Robin Williams delivered the iconic shout "Good Morning, Vietnam!" in the 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam. But that movie depicted being stationed in Vietnam during a controversial time. Lately, we've been touring Vietnam, but we're not being shot at!
August 20th marks our 6-month anniversary of cruising fulltime! We boarded the Villa Vie Odyssey in Sydney, Australia on February 20th.
August 6th to 19th, 2026
After a couple of days in Singapore, Connie and I headed back to the local mall. This time, Connie treated herself to a manicure while I got a much-needed haircut. Feeling refreshed, we set out to find the correct bus stop and made our way into downtown Singapore.
Our destination was Lau Pa Sat, one of Singapore's most iconic historic hawker centers. Although I had visited twice before, I had never taken the time to sit down, relax, and enjoy one of its specialties: satay. This visit was different.
We found a table and shared it with a friendly gentleman from the Netherlands who now calls Singapore home. As the evening came alive around us, Connie and I enjoyed a cold beer and a generous combination satay platter featuring grilled shrimp, octopus, assorted satay skewers, and rice cakes. The food was delicious, but the atmosphere was just as memorable. We spent the evening savoring the flavors, people-watching, and soaking in the vibrant energy of the city.
Eventually, it was time to leave, and we made our way back to the ship, grateful for another wonderful evening in Singapore.
After an unforgettable stop in Singapore, the Odyssey remained in port until August 7 before finally setting sail. We celebrated our departure with a lively sail-away party by the pool as the ship eased away from the harbor and pointed toward our next destination: Vietnam.
Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 - The voyage to Vietnam was a leisurely one, with four relaxing days at sea before we arrived in Nha Trang on August 12. Located along Vietnam's beautiful south-central coast, Nha Trang welcomed us with its scenic shoreline and laid-back atmosphere.
We chose to stay aboard the ship on our first day in port, using the time to plan our adventures ashore. The following day, Connie and I took a tender to Ana Marina and then caught a GRAB car into downtown Nha Trang. To give ourselves more time to explore, we booked a hotel room for the night. At just $17 USD, it was a great value, offering a comfortable, clean place to stay even if it wasn't particularly fancy.
That afternoon, we set out to explore the neighborhood. One of our first stops was an ATM, where we withdrew 1,500,000 Vietnamese dong. For a brief moment, I felt incredibly wealthy, until I realized it amounted to less than $60 USD!
We also visited a local pharmacy to see if we could refill some of our prescription medications. While they were only able to fill a few of them, it was still a welcome success. We have a larger supply being shipped to us, but we don't expect it to arrive until early October, so every refill helps. The medications we purchased cost about $10 USD per month for each prescription. While not quite as inexpensive as what we'd pay with insurance back home, it was still a reasonable price and provided some much-needed peace of mind as we continue our journey.
Later, it was some more snack shopping and stopping for some cold drinks. As usual, it's hot and humid here. We decided to stay and also have dinner, then it was back to our quiet hotel room.
The next day, we headed out for a day of touring on their mini "hop-on hop-off" van. It was a sunny day for some great views of the city. We stopped at what they advertised as an aquarium, which was really an Oceanographic Museum. It wasn't as interesting as we had hoped for and there weren't many live fish. But it was nice to get out and stretch our legs.
The highlight of our day tour was a visit to the impressive Po Nagar Cham Towers (Tháp Bà Po Nagar), one of the most important surviving monuments of the ancient Champa civilization in central Vietnam. Perched on a hill overlooking the Cai River, just a short drive north of downtown Nha Trang, this remarkable temple complex dates back to before 781 AD. Walking among the centuries-old brick towers, it was easy to appreciate the rich history and cultural significance of this sacred site.
After exploring the towers, we headed to a local shopping mall in search of some much-needed air conditioning and a place to have lunch. While the mall itself didn't have any restaurants, that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Instead, we found a fantastic beachfront restaurant nearby where we could enjoy the sea breeze and an ice-cold beer. For lunch, we ordered a delicious Vietnamese stir-fried beef dish with just the right amount of spice. The food was excellent, the beer was perfectly chilled, and it was the ideal way to relax after a morning of sightseeing.
By late afternoon, we finally managed to book a GRAB car for the ride to Ana Marina, located on the opposite side of Nha Trang, where our tender would take us back to the Odyssey. The day had flown by, and we were more than satisfied after our generous lunch by the beach. In fact, we were still so full that neither of us felt the need for dinner that evening.
Of course, skipping dinner didn't mean skipping one of our favorite onboard traditions. We made our way to the nightly happy hour, where drinks were now available on a two-for-one special between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. It was the perfect way to unwind, reflect on a wonderful day ashore, and watch the evening settle in over the water.
Saturday, August 15th, 2026 - As our time in Nha Trang came to an end, Connie and I spent our final day onboard the ship, enjoying the welcome relief of the air conditioning. We relaxed by playing games, working on our computers, and savoring a slower pace before departure. That evening, after four memorable days in port, the ship lifted anchor and continued north along Vietnam's beautiful coastline. With a few days at sea ahead of us, we now look forward to our next destination, Chan May, Vietnam.
Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 - The past couple of days have been pleasantly uneventful, providing the kind of relaxing sea days that are often appreciated after a busy stretch of travel. I've spent much of my time working on the computer, while Connie has been happily making her way through several e-book novels.
One thing that's been a little different is that Connie didn't bring any craft projects back with her this time around. After all these years, it feels strange not seeing her stitching, knitting, or working on some creative project whenever she has a spare moment.
Of course, life aboard the Odyssey is never completely quiet. There has been a bit of excitement onboard recently, sparking plenty of speculation and spirited conversations among residents. I'll save the details for a future blog post once I have a little more information to share.
Next month marks a major milestone for Villa Vie Odyssey as she approaches her second anniversary at sea. The ship departed Belfast, Northern Ireland, on September 30, 2024, and I have no doubt there will be a memorable celebration onboard to mark two years of continuous world cruising.
Adding to the excitement, Villa Vie Residences has also begun teasing plans for a second ship, to be called Legacy. So far, only a few hints have been shared, but the official announcement and full details are expected to coincide with the Odyssey's two-year anniversary celebration. It will be interesting to see what the future holds as the Villa Vie fleet continues to grow.
This morning we arrived in Chan May, Vietnam, docking at a busy commercial port surrounded by gravel piles, cargo equipment, and industrial activity. It's not the kind of port where you can simply step off the ship and wander into town. The nearest community isn't within walking distance, and from what we've heard, there's not a great deal for visitors to do there anyway.
The real appeal of Chan May is its proximity to some of central Vietnam's most fascinating destinations. Many residents are heading off to explore Hội An, the area around Đà Nẵng, and Huế, one of Vietnam's most historic and culturally significant cities. With travel times of roughly 90 minutes or more each way, quite a few residents have chosen to spend a couple of days ashore rather than making the daily commute back and forth.
As tempting as those excursions are, Connie and I have decided to stay onboard this visit. In just a few weeks, we'll be returning for a 24-day land tour of Vietnam, so we'll have plenty of opportunities to explore the country in depth. Our itinerary includes eight days in the Hội An, Đà Nẵng, and Huế region, giving us ample time to experience the sights, history, culture, and cuisine at a much more relaxed pace.
For now, we're content to enjoy a quieter day onboard, knowing we'll soon be back to discover this beautiful part of Vietnam without having to watch the clock or worry about a long commute back to the ship.