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.

Sapa is a hilltown northwest of Hanoi founded by the French as a retreat from the heat and humidity of the plains. Located at 1000 metres in the mountainous terrain of the Tonkinese Alps, it's an area of stunning natural beauty and perfect for exploring on foot or motorbike. Local villages inhabited by Vietnamese and minority tribes such as the Black Hmong, Tay and Red Dzao ensure some fascinating cultural interactions. It's a perfect region for trekking, either through the hills and villages or, for the more ambitious, to scale Mount Fansipan, at 3143 metres the highest peak on the Indochina peninsula.

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

Most trips to Vietnam will take you from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the south (or vice versa). By far the best way to travel the length of the country is by train on the Reunification Express. The train line was re-opened after the war in 1975, hence its name. The total distance of the line is 1,700km and a non-stop trip takes 30 hours. The train passes through some of Vietnam's beautiful scenery, from lush tropical landscapes and rural scenes of paddy fields and water buffalo to the spectacular vistas of the coast around Danang. For a non-stop trip, be sure to book a sleeper car and choose a train that passes the best of the scenery during the day. It's worth breaking the trip to see sights like the old imperial capital of Hue and the historical town of Hoi An (disembark at Danang for Hoi An) - separate tickets need to be purchased for each stage of the trip.

Hue

Hue was the imperial capital of Vietnam, and its religious and cultural centre, under the Nguyen dynasty from 1801 to 1945. The walled imperial citadel, containing the Forbidden Purple Palace (an exact replica of Beijing's Forbidden Palace), covers a vast area but much of it was destroyed during the Tet Offensive in 1968. The Ngo Mon Gate, some of the outer walls and the Flag Tower remain however, providing an eloquent glimpse at the glories of imperial Vietnam. The beautiful and evocative Perfume River runs through Hue and dragon boat rides along the river will take you to more of Hue's attractions. The Thien Mu Pagoda is the oldest monastery in Hue and one of the most beautiful buildings in Vietnam. There are also the tombs of the Nguyen emperors, such as that of Tu Duc, which provide insights into the lifestyles of the emperors.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Complex of Hué Monuments

The city of Danang was once the centre of the Kingdom of Champa between the 4th and 13th centuries. Today the Cham Museum in Danang allows you to see some amazing Cham sculptures. The landscape around Danang is extraordinary, including the limestone peaks of the Marble Mountains, once used by both the Champas and in ore recent times as a haven for the Viet Cong and containing many Buddhist shrines. You can also visit the famous China Beach nearby. The road north to Hue also offers spectacular scenery, especially over the Hai Van pass, known as the Pass of the Ocean Clouds.

My Son

The Champa Kingdom developed on the coast of Vietnam between the 4th and 13th centuries. The kingdom displayed spiritual and architectural influences from Indian Hinduism. The ruins at My Son, the religious and political capital, comprise a series of impressive and well preserved tower temples located in a secluded valley.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: My Son Sanctuary

Hoi An

From the 15th to the 19th century, Hoi An was one of the most important trading ports in Vietnam, visited by ships from all over the world trading goods such as spices, silks and ceramics. When its harbour silted up in the 19th century it became eclipsed by Da Nang and other ports. Hoi An's economic loss was the world's gain, as the town preserved its old appearance and, as the only example of a traditional Vietnamese town, has become a major tourist destination. Hoi An is characterised by narrow streets and beautifully preserved buildings displaying indigenous and foreign influences, including the famous Japanese bridge. It's a beautiful town for wandering, tasting the fantastic local cuisine or exploring the surrounding countryside and nearby beaches. Hoi An is also famous for its myriad of clothes shops which will produce tailor made clothes from hundreds of materials and designs within hours at very low prices.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hoi An Ancient Town

The city of Nha Trang is Vietnam's premier beach resort. The 4km stretch of white sands spans the entire length of the city with the warm, blue waters of the South China Sea on the shore. Boat trips take you to nearby islands, with opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving, and allow you to appreciate the rugged coastlines around the city. Nha Trang is also famous for its seafood, which can be sampled in numerous restaurants in the town.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it's still known, is Vietnam's largest city and economic powerhouse. It's a vibrant, noisy and bustling city but also retains some of the colonial French architecture, such as the post office and city hall. Other attractions include the Reunification Palace, the chilling War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. Also worth visiting is the Chinatown district of Cholon to see the Binh Tay Market, pagodas and temples.

Almost 200 kilometres of underground tunnels were dug at Cu Chi, north of Saigon, during the Vietnam War which acted as a refuge for Viet Cong guerrillas and a means of staging attacks, particularly during the Tet Offensive in 1968. They included living quarters, hospitals and kitchens. Today, a small section has been renovated that allows visitors to crawl through. It's a cramped, dark and claustrophobic experience which gives you just a small indication of the conditions endured by the fighters. The sounds from a nearby firing range, where you can purchase bullets to fire from a range of weapons including AK-47s, adds to the atmosphere.

The Mekong River originates in the Tibetan Plateau and flows through China, Burma, Laos and Cambodia before reaching Vietnam and splitting into many waterways and channels to form the Mekong Delta. The Delta, home to about 20 million people, is one of the most fertile areas on earth, known as Vietnam's rice bowl and where many of its tropical fruits are grown. The region is best explored on boat and travelling along the canals, rivers and backwaters allows you to appreciate the beauty of the area and understand the lives of the local people. You will pass rice fields, villages of stilted houses, local markets (the floating market at Cai Be is famous) and see the cottage industries of the villagers.