Cruises that begin or end in Ho Chi Minh???

[Retired grandparents]

I want to revisit Vietnam after being there long ago during that war.  Staying in Saigon for at least five or six days with some travel outside the city on my own or with small group of similarly inclined folks is the goal.  But, it would be nice to either then get on a cruise ship hopefully sailing north or end a cruise in Saigon and then do my own visit there.

Thus, any recommendations on ocean cruises that begin or end in Saigon?  I always like to have planned visit at end and beginning of cruises.

Thanks for any advice.

[Flatbush Flyer]

25 minutes ago, Retired grandparents said:

I want to revisit Vietnam after being there long ago during that war.  Staying in Saigon for at least five or six days with some travel outside the city on my own or with small group of similarly inclined folks is the goal.  But, it would be nice to either then get on a cruise ship hopefully sailing north or end a cruise in Saigon and then do my own visit there.

Thus, any recommendations on ocean cruises that begin or end in Saigon?  I always like to have planned visit at end and beginning of cruises.

Thanks for any advice.

Your best bet is to find a cruise with your desired land port as close to the end of the cruise as is possible. Then request approval of early disembarkation.

[iancal]

32 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Your best bet is to find a cruise with your desired land port as close to the end of the cruise as is possible. Then request approval of early disembarkation.

We love Vietnam.  And Thailand.

 

The challenge with SE Asia cruises that include Vietnam is that many of the port stops are miles away from some of the best tourist attractions.   Ditto for Thailand.

 

Not certain if there are any river cruises.  We spent time in the Mekong, and on the water, but never saw any llarge tourist river boats/facilities.   

 

We spent five days in Saignon.  Enjoyed it very much.  There are scads of travel agents that offer next day tours to several places.   We booked an all day tour to the Chi Chi tunnels.  A van, six of us, with the guide.   Stops along the way.  I recall that we paid $18.  Four years ago.  We noticed lots of tours to Mekong but we had just come from doing a homestay/tour there so it was of no interest to us.

 

We have enjoyed SE Asia so much it has become one of our top choices for snowbirding.

Edited February 12, 2022 by iancal

[iancal]

Forgot to add to the above post.   Flights in SE Asia are frequent and inexpensive. 

 

It is very easy to find a short flight from points within Thailand or Cambodia to Saigon or indeed domestic flights within Vietnam.

Edited February 12, 2022 by iancal

[amyr]

Ponant, a small ship French cruise line, is doing ocean cruises between Hanoi and Saigon, both directions, this fall.  They stop in Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Doc Let, Hon La, and overnight in Da Nang.  The cruises are called Vietnamese Coastlines:  https://us.ponant.com/asia-vietnamese-coastlines-r031022-12

 

Besides Ponant, I think only river cruises run between Hanoi and HCMC, and if you haven't done one of those, they're amazing. 

 

Other than that, the suggestion above to disembark an ocean cruise early at HCMC is a good one I think.  Many of the mainstream cruise lines that run cruises between Hong Kong and Singapore stop at HCMC (or 90 minutes outside), but you'll have to hunt around for one that doesn't have that port right in the middle of the cruise.  

[MJC]

On 3/17/2022 at 9:19 AM, amyr said:

Ponant, a small ship French cruise line, is doing ocean cruises between Hanoi and Saigon, both directions, this fall.  They stop in Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Doc Let, Hon La, and overnight in Da Nang.  The cruises are called Vietnamese Coastlines:  https://us.ponant.com/asia-vietnamese-coastlines-r031022-12

 

 

FWIW, this itinerary is similar to the one we did years ago with Clipper Cruises. Ours was called Culture and Antiquities of Vietnam and we enjoyed it immensely. Traveling along the coast by sea is a great way to see more of the country than just HCMC.