Journey through Vietnam, where natural beauty, sacred rituals, and cultural wonders come together on an exceptional 14-day expedition that includes a 7-night cruise from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Hanoi. This program features guest speakers Kim Phuc, famously photographed as a child in 1972 Vietnam; Nick Ut, the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who took that iconic image; and Jim Laurie, a TV news correspondent during the Vietnam War. Enhance your experience with the Siem Reap and Cambodia Pre-Program Option.
Program Details
- Uniquely designed 14-day land and cruise expedition through Vietnam, featuring the scenic beauty, rich culture, and history of Vietnam, including the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin.
- Experience the full breadth of Vietnam afforded by a cruise of the South China Sea.
- Visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Ha Long Bay, Hue, and Hoi An.
- Meet Kim Phuc, famously photographed fleeing a Napalm Strike when she was 9 years old, and learn more about her commitment to global peace.
- Engage with Nick Ut, the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who captured that moment for the Associated Press and shared it with the world.
- Hear award-winning reporter Jim Laurie talk about his days covering Vietnam and Cambodia for NBC News in the 1970's, including as a witness to the Fall of Saigon.
- Join Nick Ut for an onboard workshop and hands-on coaching to elevate your travel photography.
- Siem Reap Pre-Program Option in a world-renowned, 5-star hotel.
Day 1-2 - Depart home city/Cross the International Date Line
Day 3 - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Day 4 - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Day 5 - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)/Embark Le Jacques Cartier
Day 6 - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Day 7 - Cruising the South China Sea
Day 8 - Da Nang for Hôi An
Day 9 - Da Nang/Chan May for Hué
Day 10 - Chan May
Day 11 - Cruising the South China Sea
Day 12 - Ha Long Bay
Day 13 - Hanoi
Day 14 - Hanoi/Depart for home city/Cross the International Date Line/Arrive in home city
Le Jacques Cartier
Exclusively Chartered, 5-Star Luxury Small Ship
- Only 92 suites and staterooms, each with a private balcony.
- All meals included on board the ship, as well as alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages throughout the cruise.
- State-of-the-art theater ideal for enriching programming.
Two nights in the 5-star Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Situated in the heart of the Vietnamese Capital, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has been Hanoi’s legendary landmark since 1901. The Hotel Metropole Hanoi was the first Sofitel Legend property in the world and is the recipient of numerous international awards for its fine service. This legendary landmark has contributed to the history and heritage of the city. The hotel has a long tradition as a luxury venue for prestigious events & as a popular rendezvous for business and leisure travelers including playwrights, ambassadors and heads of state.
Three nights in the 5-star Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra hotel, which offers the discerning traveler the ultimate in comfort and refinement by combining the traditional architecture of Cambodia with elegant French colonial style to create a resort of unsurpassed luxury. Set amidst a landscaped lake garden and surrounded by lagoons, the hotel offers visitors a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere.
Cambodia Pre-Program Option
This three-night pre-tour extension in Siem Reap immerses you in the rich culture and traditions of Cambodia and the Siem Reap province with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy a private dinner at Kravan Temple in UNESCO World Heritage-designated Angkor Wat. Begin your exploration of this storied region with a visit to the royal walled city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. Tour the area surrounding its UNESCO-designated complex, including the Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, and Royal Palace. Nearby, visit UNESCO-inscribed Ta Prohm, a 12th-century Buddhist temple that remains largely untouched by man. Here, the dynamic life cycle between nature and humanity provides the basis for Ta Prohm’s legendary “lost city” tales. Continue your discovery with a tour of the 12th century Temple of Angkor Wat. the largest religious structure in the world which stands in testament to the centuries-long grandeur of the prosperous Khmer Empire. As darkness falls later that evening, you will head back into the temple complex for a dinner to remember. After being greeted by a traditional Chayam dance, you will dine under the stars with full table service among its famous temples with entertainment into the night. Enjoy luxury accommodations at the 5-star Sofitel Angkor Wat.
The Pre-Program Option is available at an additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.
With specially arranged, acclaimed guest speakers:
Kim Phuc—On June 8, 1972, 9-year-old Kim Phuc was photographed fleeing a napalm strike. The photograph, “Napalm Girl,” remains one of the most influential images from the Vietnam War. Today, Phuc is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and the author of Fire Road, the inspirational story of her unexpected survival and unshakeable faith. She shares her experience at global events and has received awards and recognitions, including six honorary doctorates, for work supporting child victims of war and her commitment to global peace. She has also inspired the nonprofit organization KIM Foundation International.
Huỳnh Công Út, known professionally as Nick Ut, is a Vietnamese-American photographer who began taking photographs for the Associated Press in Vietnam at age 16 after his older brother, Huynh Thanh, also an AP photographer, was killed in combat. His photo of Phan Thi Kim Phuc running toward the camera from a South Vietnamese napalm strike made history and won the Pulitzer Prize, among other major photographic awards. Immediately after making the photo, he rushed her to a hospital, which saved her life. Ut continued covering the Vietnam War for AP and also worked in Tokyo before being transferred to Los Angeles in 1977. He still works for AP as a photojournalist, and is still in touch with Kim Phuc, now living in Canada, whom he calls every week.
Jim Laurie
Jim Laurie is a distinguished international broadcaster, writer, and media consultant who has witnessed many defining moments in Asia’s history for over 50 years. He began covering Indochina for NBC News in 1972 and became the only American network correspondent to witness the fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese in 1975. Laurie's memoir of his early days in Vietnam and Cambodia, The Last Helicopter: Two Lives in Indochina was published in April 2020. He is the recipient of a Peabody Award, two Emmy Awards, and an Amnesty International Award and has also co-produced, written, and directed several television documentaries.
