This trip is a wonderful blend of both city energy and the countryside life of Southeast Asia. We visited Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand on this trip. Starting in Ho Chi Minh City, we discovered the history and rich culture of Vietnam, including a home stay with a Vietnamese family who taught us how to make authentic local food. After, we moved on to the tranquil sights of Cambodia, including the UNESCO world heritage temple of Angkor Wat and a day on a lush tropical island. To round off the trip, we enjoyed the vibrant energy of Bangkok.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh Trips
The vibrant capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, was known as the Pearl of Asia in French colonial times and perhaps still should be today. Situated on the confluence of three rivers, it has an extensive waterfront, which is always a hive of activity; it’s a great place for a wander and a spot of people-watching. Phnom Penh’s two ‘must-see’ sites are the beautiful Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, so named for the solid silver tiles that make up its floor. The Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide, or S21, graphically displays the horrors of Pol Pot’s regime, which systematically ordered the murder of between two and three million Cambodians. It is a sobering and enlightening place to visit.
Phnom Penh Holidays
Simone Pfluegl Thai Indochina Explorer
Christopher Mather Cycle Indochina & AngkorThis was a good adventure through three countries, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Starting with Thailand, the first day’s cycling had a mix of temples to see as well as cycling but I felt that day 2 and 3 we were just cycling to get out of Thailand with not much to see and was a bit boring. Cambodia was amazing with not just the amazing Angkor complex, but also the more sombre sights of Phnom Penh, S-21 and the Killing Fields, where our local guide’s personal stories really made you think. Vietnam was different again, with much better scenery for cycling and a lovely stay in the Mekong Delta. Saigon, you are left to explore on your own. I visited the War Remnants museum and the Independence Palace, which both were an interesting visit. The local teams who organised the cycling, were well organised with a special shout out to the Vietnam team, though their roads were the bumpiest.
Michael Millar Cycle Indochina & AngkorWe booked 2 trips to run together. Booking them intialyy was difficult as the agent couldn’t grasp what we were trying to do and kept quoting the wrong direction and got confused over airports. As a result we ended up flying from London as it was easiest for him to understand. Questions were left unansweredand at no time was it acknowldged that we were doing the 2 trips as one. The final hotel of this trip was supposed to be the same as the first of the next but infact we had to move to a different hotel. Overall an excellent trip was let down by the UK support team.
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