Indochina Queen — Attraction in Ho Chi Minh City

You probably don't need another reason to love elephants, but just in case you do, here are 6 great reasons why #elephants are just the best. 🐘

Elephants are the largest land mammal. Despite their size, they can run up to 25 miles per hour! Since one of their feet is always on the ground, technically they're actually speed walking at 25 mph. Elephants purr just like cats! Not only do they communicate through trumpet sounds, snorts, roars, cries and purring, elephants pick up sounds of rumbles with their feet and they can hear communications over long distances though the vibrations that come up through their feet and into their ears. Elephants have deep family bonds. The herd is led by the matriarch (the female head of a family.) Calves are raised by the entire herd. When males are about 12 years old, they leave the herd to live on their own while the females stay with family herd. Females will often stay with their mothers their whole lives so elephants often become great-grandmothers. Elephants are highly sensitive and caring animals, much like humans. If a baby elephant cries, the herd will touch and caress the baby with their trunks to soothe it. They are highly intelligent animals with complex emotions, feelings, compassion and self-awareness (elephants are one of very few species to recognize themselves in a mirror!). The gestation period of an elephant is 22 months. That's almost 2 years, the longest pregnancy of any mammal! Baby elephants are born blind but they are immediately able to stand up and walk. The herd celebrates the birth together during a ceremony of trumpeting and touching. The average lifespan of an elephant is between 50-70 years old. The oldest recorded elephant is Ling Wang, an Asian elephant, who died in 2003 at the ripe old age of 86.Like humans, elephants mourn the death of their love ones. They gently touch and caress the skull of deceased loved ones with their trunks, and they will pause for several minutes of silence in the place where their loved one dies, even several years after their death. An elephant never forgets. ○ #elephants...

We were part of the cruise for the 6:45pm sailing on 18/9/24, and let me just say, I wish we hadn't. We were greeted by the wait staff dressed up as sailors, and escorted to our seats. The dinner service is buffet style, and it felt like feeding time at the zoo with everyone rushing to consume as much food as possible. The food that was out on the buffet that was supposed to be warm was cold (e.g. the fried chicken was hard and barely edible). Also, the cakes were dry and unappetising. The service by the staff lacked attention to detail and I had to flag down a waiter just to get another drink. Due to bad weather, the ship was docked longer than usual, and the route was cut short. The cruise was supposed to finish at 9.30pm, and at 8.30pm, waiters were rushing around the place forcing people to pay. I paid our bill (only for the drinks we bought as the buffet was included in the original ticket price), and when I went to order another wine and water (which I was going to pay in cash), I was declined by a member of staff who looked at me as though I was absurd for asking. I even got out my phone to translate to ensure she understood my request. She just looked at me and walked off. The entertainment for the evening included three different acts. The first act was a traditional dance performed by four young girls and it was very sweet. The second was a sole singer, but the speakers were so loud, it was unpleasant to listen to. The third act was a three piece band who sang some up-beat songs that everyone knew. The experience wasn't a pleasant one and I wouldn't do it again. On the positive side, the ship was clean and...

You have the option to walk to the far right and wait for the boat, or you can wait at the entrance for a golf cart to take you. This flexibility made our boarding experience more convenient and efficient.

The cruise itinerary offers a variety of programs and activities, and we had an enjoyable evening on the boat. Admiring the enchanting scenery of the Saigon River and viewing the bustling beauty of Ho Chi Minh City from the river is a unique experience.

Food and Service: The drinks were not included in the itinerary, but we found the prices on the boat to be quite affordable. In the end, we ordered beer and lemon juice. Notably, we requested the lemon juice without sugar, and it tasted perfectly refreshing. The staff was very friendly, making us feel warmly welcomed.

However, it was a bit stuffy indoors, so we spent most of the time on the top deck enjoying the breeze and the view. This Saigon River Indochina Queen cruise not only allowed us to experience the beautiful river scenery but also provided thoughtful and meticulous service from boarding to disembarking. It is highly recommended as an outing for family...