VIETNAM TOURS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

FASCINATING HISTORY & CULTURE

The most picturesque landscape in the region is possibly Halong Bay where limestone karst hills rise from the water forming around two thousand separate islands. Also in northern Vietnam is Sapa where the highest mountains in the country and the surrounding rice terraces provide stunning vistas. Spectacular mountain views can also be found in northern Thailand around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Laos has some alluring scenery especially the Kuang Si Falls and Mekong River near Luang Prabang, which is itself one of the most beautiful towns in Southeast Asia. In the south of the country visit the pretty area of Four Thousand Islands. Also discover Borneo with its rainforests, mountains and abundant wildlife.

TIME TO RELAX

There are plenty of opportunities for relaxation in Vietnam and Indochina as the countries are one of our favourites with beautiful sandy beaches at Mui Né and Nha Trang as a popular choice and for somewhere a bit different try the seaside resort of Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

A great way to take it easy while travelling is aboard a River Cruise on the Mekong or Irrawaddy rivers. These luxury ships are replicas of colonial steamers and combine character with comfort for relaxation, although the itineraries provide plenty of opportunity for adventure as well. Also consider one or two nights aboard a junk boat in beautiful Halong Bay.

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

Vietnam plus Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar has a long and varied history with numerous civilizations having left their mark on the region. The Khmer civilization constructed the amazing Temples of Angkor in Cambodia which is one of the most extensive and well preserved historical sites anywhere in the world. Another spectacular array of temples is at the Bagan Plains in Burma where over two thousand buildings still survive.

Evidence of a flourishing history is everywhere: from the trading port of Hoi An to the imperial capital of Hué in Vietnam; and at the culturally significant cities of Chiang Mai in Thailand and Mandalay in Burma. However some aspects of modern history have not been kind to the region and you may discover more about this in Saigon and Phnom Penh.

INTERESTING LIFESTYLE

One of the best ways to really understand a country is to meet and interact with the people. A great way to do this is to visit the hill tribes at Sapa in northern Vietnam or Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Here you can encounter the H’Mong, Dao and Akha minority groups. Walk through the small villages to see the local people in their traditional costumes and meet them at home and at work.

Another good place to observe local life is in the Mekong Delta where much of Vietnam’s local produce is grown. See people working in the fields and trading in the markets. For a taste of a more religious way of life visit the monks in Luang Prabang or Mandalay; and for tribal culture visit ethnically diverse in Laos.