18 nights from £1942
This tour around the countries that make up Indo- China takes in within the course of a little under three weeks the highlights of this little-known corner of South East Asia. The Mekong River rises in Laos, forms the border between Thailand and Cambodia and finally emerges in the fertile delta to the south of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam, thus creating a connecting thread through the countries.
Whilst purely a political entity the region was originally a colonial possession of France. The French were beguiled by the gentleness and courtesy of the people and it is said that a posting to Laos was considered ‘the earthly paradise of South East Asia’.
Our journey commences with a tour of Vietnam, from Saigon in the south to the breathtaking landscapes of Ha Long Bay that never fail to impress, as well as the faded glory of French colonial Hanoi. From Hanoi a short flight to the north of the country brings us to the royal city of Luang Prabang with its colonial shop-fronts and lush verdant landscapes next to the winding Mekong River and from where we visit temples and Buddhist monasteries.
Siem Reap in Cambodia is the base from which to explore one of the wonders of the world - the impressive Hindu temple complex of the Temples of Angkor. No picture can capture the sheer immensity and splendour of these vestiges of religious constructions in stone.
Despite the enduring timelessness of the ancient sites and monuments, a recurring theme which even the most disinterested visitor cannot ignore is the relics of recent wars which have marked the region. Nonetheless your memories will be enhanced by the gentle pace of life and the civility of a people who are adapting to the march of progress in their own way.
