South China Sea Luxury Cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong

Today is a full day of relaxation spent at sea, as you cruise onward toward Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City. Step out onto the Pool Deck and lounge with a drink in hand, or relax your body and mind at the soothing onboard spa.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is more modern than other Vietnamese cities, and has retained its French colonial influences. The streets are jam-packed with mopeds and scooters, often carrying whole families. Highlights in the city include the colorful Emperor of Jade Pagoda, an excellent example of a Chinese temple. The Hôtel de Ville is a wonderful example of French colonial architecture. The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s. The War Remnants Museum bears witness to the suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. Other sites relevant to that era are Reunification Hall and the former US Embassy. An interesting excursion from Saigon is a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels in which the South Vietnamese Communists concealed themselves and from which they launched attacks on US soldiers.

Ho Chi Minh City's character remains essentially French—with wide boulevards, colonial villas, great baguettes, and a café society—and resolutely Asian. Still, Saigon is frenetic: sidewalks are crammed with noodle stands and vendors, markets are teeming, and roads are often gridlocked.

The city of Nha Trang is becoming more popular with tourists in recent years. Yet, with a population of 300,000, Nha Trang still retains its small town atmosphere. This resort town is well known for its miles of beach and the friendliness of its people. The city is flanked by nearly ten kilometers of prime beach where the water is warm year round. The average temperature in Nha Trang is 26 C. It is 1,287 km south of Hanoi, 624 km south of Hue and 442 km from Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon). Nha Trang has several famous islands. Most notable are Hon Tre, Hon Yen, Hon Rua and the Spratly islands.

Da Nang, city of China Beach, features the Marble Mountains and the Cham Museum, which houses magnificent examples of the art of the Indianised Cham civilization. Approximately 20km (12 miles) from Da Nang is Hoi An. This is a delightful small riverine town replete with temple and pagodas.

Ha Long Bay is located 160km (100 miles) north of Hanoi, this is an amazing complex of 3000 chalk islands rising out of the South China Sea. The area is strange, eerie and very beautiful. Many of the islands contain bizarre cave formations and grottoes. An entire culture of floating villages has evolved with interlinked boats that can move from island to island.

Today is another day spent at sea, relaxing on your cruise ship. For those feeling lucky, there is an onboard casino striking up plenty of fun. Tomorrow you arrive in Hong Kong.

This morning you'll bid farewell to your fellow cruisemates as you disembark your ship in the incredible city of Hong Kong. This marks the end to your magnificent voyage.