28 indochina
“Vietnam and Cambodia have some of the most peaceful beaches in Asia, and Laos has plenty of beautiful riverside towns that offer great options
for rest and relaxation” LESLEY WRIGHT, GENERAL MANAGER
COMMERCIAL UK, TRAVEL INDOCHINA
of the Indochinese countries, with the temple-dotted riverside city of Luang Prabang being its most obvious draw. “Laos is an enchantingly old-fashioned country,” says Ben Briggs at Wendy Wu Tours. “It offers wonderful traditions and culture, although it’s the charming personalities of the Laotians themselves which really resonate with visitors, as well as the spectacular landscapes.” For culture-curious travellers, all three are
fully deserving of individual trips, although many packages on the market combine two or more into one itinerary. Holidays can range from short-stay sightseeing breaks and adventurous hiking programmes to luxury beach breaks and multi-week group tours, and this fl exibility has helped drive visitors. “Traveller numbers continue to grow for
Opening page: Vietnam’s Halong Bay. This page (clockwise from top left): Colourful boat at Ream National Park, Cambodia; street vendor in Hanoi; Vietnamese pho soup.
all countries,” says Travel Indochina’s Wright, “and we’re seeing increasing demand for small group touring, Mekong river cruising, tailor-made arrangements and Vietnam beach extensions in our forward bookings, with many customers choosing cross-border options.” For Khiri Travel’s Jack Bartholomew, Regional
Director Indochina, the key to a memorable Indochina trip is having a balance of highlights coupled with alternative experiences. “Everyone will want to see the highlights but we know that visitors will also want to have experiences that go beyond those of their fellow travellers.” The launch of Vietnam Airlines’ direct fl ights from Gatwick in late 2011 has helped increase visitor fi gures – the Post Offi ce last year reported a 106% increase in demand for Vietnamese currency – but also relevant is the ready availability of regional fl ights from Thailand, Singapore and elsewhere, with carriers such as Bangkok Airways. It’s little surprise, then, that Wright advises heading to Indochina sooner rather than later. “Cambodia and Laos are still considered to be exotic destinations that have not yet been completely overrun by tourism,” she says. “Given the fast developing nature of Asia, this might not last for long.”
What’s new Hotels: Vietnam continues to welcome
impressive new properties. The 202-room A La Carte Danang (
alacarteliving.com) is a beachside
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