Discovering Southeast Asia’s mystique from on board a premium cruise liner is an attractive proposition to cruising enthusiasts, who might like to experience different cultures on one voyage. Many international cruise companies operate cruises in Southeast Asia over a wide variety of routes.
A popular cruise starts from Hong Kong and ends in Singapore, or vice-versa; with both cities home to a major international airport. This voyage usually takes 10 to 15 days, passing Cai Lan port for Halong Bay or Hanoi, Chan May port for Hue or Hoi An or Da Nang, Phu My port for Ho Chi Minh city, Sihanoukville port for Angkor Wat, and Laem Chabang port for Bangkok and Phuket. A 30-day cruise provides scope for more travel, with possible stops at Thilawa for Yangon, in Malaysia or in the Philippines.
Here is a brief guide to the top cruise ports.
Southeast Asia Cruise Ports
Cai Lan Port (Vietnam)
Cai Lan port is in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province.
Journey time by car from Cai Lan Port to:
- Bai Chay Pier (which hosts Indochina Sails, Alova Day Cruises and more), 15 minutes.
- Tuan Chau Island (which hosts Paradise Cruises, Phoenix Cruises, Glory Cruises, L'Azalée Cruises and more), 30 minutes.
- Hanoi, 3 to 4 hours.
Popular shore excursions:
- Halong Bay day-tour, which usually lasts 4 or 8 hours, depending on your arrival time. Get aboard to enjoy stunning views and for the chance to explore local caves or fishing villages.
- Hanoi day-tour, for cruises departing after 9:00 pm. If your cruise departs the next day, we recommend you stay a night in the city to discover the old-quarter charm and enroll in a street-food tour.
Chan May Port (Vietnam)
Chan May port in Hue is a gateway to Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An.
Journey time by car from Chan May Port to:
- Hue (the former imperial city), 90 minutes.
- Da Nang (the largest city in central Vietnam), 1 hour.
- Hoi An (a charming ancient town), 95 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Hue day-tour, for exploring the royal culture of Vietnam during a visit to Hue’s landmarks, such as the Imperial City. Join in a cruise on the Perfume River.
- Da Nang day-tour, for enjoying the most beautiful stretches of sand.
- Hoi An day-tour, to see renowned landmarks such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, or to attend a cooking class and learn about Vietnamese cuisine.
What Our Customers Said
|
Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
A special shoutout to our last guide in Bangkok - Ms. Ka-Noon who spoiled us with her kindness and then got us through check in and security for our flight home in record time at that huge Bangkok airport. MoreDeby, Feb 2023
 |
Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
Three weeks encompassing Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Albee Ning arranged everything perfectly. Not a flaw in the whole 3 weeks. Guides, flights (7 in total), hotels, private tours…everything was excellent. Travelling on a private tour gave us so much freedom to change our day if we chose to rest or go somewhere else. MoreDeby, Feb 2023
|
Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
Asia Highlights is the way to go without any question. Next overseas trip will be booked with them for sure. Thank you for a wonderful and stress free vacation experience. MoreDeby, Feb 2023
|
Over the last 5 years we've used Asia…
Over the last 5 years we've used Asia highlights twice. And both times we've had fantastic vacations. Would not want to do it any different when we travel to Asia from now on. Sharon was fantastic. She was a wonderful agent who helped us nail down our trip and make everything go as smooth as possible. MoreTodd Atwell, Feb 2023
|
Family Trip to Thailand
Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. I think we would have struggled to resolve the problem by ourselves. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. MoreRoger Pyle, Feb 2023
|
Family Trip to Thailand
So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. MoreRoger Pyle, Feb 2023
|
Trip of a lifetime from Asia Highlights!
I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Our travel consultant Albee took the time to connect with us during the planning process to make sure we were comfortable with our itinerary. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. They picked great hotels and tours. I often describe our trip as the trip of a lifetime! Would definitely use them again when we come back to Asia MoreNancy Parker, Feb 2023
|
Asia Highlights and Albee - highly recommended
Asia Highlights is very reliable agency and Albee is an amazing representative of the company. From the moment when we contacted her until our departure, the whole support we received was 6* level. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. In the period between the offer and the trip, Albee was always available for all our questions and supported us on the best possible way. During the trip she was again flexible to add new activities/transfers and this went on the smoothest possible way. Thank you, Albee and Asia Highlights. Definitely we will approach you again for our next Asian trip MoreAZ, Feb 2023
|
Cau Da Port (Vietnam)
Cau Da port is about 7 miles from Nha Trang city center, at the southern end of the city.
Journey time by car from Cau Da Port to:
- Nha Trang city center, 15 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Nha Trang day-tour, to explore the beautiful beachfront and scenic landmarks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phu My Port (Vietnam)
Phu My Port is a commercial port in Ho Chi Minh City, with not much to speak of nearby.
Journey time by car from Phu My Port to:
- Downtown Ho Chi Minh, 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Cu Chi Tunnels, 2 hours and 40 minutes.
- My Tho, 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Ho Chi Minh day-tour, to see the most capitalist city of Vietnam and visit city landmarks and local markets.
- Cu Chi Tunnels day-tour, to experience the tunnel system which provided shelter for Vietnamese guerrillas.
- My Tho day-tour, for enjoying a boat trip in the Mekong Delta.
Sihanoukville Port (Cambodia)
Sihanoukville port in the Bay of Kompong Som is the only deep-water seaport in Cambodia.
Journey time by car from Sihanounkville Port to:
- Victory Beach, 10 minutes.
- Sokha Beach, 15 minutes.
- Ochheuteal Beach, 25 minutes.
- Sihanounkville International Airport, 30 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Beach day-tour to see the white sandy beaches nearby and enjoy some free time on the beach.
- Flight to Siem Reap to see the magnificent Angkor temples.
Laem Chabang Port (Thailand)
Laem Chabang port is about 25 kilometers north of Pattaya, and is the largest port in Thailand.
Journey time by car from Laem Chabang Port to:
- Pattaya (a resort city on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand), 40 minutes.
- The Grand Palace (a landmark complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok), 2 hours.
- Ayutthaya (an ancient capital), 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Pattaya day-tour, for delving into the enchanting local history and culture.
- Bangkok day-tour, for seeing the symbols of Thailand and cruising along the Chao Phraya River.
- Ayutthaya day-tour, to experience the charms of the ancient city and remnants of the old glory days.
Phuket Port (Thailand)
Phuket port is on the Andaman Sea, and cruise ships dock at the south end of Patong or at Ao Makham Deep Seaport.
Journey time by car from Phuket Port to:
- Patong Beach (the most popular beach), 40 minutes.
- Karon Beach (a quieter beach), 35 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Phuket day-tour to see the finest island, with picturesque beaches.
Koh Samui Port (Thailand)
Koh Samui port is at Nathon on the west coast of Koh Samui. Once off the pier, you’re in the center of town.
Journey time by car from Nathon Pier to:
- Chaweng Beach, 40 minutes.
- Namuang Safari Park, 20 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Koh Samui day-tour, to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of the island.
Thilawa Port (Myanmar)
Thilawa port is a deep river port about 25 kilometers south of Yangon.
Journey time by car from Thilawa Port to:
- Yangon downtown, 1 hour.
- Yangon International Airport, 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Yangon day-tour, to explore the most famous highlights such as the glittering Shwedagon pagoda and Sule pagoda.
- Flight to Bagan, to see thousands of temples and join in a hot-air balloon trip.
Marina Bay Cruise Center (Singapore)
Marina Bay Cruise Center is at the southernmost tip of Singapore, and has been built for a new generation of mega-sized cruise liners.
Journey time by car from Marina Bay Cruise Centre to:
- Singapore downtown, 12 minutes.
- Changi International Airport, 20 minutes.
Popular shore excursions:
- Singapore day-tour, for the charm of this cosmopolitan city brimming with diversity.
Continue to read:
Top Southeast Asia Shore Excursions
Southeast Asia Shore Excursions FAQ
Plan Your Southeast Asia Trip with Asia Highlights
Our travel advisors are very glad to give you suggestions on shore excursions. They can tailor-make your trip according to your preference and make good connections among different countries.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights During the Pandemic
- Tailor-made experience: All of your ideas/needs will be carefully considered to create your ideal trip.
- Worry-free planning: Your 1:1 travel consultant in Asia will take all the uncertainty out of your planning, helping you navigate any travel restrictions.
- No-risk booking: 100% refund policy! (prior to 3 weeks before departure, more details)
Get Inspired with Our Sample Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.
