Exploring the far east
27 Sep 2016
Vietnam offers a rich culture, lovely scenery and delightful locals.
An alluring itinerary of far eastern ports on Holland America Line’s (HAL) Volendam ticked all the boxes.
Bookended by Asian powerhouses Singapore and Hong Kong, the 14-day cruise provided a gateway to other major cities such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and a host of other ports in between, it offered a richly textured introduction to Vietnam’s amazingly diverse culture.
The beauty of cruising to far-flung destinations is the security and comfort the ship offers. With the privacy and amenities of your stateroom, crisp bed linens, en suite bathroom and someone to pick up the towels, it becomes your floating home. You can also rely on the expertise of the ship’s shore excursion staff, reliable buses, and capable guides.
While some excursions are expensive, they are often the best choice. Some destinations are too hard to tackle independently. Caution: If you are doing your own thing and are delayed getting back, the ship won’t wait. If you are delayed on a ship-organised excursion – the ship will wait.
The 1440-guest Volendam is a comfortable ship with all the dependable attributes repeat guests love about HAL ships: excellent food, terrific on-board entertainment, obliging staff and outstanding activities. Popular options are the digital workshops which cover computer skills and photography, and the extensive fitness programs which include stretch classes, tai chi, yoga, a fully-equipped gym and spa. Another great feature of HAL ships is their engaging Culinary Arts programs.
Meanwhile, Volendam’s ‘As You Wish Dining’ offers traditional dining in the two-tiered Rotterdam restaurant, while the Lido Deck is more casual. For those wanting a special occasion experience with carefully-matched wines, the Pinnacle Grill doesn’t disappoint. Afterwards, head to the Frans
Hals lounge for some show time treats – spectacular production shows, dazzling dance teams, and music to match all tastes in a variety of venues.
Three Top Shore Excursions
Ho Chi Minh City
Still called Saigon by the locals, key attractions are the former Presidential Palace – now Reunification Palace – made famous when a North Vietnamese tank crashed the gates in 1975 signalling the war’s end. The French influence can be seen in Notre Dame Cathedral; Gustave Eiffel’s imposing post office; City Hall and the Opera house. The city’s streets swarm with motorcycles so follow your guide. Overhead is a spaghetti network of electrical cables. Best not look. Another option is the Cu Chi Tunnels. Covering nearly 200km, the network housed everything from hospitals to command centres for the Viet Cong.
Hoi An
The picturesque Old Quarter of this riverside town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An important trading post from the 16th-18th centuries, its narrow streets and intriguing architecture reveal a mosaic of Chinese, Japanese and European influence. It is easily manageable on foot, by rickshaw or bicycle-taxi. Be ready for photo opportunities of sampans, fishing nets, Chinese pagodas, shrines and the intriguing Japanese Covered Bridge. Wherever you wander, you can’t help being entranced by the gorgeous, vibrantly coloured silk lanterns.
Hanoi
The presence of former president Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam’s capital is profound. His Mausoleum is here, but most intriguing is his modest, stilt house in the Presidential Palace Area. Other highlights of this handsome city are the serene Hoan Kiem Lake, lovely French colonial buildings, the Temple of Literature and the fascinating Thirty-Six Streets precinct where daily life is literally lived on the streets. A more sinister attraction is Maison Centrale or Hoa Lo Prison. Dubbed Hanoi Hilton by the Americans, this is where downed US pilots were imprisoned, including former US Republican Presidential hopeful, Senator John McCain.
Shopping
Vietnam is revered for silk, lacquer ware, traditional handicrafts, freshwater pearls, ceramics, and copy handbags. Bargaining is expected so don’t be shy. Many visitors head straight for Hoi An’s legendary tailor shops, where you can have garments made to measure in just a few hours.
Best tip: Take any garments you’d like re-created to show the seamstresses. Keep an eye out for beautiful silk lanterns, which are collapsible, pack easily and make wonderful souvenirs. Meanwhile, in Nha Trang, you can visit sophisticated embroidery shops and watch highly skilled women painstakingly create exquisite images of scenes from nature.
Food
Vietnamese cuisine is fresh, clean and flavourful. An essential experience is visiting Vy’s Market Restaurant & Cooking School in Hoi An. Set in a colourful courtyard market setting, you can choose servings from various stations. Don’t miss the white rose petal steamed dumplings or the stir-fried beef rice noodles served with fragrant herbs. The ship also offers a shore excursion in Ho Chi Minh, “A Taste of Vietnamese Cuisine” which includes selecting fresh produce, a demonstration and lessons in hands-on preparation and etiquette. ••
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