Viking did a great job getting us all around the two countries. Besides the cruise, 5-star hotels in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand were great. The pre and post cruise extensions were excellent. Halong Bay is a unique place. The scenery is breathtaking and getting to stay in an island resort is a great experience. The new boat (Saigon) had a few bugs but overall was excellent. Staff was attentive and personable willing to cater to every need. The food is excellent and it was appreciated that every night had a chef special of local cuisine. This boat definitely provided 5 star food and beverages. The Saigon was able to “dock” anywhere along the Mekong making it easy to visit small villages and rural farm areas. Trying all the “local” modes of transportation was a blast. We were treated to rides in rickshaws, Tuk -Tuks and sampans. We were able to meet people and see how and where they lived, a real exception to where most cruises go. We highly recommend it.
The explorer suites on the Saigon were excellent. Having a separate bedroom and private front facing deck made it very pleasant to watch the sailing from our room. A few issues like air-conditioning balancing will be worked out for future cruises.