Explore with Viking—Vietnam

Get an excellent overview of Hanoi on this comprehensive full-day excursion. Begin with your guide at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, which includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the museum and the simple stilt house that was the leader’s dwelling from 1948 until his death. Continue to the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th-century monument rebuilt after the French destroyed it in 1954. Then, enjoy a stroll through the peaceful walled courtyards and graceful gateways of the Temple of Literature. After time for lunch on your own, pass colonial landmarks such as the magnificent Opera House and St. Joseph’s Cathedral on your way to the Museum of Ethnology, which chronicles the nation’s astonishing ethnic diversity. Cap your tour with a visit to Hoa Lo Prison, the notorious “Hanoi Hilton,” where American POWs were held captive during the Vietnam War.

Take a sampan tour through the canals of the Mekong Delta for an up-close view of life in its colorful backwaters. You will board your small boat with a local guide, who will navigate the scenic waters to best advantage. Be on the lookout for local children playing in the water or fishermen casting their nets. Return to Sa Ðéc to explore the busy open air markets. You will also see the romantic home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the titular character in Marguerite Duras’s beloved autobiographical novel The Lover. Born in 1914, Duras grew up here in Sa Ðéc and carried on a fated affair with him while she was a teenage girl in French colonial Vietnam. During your visit, you will admire the unique mix of French and Chinese architecture and see the beautifully preserved courtyard of this treasured national relic site. Afterward, you will return to your ship.

For the quintessential Mekong Delta experience, board a local sampan to the village of Cái Bè. The waterways of the Mekong were once a thriving commercial hub, bustling with farmers selling their wares. Today, although it is a more tranquil affair as most vendors veer toward more modern transportation, you will observe local life as your sampan cruises through a village. As you glide along, hear stories of the history of the market, and the importance of the local cottage industries to villagers. Disembark your boat and head to a factory to witness the production of rice paper, coconut candy and pop rice candy. Visit a local garden where you enjoy fresh fruit and some tea. Enjoy time to engage with locals as you browse these delicious offerings. After, board your sampan for the return journey to your ship, passing the local cathedral as you go.

Witness a cultural performance representing the current cultural reckoning of Vietnamese life in a grand setting. Depart your hotel on foot and walk through the stunning city of Ho Chi Minh to the Saigon Opera House, built in 1898. As you approach, admire the impressive architecture, representative of French Colonial times. Once inside, enjoy a drink in this historic atmosphere before heading into the theater itself. Take your seat to witness the AO Show, with “AO” derived from Lang Pho or "village and city." This performance depicts the contrast between these two lifestyles, displaying both the cultural richness of the Vietnamese countryside and the nation’s rapid urbanization. Witness impressive acrobatic acts and a bamboo circus, and hear live music that recalls southern work songs, all aimed at demonstrating the changing world of Vietnam.