Indochina travel is a real adventure. When you book Indochina travel packages you can expect to have expert guidance along the way, and plenty of information on the region you will visit before you travel. There are plenty of landmarks to visit but there will be plenty of chances to enjoy the natural environment and learn more about life and culture in the various countries included on your holiday.
Vietnam’s tourist infrastructure is more developed than its neighbours, Laos and Cambodia. You will get the chance to partake of a number of activities within Vietnam’s borders as well as elsewhere in Indochina:
• Hiking. The Northern or Central Highlands of Vietnam are both areas that are trekking friendly in all but the wettest weather. The natural environment of whole regions of Indochina offer much to enjoy, whether it is the greenery or the abundant birdlife. There may not be the quantity or range of wildlife there once was but that does not really detract from the enjoyment of enjoying the open air.
• Homestays. Throughout Indochina, there are tribes living as they have for generations. Villages depend upon their fields and crops and there is a chance to spend more than just an hour or two in such a village, even helping in the fields perhaps? The evening meal in a village is a great experience, especially for youngsters for whom an Indochina holiday is a great experience.
• Scuba Diving and Snorkelling. The South China Sea is clear, warm and blue for many months of the year. The seas may be rough during the monsoon season but resorts have developed throughout Indochina to cater for tourism, and high on the list is seeing what is below the surface.
• Kayaking. There is plenty of opportunity to explore by kayak, perfectly safely, under the eye of a guide. Thailand’s coast offers plenty of places while Halong Bay in North East Vietnam, due east of Hanoi, is a popular choice for those wanting to try it out.
• Cycling. Indochina is largely rural with little traffic on the quiet country roads. You can hire a bike to see more of a region during your free time than you would see by walking. Perhaps you might like to cycle between the orchards and fields of the Mekong Delta? That is one of several chances you have of cycling.
• Cruising. The rivers of Indochina include the iconic Mekong. There is the opportunity to cruise on the Mekong in Laos and Cambodia as well as in the Delta. The River is navigable between Phnom Penh and the Delta; sit back, relax, and enjoy both the river itself, perhaps seeing rare river dolphins, and the riverbank activities in the many fields and villages.
• Cookery Lessons are available in many places throughout South East Asia. Your day is likely to start by going to the local market to buy the produce you are going to use during the lesson. You end up by eating your food. Learning to cook some local dishes is a way to impress friends and family back home.
An Indochina tour will be incomplete however if you don’t experience its most famous places. While the region remains largely rural, you need to visit the narrow streets of old Hanoi to sample the street food. Sitting on a plastic chair usually. The locals eat at such places on the way to work, and often on the way home as well. Busy stalls turn over their food very quickly so you know you are eating fresh. Local markets are also a ‘’must’’; the vast array of colour in the fruit and vegetables is worth a photograph or two.
While you may not be around when there are any special festivals, there are some daily traditions that you will enjoy, and indeed can participate in. They include the alms giving ceremonies where monks leave their temples and monasteries at daybreak to receive gifts of food, usually rice, fruit and sweets, from locals seeking good fortune. The most famous alms giving ceremony is in Luang Prabang in Laos but there are others.
Many of the temples and pagodas in Indochina are gilded and pilgrims still add more gold leaf when they visit their particular shrine. Male tourists are also welcome to add some gold leaf when they visit but it is important for everyone to remember to dress appropriately when visiting a religious site. That means no shorts, T Shirts, short skirts and bare shoulders. There are few places where you will not be made welcome in Indochina but it does require your giving due respect to religion and its manifestations.
Indochina tour packagescan be tailored to client’s main interests. If you are going on an Indochina family holiday, you are likely to be looking for a balance so that everyone in the family gets the best out of this unique experience. Youngsters may tire of some of the interesting museums, temples and pagodas that their parents enjoy. However, if they are given the chance to enjoy the many water sports on the extensive coastline of Indochina or explore the caves such as Pak Ou in Cambodia above the Mekong River, they will love the experience.
It is certainly worth doing plenty of research before booking an Indochina tour because there are so many alternatives. You can research online but there is no substitute for using the knowledge and experience of an Indochina travel agent who can point you towards the highlights based upon the information you provide about the things that particularly interest you. An Indochina expert will need to have an idea of your budget, the time of year you prefer to travel and the time you have available. You will not be committed in any way and be given time to look at a proposed itinerary without having to book. You can expect good service from the point when you first make contact and hospitality all the way once you start your holiday.