Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam for the apprehensive

Travel to Vietnam and Cambodia has been in-demand over the last 12 months particularly, the unspoilt beauty of this region just part of it’s charm.  Where these destinations were once seen as ideal for the younger, backpacker market the destinations are also well suited to us older travelers.

The changes to Vietnam and Cambodia in the last few years have been rapid, so for those who still want to see these destinations before they become really westernized, now is the time.

My wife and I had the pleasure of traveling to Vietnam and Cambodia last year, as part of a conference and I was keen to explore this region further. Having lived in Asia for 10 years I was surprised at my wife’s trepidation and unease with the idea of this trip. I addressed her concerns by choosing to do a small group tour – there are several excellent operators that run this type of tour.  We chose Travel Indochina due to the fact that many of our clients had travelled with them and the feedback on their itineraries, hotels and service has always been excellent.  My wife addressed her concerns by highlighting her preferences for her funeral and details of her will with our daughter!

From the outset we were pleased we had chosen a tour, although we are not generally bus tour types.  It was clear that on this trip we could not have seen the places we did, the way we did if we had travelled on our own.  Our destinations were spread across three countries and included Luang Prabang in Laos with its ornate monasteries and the Kuang Si Falls, Saigon with its modern city and French influences in Vietnam and Angkor Wat & Siam Reap in Cambodia.

Sometimes the most anticipated aspect of a trip can be disappointing in reality – however this was not the case with the temples of Angkor Wat.  The temples were, for us, the highlight of the trip.  Our very small group visited the temples at dawn and viewed them from a lesser-used vantage point, which was a real advantage as it made for a very relaxed and enjoyable experience.  We also enjoyed Siam Reap with its wonderful French flavor and colourful floating villages.

Surprisingly (for my wife) the trip was enjoyable and uneventful, the people were very friendly and the sights really spectacular.  I have highly recommended this trip to family and friends and have no hesitation now recommending it to you.

Brian Lowe

Owner – Harvey World Travel