Around the world 2024

2024 | AROUND THE WORLD IN 180 DAYS | 33 HUE (CHAN MAY), VIETNAM 1 OVERNIGHT | 12-13 APRIL 2024 In Chan May you’re ideally situated between centuries of history dating to the Nguyen dynasty in Hue and the modern tumult of the 20th century in Da Nang. The vast Complex of Hue Monuments follows the natural beauty of the Perfume River from a walled imperial city to ornate temples and tombs. This UNESCO site offers a look at Vietnam before the 20th century, but you’ll also see evidence of the VietnamWar in the bombed remains of the Forbidden Purple City. That time in history is more evident in Da Nang, where you can tour a replica of Ho Chi Minh’s residence and peek through bullet holes left from the war in the caves of the Marble Mountains. SAIGON (HO CHI MINH CITY), VIETNAM 1 OVERNIGHT | 15 -16 APRIL 2024 A lot has changed since the iconic evacuation photos were taken during the fall of Saigon in 1975 – including its name, Ho Chi Minh City. Nowhere is the evolution more obvious than when you view the city from the 81st-floor observation deck of Vietnam’s tallest building. Still, Ho Chi Minh City retains its unique culture and wears its battle scars with honour. You’ll experience this in the elaborate French Colonial architecture and grand arches of the 19th-century post office as well as the Cu Chi Tunnels built during the war. Explore Vietnam’s history in the fascinating museums and pagodas, and watch modern life unfold in bustling markets. KYOTO (KOBE), JAPAN 1 OVERNIGHT | 27-28 MARCH 2024 Packed with 17 UNESCOWorld Heritage sites, Japan’s compelling imperial capital of Kyoto is less than 15 metres from the port of Kobe, which is also close to other wonderful sights. The more ancient imperial capital of Nara has its own share of UNESCO sites nearby, while the gilded tigers adorning Osaka Castle can be found even closer to the port. Kobe itself also has plenty to offer, from parks and museums to chic restaurants serving the city’s succulent namesake beef. Whether you enjoy a traditional tea ceremony performed by geishas in Kyoto or go for a hike on Mount Rokko outside Kobe, you’ll experience some of Japan’s greatest icons. SHANGHAI, CHINA 2 OVERNIGHTS | 2- 4 APRIL 2024 Standing on The Bund gazing across the Huangpu River to a forest of skyscrapers, it will be hard to believe that a few decades ago there was barely a building over 10 stories here. While the global economy has transformed Shanghai’s skyline, you can still find history and culture during a quiet moment in the 16th-century Yuyuan Garden. Or try shopping for yixing teapots, jade and 3D kitten photos and savouring pan-fried dumplings and scallion pancakes in the Old City. For the hip and modern, head to M50, a collection of factories and cotton mills that have been turned into galleries, and view works of established and emerging Chinese artists. Hong Kong HONG KONG, CHINA 1 OVERNIGHT | 7- 8 APRIL 2024 Only in Hong Kong can you wander through a magical flower tunnel hidden in a housing complex, ride the world’s longest escalator, stand at the base of the world’s tallest seated bronze Buddha and visit a model of Noah’s Ark. In fact, you’ll find yourself uttering “only in Hong Kong” a lot, whether scaling an impossibly steep hillside on a funicular tramway to Victoria Peak, dining on dim sum at one of the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants or perusing goldfish at the Tung Choi Street Goldfish Market. Start the day by getting fitted for a tailored cashmere suit and end it by shopping for luxury brand knockoffs at the Ladies’ Market. HANOI (HA LONG BAY), VIETNAM 1 OVERNIGHT | 10 -11 APRIL 2024 Exploring the streets and neighbourhoods of Hanoi, you’ll find the city’s tumultuous past and enduring spirit everywhere. Standing in front of the French Colonial architecture of the opera house and St. Joseph’s Cathedral inspired by Notre Dame, you will feel like you are in Paris instead of Southeast Asia. Then Vietnam’s culture unfolds in the 11th-century architecture of the Imperial Citadel and Temple of Literature and in Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence in 1945. Equally unforgettable is the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay, an amazing UNESCO-listed landscape dotted with hundreds of limestone islands.