Top 10 Things to Do in Indochina Region

The Indochina region is known for its diversity and there are so many amazing things to see and do that you might need to choose. Here is just the top ten of them that I personally think are most worth checking out on your Indochina tour.

1. Cruise Halong Bay (Kayaking, Caving, Swimming), Vietnam

When in Vietnam, take a Halong Bay cruise. But why does everyone tell you that? Well, a Halong Bay cruise is one of a kind. A huge bay, with nearly 2,000 mostly uninhabited limestone cliffs rising vertically from the water, the views are heart-dropping. Taking a cruise allows you to savor the beauty and tranquility. But finally, it's the activities you will do on the cruise that will impress you the most - you'll get to swim, you'll get to go caving, you may get to kayak or go to visit a fishing village…so relaxing and so colorful, that's exactly why I suggest you take this cruise. Truly this is a cruise that is not to be missed. For a great Halong Bay tour, you can find out more information in a previous post How to Make a Perfect Halong Bay Trip.

Kayaking during the Halong Bay cruise

2. Visit Floating Markets and Islands in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

To see the real Vietnam, go to the floating markets in the Mekong Delta Region, which are the best places to know how people in Vietnam live their lives. Farmers from the region row their boats to the floating markets to sell what they have such as fruits and vegetables. All big boats have a pole hanging with what they sell. In this way, people on small boats know what's on offer from a distance. Smart and interesting, isn't it? On the journey to the floating markets, you can drop by some islands to visit the local workshops and tropical fruits garden, listen to local girls singing local songs, or sample delicious home-cooked cuisine from a local family.

Tip: Cai Rang and Cai Be are the best-known floating markets of the Mekong Delta. Take this 12-Day Vietnam Panorama with Luxury Halong Bay Cruise to visit the floating market and see the real Vietnam!

Floating Market in the Mekong Delta

3. Eco Tour in Hoi An, Vietnam

I especially love the eco-tour in Hoi An - and I think you'll love it too. Sit in a round-shaped bamboo basket boat (I had never seen this kind of boat before I went there, how about you?), let the boatman take you through tranquil waters, get close to nature, and learn how to cast a fishing net from local fishermen. How funny it can be? The picture above may have been explained.

Check out 31-Day Panoramic Southeast Asia which includes an eco-tour in Hoi An. You can also ask our travel consultants to tailor-make a tour to suit your specific interest.

The Basket Boat

4. Crawl through Cu Chi Tunnel, Vietnam

The Cu Chi Tunnel is an immense network of underground tunnels and was once used by Viet Cong soldiers as a hiding spot during the Vietnam War. If you are in Ho Chi Minh City missing the Cu Chi tunnels would be a tragedy. If you're small and agile enough, try to "crawl" through various lengths of the tunnel and take a picture. And you'll know how smart the Vietnamese are!

The Cu Chi Tunnel

5. Cooking Class in Hoi An, Vietnam

Sampling Vietnamese cuisine is exciting enough, not to mention cooking it hands-on under the guidance of a local chef! In Hoi An, a cooking class is very popular and it's totally worth it! First, you'll have a guided tour of the markets where the guides talked about the different products and where they come from. Then comes the learning session and you get to see different cooking processes and how they prepare the food. Finally, it's time to cook on your own. And you'll get recipes and do enough to be able to recreate delicious food at home yourself.

Cooking Class in Hanoi, Vietnam

6. Volunteering at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai

Here, you will not see an elephant ride or elephant show, what you will see is love and respect for animals. It’s where rescued elephants, dogs, cats, and many other animals live peacefully and happily. You can choose to be a volunteer in the park, staying for a week, to feed, bathe and take care of the elephants every day. Through close time spent with them, you will find these giant animals that people used to hold in awe are actually as sweet and nice as angels. If staying for a week is not feasible, then only one day's time spent with these free-roaming elephants and other rescued animals is also sure to bring you an incredible experience.

Elephant experience in Chiang Mai, Thailand

7. Snorkel in Sea Water around the Thai Islands

Don't miss the chance to go snorkeling when you're in Thailand. With so many islands and pristine waters, Thailand is a perfect place to go snorkeling. Almost every beach and island has some good spots to snorkel. All you have to do is put your head in the water and enjoy the wonderful underwater world. But always be aware of the surroundings when snorkeling.

8. Watch the Alms-giving Ceremony, Luang Prabang, Laos

An unforgettable experience – see one of the most sacred Lao traditions, the Buddhist Alms-giving Ceremony when you're in Luang Prabang. Every morning as the sun rises, around 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temples to gather their daily meals. The procession begins on the main street of Luang Prabang before spreading out to the side streets.

Tip: The procession is quite lengthy and therefore is not for small kids and those who cannot sit quietly for more than a few minutes. If you want to give offerings, arrive early as it's considered very offensive to disrupt the ceremony once it has commenced.

The morning alms-giving ceremony in Luang Prabang, Laos

9. Balloon Ride over Bagan, Myanmar

A balloon ride isn't rare, but how about a ride over a landscape dotted with thousands of golden temples - fantastic! Bagan is an unusual place in Myanmar. Originally there were over 10,000 temples but only 3,000 survived and remain intact. The balloon trips have been running in Bagan for over 10 years. The balloons are big enough to give you a sense of safety. The pilots are very experienced and responsible. It is really breathtaking to see the stupa-filled landscape beneath you. Go for it unless you're extremely scared of heights!

Tip: The balloon trips only operate from roughly October 20th to March 20th and may get canceled because of high winds or other weather conditions. The whole ride lasts one hour.

Air balloon riding in Bagan, Myanmar

10. Tuk Tuk Ride in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Tuk Tuk is a popular and cheap means of transportation in the Indochina region. In Siem Reap, it is a great way to tour Angkor Wat. But for tourists, it's more of an experience than just a way to get around.

Tip: It's better to do this in the morning if you're there in summer when the temperature is very high and the sun is scorching. After all, there is no air-conditioning on the tuk-tuk.

Tuk-tuk experience in Siem Reap, Cambodia

What're your "top ten things to do in Indochina"? Share your opinion with me through trip@odynovotours.com.