Cruising Vietnam

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Spectacular Halong Bay is a highlight of cruising in Vietnam, the Southeast Asian country with more than 2,000 miles of coastline along the South China Sea. Halong Bay’s emerald-green water is dotted with thousands of limestone karsts that form small islands. Some are low and adorned with tiny lakes and beaches; others rise to an impressive height, with fantastical shapes and nearly hollow insides.

But the picturesque bay is just one reason to cruise in Vietnam. After a prolonged series of wars that finally ended in 1991, some of the scars have healed, and Vietnam has emerged as a destination with natural beauty, flavorful cuisine, and deep cultural traditions.

A port call at Halong also gives cruise passengers access to Hanoi, Vietnam’s buzzing capital city. There’s a lot to see, including ancient temples, French colonial architecture, water puppet theaters, and streets lined with the best work of local artisans and food vendors.

On Vietnam’s central coast, the port of Da Nang boasts the world’s largest dragon-shaped bridge, which spans the Han River. The dragon is impressive by day and even more so at night, when its golden mouth breathes fire and sprays water. Other attractions include hiking trails around the Marble Mountains – five limestone peaks filled with caves, tunnels, Buddhist grottos, and Hindu sanctuaries.

From Da Nang, cruise passengers can take excursions to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a beautifully preserved old town; the Bà Nà Hills, a mountain resort where cable cars provide sweeping views; and Huế, a former imperial capital with impressive historic buildings and distinctive cuisine rooted in refined royal tastes.

Ho Chi Minh City is the business and cultural center of southern Vietnam, and its French colonial past can be seen in many of the buildings around Ho Chi Minh Square. Visitors love to shop at the Bến Thành Market for everything from fruit to luxury goods, or to venture out of the city to the Mekong Delta. For historians, the War Remnants Museum includes graphic reminders of the horrors of war, but also insights into how war shaped today’s Vietnam.

You can discover Vietnam on an ocean cruise or a river cruise. Ocean cruises often depart from Hong Kong and may include other Southeast Asian ports. River cruises usually travel parts of the Mekong and Red Rivers; some venture into Cambodia, too. For more information about cruising in Vietnam, talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor.

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