Destination highlights

Phong Nha Cave lies within Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam and can be entered only by boat along the Son River. Visitors therefore travel first to Phong Nha town, where the boat pier is located. The nearest major transport hub is Dong Hoi, which has an airport and a railway station, about...

Limestone karsts rising from rice fields, rivers running through caves, ancient temples and quiet village lanes: Ninh Binh offers nature, culture and a slower pace in one trip. The best things to do in Ninh Binh are spread across several areas, so a little planning helps. Here are 12 experiences, how to choose between the...

If Angkor shows you the monumental side of Khmer civilization, the Silver Pagoda gives you a closer look at Cambodia’s royal Buddhist traditions and national treasures. Known officially as Wat Preah Keo Morakot, it sits in the southern part of the Royal Palace complex in central Phnom Penh. It is famous for its silver-tiled floor...

Vietnam stretches more than 1,600 kilometres from top to bottom, and it’s tempting to squeeze every highlight into a single week. Try it, and you may spend more time at airports than in the places you came to see. The good news is that a week can work well if you choose your approach carefully....

Phu Quoc is a stunning island tucked into the Gulf of Thailand. It sits closer to Cambodia than to most of mainland Vietnam, with pristine beaches, lush national park scenery, and a laid back island pace. That makes it one of the most rewarding add ons to any Cambodia trip. Reaching it takes a bit...

Hanoi Old Quarter is the historic heart of the capital, a maze of merchant streets, narrow tube houses, temples, coffee corners and street kitchens where traditional life carries on beside modern cafés and boutique hotels. It sits just north of Hoan Kiem Lake, which makes it easy to combine with the city’s best-known landmark. Whether...

Laos welcomes travelers with forested mountains, the winding Mekong River, and a slower pace that feels increasingly rare in Southeast Asia. Bordered by Thailand and Vietnam, with China to the north, Myanmar to the northwest, and Cambodia to the south, Laos has no coastline, yet its landlocked geography is exactly what keeps it feeling wonderfully...

Angkor Wat may be the reason you booked the flight, but it shouldn’t be the only reason you stay. Between circus performances that change lives, floating villages built on stilts, and some of the best food in Cambodia, Siem Reap rewards anyone willing to spend a day or two off the temple trail. Here are...