After beginning in Singapore, you’ll spend a day at sea, just to help you recover from the excitement of this ultramodern Asian metropolis. Next, it’s on to the island of Koh Samui in Thailand, where surely Pantone color 3242 was conceived: a perfect sea green. Onshore, you’ll be greeted by white sand, coconut groves, and elephant rides for the adventurous. In Bangkok, you’ll spend two nights, but probably not sleep: too many palaces, red-light districts, and places to enjoy an authentic Thai meal. Spend time in Chinatown getting lost in the labyrinthine Flower and Thieves markets. Go behind the scenes of the privately owned Prasart Museum, a lush cultural garden oasis. Or visit the Grand Palace, a complex of buildings that once housed the Kings of Siam as far back as 1782. With two days in port, you’ll have time for all three.
After a relaxing day at sea, Vietnam is next up. Ho Chi Minh City is an adventure in itself. Watch motorcycles ride by with mattresses or a tower of chairs on their backs. Take a walk past neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways. And save your appetite for the large variety of famous street food. Two days in Vietnam present the opportunity to sail down the Mekong Delta, where you’ll get a look into the lives of river dwellers and have the chance to visit a traditional home. One more day at sea brings you back to where it all began, so you can see everything you missed the first time.