The three countries that make up Indochina, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, offer an amazing fusion of cultures. Whether you decide to focus on a single country or combine two or three on the same Asian holiday, you’ll discover a diverse range of memorable experiences. Travel to Indochina and you’ll be rewarded by traditional hill tribes, a legacy of colonialism, irresistible shopping and delightful people. And when you feel the need to take time out from the touring you can indulge in the carefree pleasures of gorgeous beaches and accommodation in top hotels with pampering spas.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a country of extraordinary diversity with more distinctive experiences to offer than any other country in South East Asia. From the westernized and progressive south, with its bustling and frenetic cities, to the palm fringed beaches of the country’s centre.
Saigon, the largest and busiest of Vietnam’s cities is a city of amazing contrasts: exclusive restaurants and trendy bars side-by-side with roadside noodle stalls, street children and vociferous cyclo drivers. There are the elegant colonial French boulevards and buildings, the Cathedral, the riverfront, the quiet moments at a sidewalk cafe watching the world literally go by you at breakneck speed.
At the other end of the country lies its capital Hanoi. A city of lakes and parks, of tree-lined streets resplendent with French colonial villas and mansions, Hanoi is a European capital in the heart of Asia. The Old French Quarter is a maze of crammed narrow alleyways. Wide bicycle-filled boulevards, faded but elegant architecture, the grandeur and solemnity of Ho Chi Minh’s monumental Mausoleum, the incongruous rustic simplicity of the house in which ‘Uncle Ho’ lived out his final years, the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ where so many prisoners of war were incarcerated, the religious pride that constructed so many serene temples and pagoda complexes.
In between these two marvelous cities lies a country with its agricultural society at its heart. Journeying throughout the country one will find endless emerald rice fields backed by rugged mountain ranges and a coastal landscape that takes a dramatic turn at every corner. Popular beach resorts include Phan Thiet and Nha Trang and in the centre the quaint merchant town of Hoi An.
Besides the central and coastal areas of Vietnam there are added attractions of the Mekong Delta with its floating markets and mystical boat journeys and the far north, with its former French hill stations and villages communities of ethnic groups, not to mention superb territory for trekking or mountain hiking.
Our favourite must do is Halong Bay, a massive area of limestone karsts and mountains in an emerald sea. Sail through this area in a reconverted junk boat or kayak to one of the many hidden lagoons. We offer a number of different cruise options in the bay.
Laos
Luang Prabang is the ‘jewel’ of Laos and should not be missed – it is undeniably the most popular destination for visitors to the country. While most tourists will want to include the capital Vientiane and the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang in their Laos itinerary, it is also possible to incorporate the mysterious Plain of Jars area, or a visit to the less discovered Southern Laos where natural beauty abounds. Remote mountainous Northern Laos is the home to many of Laos’ distinct ethnic minority groups and although travel in this region can be rough and standards are still basic, the rewards to the adventurous traveler will outweigh any lack of comfort.
Laos is also perfectly placed to be combined with a visit to Thailand, Cambodia and/or Vietnam, or indeed can be visited as a stand-alone destination.
Cambodia
From the white sanded beaches of Sihanoukville in the south, to the jungle villages of Rattanakiri in the east and from the largest fresh water lake South East Asia’s – the Tonle Sap Lake - to the impressing world wonders of Siem Reap – Angkor Wat, the colorful country of Cambodia with its friendly and welcoming charm offers its visitors a variety of things to see, venues to be visited and experiences to be made.
The best known and most visited destination in Cambodia is the world-renowned Angkor. These stunning temples are witnesses of the amazing history of the Khmer and are attracting more and more visitors from all over the world each year. They are easily accessible from Siem Reap and we can arrange a number of days touring by private guide. We’d suggest at least 3 nights so you have 2 full days to visit the temples but you could spend a whole week discovering new temples.
The perfect stopover for city tourism is
Phnom Penh. This city was once the most beautiful and modern as well as charming city in
Southeast Asia and has kept most of it until today. The beautiful French colonial buildings which have been renovated in the last years, the Mekong River flowing through the city and surely the kings palace make Phnom Penh a must seen city.
