A Solstice in Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore

As 2023 became 2024, MurphyCo on the Go kicked the year off in the only way we know how: A cruise through Asian countries we had yet to explore.

And holy sh*t, it was even cooler than we thought.

In 2019, we tackled the "Big 3" of Eastern Asian countries (China, Japan and Korea). As such, when it came time to plan our next Asian Cruise, we knew we wanted to go places that we hadn't before. So when we saw an itinerary that included Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and left from Hong Kong, we knew we had to go on that one. Even if going to Hong Kong was an excuse to stay at our favourite hotel the Cordis.

Check out our other blog post on the Cordis if you want to see why we love it so!

!! We didn't go to Nha Trang, we had a sea day but here's a screenshot of the route for reference, click the photo to take you to the website if you're interested !!

Our itinerary looked something like this, just the right amount of sea days too!

View from our cabin

Day 1: Departure from Hong Kong

Day 2: At Sea

Day 3: Hanoi (Ha long Bay), Vietnam

Day 4: Hanoi (Ha long Bay), Vietnam

Day 5: Hue Danang (Chan May), Vietnam

Day 6: At Sea

Day 7: Ho Chi Minh (Phu My), Vietnam

Day 8: At Sea

Day 9: Bangkok (Laemchabang), Thailand

Day 10: Bangkok (Laemchabang), Thailand

Day 11: Ko Samui, Thailand

Day 12: At Sea

Day 13: Arrival in Singapore

Vietnam

A country held back from flourishing by foreign interference, and who's reputation has been mired by said foreign powers, it holds not only a deep and rich history, but deep and rich flavours of food and people. Singing tour guides and stories of dragons rising and descending the seas are just some of the things that await. We spent a night in Ha long Bay, driving into Hanoi the first night, and exploring the mystical rock formations of Ha long Bay. We spent a day in Hue Danang and another day in Ho chi Minh, both cities where one could immerse themselves in every day Vietnamese life.

Thailand

Flavourful food found at every turn, beautiful landscapes with pockets of deep rooted and rich culture speckled throughout the land, Thailand is a treat for any traveler and an even bigger treat on the wallet. We spent a night in Bangkok, shopping till we literally dropped and another wonderful day in Ko Samui at the Elephant Sanctuary.

Singapore

Disembarking the Ship, we spent time in Singapore to talk in it's technological wonders and architectural prowess. We spent time on food tours of the various cultural districts and learning about the important work that went into creating the almost idyllic utopian city that Singapore presents itself as.

MurphyCo Final Score:

Why this is the best cruise I've ever been on.

Look, if you guys know who my parents are, and you probably do cuz you're reading this blog, I've been on a lot of Cruises.

I don't say that as a flex (but still, get flexed on). More so, it's ammunition to fire off this take: this is the best cruise I've ever been on.

Locked out of the teens club for the first time in my life, I was forced to enjoy the solitude of not having people my age to hang around with on sea days. And if you know me, which you might not, you know your boy loves his teens club.

Wait, not like that.

I used to love my teens club...when I was a teen.

The point I'm trying to make is that: when we are thrown into uncomfortable (cuz cruises are so uncomfortable) situations is when we see the most results. And this result, is the best cruise I've ever been on.

The Food in each of these three countries was literally life changing: market Bun Ga in Vietnam and Fried Garlic Pork in Thailand still haunt my dreams

The History is as rich in flavour and diversity as the food, consisting of the stories of resilience of the Vietnamese or the industrious spirit of those who built Singapore into the Greenscaped beauty we see it today.

The Culture which immerses you even into it's tourist traps, with boatmen who sing Gangnam style and also make you sing Gangnam Style (This video will never see the light of day)

The Landscape which feels not only alien and otherwordly in some places like Ha long Bay, but also strangely familiar, like a tropical brethren to our Caribbean.

And this only scratches the surface of what we uncovered in our travels, a piece of which we we plan to share with you.

Keep up to date on our posts if you want to learn more about our Travels

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