Vietnam with Halong Bay

Singapore – the very name summons visions of the mysterious East. The commercial center of Southeast Asia, this island city-state of four million people is a metropolis of modern high-rise buildings, Chinese shop-houses with red-tiled roofs, sturdy Victorian buildings, Buddhist temples and Arab bazaars. Founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles of the fabled East India Company, the city is a melting pot of people and cultures. Malay, Chinese, English and Tamil are official languages. Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are the major faiths. Singapore is an ever-fascinating island boasting colorful traditions, luxurious hotels and some of the finest duty-free shopping in the world.

Lying just 85 miles north of the Equator at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, the island was a haven for Malay pirates and Chinese and Arab traders.

Over three decades have passed since the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon. Today, the name of this bustling metropolis on the Mekong River is Ho Chi Minh City. Yet, the essence of the city, a major trading center since the 18th century, remains unchanged. The air is filled with the cries of street hawkers and honking horns. Bicycles, motorbikes and automobiles fly down the boulevards at dizzying speeds. And everywhere, friendly faces and warm greetings meet you.

The port of Phu My (pronounced “Foo Me”) is your gateway to Ho Chi Minh City and the seaside resort of Vung Tau.

Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. Junk boat tours and sea kayak expeditions take visitors past islands named for their shapes, including Stone Dog and Teapot islets.

Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. Junk boat tours and sea kayak expeditions take visitors past islands named for their shapes, including Stone Dog and Teapot islets.

Four decades ago, Da Nang was America’s major strategic base in Vietnam. The 1968 Tet Offensive saw bitter fFour decades ago, Da Nang was America’s major strategic base in Vietnam. The 1968 Tet Offensive saw bitter fighting for control of the old imperial capital of Hue – the turning point of the war. But that was 40 years ago. Today Danang is your gateway to the scenic and cultural riches of Vietnam. A World Heritage Site, Hue is the most visited spot in the entire country. Travelers will long remember their visit to its Imperial Citadel, modeled on Beijing’s Forbidden City. China Beach, where Marines landed in 1965, is an internationally acclaimed resort. And against an exotic backdrop of forested hills and Cham ruins, farmers toil in paddy fields still worked with water buffalo. Once a fishing village on the Han River, Da Nang is a city of over 400,000 people. Hue is a three-hour drive from Da Nang. Da Nang is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship’s tender.

Singapore – the very name summons visions of the mysterious East. The commercial center of Southeast Asia, this island city-state of four million people is a metropolis of modern high-rise buildings, Chinese shop-houses with red-tiled roofs, sturdy Victorian buildings, Buddhist temples and Arab bazaars. Founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles of the fabled East India Company, the city is a melting pot of people and cultures. Malay, Chinese, English and Tamil are official languages. Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are the major faiths. Singapore is an ever-fascinating island boasting colorful traditions, luxurious hotels and some of the finest duty-free shopping in the world.

Lying just 85 miles north of the Equator at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, the island was a haven for Malay pirates and Chinese and Arab traders.