With more than 2,000 miles of coastline, white-sand beaches, rainforest-covered mountains and fertile deltas crisscrossed by a patchwork of rice paddies and canals, Vietnam is a country of stunning beauty and is ideally explored by sea. Join the MS Island Sky for a journey that may very well change your perception of this long, narrow country hugging the edge of the South China Sea. Rather than merely passing through in the way of idle spectators, you will learn about Vietnam’s timeless traditions and meet its resourceful people. In villages and across the countryside, travel back in time while visiting with local residents and observing their daily activities.
Each day of our voyage offers incredible experiences as we take in Vietnam’s enchanting beauty and fascinating history journeying north from Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Long Bay before sailing on to Hong Kong. Remnants of Vietnam’s poignant history are evident throughout and we will witness how ancient and modern collide during our visits to the bustling cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. From the port city of Da Nang we will glimpse into an ancient past during our visits to Hoi An with its beguiling riverside setting and Hue, the former imperial capital. Vietnam is also a land of rare natural beauty and our itinerary has been designed to visit some of the more tranquil spots away from the hubbub of everyday life. One of the many highlights will be our day spent in beautiful Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Site known for its emerald green waters and thousands of towering limestone islands, and during our journey along the picturesque Cai River to Vinh Thai Island, we will have the opportunity to experience the more traditional side of Vietnam. Additionally, in Quy Nohn we will learn about the ancient Cham culture and enjoy a private martial art performance.
After much adventure, our voyage will end with a leisurely day at sea as we sail across to Hong Kong allowing for time to catch up with fellow travellers and the onboard team regarding all you have seen and experienced on our Vietnamese odyssey. With the MS Island Sky as our base and travelling with just over 100 fellow passengers, we can enjoy great food, good company, a convivial atmosphere and an expert team which entices travellers to cruise on her time and time again.
- Ho Chi Minh City Exploration: Visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and War Remnants Museum, capturing the city’s history and vibrant culture.
- Ha Long Bay's Beauty: Cruise on a traditional junk boat or hike Cat Ba Island, witnessing the stunning limestone pillars and lush landscapes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Historic Hanoi: Discover the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, and the bustling old quarter, reflecting the blend of French colonial and Vietnamese heritage.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Arrive today and transfer to the MS Island Sky for embarkation. Enjoy the welcome drinks and dinner this evening as we moor overnight.
After breakfast we will set out to explore Ho Chi Minh City. Once a city devastated by war, it has become a buzzing metropolis but still retains its character through its French colonial architecture, flourishing markets and peaceful temples. We will start the day with a visit to the Reunification Palace, a wonderful example of 1960s architecture and 1970s interior design. The palace has stood still in time since the Communist tanks rolled into Saigon in 1975. From here we continue to the Central Post Office, designed by renowned architect Gustave Eiffel and reminiscent of an early European railway station, and the Notre Dame Cathedral with its neo-Romanesque façade, two bell towers and iron spires. Our final stop of the morning will be the War Remnant Museum. Outside we will see the giant vehicles of war, whilst inside is a more sombre experience with exhibitions about the war and its lasting effects. Lunch today will be a chance to try a selection of Vietnamese dishes at a local restaurant after which we will visit the sacred Jade Emperor Temple, built in the 20th century in honour of the supreme Taoist God. Return to the ship and moor overnight allowing for the opportunity to go ashore and explore this vibrant city in the evening.
This morning we will delve further into the history of Vietnam. We will begin our tour with a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the biggest museums in Ho Chi Minh City. Built in 1929 it combines Asian and European architecture and was designed by French architect Mr Rivera. The museum houses an impressive collection of Vietnamese art, dating from the 4th century to the more contemporary. From here we will continue to the History Museum which, built in 1929, is another impressive architectural building and traces the history of Vietnam. While at the museum we will enjoy a private water puppet show. Return to the ship for lunch and set sail for our journey along the Vietnamese coast.
This morning we will head into the countryside to explore life along the river. Leaving Nha Trang behind we will drive along the coconut tree lined coast before boarding a local boat which takes us along the picturesque Cai River to Vinh Thai Island. Here we will see traditional farming and catch a glimpse of agricultural practices that have been passed down through the generations. We will disembark our local boat and visit one of the farms where we will meet the farmer and see his home. Later we continue to a village where we will visit a family that has been making rush mats, a traditional craft for many years. Next we will visit a local market taking in the colourful stalls filled with fresh produce and handmade goods before returning to the ship in the afternoon. Alternatively, spend the morning exploring Nha Trang by pedicab. We will pass by a multitude of sights including the French Gothic style stone church, colonial style houses showing off the city’s historic charms, as well as witnessing the daily life of the locals. We will stop at the Dam Market, where there will be time to explore and see the wonderful produce. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Please note that we will be at anchor in Nha Trang and we will use the ship’s Zodiacs to transfer ashore.
This morning we will arrive into the pretty coastal city of Quy Nohn, surrounded by 42 kilometres of coastline and beautiful beaches. Nestled between mountains and rice fields, the city has a rich history and we will discover the heritage of the Champa Kingdom. Our morning tour will start with a visit to the Ong Nui Pagoda, a sacred sanctuary that dates back to 1702 and has the largest sitting Buddha in Southeast Asia. Enjoy the peacefulness of this beautiful setting or those feeling active may wish to climb the 600 steps up to the seated Buddha. From here we will continue to the Thap Doi, or Twin Towers, an architectural marvel built by the Cham people between the 11th and 13th centuries. The red brick towers are intricately carved depicting deities and animals. While here we will have the chance to enjoy a private Binh Dinh martial art performance, renowned for its rich history and diverse techniques. Afterwards, we will continue to the Binh Dinh Museum where, accompanied by an archaeologist and art historian who specialises in the Champa Kingdom, we will learn about the ancient Cham culture and gain a deeper understanding of the region’s history. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure to relax or explore the city of Quy Nohn.
From our berth in Da Nang we will drive along the coast to the beautiful Old Town of Hoi An which has a history dating back almost 2,000 years. We will stroll through the winding streets and past the traditional houses of this historic trading port that flourished through the 15th to 19th centuries. With merchants coming from China and Japan the architecture has a uniqueness to it and we will visit the old house of Tan Ky, a 19th century merchant house which is wonderfully preserved. We will also see the elegant architecture of the Fukien Assembly Hall. From here we will take a peaceful boat ride along the Thu Bon River, watching fishermen work and daily life of the locals. We will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant followed by some free time to explore at leisure before returning to Da Nang.
There will be a choice of tours today. Choose to visit the Imperial city of Hue where our explorations start at the Imperial citadel, the seat from which the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. We will continue to the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest religious monuments in Hue before taking a boat ride along the Perfume River, admiring the beautiful scenery as we make our way back to the city for lunch. Our final stop before returning to the ship will be the Khai Dinh mausoleum which reflects the increasing European style on his reign from 1916-1925. Alternatively, explore Da Nang starting with a visit to the Linh Ung Pagoda, with its unique Lady Buddha statue. Continue on to the Cham Museum, which has the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world, and to the beautiful Marble Mountains, which were a Hindu sanctuary and later dedicated to Buddha and Confucius. Our final stop will be Non-Nuoc which served as a rest and relaxation area for the US soldiers during the Vietnam War; enjoy a refreshment here whilst taking in the beautiful scenery before returning to the ship for lunch.
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as we sail north.
From the port of Hai Phong we will head inland to the small elegant capital city of Hanoi. Often called the ‘Paris of the Orient’, the city’s broad tree-lined boulevards, lakes and parks, beautiful villas and temples all reflect a blend of Indo-Chinese and French colonial influences. Our tour will start with a visit to the Mausoleum of former President Ho Chi Minh and from here we will view his humble home and the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda. Also visit the Temple of Literature, a beautiful 11th century Confucian temple renowned as Hanoi’s first university, which educated the royal family and Vietnam’s elite society. After lunch at a local restaurant we will visit the Hoa Lo Prison, historically used to detain political prisoners by the French and later dubbed the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ by US prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. We will take a walking tour through the old quarter of Hanoi, a maze of narrow 15th century streets, each named after the trade that was practiced there, such as ‘Silk Street’ or ‘Rice Street’. Alternatively, there will be an option to explore the charming historic old quarter of Hai Phong. We will start with a panoramic drive along the Delta before visiting the local market that is over 100 years old and the neo-classical Opera House which dates from 1904 and wonderfully reflects the city’s French colonial heritage. We will then visit the Du Hang Pagoda, a 300 year old Buddhist temple that has maintained its traditional Vietnamese architecture before we finish our morning at a local café before returning to the ship for lunch.
Today we explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. This beautiful bay filled with its towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forests rising out of the emerald waters is a sight to behold. We have a choice of tours today, the first being a cruise around Ha Long Bay on a junk boat, a traditional Vietnamese wooden boat. We will cruise around the bay, taking in the beautiful views and watching local fishermen at work as we learn of the history of the area from our guide. Along the way we will stop at the Thien Cung Caves, a place full of myth and geological beauty. We will walk through the caves along a pathway, taking in its vastness, stalactites hanging like chandeliers as well as the various rock formations. Back on board our junk we will enjoy lunch as we continue to sail passing islets and limestone karsts. Alternatively, we will offer a visit and hike to Cat Ba Island. The largest island in Ha Long Bay, this rugged jungle-clad island is relatively untouched and a beautiful place to explore. Boarding a local boat, we will sail the short distance to Cat Ba National Park and hike along a jungle trail towards the peak of Ngu Lam. Along the way we may see some of the 1,500 species of plants or 282 species of animals that call the National Park home. At the peak we will have wonderful views of the island and the bay. Following the hike we will continue to the Hospital Cave, which served as a hospital and bomb shelter during the Vietnam War. After lunch at a local restaurant we will return to the MS Island Sky.
Spend the day at sea, join a lecture in the lounge and relax on deck.
We arrive in Hong Kong this morning. Disembark and enjoy a tour of Hong Kong with lunch before transferring to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Arrive this morning.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Island Sky
| Length: | 90 Metres |
|---|---|
| Built/Refurbished: | 1992/2018 |
With a maximum passenger capacity of only 116, a vessel of her size is capable of carrying many more but instead the MS Island Sky has the benefit of unusually large suites, luxuriously appointed public areas and spacious outside decks.
There is a high ratio of crew to passengers- the friendly crew of 75 crew and Scandinavian captains are experienced mariners, having been in service aboard large 2000 plus passenger vessels and who now prefer a less frantic life aboard a small ship. If, like them and us, you prefer a more peaceful life at sea, you will find the MS Island Sky the perfect ship. When choosing the vessel for your next voyage of discovery, you can select a ship with endless entertainment and impersonal service or come with us where peace, high quality service and attention to detail are the order of the day. We promise there will be no organised entertainment, fancy dress, deck games or any of the usual big ship experiences. The atmosphere on board is more akin to a private yacht or country hotel. A little music in the lounge or bar after dinner, guest speakers, informative port briefings from our cruise director and of course good food which may be enjoyed leisurely in the attractive dining room. After a day ashore you will return to the comfort and peace of a well run and exceedingly comfortable ship.
Your SuiteOnboard there are 57 exceptionally spacious and well designed suites. All feature a sitting room area and some have private balconies. The feeling of luxury is enhanced by the wood panelling and brass, which predominates throughout the vessel conveying the atmosphere of a private yacht. The passenger accommodation is arranged over five decks and all suites have outside views. Each affords considerable comfort with en-suite bathroom featuring marble-topped vanity unit with sink and walk-in shower, large wardrobes, dressing table with large mirror and stool and excellent storage. There is a mini-fridge, flat screen television with inbuilt DVD player which can also play CDs and a telephone in each suite. Bottled water, towelling dressing gowns and slippers are also provided for your comfort. Other facilities include a programmable electronic safe, hairdryer, assorted toiletries and individually controlled air-conditioning and heating. The suites on each deck have their own colour theme. Soft hues and blended tones enhance the traditional maritime style making the passenger accommodation an inviting and relaxing place to be.
Your SpaceThe spacious and finely decorated public rooms include a large lounge where daily briefings and talks will be provided throughout the voyage and an elegant bar where a pianist plays periodically throughout the day. The bar also features a 24-hour tea and coffee station. The onboard library is the perfect place to relax with a book and is stocked with reference books pertaining to the places the vessel is visiting along with a selection of games and two computers with internet access. Daily newspapers and magazines are also placed in the library depending on local availability. There is also WI-FI access throughout the vessel. Outside there is a rear sun deck where meals are served in warm weather under shade, a bar and comfortable deck furniture for sun bathing or relaxing with a book. On the top deck there is a Jacuzzi and further observation and sun deck. There is also a small hairdressers on board with appointments made on request.
Your DiningAnother benefit of a small ship is the quality of the cuisine. With only one sitting and a maximum of just over 100 passengers, the galley is able to provide delicious meals. Where possible and when it meets his high standards, the chef will obtain local produce in markets or buy the catch of the day from a passing fishing boat. Such purchases enhance the well stocked larders and bring a local touch to the varied menus.
