Image via Wikipedia
Of the four countries visited I really came for Vietnam as it was the one I’d heard the most about, even if mostly through the movies. Thailand I’d visited before and Cambodia was purely required to visit Angkor Wat. The one I knew the least about turned out to be the most interesting and enjoyable – Laos had the friendliest people, the best food, the least developed tourist industry and least developed towns.
The Cambodia we visited was purely the touristy side. I don’t think we spoke a word of Cambodian whilst we were there and barely met any locals outside of the staff in restaurants and hotels. I’d like to get further out into the country another time as the countryside we drove through was beautiful.
Vietnam was great, but there was possibly a very mild undercurrent of resentment due to the recent past. Also the tourist trail was very well defined down the coastal route and looking through other blogs very few people seem to stray far from it. That said the tourist areas are wonderful: Hanoi is an assault on the senses and personal safely, Hoi An is a beautifully preserved old town, that on full moon nights still turns off all the streetlights and insists on paper lanterns. I’m not sure Saigon would have been that interesting had it not been geared up for Christmas and the unexpected party from the football results, which made Christmas Eve my favourite memory of the holiday.
