Including Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong

Singapore’s strategic location, at the entrance/exit to the Straits of Malacca, one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, is one of the reasons for its economic success. Transfer from airport to hotel. We will meet the tour guide at the hotel.

We’ll also learn of Singapore’s Jewish presence – David Marshall, the Prime Minister during Singapore’s autonomy from Britain was Jewish. Singapore gained independence in 1965 and by the 1990s it had become an economic success story.

The ship is one of Holland America’s newest luxury liners (we at Shai Bar Ilan don’t give up on the newest and best for our clients):
• 11 guest decks
• Restaurants and lounges with panoramic views
• An elegant boutique
• A new bar in the atrium
• A sophisticated and beautifully designed theater with two shows daily
• Handsomely appointed staterooms with Holland America’s unique touch
• All staterooms have a window (veranda rooms are available at extra cost)
• Plush, prestigious Mariner’s Dream beds with quality bedding
• TV with DVD – you can bring your own or borrow free DVDs from the ship’s library
• Freshly prepared, delicious kosher meals daily
The ship also offers:
Music, musician and singers, piano bars, casino, luxury restaurants, a spa, gym, swimming pools and a jacuzzi, and of course, an entertainment crew that is available from morning to night.

The metropolis of Bangkok is filled with colorful temples and traditional floating markets, where East meets West is complete harmony. It is considered one of the world’s most enjoyable cities. We’ll visit the symbols in Democracy Square, represented by the four huge pillars (and 75 smaller ones) and the six gates, works of an Italian sculptor. From there we’ll continue to the royal residence and visit the Grand Palace built by King Rama I in 1782 and considered the premier site to visit in Bangkok. The palace was considered the primary residence of the kings of Siam for generations (The current king Rama X resides in a different palace), and includes numerous beautifully designed buildings, notably the coronation hall and the Wat Pra Khao temple, one of the most sacred temples in Thai Buddhism. Here we’ll also see the Emerald Buddha, the most venerated in Thailand. Near the palace is the Wat Pho temple, the oldest temple in Bangkok with its gilded reclining Buddha, the largest in the world.

There are those who say that Sihanoukville’s four amazing pristine white beaches are the Cambodian response to the wondrous beaches of Thailand – and they’re not wrong! The city lies at the tip of the Cambodian peninsula on the southeastern corner of the Bay of Thailand, and is considered a resort city par excellence, bordering on unique nature reserves and tropical islands. We’ll visit the Rim Nature Reserve and hike on one of the trails along the beachfront, through a dense tropical forest and along a magical river that cuts through it. From there we’ll continue to visit the Sihanouk Waterfalls.

Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the heart and soul of the united country, the largest city in Vietnam, a dynamic and bustling city and the center of the country’s economy, trade and culture. We’ll embark on a tour of the city to discover its origins, when it served as the French colonial capital from 1859. A tour here can be a little confusing because it may seem as if we’re touring some of the magical quarters of Paris… We’ll discover the French architectural influence at the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the legendary Rex Hotel with its fascinating history. We’ll visit the parliament, the war museum and Chinatown. And we’ll participate in an extreme sport: crossing the scooter laden streets of the city ?! We’ll see the many street vendors and little stores selling an endless variety of wares in a city that never rests.

We’ll climb the 152 steps to visit the giant White Buddha, which is no less than 9 meters tall, and from where there is a magnificent view of the entire area. We’ll continue to the popular Yang Mai waterfalls before returning to the ship to prepare for Shabbat.

There are many imperial gravesites in Hue, which are recognized as a World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. We’ll visit the former Forbidden City and the imperial mausoleums. After the visit we’ll return to our ship to spend the night on our floating hotel.

We’ll stroll through the alleyways of the charming old city, absorbing the town’s distinct atmosphere, as we discover the Chinese and Japanese influences in the temples and pagodas, and experience the supremacy of a picturesque and delightful small town, which proudly preserves its glorious past.

Halong means “the place where the dragon descends into the sea” for according to tradition when the dragon wagged its tail, it created these magnificent islets in the bay. We’ll disembark and then set sail in a smaller vessel through the enchanting bay where we’ll also witness the lifestyle of the local fishermen.

Here we’ll discover its Jewish features – along historic, bustling Nathan Road with its sounds and colors in the center of Kowloon, and we’ll head for the top of the city – Victoria Peak – via a funicular that has been operating here for more than 100 years. We’ll continue to visit the Ohel Leah Synagogue before making our way to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat.