Viking Cruises

viking.com | 71 W I N T E R I S S U E 3 0 A Viking river journey is not just a vacation but an experience to be remembered. It is an opportunity to savour different countries and cultures while at the same time enjoying the high standards and delights to be found on board Viking's beautiful ships. Knowing this, we were especially excited to visit ports in Vietnam and Cambodia on Viking's Magnificent Mekong itinerary. We were traveling to a new region for us on the Viking Saigon®. We were met at the airport by our excellent tour guide, Tony. Living in Hanoi all his life, he was able to relay all sorts of interesting gems about the area and the people. EXPLORING HANOI AND HA LONG BAY We had booked the pre-cruise extension to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay and the scenery was spectacular. We boarded a vessel for our tour around the bay, and we were served a superb lunch while enjoying the incredible sights of the unique rock formations. During our stay at the excellent hotel in Hanoi, we enjoyed some outstanding tours: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Parliament Building, Presidential Palace and Literacy Temple. We also enjoyed a great meal at a French restaurant in Hanoi. On the first night, we ventured out on our own and could not believe the number, speed and maneuvers of the motorcycles. It really was a culture shock. Back at the hotel, we discovered a rooftop bar on the 68th floor, offering impressive views of the city. Another highlight was a tour around the Old Town of Hanoi in buggies. This was an extensive tour around the bustling narrow streets. It's quite mind-blowing to see the number of scooters and the amount of people, belongings and pets they manage to carry around on them. The following day, we visited the Ethnology Museum, which was interesting. This was followed by an excellent lunch before we departed to the airport for our flight to Cambodia. As usual, Viking had handled all our paperwork and passports, so all went smoothly. ARRIVING IN CAMBODIA We arrived at our superb hotel in Siem Reap, which was luxurious with a real tropical feel to it. The following day we visited the MAGICAL MEKONG Magic awaits in destinations closer to home. e Mekong River, flowing through Vietnam and Cambodia, offers a unique view of these ancient lands once shrouded in mystery. By Jane and Pete Ward Viking Saigon renowned Angkor Wat, and we were not disappointed. Our local guide, Sim, was excellent. The next day we visited the other two Angkor temples, which were equally impressive. We learned so much and also had plenty of time to explore and take photos—a must at this ancient site. Another highlight—and something different—was a visit to a Viking-sponsored school. It was lovely to mingle with the children who were learning English. They were delightful! It was then time for a long scenic drive to the ship. The journey was quite incredible. Combined with the visual sights and the guide's excellent commentary, it was captivating and so interesting to see how people lived. BOARDING THE SHIP We enjoyed the usual warm, friendly welcome as we boarded the Viking Saigon. The Viking Saigon is spacious, bright, airy, sophisticated and elegant. We were very impressed with our stateroom, which had lots of storage space and tasteful decor. In the evening we were welcomed by the hotel manager, Enrico, who was charming with a great sense of humour. We also looked forward each night to the chef's recommendations for dinner, and were never disappointed. The menu is designed to suit everyone. We were so impressed with the knowledge and charm of the waiters and staff.

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