Azamara Journey December 23rd 2017 - Vietnam and Thailand

We note from another posting that the ship will be docked in or near Ho Chi Min City and Bangkok on the above cruise.

We have also gleaned that Hanoi a good distance from Halong Bay where I imagine we will be docked. Apart from a trip on the Bay there doesn't seem much else to do in Halong Bay - we have been on a Halong Bay cruise on a previous trip so don't wish to repeat the experience.

Am wondering though about the other ports.

Azamara tours seem to be mostly 7 to 12 hours - in what may be high temperatures/humidity, we are not keen to subject ourselves to such long trips.

We would prefer a walking tour in some ports - Danang and Hoi An but are not sure where the ship will dock.

Any help would be gratefully received.

I am on this cruise and have done the itinerary before we are doing it again because we did some of the long tour options last time and want to do the other choices we missed eg we did Hoi An it want to do Hue we want to go to the Mekong this time etc. We did not find the humidity an issue at all the coaches and many museums were well air conditioned.

You might also pick up more info on the Asia ports of call board as well as the roll call though that is limited

Both countries are seriously HOT, HOT and HUMID unlike we have ever experienced!

We lived in Thailand for 3 years and when we visited Vietnam during that time we found it much hotter than Thailand. Here are a few tips for when you are off the ship.

Take a UV umbrella to reflect the heat of the sun and wear a hat. Really, the UV umbrella saved our lives! You can order them from Amazon.

Take a wet cloth to put around your neck.

All mini markets like 7-11, Family Mart and the like have the temperature cranked to near meat locker cold. When you are over heating just pop into one of them to have a break and get several cold bottles of water to use to drink and keep your cloth wet.

Gatorade and electrolyte drinks are as important as water and they will help you feel better.

If you have a headache....get out of the heat.

There is a Roll Call for this trip.

If you post on there it will keep all the ideas and questions in the same place.

Tony