time.

Included Expeditions: An exclusive Nha Trang village tour is included for your visit to Nha Trang. You will leave the port aboard your coach to visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers, also known as Thap Ba (or the Lady of the City), a remnant of the ancient Cham civilization. The towers, built and renovated between the seventh and twelfth centuries from loose brick with neither plaster nor mortar, were used for the worship of the goddess Po Nagar. From the hillside where the towers stand you will have a spectacular view of Nha Trang Bay and its shores lined with numerous colourful fishing boats. Next you will take a motorboat cruise along the Cai River, where you will have the chance to see a fishing village, a large yard for the construction of wooden boats and coconut islands, shaded by countless palms. Your next visit will be to Vinh Ngoc Commune, situated 10 km from the centre of Nha Trang. It covers an area of over 1,500 ha with around 900 households, consisting of more than 6,000 people, many of whom are farmers. Upon arrival you will visit the central area, which was once the site of the village's paddy fields and cemetery. It is now home to the offices of the local authority, the clinic and medical station and the local market. You will then stop at a nearby typical house of a local family, where you will discover that ancestor worship plays a vital part in everyday life. After that you also have a chance to visit the rice paddy and another family who weave the rush matting commonly used throughout Vietnam. A walk down the street where there are local beer sellers, hair salons in open structures on the side of the street and past the local communist party office. This tour is an excellent insight into the culture and life of Vietnamese people. A shuttle bus will also be available to access the town and beaches.

Day 4 Baie de Cu Mon / Bai Nam Beach

Today arrive at these beaches by Zodiac to enjoy a day of swimming and relaxation. A fishing village is located nearby affording you the opportunity to witness traditional customs.

Day 5 Da Nang (for My Son)

Da Nang is a major sea port on the southern coast of Vietnam and home today to over a million people. Today Da Nang is recognized as one of Vietnams premiere beach resort areas, but whilst modern Da Nang symbolizes Vietnams success today the history of the area can not be overlooked either. In 1858 French troops landed under orders from Napoleon III an event which signaled the French Colonization of the area. Under French rule the area was known as Tourane. Many years later in 1965 Da Nang was the infamous landing point for the US Marine Corps as they entered the Vietnam War. The area went on to house a major US air base and nearby "China Beach"was a popular recreation area for troops during that conflict.

As well as the city of Da Nang itself with remnant French Colonial Architecture and the renown Cham Museum, featuring artifacts and sculptures dating back from the time if the Champa people who had controlled the area from the 7th to the 19th Centuries, Da Nang serves a gateway to the Marble Mountains, China Beach, Hue and Hoi An.

World Heritage listed Cham Ruins of My Son. The Chams were Hindus of central Vietnam who were basically displaced by warring ethnic Vietnamese in the 19th Century.

Included Expeditions: Orion II will overnight in Da Nang near the city to allow you time to explore the city and to take up an optional tour to explore the surrounding areas if so desired. The city can be accessed by an easy walk and there will also be a shuttle bus running through Da Nang town, to the Cham Cultural Museum and onto China Beach. Taxis are easily available for self exploration of the trade port of Hoi An a short distance from the city.

Day 6 Da Nang (for Hoi An)

Hoi An was one of the orient's major trading ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. After the Thu Bon River linking Hoi An to the sea silted up ocean going ships were no longer able to sail into town and trade moved 30km up the coast to Da Nang. Hue was feudal capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyen dynasty, Hue is widely known for the magnificent architecture of its citadels, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples set in a poetic background of greenery on the banks of the Perfume River. In the tranquil countryside South of Da Nang is a chain of Marble Mountains: five large hills representing the five elements (metal, water, wood, fire, earth). The mountains are riddled with grottoes and caves and the myths and legends that surround them are plentiful. Many a tale exists of hidden treasure within the mountains and many an explorer has disappeared into the caves never to be seen again in search of the mythical fortunes.

Orion II will coordinate with a local tailor service to visit the ship to assist guests with the process of acquiring these tailor made garments for which Hoi An is famous.

Day 7 Chan May (for Hue)

As soon as you leave the pier and head north to Hue you will experience the cliché “true” Asian/Chinese/Vietnamese scene - rice paddies filled with workers in traditional bamboo conical (“coolie”) hats. The port is about half way between Da Nang and Hue. Hue was the feudal capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyen dynasty and is widely known for the magnificent architecture of its citadels, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples, set in a lush tropical ancient backgrounds of greenery on the banks of the not so Perfume River. This is a photographers dream.

Day 8 At Sea

Day 9 Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba

Nowhere in the world are there so many limestone Karsts jutting out of the sea - nearly two thousand in fact. The temperature and unique atmospherics make for brilliant sunsets and misty mornings. This is a Zodiac exploration paradise over mirror waters to the brilliantly painted Van Gia floating fishing village and deep grottoes that could stand a thousand people. The waters are jade colored with 1000m pinnacles jutting to the sky. There are not many beaches and virtually no buildings except for the odd Buddhist pagoda. You will have to weave through many a moored teak Junk on your journey.

On the outer rim of the bay is Cat Ba, a bizarre town of brilliantly colored high rise hotels, pearl stalls and possibly the worst food in Vietnam. Well into the center of its island is an amazing national park of thick jungle peaks with spectacular vistas, however it’s a big hike and only for the fit.

Day 10 Hai Phong (for Hanoi)

Whether you are departing or arriving, Hanoi deserves a longer visit. Hai Phong though, a major port, is just that, and your exit point to Hanoi. If you ever thought Saigon special then Hanoi is extra special. “Imagine a city where the exotic chic of old Asia blends with the dynamic face of new Asia. Where the medieval and modern co-exist. A city with a blend of Parisian grace and Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony with its history, rather than bulldozing through like many of the region’s capitals. Hanoi is where imagination becomes reality.” Motorbikes by the million dart the web of streets that are the Old Quarter, a furnace of commerce for almost 1000 years and the best place to check the pulse of this resurgent city. Locals sip coffee and bia hoi (Hanoi beer), watching life pass them by. Watch synchronized t’ai chi at dawn on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake in front of the island shrine. Hanoi has it all: ancient history, a colonial legacy and a modern outlook. There is no better place to untangle this modern paradox as long as you don’t untangle the power lines...this you will never believe.