Vietnam shore visit

Hi All,

Did a wonderful cruise in May on Superstar Virgo and was impressed that
all of the passport control was handled for us on the day excursions.

I intend to do another trip on the same ship next year. This time it
involves a day trip to Vietnam.

Being a socialist republic (that's what it says on their website - I
always thought they were Communist still), do we need to arrange a visa
before the visit or would the ship handle this?

Cheers,

Carl

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi All,

Did a wonderful cruise in May on Superstar Virgo and was impressed that
all of the passport control was handled for us on the day excursions.

I intend to do another trip on the same ship next year. This time it
involves a day trip to Vietnam.

Being a socialist republic (that's what it says on their website - I
always thought they were Communist still), do we need to arrange a visa
before the visit or would the ship handle this?

Cheers,

Carl

I got a free tour 37 years ago. Wasn't worth the price then and I'm sure it
isn't worth it now. SORRY ERM, **** THOSE PEOPLE.

"F." wrote in message
news:_ziTg.13979$rg1.13712@dukeread01...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi All,

Did a wonderful cruise in May on Superstar Virgo and was impressed that
all of the passport control was handled for us on the day excursions.

I intend to do another trip on the same ship next year. This time it
involves a day trip to Vietnam.

Being a socialist republic (that's what it says on their website - I
always thought they were Communist still), do we need to arrange a visa
before the visit or would the ship handle this?

Cheers,

Carl

I got a free tour 37 years ago. Wasn't worth the price then and I'm sure
it isn't worth it now. SORRY ERM, **** THOSE PEOPLE.

I would check with your TA and/or the Cruiseline. That said, I cannot for
the life of me understand why people would want to go there. The country
stinks, physically and morally. These are some of the most vicious people in
the world. I have seen what these people are willing to do and it isn't
pretty. It has nothing to do with protecting their country or political
ideals, they are simply vicious and if we can't travel to Cuba, then why in
the hell should we even consider travelling to a country like Vietnam who
has done such vicious and unspeakable atrocities to our servicemen and
women? Stay the hell out of that filthy place. It would not bother me one
bit to see the entire country wiped out. While there are a many people there
that are decent people, they are heavily outnumbered by those who have not
respect for human decency. I hated that place in 69-71 and still hate it
today.
Jim

On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 20:08:23 -0400, "F." wrote:


wrote in message
roups.com...
Hi All,

Did a wonderful cruise in May on Superstar Virgo and was impressed that
all of the passport control was handled for us on the day excursions.

I intend to do another trip on the same ship next year. This time it
involves a day trip to Vietnam.

Being a socialist republic (that's what it says on their website - I
always thought they were Communist still), do we need to arrange a visa
before the visit or would the ship handle this?

Cheers,

I was there for a total of 2 years in the 60s. Maybe you can enjoy
some of the highlights of my visit, the red ants, the leaches and the
diseased infested water. I'm sure the ship can arrange all this for
you.

"Skip" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 20:08:23 -0400, "F." wrote:


wrote in message
groups.com...
Hi All,

Did a wonderful cruise in May on Superstar Virgo and was impressed that
all of the passport control was handled for us on the day excursions.

I intend to do another trip on the same ship next year. This time it
involves a day trip to Vietnam.

Being a socialist republic (that's what it says on their website - I
always thought they were Communist still), do we need to arrange a visa
before the visit or would the ship handle this?

Cheers,

I was there for a total of 2 years in the 60s. Maybe you can enjoy
some of the highlights of my visit, the red ants, the leaches and the
diseased infested water. I'm sure the ship can arrange all this for
you.

I took me forever to kill the bacteria from between my toes from that god
damn water. It was so bad at times I used gas to wash my feet. I swear
sometimes it feels like it is still there. Like I said before, **** that
place and those people.

jim wrote:

I cannot for
the life of me understand why people would want to go there. The country
stinks, physically and morally. These are some of the most vicious people in
the world. I have seen what these people are willing to do and it isn't
pretty. It has nothing to do with protecting their country or political
ideals, they are simply vicious and if we can't travel to Cuba, then why in
the hell should we even consider travelling to a country like Vietnam who
has done such vicious and unspeakable atrocities to our servicemen and
women? Stay the hell out of that filthy place. It would not bother me one
bit to see the entire country wiped out. While there are a many people there
that are decent people, they are heavily outnumbered by those who have not
respect for human decency. I hated that place in 69-71 and still hate it
today.

Wow, I suppose the friendly invitation to fly a flag at
TheMarinersCabin does not apply to Vietnamese or Vietnamese American
cruisers.

I understand the fellow was there during wartime and saw atrocities. I
wonder what his opinion of Germans or Japanese is? On second thought,
I can guess.

Hi Carl,

You can arrange a visa yourself quite easily through any embassy for
around the US$40 mark. However, check with you TA as the ship may
handle everything for you.

Also, ignore most of the posts from disgruntled vets - the place is
interesting to visit some 30 odd years after the it was carpet bombed,
phosphored and deforested. I guess they (the vets) can't get over the
fact that the most powerful nation on earth with all of the latest gear
got totally screwed by a bunch of rice farmers. I especially liked the
comment by one respondant regarding the attrocities committed by the
Vietnamese - he should take a look in his own back yard with the secret
CIA torture camps and the concentration camp in Cuba.

Have a good trip

Joe


wrote:
Hi All,

Did a wonderful cruise in May on Superstar Virgo and was impressed that
all of the passport control was handled for us on the day excursions.

I intend to do another trip on the same ship next year. This time it
involves a day trip to Vietnam.

Being a socialist republic (that's what it says on their website - I
always thought they were Communist still), do we need to arrange a visa
before the visit or would the ship handle this?

Cheers,

Carl

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi Carl,

You can arrange a visa yourself quite easily through any embassy for
around the US$40 mark. However, check with you TA as the ship may
handle everything for you.

Also, ignore most of the posts from disgruntled vets - the place is
interesting to visit some 30 odd years after the it was carpet bombed,
phosphored and deforested.

We did a great job, didn't we?


I guess they (the vets) can't get over the
fact that the most powerful nation on earth with all of the latest gear
got totally screwed by a bunch of rice farmers. I especially liked the
comment by one respondant regarding the attrocities committed by the
Vietnamese -

I have had a few frieds die so you could still have the ability to talk this
way. Next time you open your big fat mouth remember that.


- he should take a look in his own back yard with the secret
CIA torture camps and the concentration camp in Cuba.

Think about that the next time you see someones head about to be cut off.
Think about that the next time you see young men with thier charred bodies
hanging from a bridge.


**** YOU Joe




wrote:
Hi All,

Did a wonderful cruise in May on Superstar Virgo and was impressed that
all of the passport control was handled for us on the day excursions.

I intend to do another trip on the same ship next year. This time it
involves a day trip to Vietnam.

Being a socialist republic (that's what it says on their website - I
always thought they were Communist still), do we need to arrange a visa
before the visit or would the ship handle this?

Cheers,

Carl

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi All,

Did a wonderful cruise in May on Superstar Virgo and was impressed that
all of the passport control was handled for us on the day excursions.

I intend to do another trip on the same ship next year. This time it
involves a day trip to Vietnam.

Being a socialist republic (that's what it says on their website - I
always thought they were Communist still), do we need to arrange a visa
before the visit or would the ship handle this?

Cheers,

Carl


Hey carl...............If it is so great, leave your passport here, pack
your family and bags and get yourself a little piece of paradise you can
keep forever

I have to agree with some of the responses to this original post. I
personally don't know why anyone would want to travel to Vietnam, but then
again, that's me. As most everyone knows, I can book cruises to just about
anywhere, including Vietnam as part of the schedule, if that's what a client
wants. But I would certainly discuss this with them first just to see why
they would want to go there in the first place.

I too was part of an unpopular war, that basically we could not win. But,
then again, that me. I think it is going to take me a little more time to
get over it, along with actually cleaning up the country itself, before I
would be willing to travel there. Personally, I don't have anything positive
to remember. And besides, I am next to one of the biggest migrations of the
Vietnam people in the United States, so after all these years, I'm still
almost in the middle of it anyway, with signs on every business where one
can't read the language.

I hope this is not making me sound like I am prejudice, for I am not. In
fact, my wife is an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, so I do
respect those who make the effort to learn the language of our country. I
just wish that around here (Orange County), that the so-called leaders could
not have come up with a better description of some of our surrounding
communities, than Little Saigon, for (again, to me) that simply congers up
some very negative memories. Other countries have managed to clean-up their
act, and I'm sure in time Vietnam will as well. But at least for me, that
time has not come yet.

John Sisker, SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll free at (800) 724-6644 & (pagoo ID: 714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com