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indochina
Once part of the French Empire, Indochina is an incredible fusion of old world Europe and Asia. Find freshly baked baguettes and strong, sweet coffee alongside noodle soup and fried rice on menus in Ho Chi Minh City. See gilded pagodas in Phnom Penh glistening next to European-style buildings that would look right at home in Paris. In Vientiane, stroll beneath the majestic Patuxai, reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe, before settling down for some delicious French cuisine at one of the many restaurants. Outside these vibrant cities, experience rural Asia first-hand while staying with hilltribes in Vietnams misty mountains, drinking fiery lao-lao amid lush green rice paddies on Don Khong Island or while cruising down the Mekong watching Laos riverside life go by. See it all in close up while exploring on foot, bike, rail or boat. On the following page see some of our favourite real life experiences that are waiting for you in Indochina&
When to go&
High Season (dry season) Clear skies and cool climes usher in Bon Om Tuk, a very important festival on the Khmer calendar, celebrating the epic victory of Jayarvarman VII over the Chams. Watch the Tonle Sap Lake and Siem Reap River become staging grounds for exciting boat races. Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, also falls in this season and in the lead-up to New Years Day, certain streets in Saigon are turned into massive flower markets. In the evenings, every city in Vietnam erupts into noisy activity - with people beating gongs and drums - to welcome in the year ahead and you can expect to be invited to join the festivities. The temperate weather makes getting out and exploring a dream, so hit the streets of Vientiene, Hanoi or Pnomh Penh to discover the life of the city. Low Season (monsoon) Monsoon rains fill up the moats of Cambodias Angkor temple complex and lilies and lotuses bloom in these waterways, giving the ruins a magical feel. The rainforests are lush and waterfalls are at their largest, so plan a boat safari in the Ream National Park or make a visit to the spectacular seven-tiered Kuang Si Falls. A train journey aboard the
jan feb
Reunification Express reveals picturesque paddy fields, turned emerald-green by the rains, and the rural countryside is at its most photogenic. Buddhisms most important holiday, Visakha Puja, also falls in this season and the best place to see candlelit processions of saffron-robed monks is around Angkor Wat, the most inspiring monument in the entire complex. Seek out inside sights like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or Cambodias National Museum to escape the downpours or just find a quiet cafe to watch the world go by. Shoulder Season (hot season) Never does a chilled drink taste as good as when the sun beats relentlessly down on hot city streets, so be sure to bar-hop if youre in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. This season is also when the waters of the South China Sea are smooth and sultry, so dive off a junk in scenic Halong Bay for a refreshing dip. Tropical Cambodia is best enjoyed by the breezy coast in beachside Sihanoukville, lazing under the shade of a palm tree with a cool drink. Laotian New Year celebrations spill out onto the streets in Luang Prabang, where there will be plenty of colourful ceremonies to witness and lots of giggling children soaking passer-bys with buckets of cold water - no one is exempt, so watch out!
mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec
High Season (dry season) Low Season (monsoon) Shoulder Season (hot season)
cambodia laos vietnam (nth) vietnam (sth)
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