Palau - Hong Kong Philippines and Vietnam: new discoveries in Southeast Asia

In the treasure trove of the Pacific, the island gems of Palau will also sparkle in your explorer’s eyes. The island state is made of more than 300 separate islands. Welcome to a picture-book world of dazzling images both above and below the water. Swim, snorkel and let your spirits soar: enjoy daydreaming on Koror and soak in this paradise. The Rock Islands of Palau rise up out of the sea like mushrooms – covered in dense jungle flora, the comparison with “floating gardens” is very apt.

With around 7,000 islands, the Philippines is an island realm inviting you on an expedition beyond the horizon. Thanks to their many years of experience, the captain and crew will navigate your small expedition ship through a mosaic of colours and landscapes. Each island is a sparkling jewel in a stunning overall picture. Here, your curiosity is the drive for reaching natural beauty spots and discovering cultural secrets.

You will almost feel like you’re in heaven on Bucas Grande Island, with its beaches and sea caves to explore by Zodiac. The coastal fringe of the hilly limestone island with mangrove forests transitions into a rainforest in the interior of the island. As well as exotic plants, your experts will direct your gaze to dozens of different species of dragonfly.

An unimaginable diversity is revealed on Bohol. The bizarre landscape is made up of more than a thousand little hills, known as the Chocolate Hills – the only place in the world you can see the phenomenon on this scale. The cones formed by the wind and weather look like oversized molehills. Your experts will shed light on their geological formation for you. In the traditional villages behind the green curtain of the jungle, some more interesting insights await. With a little luck, you might be able to see the tiny primates known as tarsiers along your discovery trail.

The Cagayan Islands are real unchartered territory. There are no photos of these islands in the heart of the Sulu Sea, only vague ideas. How will this paradise in the Pacific be revealed to you? On an individual shore visit, you will set foot on the deserted beach and feel like one of the first explorers.

The beautiful coastline of Helicopter Island in the province of El Nido is an idyllic picture-postcard view. You will be taken to this dream setting by Zodiac. Overgrown limestone cliffs rising out of the turquoise sea, hidden aquamarine lagoons and long palm-lined beaches: almost too beautiful to leave behind.

The economic heart of Vietnam beats in Ho Chi Minh City, a metropolis located in the south of the country at the mouth of the Saigon River. Formerly known as Saigon, it was renamed after the reunification of north and south Vietnam in 1976 in honour of the former president, Ho Chi Minh. The city’s skyline features buildings that can be seen from miles away, including the 461 m (1,512 ft) high skyscraper Landmark 81 and the Bitexco Financial Tower at a height of around 260 m (853 ft). As well as its economic importance, Ho Chi Minh City is also a culinary centre with a variety of Vietnamese and international restaurants. Chinatown, also known as Cholon, in the busy city centre is an inviting place to spend time browsing and admiring the curiosities on offer at the markets. Use the overnight lay time to explore the city by night.

Once a small fishing village, now a lively coastal city: Da Nang combines long sandy beaches, museums and bridges. Between the 4th and the 14th centuries, the city belonged to the Champa Kingdom, which was heavily influenced by Indian culture. The year 1858 marked a historical milestone for the city: French troops landed here under orders form Napoleon III to colonise the region. Da Nang then grew to become one of the biggest cities in Indochina. You can find out more about the city’s turbulent past from your experts on board and in Da Nang’s many numerous museums. And if you want to get to the bottom of the city’s soul: just stop for a moment and watch the world go by, taking in the scents of the street food and the typical bicycle rickshaws. In the neighbouring city of Hoi An*, the evening atmosphere with colourful lights and lanterns will transport you to another world.

Enjoy one of the most beautiful passages in the world when your ship slowly cruises through Halong Bay. With around 2,000 islands, the bay will be a scenic highlight of your cruise. Over millions of years, corrosion shaped the limestone rocks into amazing structures with caves and grottos. Or, if you believe the local legend, a dragon wanted to protect the land from enemies and threw pearls into the water, which turned to stone and blocked access by invaders. In any case, myths and a magical feeling will accompany you as you cruise through the World Heritage Site. Observe this natural wonder in peace from the many open deck areas. The images of the Far East with traditional junks and limestone formations will stay in your memory forever.