If you are a scuba enthusiast, there is no better place to discover the hidden treasures beneath the sea than the Maldives Islands. Explore the more than 1000 tiny islands that can be found scattered over nearly 60,000 miles of the Indian Ocean.

A live-aboard scuba vacation is a unique adventure that everyone who enjoys the sport should try. Instead of staying at a conventional hotel where you are afforded limited dive opportunities, why not try staying on board a ship where you will have the opportunity to make several dives a day. Surrounded by fellow enthusiasts you can eat, sleep, drink and dream of scuba diving for your entire vacation.

Most live-aboard scuba vacations typically last 7 days. You will spend your days and nights aboard a luxury yacht and be quickly transported to dive sites that are inaccessible to most land based vacation accommodations and dive tour operators.

Your ship will have many of the same amenities that are conventional hotel has such as running water, showers, private bathrooms and a gathering place where you can eat, drink and be merry with your fellow passengers.

Three meals a day are offered as well as snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages are usually sold for an extra fee. You will enjoy the camaraderie that lends itself to this experience whether you plan to scuba dive or prefer a tamer snorkeling experience, sunning on the decks, fishing for the “big one,” or swimming in the clear waters.

Imagine setting anchor at one of the uninhabited islands where you can explore a tropical paradise that is uniquely your own. Find a hidden cove to have a picnic lunch and bask in the warm sun or search for treasures along the shore.

Families are welcome on many live-aboard scuba diving vacations. Your children will feel as if they are part of The Swiss Family Robinson and will carry the memory of this one of a kind vacation destination for the rest of their lives as will you when you take the plunge and book your live-aboard scuba diving vacation to the Maldives, the islands of majesty.

Vietnam is a fascinating place to visit. It is rich in history and culture. Much of Vietnam’s history is fraught with strife, colonization and war. Even before the Americans arrived on her shores, Vietnam was invaded and occupied by China at least four times. The resilient people of Vietnam have been able to fight off invaders from France and Japan as well.

1. The Capitol City of Hanoi

Hanoi can boast being the capitol of Vietnam for nearly one thousand years. It is considered the cultural center and every dynasty that has ever ruled has left their mark. Some of the relics didn’t survive, but the city is chock full of historical monuments and a wealth of culture to make any visit to Vietnam incomplete without visiting this ancient city. The center of commerce is the Red River where you can see rice paddies stretching as far as the eye can see. When visiting Hanoi, take a tour of one of the hundreds of temples and pagodas to get a real feel for the Vietnamese culture.

2. Ho Chi Minh City Formerly Saigon

Located near the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City has the distinction of being the largest city in Vietnam. Before the 17^th century, it was the chief port of the Cambodians before Vietnam annexed it. When the American’s left the conflict in Vietnam, the city of Saigon was merged with the province of Gia Dinh and given the name of Ho Chi Minh City. Citizens and visitors alike still call this city by the name of Saigon. Ho Chi Minh City is home to more than nine million people and is said to be the largest of any metropolitan area in Indochina.

Visitors will enjoy the flamboyant buildings and boulevards built by the French when they occupied the area. Be sure you take a tour of the architectural wonders of City Theater, Reunification Hall and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

3. Halong Bay-A Haven for Beach Enthusiasts

For those looking for a more relaxing vacation sitting along the shoreline, then Halong Bay is the area to visit. The bay is home to more than 1900 islands made of monolithic limestone. The islands are rich with vegetation and many of the isles rise majestically from the ocean. You will find a number of the islands have facilities for tourists such as hotels and beaches where you can frolic in the clear water and leave your cares behind.