But to travel ...: Cambodia (1-5 April 2014)

We combined this Cambodian trip with Vietnam. We decided to go to Cambodia and Vietnam in April, the hottest time of year. We flew Singapore Airlines. We went with Pentravel and our package per person for the combined trip was R29 999.

Apart from Angkor Wat there is so much to see and do in Siem Reap. We stayed at Tara Angkor, which is close to the temples and town. This hotel is spotlessly clean with friendly staff, and serves a very good breakfast.

We were served two free meals as part of our tour package. The Khmer meals were delicious.

Tara Angkor

We decided to do the touristy thing by watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat, At 5:00am in the morning we were all heading either in tuk-tuks or air-conditioned cars in the same direction.

Angkor Wat

Ta Prohm

It was so hot you could see the perspiration running off all our backs except on the cool Japanese women with their wide-brimmed hats and umbrellas.

You could take a tuk-tuk to any part of Siem Reap, and the drivers are not pushy, and you will not be taken for a ride.

Angkor Night Market

The Angkor night market is a must see, with exquisitely decorated huts offering all sorts of handicrafts for sale.

Siem Reap market

There are so many trendy restaurants to choose from, all tucked away in alleys and corner ways. To cool down we had to stop by quite a few of them to have a drink.

Pub Street at night

Siem Reap comes alive at night with music pulsating, and eating places springing up at every corner.

Angkor Mondial

If you're in Siem Reap drop by at Angkor Mondial just to experience what it is like to eat at a restaurant packed with locals.

While we were waiting for a transfer to the airport, we walked around the area close to the hotel and came across Café Puka-Puka which serves the most delicious coconut shake. We also had the tastiest macaroons here.

We decided to go to Cambodia and Vietnam in April, the hottest time of year. We did not expect Vietnam to be so beautiful. The natural scenery is a sight to behold.

Our first stop in Vietnam was Hoi An, a picturesque town with quaint little shops, markets and beautiful temples. We stayed at the Hoi An Pacific Hotel and Spa. It looks a bit run down, but the staff made up for it. The hotel offers a free shuttle to the town and the beach, as well as a 5-minute complimentary foot massage.

At night homes and restaurants are lit up with colourful Chinese lanterns. There are a few restaurants across the road, which also double up as laundromats. There is a also a mini-supermarket next door, and a no-nonsense massage parlour down the road, which I took advantage off. The inexpensive massages are carried out by well-trained blind masseurs. It was one of the best massages I ever had.

Hoi An Pacific Hotel and Spa

Hoi An

Beach in Hoi An

Hoi An Blind Massage

Delicious ripe jack fruit

Hai Van Pass

The drive from Hoi An to Hue was spectacular, as we went via the Hai Van pass. Along the way we could see the ocean and quaint little farms tucked away in the mountains.

Park View Hotel

Yummy stir-fried jackfruit that we couldn't get enough of

Lemon drink with a salted apricot -yummy!!!

Hue was a bit disappointing. The Park View Hotel did not have an inviting lobby area, and the hotel was not in a good location. The roads were so busy that we could not even cross the streets. The Perfume River and shopping areas are not within walking distance. The restaurant attached to the hotel, the Tinh Quan restaurant, served the most delicious vegetarian meals and lemon drinks.

The cyclo driver took us to Dong Ba market, which is a maze of shops in a very crowded setting. Taking a cyclo was hair raising as we had to dodge a few buses and cars, and this was too much for the nerves. The driver could not understand us, neither could he understand him, and he assumed that we hired him for the day. This led to a bit of a confrontation and when we told him that we will catch a taxi back to the hotel, he became extremely angry and would not accept our money. Luckily a shopkeeper rescued us.

The Imperial city is worth a visit. What we found interesting were Hue's supermarkets, and we stocked up on local biscuits to take back home with us.

We wanted to take a cruise down the Perfume River, but the taxi driver took us to the train station, instead of to the harbour, and a persistent cruise tout put us off. Also nobody seemed to be taking any cruise while we were there.

Citadel

Angsana Lang Co is a beautifully, secluded beach resort. The resort is surrounded by the beach on one side and mountains on the other, and is very tastefully decorated.

Angsana Lang Co

In Hanoi, we stayed at the May De Ville City Centre Hotel at the French Quarter side. As our plane was delayed, we arrived here quite late. The first sight that greeted us when we stepped out of the hotel was one of women cutting meat and chicken. The smell lingered long after we left. The hotel itself was a bit scruffy. Our only regret was not staying in a hotel close to the Old Quarter with its myriads of shops, and with each street dedicated to a particular type of merchandise.

We did venture out into the Old Quarter, and what an amazing experience it turned out to be. Wish we had more time, and a map, and wish we could have went back to the street selling souvenirs. The roads in Vietnam are a maze of avenues and alleyways and it is very easy to get lost.