Highlights of Indochina

Bangkok is Thailand's huge and bustling capital, a chaotic and cosmopolitan city with many attractions. The most spectacular of these is the opulent and magnificent Grand Palace, reached on one of Bangkok's renowned waterways or klongs. Built in the late 18th century when Thailand was re-emerging from Burmese oppression, the complex is a vast collection of palaces, golden stupas, ornately decorative statues and wats, of which Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is the most impressive. Wat Po, home of the famous 46 metre long gold-plated Reclining Buddha, is another must-see. Elsewhere in the city, Jim Thompson's House is a museum containing superb examples of Thai art and furniture, collected by the former CIA officer and silk magnate. Shops and markets such as Chatuchak Market sell a huge range of Thai goods while at night Bangkok comes alive with a huge variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

The Kanchanaburi Province west of Bangkok is famous for being the site of the infamous 'Death Railway' and the 'Bridge on the River Kwai'. During the Second World War, the Japanese built a railway to link Thailand with Burma to carry supplies for their expanding empire - between June 1942 and October 1943 16,000 Allied prisoners of war and an estimated 75,000 Asian forced labourers died in its construction. The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and the JEATH War Museum commemorate those who died. You can take the train along part of the original railway and at 'Hellfire Pass' visit a memorial museum which chronicles the building of the railway.

Close to the Burmese border in central Thailand lie the wildlife sanctuaries of Thungyai and Huai Kha Kheng, covering more than 6,000 km² of various types of forest. The reserves are home to a wide variety of animal species including elephant and tiger and at least 34 endangered species. The region is also home to several spectacular waterfalls including Thi Lor Su Waterfall, one of the largest in southeast Asia with seven tiers of falls from high limestone cliffs, Kotha Waterfall and Thi Lor Lay Waterfall.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries

The northern town of Lampang is home to the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the most beautiful temples in northern Thailand, and the Lampang Elephant Conservation Centre. This is the largest elephant conservation centre in the country which takes care of sick and abandoned elephants and details their importance in Thai culture.

Ayutthaya was founded around 1350 and became the second capital of the Kingdom of Siam after Sukhothai. It soon became one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the East, capital of a kingdom which encompassed large parts of present day Burma, Laos and Cambodia. Ayutthaya developed its own distinctive artistic style, influenced by other cultures with which it traded, before it was destroyed by a Burmese invasion in the 18th century. Remnants of its golden period include the Royal Palace, Wat Mahathat, Wang Luang and numerous gigantic Buddha statues and prangs (reliquary towers).

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic City of Ayutthaya

Sukhothai was the first capital of the Kingdom of Siam in the 13th and 14th centuries, until it was superseded by Ayutthaya, deserted and only rediscovered as a 'lost city' in the 19th century. With 21 historical sites within the city walls and a further 70 outside, Sukhothai is an important and fascinating site. Monuments of note include Mahathat Wat, a monastery with a royal palace and cemetery and the graceful Sra Si Wat with its two stupas. The nearby town of Si Satchanm contains the impressive Wat Chang Lom, decorated with 39 standing elephants.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns

The northern city of Chiang Mai is one of the most attractive in Thailand, less frenetic than Bangkok and the altitude means it's much cooler and less humid than the capital. Chiang Mai has over 300 temples, the most impressive and revered being Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, located on the peak of Doi Suthep at 1,676 metres, which offers superb views of the city and surrounding countryside. The city is home to some of the best food in Thailand and is a great place to have a Thai cooking lesson. Chiang Mai is also famous for its Night Bazaar, where you can buy local Lanna handicrafts and the traditional goods of the hilltribe people. The Tribal Museum is well worth a visit, to gain an insight into the cultures and customs of the hilltribe peoples of northern Thailand.

Northern Thailand has many traditional hilltribes and minority groups who have maintained their own culture, customs and languages. Among these groups are the Palong, Karen, Lisu, Akha, Lahu, Shan, Yao and Hmong people. The tribal villages can be explored on foot, bicycle or even by taking an elephant ride.

Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is a relaxed and laid-back city. Its attractions include the Patuxai (or Victory) Monument - Vientiane's Arc de Triomphe, Wat Sisaket - the oldest temple in the city packed with silver and ceramic Buddhas, Wat Prakeo - the temple which used to house the Emerald Buddha, and the That Luang stupa - Laos's most famous religious and national monument, said to contain a bone of the Buddha.

Vang Vieng is a town located between Vientiane and Luang Prabeng. Set amidst a karst landscape and on a bend on the Song River, it's a great spot for exploring the limestone karst caves (notably the Tham Jang caves) on the west bank or the surrounding countryside on foot or bicycle.

Luang Prabang, which had been the monarchical capital for centuries, is one of the most charming and best preserved cities in southeast Asia. Set amongst forested hills, it combines traditional Lao architecture, in particular numerous temples, with European colonial buildings. In early morning the mists from the Mekong shroud the city before the town's saffron-clad monks begin their procession through the town collecting alms. Among the temples of note is the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, the Golden Temple built in 1559 which is decorated in red, green and golden designs and filled with extravagant mosaics and decorations. The Royal Palace, whose design blends European and Lao influences, now houses the National Museum which has artefacts describing Lao culture over many centuries. In the evening the views over the town from Mount Phousi are excellent as the sunset illuminates the golden temple towers. Also worth checking out are the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls, located about 30 kilometres from Luang Prabang .

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Town of Luang Prabang

The Tam Ting Caves at Pak Ou, near the confluence of the Mekong and Ou rivers, are a Buddhist holy site which contain thousands of Buddha statues of all shapes and sizes, many brought here over 400 years ago when Luang Prabang was under threat from the Chinese.

The Plain of Jars is a fascinating archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered across a wide area. The jars origins and purpose remain shrouded in mystery, but they are thought to be at least 2,000 years old and may have been used as urns or to transport Lao Lao, a rice whiskey. The province of Xieng Khuang where the jars are located, home to Hmong and Black Thai peoples, was heavily bombed by the Americans causing huge destruction to the region's towns.

Luang Namtha is a town in northern Laos near the border with China and is the main market town for minority tribes who live in this area. The surrounding mountainous countryside is great for exploring on foot or bicycle and visiting the ethnic villages to learn about the lives of these tribes.

Sam Nua is the capital of the Hua Phan province in northeast Laos. Rebuilt in the 1970s after being devastated by American bombing, the town serves as a focal point and market place for tribes of surrounding villages. Southwest of Sam Nua lie the standing stones of Hintang, thought to mark the graves of an ancient civilisation. Further east lie the Vieng Xai Caves, a network of limestone tunnels and chambers used by Communist revolutionaries as a base and shelter from the bombings. Today you can view the living quarters and command centres and learn more about the Secret War.

Hanoi

Hanoi combines the bustle and pace of a capital city with an old world charm and nostalgia from its French colonial past. Characterised by wide boulevards, faded colonial buildings and tree-lined lakes, Hanoi is a wonderful city for strolling and soaking up the atmosphere. In particular, the maze-like Old Quarter between Hoan Kiem Lake and the Red River invites exploration of its narrow streets and myriad of shops. Other attractions include the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest educational establishment, the colonial architecture of the Presidential Palace, the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton. Also worth checking out are the famous water puppet theatres for a truly Vietnamese experience.

Halong Bay

Halong Bay, whose name means "descending dragon", is a stunning site, where 3,000 limestone karst islands and peaks rise out of the emerald green waters of the bay. The best way to appreciate this area is on a slow junk boat ride through the bay, stopping off to explore limestone caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites, encounter floating fishing villages, enjoy secluded beaches or just swimming in the bay itself.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ha Long Bay