During their trip, they will also call at Nha Trang, Danang and Ha Long Bay.

This is the first time Voyages of Discovery has visited Vietnam in 2011.

The tourists are scheduled to make a tour of Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi tunnels, My Tho district, and Can Tho city where they see a water puppetry performance, go shopping at Ben Thanh market, take a boat trip in Tan Thanh commune, enjoy honey tea, and visit the Cai Rang floating market.

The cruise will dock in Nha Trang on December 26, Danang on December 27-28, and Ha Long Bay on December 30 before continuing on to Hong Kong.

Saigontourist representative Doan Thi Thanh Tra said her company served more than 115,000 tourists travelling by sea in 2011, most of them from the UK and other European countries, as well as Australia, Japan and China.