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Monuments to ancient gods abound in Southeast Asia
Irresistible, mysterious, and beguiling, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, the trio of countries that comprise what was once known as Indochina (or the Golden Triangle) when the French ruled the roost, are today among Southeast Asia's most exotic destinations. Home to some of the world's most spectacular man-made and natural marvels, of which Vietnam's beautiful Halong Bay and Cambodia's astonishing Angkor Wat are just two, the region is also renowned for its fresh cuisine, bustling cities, lush countrysides, spirituality, and fascinating peoples. Connecting it all is a heldover French colonial flair, an undeniably Asian allure, and some newly adopted Western attitudes; the result is a region with no world equal and new sights and experiences to enthrall visitors at every turn.
Marked by a French colonial regime between 1887 and 1954, and later, by the effects of the Vietnam War, the three countries have only recently opened up to tourism. Vietnam leads the way with its modern outlook and rapid race towards Western-style development, at the same time preserving culture-rich traditions that predate its war-torn legacy. Laos, the least populated and sadly the poorest of the three, is also perhaps Indochina's most beautiful and untouched country, steeped in Buddhist tradition and lush mountainous landscapes, and offering visitors a glimpse into how the region once was, before tourists and colonizers arrived. The most challenging of the threesome, however, is Cambodia, the former heart of the great Khmer Empire and a remarkable place striving to reconcile one of humankind's most fascinating achievements – the temples of Angkor – with the gruesome memories of the Khmer Rouge regime.
See Laos Travel Guide | See Vietnam Travel Guide | See Hanoi Travel GuideSee Angkor Travel Guide
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