Roscher, a Phoenix resident, took the opportunity to return to Vietnam in January when he and his wife, JoAnn, sailed aboard the Ocean Princess on a 16-day cruise through the heart of Southeast Asia. The 4,173 statute-mile odyssey began in Singapore and included stops at ports of call in Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Okinawa, Japan, before ending in Shanghai.
Revisiting Vietnam for the first time in more than 40 years gave Roscher an eerie sense of déjà vu. “Seeing the tunnels was quite amazing,’’ he said. “During wartime, none of us realized how extensive they were.’’
Times have changed. Now eager to draw US and other foreign visitors to the country, the Vietnamese government has transformed the Cu Chi complex into a war memorial and tourist attraction.
As the Ocean Princess followed the ancient maritime trade route through the South China Sea, its 684 passengers from 38 countries often found themselves entering distinctly foreign waters. Daily Facebook updates showing Buddhist monks chanting inside ornate temples, laborers working rice paddies, and shopkeepers hawking snake wine reflected the kaleidoscope of cultures, religions, and commerce in this exotic part of Asia.
“A lot of people haven’t been to this part of the world, so they have a great deal of curiosity about the history, living conditions, climate, people, and places,’’ said Susan Rawlings, Ocean Princess cruise director. “This cruise provides a good overview of Asia. You get a taste of everything.’’
