CAMBODIA HIGHLIGHTS OF INDOCHINA

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1 HIGHLIGHTS OF INDOCHINA CAMBODIA No tour of Southeast Asia is complete without a visit to Cambodia s spectacular temples. Brave the muddy monsoons and dusty dry season for a good look at some of the most amazing ruins and monuments on this side of the globe. Cambodia Riel KHR, US Dollar USD UTC +7 Timezone Khmer, English Languages +855 Telephone Code 230 V, 50 Hz Electricity Currency dia Best of Cambo eological Park ha 1. Angkor Arc plex of Angkor Wat, a m The splendid co eds no Heritage Site, ne UNESCO World its 54 fourth wi es az am yon Raider can introduction. Ba b m To of ile fans faced towers wh Ta Prohm. at t of er Lara Cr channel their inn ional Museum 2. Angkor Nat rt museum in Siem -a This state-of-the history and l primer to the Reap is an idea ring the e Angkorians du worldview of th Era. Khmer Golden An gk or Wa t ht Market 3. Angkor Nig lls and the temples fa When darkness for e town centre th to ad he, close e th d an ls, shirts souvenirs, shaw before s nt pa nt ha ubiquitous elep s and ra Dance dinner you enjoy Apsa Street. drinks on Pub h Rong 4. Ko s away from Just three hour n the seaside tow is Phnom Penh p ho, re he om. Fr of Sihanoukville ine h Rong, a prist on a boat to Ko ly ive lat re ill st is at little paradise th untouched. Angkor Night Marke t Bayon

2 CAMBODIA Tonle Sap Ritu Sain i 5. Tonle Sap Travel to Southeast Asia s largest freshwater rs lake and observe the way of life of the farme and fisher folk who live in houses on stilts and floating villages in this remarkably rich Tuol Sleng ecosystem. 6. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Memorial and One is a former high school-turned-prison the is other the and um, muse a into then made most well-known of the killing fields both but grisly remnants of the Khmer Rouge s short terrible reign. 7. Central Market (Psar Thmei) Completed in 1937, the domed Art Deco building is an icon of Phnom Penh. Inside d its four wings are antique and second-han and nirs souve, onics electr lery, goods, jewel clothing. 8. Amok Fish or meat are cooked in a coconut milkbased curry with a variety of spices, some ally shrimp paste, and fish sauce to taste. Typic leaf a banan in s leave served with kaffir lime cups. Yummy! Fish Amok P sa r Th me i

3 LAOS You know you re in Laos when women shuffle about in a sinh (traditional skirt). Cosmopolitan aspirations appear pretentious here but you ll find a baguette whenever you want one. Time stands still in this landlocked sticky rice-loving country. Patuxai Best of Laos 1. Pha That Luang The country s gilded national symbol and most sacred Buddhist monument has been rebuilt several times over the centuries. Such is its importance that no building in Vientiane is allowed to be higher than it. Currency Laotian Kip LAK, US Dollar USD, Thai Baht THB Timezone UTC +7 Languages Lao, English Telephone Code +856 Electricity 230V, 50Hz 2. Patuxai Built in remembrance of Lao soldiers who fought for the country s independence, it features a musical fountain and some of the best views of the city from the observation deck. 3. Luang Prabang A former royal capital, Luang Prabang has temples, colonial buildings, and natural attractions. Its quaint ambiance makes for fascinating days on foot, riding on a bike or cruising on a boat. Kuang Xi Waterfall, Luang Prabang 4. Vang Vieng A playground for hippies, Vang Vieng is a scenic town ringed by karst cliffs. It s also a popular tubing destination where many gather for blissfully idyllic floats down the river bends. 5. Ban Anou Night Market The perfect place to pick up a scrumptious takeaway dinner or evening snack is just a few minutes walk from the Mekong riverside in Vientiane. 6. Laap This tangy salad of minced meat mixed with herbs, glutinous rice powder and lime juice is the star of Lao cuisine. Cooked or raw, Laap is always fragrant, mildly spicy, and flavourful. Vang Vieng Pha That Luang Laap

4 MYANMAR Shwedagon Pagoda Better known by its British colonial name Burma, the country has welcomed curious wanderers since it opened up after decades of military rule. Shimmering temples and pagodas will astonish you as much as the locals in longyi (sarong) and women wearing thanaka (tree bark paste) on their faces. Best of Myanmar 1. Bagan A vast archaeological area with thousands of temples and stupas, some up to a thousand years old! To truly enjoy the amazing scenery, ride a hot air balloon at sunrise or wait for sunset from the top of Shwesandaw Pagoda. Currency Myanmar Kyat MMK/ US Dollars USD Timezone UTC Languages Burmese, English Telephone Code +95 Electricity 230V, 50Hz 2. Shwedagon Pagoda The splendour of this golden holy site in Yangon is hard to put into words. Sacred as it is beautiful, the pagoda housing four relics of Buddha is believed to be 2,600 years old. 3. Inle Lake Houses on stilts and floating gardens can be found on this idyllic freshwater lake famous for the Intha people who use their unique leg-rowing technique to navigate the waters. 4. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda Only a few hours away from Yangon, the Golden Rock is a popular pilgrimage site and the pride of Mon State. Buddhists believe that a strand of Buddha s hair keeps the gilded rock and the pagoda atop it from rolling off the cliff. Mohinga 5. Bogyoke Market Previously called Scott Market, this shopping area has over 2,000 shops selling Burmese souvenirs, garments and gems. 6. Mohinga A must-try in Myanmar, this rice noodle in catfish broth is sold on the roadside and comes with a soup of lemongrass, onion, ginger and various spices. Golden Rock Inle Lake Bagan

5 VIETNAM Set on the eastern end of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam has enchanting mountains and buzzing cities filled with motorbikes and colonial facades. Best of all, there s fresh and delicious food everywhere you go! Currency Vietnamese Dong VND, US Dollar USD Timezone UTC +7 Languages Vietnamese, English Telephone Code +84 Electricity 230 V, 50 Hz Best of Vietnam 1. Ha Long Bay Nearly 2,000 limestone karst isles in various sizes and shapes, picturesque lakes and a spectacular coastline promise a charming experience at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. 2. Old Quarter For centuries, Hanoi s craftsmen have settled and peddled on the 36 busy streets lined with narrow buildings named after their particular trades. Both locals and visitors come here for the food and atmosphere that are said to be the soul of old Hanoi. Sapa Valley 3. Sapa Valley Rugged valleys, cascading rice terraces and towering hills make up the picture-perfect scenery of Sapa. For an authentic experience spend the night at homestays and visit the picturesque Cat Cat village and colourful Bac Ha Market. 4. Hoi An Fly in from Da Nang for a delightful visit in this World Heritage-listed ancient town, where the streets are lined with shops selling clothes, silk, the iconic Hoi An lanterns, mouthwatering street food, as well as kitschy galleries. Old Qu ar te r Ha Long Bay Hoi An

6 VIETNAM S ap a Va lle y C u C hi Tu nn els 5. Cu Chi Tunnels This labyrinthine tunnel network was used as a shelter, hospital, weapons cache and for supply route during the Vietnam War. Not claustrophobics! 6. Mekong River cruise, taste Take a boat ride through the shady palms, music ional tradit to ing local fruits while listen honey and hop from coconut candy vendors to sellers for the complete experience. 7. Ben Thanh Market No one leaves this shopping mecca in Ho Chi Minh City empty-handed. Frequented nirs by tourists for its exciting range of souve a is spot in barga this, entos mem and landmark on its own. 8. Pho You can t miss Pho when in Vietnam! This appetising noodle soup with beef brisket, vegetables and herbs will have you slurping the bowl till the last drop. Dining in Vietnam Ph o M ek on g R ive r D ar ry l Vi rg iaw an Ta no d

7 THE BEST WAY TO SEE ASEAN Thailand Indonesia Myanmar Philippines Laos Singapore Malaysia Vietnam Cambodia Brunei 30 days travel validity within one year AirAsia Asean Pass is a flexible and value-for-money flight pass that takes you across the best of Asean. It's easy! Just choose your pass. SGD Credits 20 Credits 60 days travel validity within one year SGD 369 Earn BIG points when you purchase your pass Check out the full list of destinations and book airasia.com/aseanpass *1 credit redeems one way flights below 2 hours and 3 credits redeem one way flights of more than 2 hours.

8 How to Make the Most of Your Asean Pass Planning your ASEAN trip can be overwhelming at first because there are so many ways to do it. If you don t have an itinerary in mind yet, here are some basic tips for putting one together. 1. Do your homework. List the destinations where you want to go and divide them into two columns: the first for places you really must visit, the second for places that are good to see, but not essential. 2. Plot your route on a map. Mark your first-column cities and check if there are flights between them. If there are none, consider going through your second-column cities or major cities close to them. 3. Take time off. As there is a time limit to use the Asean Pass, choose your dates wisely. Note that there are blackout dates when the Asean Pass may not be used. 4. Balance time and spending. Check not only the travel times but also the credits required for each connection. 5. Don t rush. It s not about how many cities you visit but the quality of your experience in each destination.

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