Bucket List Destinations - March - South East Asia
So where to go? This itinerary is based on having around a month and assuming this is a first-time trip to get a feel for the area; of course, it can be tailored to suit all budgets, timescales and interests. I’d suggest starting in the north and working your way down, so you can enjoy the cities and culture before washing up on a beach to relax. With a strong French Colonial influence, the cities of Luang Prabang and Vientiane in Laos are a comfortable place to start, offering a great introduction to the Buddhist temples you will see throughout your trip – with fantastic coffee on the side! For the road less travelled you can drive down through Laos towards the southern attractions of Pakse and the 4,000 islands but we’re going to head east into Vietnam instead.
Fly to Hanoi to enjoy this remarkable capital and then it’s out to Halong Bay or it’s lesser-known cousin, Bai Tu Long Bay for an overnight cruise in this scenery strewn with towering limestone islands and fabulous beaches, bays and lagoons to kayak, snorkel and laze about on. Depending on time versus budget at this point take the train or fly from Hanoi to Hoi An – another UNESCO World Heritage Site with its ancient Japanese merchant houses and Chinese temples reflecting its former glory as a major port. After a relaxing few days, ideally with a side-trip to Hue, it’s time for a big city stay – Ho Chi Minh City awaits! Formerly Saigon, HCMC is the largest city in Vietnam and contrasts French Colonial splendour with modern skyscraper city living. As well as exploring this cosmopolitan whirlwind there are some important side trips to be considered. Learn about the resistance during the Vietnam War with a trip to the Cu Chi tunnels – not for the claustrophobic. Enjoy an overnight stay or cruise along the Mekong; for those with time it’s possible to cruise from here to Siem Reap via Phnom Penh; well worth considering.
However you get there, next stop is Cambodia. The capital, Phnom Penh, may still bear the scars of the years of Khmer Rouge rule and it would be hard to pass through without paying your respects at the Killing Fields, but the city is now prosperous and lively, with a world-class cuisine and fabulous nightlife. Siem Reap itself may feel like a miniature Phnom Penh – it even has a road nicknamed ‘Pub Street’ due to the number of bars – but we’re here for the main attraction – Angkor. With a huge temple complex featuring immediately recognisable Angkor Wat as the jewel in the crown, you ideally need three days to explore what, in its heyday, was probably South East Asia’s biggest metropolis.
After taking in enough temples to last a lifetime you’ve just got one more city to go before hitting the beach! Depending on whether you’ve done all of your souvenir shopping, either treat Bangkok as a stopping-off point en route to the coast or give yourself a couple of nights to explore. Either way, there’s a strong probability you’ll be passing back through this way. March is a great month to visit Elephant Hills in Khao Sok national park for a safari-style stay in this wonderful rainforest-based project. Thailand is pretty much famous for its beaches and, with good weather on both sides of the peninsula, there is something for everyone – so whether it’s diving you’re after, perhaps the odd Full Moon party or just lounging around on a white sand beach, this is the perfect way to end your trip.
To find out more about tailor-made itineraries in South East Asia and beyond, please just get in touch!