Ha Long Bay

World of Cruising, a luxury publication packed with the latest cruise trends and destination guides, has just named Vietnam the number one destination on its best Asia river cruises.

Known as the ‘Mother of all Rivers’, the 2,700-mile Mekong is Southeast Asia’s longest waterway. Flowing through Vietnam and Cambodia, the Lower Mekong has led the expansion of long-haul cruising.

Offering ever-changing panoramas through the lush landscapes and contrasting cities of what was once French Indochina, a Mekong river cruise is a must.

World of Cruising advises travelers that in Vietnam they’ll experience cosmopolitan Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, where crossing roads jam-packed with cars and hooting motorcycles is an art form. Outside Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels are an extraordinary experience.

This 75-mile labyrinth was dug by Vietnamese soldiers during their wars against France and US, with underground living areas, kitchens, hospitals and command centers.

With the Red River, the website advises travelers that you can spend time in Hanoi and UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay as well as enjoying a tranquil river cruise, visiting temples and seeing a performance of xoan, an ancient Vietnamese form of storytelling that incorporates singing, dancing, acting, chanting and drumming.

A voyage along this less travelled waterway is the perfect choice for anyone who has already sailed on the Mekong.

On the list, Vietnam is followed by Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, China, India.

The number of foreign holidaymakers to Vietnam in the first four months of 2019 is estimated at nearly 6 million, a 7.6% increase from the same period last year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Hanoitimes