One of our new tours for 2012 is a tour to Vietnam & Cambodia: Treasures of Southeast Asia. So what are those treasures? Here are twelve of our favorite highlights from our new tour along with a couple ideas on how to spend your free time.
Ha Long Bay
The distinctive limestone pillars of Ha Long Bay.
Part of the Gulf of Tonkin, Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to distinctive natural limestone pillars that rise dramatically from the water. Thousands of islands dot the bay, and while most are uninhabited and covered by dense jungle, some support floating villages. The locals in these villages largely make a living off the sea.
Hanoi
Just inland from Ha Long Bay, you’ll find Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Home to more than six million people, the center of Hanoi is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Centered around the thousand-year-old citadel, the Vietnamese capital maintains strong architectural connections to its colonial era: the wide-open public parks and tree-lined boulevards of Hanoi reflect the city’s growth during the period when Vietnam was known as French Indochina.
Hoàn Kiém Lake
To get a taste of how Hanoi’s residents relax, visit Hoàn Kiém Lake. The lake is notable not only because it offers a peaceful escape in the middle of a busy city but also because of the two temples nearby. The Turtle Tower sits on an island in the middle of the lake, but the Temple of the Jade Mountain is easily accessible via the Morning Sunlight Bridge. The bridge is painted fire engine red—you can’t miss it!
Huê
Huê was once the capital of Vietnam, but when the country descended into civil war following World War II, Huê’s position was usurped by Hanoi and Saigon (now known as Hô Chi Minh City). Formerly home to a forbidden city, Huê’s complex of monuments and temples clustered around the ancient citadel are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Huê played host to some of the most intense fighting of the Vietnam War, and as the battle drew to a close, American airplanes dropped explosive and incendiary bombs on the citadel itself. Since then, however, the monuments of Huê have been largely restored.
Thien Mu Pagoda
One of the highlights of Huê, the Thien Mu Pagoda is perhaps the city’s most visible connection to its former life as the nation’s capital. Members of the Nguyen Dynasty frequently patronized the 400-year-old temple, and the immense bell inside the pagoda has inspired countless Vietnamese poets and artists.
Hôi An
Blessed with a natural harbor, Hôi An was once the richest port in Southeast Asia. The city’s spice trade attracted merchants from across the world, and Hôi An’s Ancient Town (another UNESCO World Heritage Site) reflects the influence of Chinese, Japanese, Indian and even Dutch businessmen. While you’re here, consider venturing across the Thu Bôn River to visit the Kim Bông carpentry village.
A street vendor awaits customers.
Cù Chi Tunnels
A remarkable feat of military engineering, the Cù Chi Tunnels are an immense system of interconnected underground villages centered in the northern suburbs of Hô Chi Minh City. During the Vietnam War (known as the American War inside Vietnam), the Americans held a massive advantage in firepower and air support, and the only defense the Viet Cong had against American bombers was to burrow underground. The tunnels were used as a staging area for the Tet Offensive, and while they’re generally considered a strategic success story for the Viet Cong, life in the tunnels was far from cushy: today, the tunnels are clean and accessible to travelers, but in wartime, they reflected the tremendous stresses placed upon the Vietnamese people. American soldiers summed up life in the tunnels with an ominous two-word phrase: “black echo.”
Mekong Delta
The labyrinthine channels that lead the Mekong River to the sea continue to amaze scientists. Explorers are still discovering new channels—and new species—in this lush estuary. The farmlands around the Mekong Delta produce most of Vietnam’s food, and since the river changes course slightly every year, few roads cut across the delta. Instead, people who live here go with the flow and use the river as their primary mode of transportation.
Siem Reap and the Angkor Temples
Siem Reap has become one of Cambodia’s most visited destinations thanks to its position between Tonlé Sap lake and the archaeological wonders of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Each of the temples here tells its own story, whether it’s the Hindu cosmology of Angkor Wat, the baroque architecture of the enormous Bayon temple or Ta Prohm temple, where the jungle is slowly reclaiming ancient stone monuments.
Ta Prohm, where the jungle is slowly reclaiming an ancient Khmer temple.
Preah Vihear
Some aspects of Preah Vihear temple have long been subject to dispute. Located near the Cambodia-Thailand border, the temple became a highly visible bargaining chip between the two nations in the latter half of the 20th century. What’s not in dispute is the beauty of the site itself: while the Angkor temples occupy lowlands, Preah Vihear sits atop sheer cliffs overlooking the border. Preah Vihear is located a few dozen miles northeast of Siem Reap and is accessible by private taxi.
Silver Pagoda
Phnom Penh’s elegant Silver Pagoda is beautiful on the outside, but inside, you’ll find a treasure trove that will make your jaw drop. The temple is home to a life-sized statue of the Buddha, which isn’t particularly remarkable in this part of the world. The 9,584 diamonds covering the Buddha, on the other hand, make this a one-of-a-kind artifact. The Silver Pagoda is the official temple of the king of Cambodia, and its exterior was once covered with thousands of silver tiles, a fitting touch for a royal house of worship. Phnom Penh is located about a four-hour drive south of Siem Reap, and you can make the trip on regularly scheduled buses.
Koh Ker
Deep in the jungle of Cambodia, you’ll find Koh Ker an abandoned city that was once the capital of the Khmer Empire. The site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a ziggurat-like structure whose summit is guarded by statues of the mythic Garuda. Much of Cambodia was covered with landmines in the course of this country’s tumultuous 20th century, but the area leading to and surrounding Koh Ker has recently been demined, which means travelers are once again free to explore this hidden wonder. Admission to Koh Ker is $10, and you can access the site thanks to a new road cut through the jungle in 2004.
Have you been to Cambodia or Vietnam? What was your favorite part of your journey?
