As many as 1,250 tourists and crewmembers aboard the Costa Allegra cruise ship berthed at Ho Chi Minh City on June 30 to begin a four-day trans-Vietnam tour.

On the first day of their voyage, the holidaymakers, mainly Italian, Spanish, German and British, are scheduled to visit the Cu Chi tunnel, stroll the city’s streets by pedicabs, watch traditional art performances and pick fresh fruits in gardens in the Mekong Delta city of My Tho.

The ship, owned by Italy’s Costa Crociere, will dock at the Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang on July 2 to bring the visitors to the ancient imperial city of Hue, ancient Hoi An town and the My Son world heritage site.

The tourists will then continue their trip to northeastern Quang Ninh province of Quang Ninh, where they visit Ha Long Bay - a world natural heritage - and Yen Tu mountain, and villages in the Red River delta.

Saigontourist, which provides services for the cruiser, said it has worked closely with local health workers and the International Health Quarantine Centre to perform medical checks-up for the visitors in order to prevent the spread of A/H1N1 influenza./.