Indochina Sightseeing

It is almost impossible to know where to begin to describe the riches to be found in Indochina. The sightseeing ranges from cities to villages, countryside to seashore, the historical to the modern, the natural to the man-made, the religious to the secular.

The legendary cities of Indochina offer fascinating sight-seeing. The Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, in the north has many French style mansions and you can visit Co Loa citadel, the spiral shaped fortress built around 250 BC. Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and Ba Dinh square: where the leader used to live, work is an interesting visit. Hue was the ancient capital of Vietnam and you can still see the remains of the imperial palaces and the Vietnamese Forbidden City. Hoi An was a medieval port and its old architecture and unchanged lifestyle is a favourite with visitors. Ho Chi Minh City, formally Saigon is today one of Indochina's most dynamic and modern cities. In Cambodia, Phnom Penh's stunning Royal Palace, with its famous Silver Pagoda is an essential stop. In Laos, you can enjoy the sleepy, laid back capital Vientiane, one of the world's smallest capital cities with its French architecture. Also, take in Luang Prabang, Laos's ancient royal city

For temples, the jewel in the crown has to be the astonishing Angkor Wat. Take time to explore the magnificent temples of the Khmer civilisation, especially at sunrise or sunset. Thailand too, is a land temples, perhaps the most stunning being Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha. This is part of the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Laos has uncountable temples – Luang Prabang has over 30 large temples and hundreds of monks. For the mysterious, try the Plain of Jars in Laos. Hundreds of stone jars are spread across the landscape. There are various theories as to why they are there, but truth is no one really knows.

Visitors interested in recent history can visit the war museums of Vietnam and sites of interest connected to the Vietnam war. The Cu Chi tunnels, a network of tunnels, used by the Vietcong were as a hiding place from which to attack. The tunnels can be visited. In Cambodia, visitors can see Pol Pot's interrogation centre in Phnom Penh and the chilling Toul Sleng Museum of Genocide. It is also possible to visit The Killing Fields/Cheoung Ek Memorial, just outside the city.

For beaches and sea views, Vietnam's long coastline is peerless. Cat Ba, Nha Trang, Da Nang are all stunning in different ways. Thailand is, of course, famous for its beach resorts and islands. Only slightly less well known is Cambodia's Sihanoukville with its sandy beaches and offshore islands which are ideal for scuba-diving.

And don't forget Indochina's rivers. The mighty Mekong feeds and waters the area all the way from South-west China via Laos, Cambodia, Thailand before emptying into the sea in Vietnam at the Mekong Delta. Here you can find Vietnam's colourful floating markets. But there are many other rivers, such as Thailand's Chao Phraya River and the famous River Kwai. The famous bridge of the Burma Railway crosses the river at Kanchanaburi.

You can spend time in Indochina watching dolphins, visit an elephant training centre or spend some time in a crocodile farm.

Equally, you can head for the hills and explore the villages of Indochina's many ethnic minorities and stay in their typical wooden houses, visit their colourful markets and admire their traditional costumes and jewellery.

All of these and a thousand more opportunities await you in Indochina.