One Day In Port

Most cruise passengers spend only a night in Mumbai before boarding their ship. We stayed for two days and discovered a side of the city that many visitors never see.

From the workshops of Dharavi and the bustling Sassoon Dock fish market to a home-cooked meal shared with local residents, Mumbai became far more than an embarkation port—it became one of the most memorable stops of our entire India journey.

Our final port in Vietnam was Ho Chi Minh City, still affectionately called Saigon by locals—and trust me, the name fits the city’s pulse better. If Halong Bay was serene and Hue was imperial, Saigon would be bold, electric, and alive.

After spending a couple of “lazy” days in Halong Bay, our cruise ship anchors at Chan May Port. Chan May is a relatively quiet, industrial-style port located about halfway between Hue and Da Nang. From this port, we have scheduled an exciting full-day trip to Hue, Vietnam’s ancient Imperial capital.

Only in port for a day, and don’t want to spend it on a bus to Hanoi? You’re in the right mindset. When our cruise docked in Halong Bay, we took one look at the 3.5–4-hour ride into the capital and decided to stay put. That was the best decision we made on this leg of the trip.