terry&mike

We just returned from sailing the Mekong for 7 days in the southward direction. We keep our standard travel vaccinations up to date (Tetanus, Hepatitus, Typhoid), and we have our Covid vaccinations up to date. We did not do any extra vaccinations, and we did not take Malaria medications for this trip. We did bring insect repellant and used it when needed.

The web site skurvish posted below is the official one.

We travel with our Covid vaccination cards, but we were never asked at any point in our travels for proof of vaccination, or for Covid testing. On Scenic, we were asked to sanitize our hands before entering the dining room each time. Upon entering a couple of the temples we were required to wear masks. On JAL (Japan Airlines), we were required to wear masks. No other Covid protocol on the trip.

I am excited for your journey next year!

That's a difficult decision!

Made it home on Thursday afternoon, smooth trip the entire way.

This morning we walked to the nearby Ben Thanh Market, to Central Park, to Reunification Palace, and around HCMC a bit, mostly just for a bit of exercise. We have returned to the hotel for a rest, and this evening we will head to the Saigon Airport to begin the journey home. Our first flight is Saigon SGN to Tokyo Haneda, 11:45pm - 6:50am (+1), on JAL. Then HND to DFW Dallas, 10:55am - 7:25am, also on JAL. Then DFW to TPA Tampa, 11:14am - 2:29pm, on American. All in Business Class, and all currently showing on time, so hopefully a smooth trip.

That’s funny, because now you have me so curious as to what the banned word could have been!

I’m so happy you enjoyed it. I did a post this morning about Ho Chi Minh City, but it is waiting approval from the moderator, so should be available shortly. We are headed home soon, so will be wrapping it up, unless there are some questions. It has been a great journey filled with cultural wonder, great food, and kind hearted people.

We departed the Scenic Spirit in My Tho, Vietnam at 8:15a. We had one bathroom stop along the way and arrived at the Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City at 10:30a. At this point, we said our goodbyes and split from the group. Some were headed to the airport, some were staying on at the Caravelle independently, some were staying on at the Caravelle as part of a continuing Scenic program. Mike and I, along with another couple, walked 15 minutes to the Silverland Yen hotel, located very close to the main market. We were all allowed to check in early. Interesting that in all the thousands of hotels here, they were staying in the same one as us. The hotel is well located and well rated, and offers a great value with nice rooms with breakfast and afternoon tea with snacks included. We paid about $158 total for 2 nights. Our dear friend, and likely one of the best guides in Vietnam, Xuan Le, came by a little after 5p. We went for sunset and craft cocktails at the Chill Sky Bar, then for a great dinner of seafood curry, duck breast, and lamb burger at Chanh Rooftop Bistro; all walkable from the hotel. We were fortunate to meet Xuan Le when traveling with friends in Vietnam in January 2020. He flew to meet us and guide us for tours in Hoi An and DaNang, and Ho Chi Minh City. He is one of the best guides I have ever encountered in my travels. Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, fun.

I’m so excited for your upcoming journey! Enjoy and cheers! Wishing you safe and happy travels.

Oh, nice! Thank you for providing the link. I will certainly have a read.

This trip with Scenic has exceeded our expectations. We could not have asked for more. It’s been such a special journey. We will always remember the genuine smiles and great care from the people of Cambodia and Vietnam. They are worth the trip in themselves. In addition, the Mekong River has its own magic with rustic villages, fishermen in small boats, and water hyacinths. The food in the area is some of the best in the world, with clear and full flavor sets that have your mouth singing. If this trip is one you are considering, then I encourage to go ahead with it, and travel it with Scenic. I took a moment yesterday to look for a river cruise itinerary we haven’t done, and it looks like the Saone River, sailing from Lyon, France, is about all we have left. We’ve been in this area while traveling independently on land, but never on a ship. If anyone has any thoughts on this itinerary, I’d love to hear them.

Last night was our Gala Farewell Dinner and it was over the top wonderful. Sevruga Caviar, Seared Foie Gras, Mushroom Cappuccino, Truffled Red Wine Risotto, Green Apple Sorbet, Chateaubriand, Lobster Veloute, Sense of Wonder dessert featuring chocolate and Bailey’s flavors. This morning we depart the ship at 8:15a in My Tho, Vietnam. We will have an approximately 2 hour transfer in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, where we will be dropped off at the Caravelle Hotel. This will end our official program with Scenic.

I fully agree. This is our second time on Scenic and their onboard (and on land) product is superior to any other river cruise product we have sailed. But their web site and administrative side before the trip can be amazingly frustrating and not customer friendly.

Originally, 8 people signed up for the tour Tea at French Villa and Cultural Entertainment, but only Mike and I went. Everyone else cancelled in order to pack, or to nap, so we had a private tour - felt very VIP. It was a lovely French villa from about 1930, and the performers were truly wonderful. It was a great excursion. We left the ship at 2:45p, and returned around 4:30p. Tonight’s dinner was the Gala Farewell Dinner, and it was one of our favorite meals, which is saying a lot as the food has been outstanding. We enjoyed caviar, risotto, mushroom soup, lobster, chateaubriand, and chocolate desserts. All incredible! Wow.

This morning we traveled by Sampan boat on the Sa Dec River to a wet market. This is a thriving local market filled with color and activity. On offer are live fish and chickens, beautiful vegetables, rice, eggs, crabs, and so many things. We then visited the home of the French writer Margarite Duras, who wrote the book ‘The Lover’ about her time living their. We departed the ship at 8:30a and were back at 10:15a. Lunch today is foods from around the world. This afternoon is a free choice tour, and hubby and I will be having tea at a French villa. The other tour was ‘Mekong Exploration’.

I’m happy to hear you are enjoying the posts. We have been to HCMC previously (January 2020), so will not being doing any scripted touring there. We will leave the Scenic program after disembarkation tomorrow, with a complimentary drop off at the Caravelle Hotel (the hotel Scenic uses). We will then make our way to the Silverland Yen Hotel, a couple blocks away. Our plan is to stroll through the nearby large market, relax, maybe get massages, wander. We also hope to meet up with Xuan Le for dinner or beverages, he is a Vietnamese tour guide (and awesome person) we met in 2020, and have remained in touch with.

Tastes of Asia party by the pool this evening at 6p, with beverages and snacks from the area. Dinner was also Tastes of Asia, with the menu featuring dishes from the area. I had a tasty Burmese Seafood Curry. The staff was all introduced after dinner, and it was good to be able to applaud these friendly and hard working people. We decided to skip the DJ and Dance Party, and headed back to our cabin around 9p.

This morning hubby and I chose the tour to Tra Su Bird Sanctuary. Other options were a Fish Farm, or Evergreen Island farming tour. We enjoy wildlife viewing, so this was a nice fit for us. We were taken by motorboat for 45 minutes to a small town, where we boarded a bus for about 40 minutes to a Bird Sanctuary. Both the boat and bus rides were very interesting through small town and rural Vietnamese life. At the bird sanctuary, we were rowed through an area with hundreds of herons and egrets. We then boarded a small motor boat for sailing through river vegetation and trees. This was a beautiful excursion. Then return by bus and big motor boat. We departed at 7:45a and returned at 1p. Lunch on the ship today was Vietnamese Street Market Food theme and it was delicious - one of our favorites. There was a Vietnamese crepe with pork and vegetables, and a vegetable cake, that were incredible. Don’t miss them. We went to the cabin to rest, and are now sipping tea that we had delivered. Other options were an afternoon cooking class. At 6p there is a Vietnamese snack and beverage tasting on the pool deck, followed by a port talk for tomorrow and a disembarkation briefing. Dinner tonight is Tastes of Asia, and will be followed by a DJ and Disco Party.

Yes, we have done an Egypt tour and Nile cruise. We did not do it through Scenic though, and although ours was a good one I have a feeling Scenic would have made it extraordinary. Their access is impressive.

I posted this under my live review of Scenic Mekong, but thought it might be of interest on this thread as well - Follow up on the Vietnam visa situation. Many itineraries, whether on your own or booked as a package through the cruise line, require you to enter Vietnam multiple times (rather than single entry). For example, we started in Hanoi, then on to HaLong Bay, then Hoi An, before we flew to Cambodia to start with Scenic. We then entered Vietnam again yesterday afternoon, by river. Currently, Vietnam is not issuing multi-entry visas to individuals. They can be had by working through a local visa service company or travel operator but are veryexpensive and require purchasing services through those companies. There are some other threads on this on this board, and on the Asia board. After some research, we decided to go with the option of purchasing 2 Single Entry Vietnam eVisas for each of us, 1 for each of the 2 different entry dates,purchased online, in advance, simply and easily, for $25 each; a total of $100. For Cambodia, we purchased a Single Entry eVisa, online, easily at $36 each. We could use this option as we were entering Cambodia through an airport, and then sailing south towards Vietnam. I believe if you are entering Cambodia via the river (sailing north from Vietnam) this eVisa is not an option. We are both from the United States, so that may also make a difference.

Follow up on the Vietnam visa situation. Many itineraries, whether on your own or booked as a package through the cruise line, require you to enter Vietnam multiple times (rather than single entry). For example, we started in Hanoi, then on to HaLong Bay, then Hoi An, before we flew to Cambodia to start with Scenic. We then entered Vietnam again yesterday afternoon, by river. Currently, Vietnam is not issuing multi-entry visas to individuals. They can be had by working through a local visa service company or travel operator but are very expensive and require purchasing services through those companies. There are some other threads on this on this board, and on the Asia board. After some research, we decided to go with the option of purchasing 2 Single Entry Vietnam eVisas for each of us, 1 for each of the 2 different entry dates, purchased online, in advance, simply and easily, for $25 each; a total of $100. For Cambodia, we purchased a Single Entry eVisa, online, easily at $36 each. We could use this option as we were entering Cambodia through an airport, and then sailing south towards Vietnam. I believe if you are entering Cambodia via the river (sailing north from Vietnam) this eVisa is not an option. We are both from the United States, so that may also make a difference.

On several nights, when we’ve returned to our cabin, there has been a small gift waiting for us. This is such a nice touch. We have received kramas (the beautiful linen scarves from Cambodia), lucky bracelets, ginger and clove balm. Last night we received the cutest little handmade elephants. I can honestly say that this is one of the best designed and most comfortable cabins we’ve ever sailed in, including river and ocean cruises. The bed is the perfect mix of firm support underneath and fluffy pad on top, with a cotton topper. The AC works perfectly with accurate settings. The lighting goes from flooded with natural light to black out, with every option in between. It feels spacious with several places to sit, and to put our things. The shower is very large for a ship, with lots of options for spray, waterfall, and so on, with no water escaping outside the shower, and unending hot water. The colors are natural shades with pale wood floors, dark wood furniture, flax colored walls and upholstery, white linens. There is room at the patio wicker table and chairs to dine, if you wish, and perfect for enjoying a beverage while you float down the Mekong. It’s a welcoming and peaceful cabin. The room is serviced twice a day to perfection. I think we’ll be sad to leave.

Thank you! It truly is a fabulous adventure. We were both saying yesterday that Scenic truly is surpassing our expectations on this journey, everything is wonderful. Although we already have several trips on the books for the future, we are contemplating when (and to where) we could squeeze in another trip to get us back on Scenic.