On Apr 22, 2024 we docked at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City covers an area of 600 square miles, stretching westward from the South China Sea to the Cambodian border. The downtown section of Ho Chi Minh City is still known as Saigon. It was the former capital of South Vietnam before 1975, and the reunification of the country. Ho Chi Minh City’s population is approximately 9.3 million people. It is the largest city in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

In the morning we left on an all-day excursion to the Mekong River Delta, a 2-1/2 hour drive south of the city. The Mekong River is the longest river in Southeast Asia at a length of approximately 2,700 miles. It exends from the mountains in Tibet through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and into Vietnam before it empties into the South China Sea.

Along the drive we past many cities and towns with shops and houses (or shacks) along the way. It portrayed a different Vietnam than we had experienced in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City, where the economic development of the country over the past 20-30 years was so evident. It showed the economic disadvantaged Vietnam. But when we got closer to the Mekong Delta, things changed as we were entering into a more rural part of the country. The sides of the road were filled with rice fields farmed by local farmers. Our excursion took us off the larger highway and onto smaller roadways and eventually onto dirt roads. We finally made it to a nice resort on the Mekong River Delta where we had a fabulous Vietnamese lunch before boarding a boat to travel on the Mekong River and see another section of the Vietnamese population, the farmers and fishermen.

We stopped at a small town where we were able to see how the local people process rice to make popped rice and different candies, as well as creams made from locally produced honey. We also visited the home of a Vietnamese elder who had many old relics in his home, including a traditionalist altar dedicated to deceased relatives.

When we returned to the Seabourn Sojourn that afternoon, we quickly changed clothes as we were invited to a special event for the World Cruise participants, a special performance of the Vietnamese Bamboo Circus at the Saigon Opera House. It was a spectacular presentation that we thoroughly enjoyed, after which we drove back through the brightly colored streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

On Apr 23, 2024, we took an excursion in Saigon to see some of the local highlights of the city. Our first stop was at the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City.

From there we went to the Minh Phuong Lacquerware Workshop where we got to see some local workers creating some very fine, delicately decorated, lacquer boxes.

Our next stop was at the Presidential Palace, now known as the Reunification Hall, made famous when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its front gates on April 30, 1975 signaling the end of the Vietnam War.

We continued on through the city passing the Post Office, built by the French in the late 1800’s and still used today, as well as churches that were built by the French during their occupation of the country.

Our next stop was at the Thien Hau Pagoda, a 200-year old Chinese temple, that is located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. It was adorned with Buddha statues, and incense burners throughout. After visiting the temple, we headed back to the ship, through the heavy city traffic.

We returned to the ship, and as the day started to fade and the sun set, we got ready to attend an 80th birthday party for our new friends, Julie and Bernie, while also saying farewell to our captain, Capt. Kyriakos Karras, who was leaving the ship at the next port for a well deserved vacation.