Your guide to Indochina: exploring Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
With Singapore Airlines launching flights to Laos on October 31, we look at mainland Southeast Asia's unmissable attractions
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Your support makes all the difference.Traditionally encompassing the former French territories of Laos, Cambodia and what is now known as Vietnam, Indochina evokes images of steamy jungles, famed historical sites and exotic charm — all of which may still be enjoyed in this mesmerising region today.
Laos has often been overlooked because of a lack of flight connections. But now, Singapore Airlines group is set to redress the balance and open up the “land of a million elephants” to Londoners. Here’s what not to miss once there:
Ancient temples
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, might be the best known of Southeast Asia’s ancient temple complexes but there are dozens of other historical wonders to explore in the region, from Laos’s mysterious Plain of Jars, dating from the Iron Age, to My Son, the ruins of a fourth-century Hindu temple in Vietnam. Modern Buddhist temples are another big draw — for example, the glittering Royal Palace in Phnom Penh (right) and the temples of serene Luang Prabang — and Vietnam is noted for its imperial tombs and pagodas.
Raw adventure
From hiking to biking, zip-lining to kayaking, Indochina is an adrenaline lover’s paradise. Take your pick of adventure activities in Vang Vieng, Laos’s emerging ecotourism hub, sign up for a cycling tour in the Cambodian countryside, or head to the highlands of Vietnam for some serious hiking, maybe to the Pak Ou caves north of Luang Prabang. After such exertion, you could relax on one of landlocked Laos’s 4,000 islands situated in the Mekong river in the south of the country.
Colonial past
With French influence in the region dating back to the 17th century, Indochina is packed with picturesque colonial relics. Particularly photogenic hot-spots include Vietnam’s Hoi An, Cambodia’s Battambang and Luang Prabang in Laos, which are all studded with colonial-era homes and shophouses that have been transformed into boutique hotels (right), restaurants, bars and galleries. In Hanoi, don’t miss St Joseph’s Cathedral, which was built in the style of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Fabulous food
Despite drawing on many of the same influences, each of the countries comprising Indochina has a unique cuisine. Don’t leave Vietnam without slurping down a classic pho noodle soup, pass through Cambodia without sampling fish amok (pictured), or visit Laos without digging into a plate of laap — a spicy minced-meat salad. French influence continues to shine through in the fantastic patisseries found throughout the region, along with some seriously good coffee shops.
Singapore Airline’s regional carrier, SilkAir, is about to start offering three flights a week from Singapore to the capital Vientiane and onto Luang Prabang, a Unesco World Heritage Site. So, what with flight connections from Singapore to Cambodia (Phnom Penh and Siem Reap) and Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang), you now have the perfect excuse to visit this enchanting region before the crowds descend.
Singapore Airlines - the world's most awarded airline - and its regional wing SilkAir, operate flight to 99 destinations in 34 countries. Fly to Bali from £495pp, Sydney from £660pp, Vientiane from £590pp. Book before 30 September and you could win a refund for your flights - singaporegetaway.com. Terms & conditions apply.