Travel to Cambodia, Phnom Penh

Himawari hotel

Located at 313 Sisowath Quay,Sangkat Chakto Mukh, Phnom Penh. This is convenient location to explore the traditional center, the palace and along the river bank capital Phnom Penh. affable staff, good hotel facilities, have many beautiful space. Visit Phnom Penh with Indochina travel agency

Himawari hotel

The staff, in particular, are always so genuinely friendly and positive. Little things, like quality coffee in our room, make for a very comfortable and relaxing stay. How to get to Mondulkiri from Phnom Penh

Eating

You also should know how to behave at the dinner table from Cambodia politely. If you are not sure about what should or should not be done at the same table with people in this country, the easiest way is to follow the next. When you are invited to attend any meal, wait until you are seated to avoid committing the rules ordered by the hierarchy.

Some typical foods in Cambodia – toptravels.vn

Older people are most often the first to sit at the table, like that this is also the person will begin to eat first. Absolutely do not eat or talk business on occasions like this.

Sisowath Quay

Being a striking three-kilometer-long boulevard, Sisowath Quay is regarded as the most bustling area in the city, with a series of boutiques, bars, cafes, restaurants and luxury hotels. Having a stunningly cool and relaxing atmosphere, the Sisowath Quay is able to provide both Cambodians and tourists one of the most delightful getaways there thanks to its strategic location at the meeting point of almost all roads that lead to the key highlights of the city.

Dried salted fish

Coming to any local villages in Cambodia, tourists can get a chance to see many families gather together around eating a large hot pot of white rice together with salted fish—one of the most common peasant meals in the city. Phnom Penh which has a wide variety of dried and salted options in all sorts, ranging from whitefish to squid, at from about 50 cents to $2 is really famous for this kind of food. Once heading to see the right fishermen, visitors even have an opportunity to score a stunning tiny stingray. Do not forget that you will be sharing your dinner with hundreds of flies swarming these kinds of carts. Consider them as plus protein.

Le Grand Mekong Hotel

Situated right in the heart of the city center, Le Grand Mekong Hotel is a great choice for your stay on your trip to Phnom Penh no matter what aim of your trip. Thanks to its ideal position, from here you can easily get access to a haven of rest and relaxation as well as several famous tourist attractions of the city such as Wat Ounalom, Preah Sisovath Street and Kandal Market.

Le Grand Mekong Hotel

Nha Trang:

As a tourist destination in the top sea of Vietnam, Nha Trang extra strength mesmerizes guests with the resort is located adjacent to the white sand shore boats bustling harbor, colorful boats. Also that, tourists can visit the Cham towers system, Longshan Temple , the hotel , the beach cafes have since colonial times was extremely popular with the US military since the Vietnam War.

Top hotels in Cambodia

The Sanctuary Villa:

Designed to look like a Buddhist temple of the Khmer, The Sanctuary Villa Battambang has an outdoor saltwater pool. The air-conditioned villas is with free Wi-Fi and combine modern décor and traditional. Full Day Angkor Wat – Siem Reap Private Tour

The Sanctuary Villa Battambang provides a free shuttle service from Battambang Bus and Boat Marina. From the property guests tuk tuk 5 minutes to the town area and 15 minutes from the Bamboo Train Station.

Furniture made of dark wood and gold metallic tones gives the villa a luxurious appearance. All the villas have flat-screen TVs, DVD players and minibars. In the bathroom with a walk-in shower and separate tub open. The best coffee shops in Battambang

Okay Boutique Hotel:

Okay Boutique Hotel offers accommodation charismatic Khmer style in downtown Phnom Penh. The hotel is just Phnom Penh International Airport is 9 km and has Wi-Fi and a spacious outdoor pool.

Guests wishing to visit the surrounding area can go to the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and Park Riverfront Park, from the hotel, respectively 400 meters and 900 meters. Famous Wat Phnom is 1.3 km away.

Okay Boutique Hotel

Okay Boutique Hotel's rooms are elegantly furnished in the style typical of Cambodia. There is also a seating area, minibar and air conditioning. It has Private bathroom with bath/ shower and personal hygiene items free.

Heritage Suites Hotel

The hotel is located in the heart of Siem Reap, planting trees and grass flowers cool, swimming pool, spa and restaurant areas simple thatched roofs. Better service quality, spacious and pretty good food.

- High star hotel.

- Price: from $ 115 to $ 120/ room with 2 people.

- Address: Wat Polangka - Phum Slok Kram, Siem Reap [Angkor], 93101 Cambodia, Cambodia

- Phone: +855 63969100.

Prepare

You should buy and reference books for Lonely Planet Cambodia (available in the Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, price: 25 - $ 30, remember to buy the latest version). This guide will show you the full thing to know for a trip to Cambodia as: information motels, restaurants, attractions, fares every place ....

Angkor Shopping Center

The Angkor Shopping specializes in gemstones and other jewelry. This mall next to the center will welcome you with three floors and multiples shops. You can also find souvenirs, silk, stone and wood crafts. They also have a group of jade and marble statues inside. A famous Chinese restaurant is on the third floor offering good quality and delicious food.

1. Sofitel Phnom Penh Pohkeethra Hotel

Address: 26 Old August, Sothearos Boulevard, Sangkat Tonle Bassac, 12301 Phnom Penh , Cambodia

       

Sofitel Phnom Penh Pohkeethra hotel

Hotel is set riverside amongst landscaped gardens in the old quarter of the city, This stunning well located 12-storey colonial style hotel is close to key attractions, embassies and the central business district, Along with 201 luxurious rooms and suites with Mekong or Bassac river view. Besides, there are many restaurants,bars, spa and swimming pools.

Highlight foods in Vietnam

Salmon streams:

• Sa Pa is not only famous land by beautiful natural scenery, the fresh cool climate, but also where there are dishes with bold flavors are more tourists especially preferred. First to mention fish from streams Muong Hoa, Muong Tien brings up selling market town. Spring fish are more kinds. Black fish shaped like fried fish, squinting, black mixed with moss rocks. Notably spring fish never tasted. In addition to including more fish flower, spring goby... Eating fish simply cooked on charcoal or grilled and served hot right through meal, fried crispy and fried with tomato sauce and curry powder spices, pepper powder on the tray was made ​​a delicious meal. Tips to visit markets in Can Tho
Grilled pork noodles

Grilled pork with noodles is a popular dish that a lot of places also have a delicious dish with some different flavor. If you have a chance to enjoy, you should eat this delicious food.
There are many ways to do noodles delicious kebabs and most important is sewn marinades. If you marinate meat, there will be a delicious bowl of delicious noodles.
How to do barbecue noodle dish is very popular and very popular in the capital city by the same taste delicious barbecue sauce is very charm. By doing a simple steak noodle dish you could do to entertain family members. My Tho travel guide

Tam Ky chicken rice

This chicken rice plate
In some place we mention about, we can’t not mention about Quang Nam, because chicken rice in Quang Nam is the best. Today, there are a lot of stalls, restaurants, shops serve this delicious dish, but we will talk about the most famous restaurant for chicken rice in here. That is Ms Luan special chicken rice. This restaurant has many branches in Ho Chi Minh and some place in Da Nang. It is very crown.

Sa Dec Noodles 

“Sa Dec” Noodles – thing to eat with flavor of Mekong delta in Vietnam
Noodle dish is popular with many southerners. However, many diners interesting dishes, flavor countryside must mention this special dish.
Besides rice-noodle brand Tho, nine dragon lands exist other rice-noodle brand infatuation hearts - rice noodles. Sweet fragrant rice noodles in this town.

An attractive dish
Noodles fiber is made ​​from rice flour, milk white. It were big, soft fiber, moderate toughness and not friable. When swallowed, if you look closely you will see stem sweet flavored noodles.

Tasting seafood at night:
Compared to many tourist sites in the North Sea, the Halong seafood has become the brand. Grilled squid, fried sweet and sour spicy snails, squid as food is always topped the list of a la carte menu while in Halong. Besides the crab and surface appearance, snout, fish, squid ... the weird names like tickle ears but eye-catching period, substrate surface, devotees, sea sam make anyone come here also expect a times are tasted.

Seafood at night 
With visitors stay longer in Halong, you have a chance for selection of seafood feasts point here is therefore also richer. You can eat after bathing in the restaurants around the Bai Chay tourist center if afraid to go away. However, prices here belong to the most expensive because of the location 'facade' in tourist areas. If you want to enjoy the fresh taste of crab, crab fat as he stepped ashore, please be sure to ask the price before ordering.

Travel South Central Laos

Perhaps, you don’t know that many travelers have returned to the South Central Laos several times, and each time is enjoyable. Why? Within this fascinating region, the two must-see destinations should always be Tham Khoun Xe Cave – the largest river cave in Laos, and Savannakhet. In particular, the Laos adventure tours to Tham Khoun Xe Cave amaze the visitors with the extraordinary rocky structures, magical river cave, and age-old tropical forest. Travel Indochina Laos

Set in the far-off land at the center of Laos, the Cave owns the unbeatable grandeur that makes you feel like you’re standing in a paradise cave. Remarkably, the boat trips to the Cave are appealing to all nature lovers who now can witness the magical interior of rocks that are in harmony with transparent water and green forest surrounding. Convincingly, during this kind of Laos adventure tours, the adventurers feel exciting to be the small parts of the giant paradise cave. Sightseeing and photographing herein are matchless. The naturally formed Cave is unrivaled and imposing enough to feast every eye and wow all of your senses.
How about the Laos package tours in Savannakhet? The town has many impressive temples, French-style buildings, scenic rice fields, and delicious Khmer cuisine, of course. Savannakhet is the idyllic shelter for everybody to rest and revive. Provided that you’re long for the inner peace of mind, just opt for the Laos package tours to the South Central Laos; and please, remember to see the majestic Tham Khoun Xe Cave as well as lively Savannakhet! They are all worth an exploration with the countless surprises to exhilarate you thoroughly. Let’s see them without delay! Laos travel packages

SAVANNAKHET
SAVANNAKHET (known locally as “Savan”) is Laos’s third-largest city after Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and the surrounding area that makes up Savannakhet province, stretching from the Mekong River to the Annamite Mountains, is Laos’s most populous region; for centuries the inhabitants fought off designs on their territory from both Vietnam and Thailand. The city is also southern Laos’s most visited provincial capital, its popularity with travellers due in part to its central location on the overland route between Vientiane and Pakse and between Thailand and Vietnam, the two countries linked to each other by a 240km-long road carved by the French. Aside from being an important junction, Savannakhet also possesses very impressive architecture, and is a major staging post for jungle treks and cycling tours.
Savannakhet’s inhabitants, as travellers who have recently arrived from Vietnam are quick to note, are much mellower than their neighbours east of the Annamite Mountains, despite the fact that a large percentage of the town’s population is ethnic Vietnamese, descendants of entrepreneurs who migrated to Laos during French rule. Most have been living here for generations and consider themselves to be more Lao than Vietnamese in habit and temperament.
THAKHEK
Less visited than Savannakhet to the south, THAKHEK, capital of Khammouane province, is gradually gaining popularity as the best base to explore the nearby Mahaxai Caves and karst formations, and the massive Khammouane Limestone NBCA. It is also an entry point into Laos from Nakhon Phanom in Thailand, as well as being a good place to break the long journey down Route 13 to Savannakhet.
Take a short walk out from Thakhek’s tiny town square and you’ll find crumbling French villas, overgrown gardens, and an almost haunted atmosphere pervading the too-wide streets. It’s hard to believe that during the Second Indochina War, Thakhek was a sort of Havana on the Mekong, with visiting Thais flocking to its riverbank casino; these days, it’s Nakhon Phanom on the opposite bank that’s the big metropolis. Separated only by the Mekong River, the two Lao peoples living on each bank couldn’t have a more different way of life.
For most visitors this lost-in-time atmosphere is the main draw. There are a few nice colonial-era buildings around the town square, and on Chao Anou Road, north of the square, is a fine row of 1920s shophouses featuring interlocking swastika designs of moulded stucco (although this Hindu motif appears in Lao weaving, it is rare in Lao architecture). Between Chao Anou and Setthathilat is a large temple, Wat Nabo.
Thakhek’s main attraction is 6km to the south and easily reached by tuk-tuk. Known locally as Muang Kao, Wat Pha That Sikhotabong is one of the country’s holiest pilgrimage sites and a great scenic spot, especially at sunset. The third lunar month, which usually falls in July, is the best time to visit, when the temple celebrates its annual bun and a carnival-like atmosphere prevails.
Thakhek’s roots date back to the Chenla and Funan empires. The name Thakhek, which means “Visitor’s Landing”, is relatively new, but is a reference to the town’s importance as far back as the eighth century. As Sikhotabong, and later Lakhon, Thakhek was a principality spanning both banks of the Mekong, and a hub for trade routes connecting civilizations in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Its former spiritual centre, the shrine of That Phanom, is now in present-day Thailand and is still the holiest site in ethnically Lao northeastern Thailand. When the kingdom of Lane Xang was formed under the leadership of Fa Ngum in the fourteenth century, Sikhotabong’s governor oversaw the southern extent of the Lao empire. Under the French, the town became an administrative outpost with a bustling Vietnamese community: the colonial administration thought that an influx of Vietnamese workers was the key to finally turning a profit on their sparsely populated Lao territory. By the 1940s, the town was 85 percent Vietnamese. After the revolution, large numbers of these Vietnamese families fled across the Mekong to Nakhon Phanom on the opposite bank, with the result that Thakhek has slipped into being the sleepy Lao town it is today.

Street Scenes Of Ho Chi Minh City

After writing all of my Ho Chi Minh City (“HCMC”) posts that related to specific topics, I found myself with almost 300 photos that didn’t really belong anywhere.  Looking through the photos, I managed to whittle the number down to and assortment of 26 photos of street scenes, people and buildings which still resonated with me for some reason or another. I hope at least one of them resonates with you. South Vietnam tours packages

There is so much going on all over HCMC that it’s hard to know where to focus your attention at times. When I took the photo below, the angle was much wider, as I was trying to capture a row of shops. Looking back on the photo it didn’t really look “right” however I noticed this man standing in front of one of the shops and zoomed in to discover the boy and old woman in the scene as well. I don’t recall noticing this when I took the photo, but I really like how it turned out.

For me, this photo is the perfect example of why one should never delete a photo from a camera soon after it’s been taken. You never know you might discover that isn’t obvious from glancing at your camera’s screen.

Street Scenes Of Ho Chi Minh City

People are sitting on seats or their parked scooters all over the sidewalks of HCMC, doing a variety of activities (or not doing much in the way of activity at all as might be the case). BASSAC CRUISE

When I took this photo, school had just ended and the streets were full of parents who had picked up their children from school and were walking to wherever they were headed. It’s fascinating to see small children who have grown up in such a hectic city act so confidently around all that is going on – to them it’s just normal.

Because HCMC is such a densely populated city and very mixed use in regards to residential/work/dining/entertainment all being lumped together in the same areas, it’s sometimes difficult to know what is what.  An example is in the photo below. A lot of the good stuff in HCMC is tucked away down alleyways and the like. This alleyway looked interesting so my wife and I walked down it to see what was going on.

We got to the end of the alleyway and it opened up to this residential area, with people chilling out, cooking, cleaning and doing all of the usual things that one does at home.

This was another example of an alleyway that led to a residential area.

I stumbled across this street in District 3, which was really wide and lined with trees and shops. It was a really nice street, and I even found a huge supermarket which was selling all kinds of interesting products.

HCMC doesn’t sleep at night – on the contrary, this is when the city really wakes up. The proverbial volume is turned up to 11 and everything steps up a notch. This street just outside of the Bến Thành market was bustling and full of locals, tourists and scooters trying to zip their way through it all. The market itself is overpriced, aimed at tourists and full of stuff that you don’t need, but it’s still fascinating to walk through.

This side street looked very interesting so I wondered down to see what it was all about. There wasn’t actually too much happening beyond the usual mixture of vendors and food stalls, but at the end was a cul-de-sac that contained some beautiful old houses/apartments that had been well maintained. If you lived at the end of this street, you could enjoy some luxury and peace and quiet while still being only a few minutes walk from the hustle and bustle.

Looking up in HCMC, you’ll often see a jumble of wires, cables, and boxes. I don’t envy the person who has to work on these lines whenever they need maintenance.

Most of the government buildings in HCMC take their design cues from the 1970s socialist architecture handbook. There are some really interesting concrete structures about but unfortunately from a photography point of view, most of them are inaccessible to the public, and surrounded by lush greenery when looking at them from street level at a distance that would be far enough to get a good photo.

The Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica was constructed between 1863 and 1880 by the French, and was built using all French materials.

They aren’t exactly everywhere, but I was surprised at the number of chickens that I saw on the sidewalks of HCMC.

This street, heading towards a rather large roundabout, was perhaps one of the most intense that my wife and I walked down. At this section, just before the roundabout, the barrier between road and sidewalk almost becomes non-existent. Scooters pile up at the red light, squeezing into any gaps between cars and other scooters that are on the road. Shops and seats extend all the way to the end of the sidewalk. Some drivers decide that they don’t want to wait for the lights to turn green, and drive their scooters onto the small gaps on the sidewalk to take a shortcut. Finding a way to walk through all of this is very daunting at first, however after a few days in the city it becomes second nature.

One thing that I thought was really great in HCMC were the parks. Not only is there some great parkland, but there are lots of courts and spaces for people to engage in various activities. The exercise machines on the side are a great idea and the parks were being used well into the late hours of the night.

The rich end of town is very different to the rest of the city. Gardens are manicured, beautiful buildings with opulent fittings that wouldn’t look out of place on the Champs Elysees in Paris line the streets and gleaming skyscrapers reach for the sky.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall was built in 1902-1908 in the French Colonial style. It’s a grand building that is lit up at night.

As I hope you can appreciate, HCMC is a truly diverse city that offers a lot to visitors. If and when you do visit, take some time out to put away the guidebooks and just wander around the city, letting your senses take you on a journey.

Vietnamese traditional family values

Vietnamese traditional family values!

What is success? “Success is simple, more simple than you often think, success comes when dad and son try to cook a favorite dish for mother on Mother's day or International women's day even if it is not as delicious as others do” Those are the sentences a young Vietnamese pupil usually writes to answer to the topic at a test . How significant a dinner is when members of family have not met each other for a long time! When some foreigners want to explore Vietnamese culture, they often come to families, go to local markets and buy things for a meal. Is this the way to learn how to cook? The answer is "Yes" but the result is more than that. BASSAC CRUISE MEKONG
Traditional values of Vietnamese lifestyle were deeply affected by Confucian ethics. During thousand years under the invasion and domination by Chinese, Vietnamese culture was also permeated by their Confucian philosophical beliefs. It was believed that "in order to achieve human perfection, one must follow the established codes of behavior which include reverence for ancestors and respect for elders...The importance is not upon the individual's accomplishments but upon his duty to family and society". Bhaya Cruise Halong bay

Most Vietnamese placed more emphasis on their roles, privileges and obligations within this group than on their own individual desires. The Vietnamese household traditionally followed the extended multi-generational pattern. The parents, their sons and their wives, their children, and unmarried siblings usually constituted a Vietnamese household. In this extended family, the most important expectation was the respect for the elders. Hence, the family decisions were made by the parents and grandparents. North Vietnam travel packages

Vietnamese traditional family values

For centuries in Vietnam, traditional family values were accomplished by the fulfillment of traditional roles - the role of man and woman as parents. Since the highest status in Vietnamese families is given to the man or the father, he had absolute authority in the household. As he provided the main source of income, he was never expected to work in the kitchen or to cook. After work, he returned home and relaxed. As a head of household, he had the final decision in all matters. The father, however, had the duty to exercise restraint and wisdom in running his family in order to deserve his respected position.

Having a boy in family was a "must" because the eldest son would assume the duties of his father when he died. A family which had no son to continue the process was superstitiously thought to have disappeared forever.

In a patriarchal society, Vietnamese woman had limited rights and took a secondary place in family. Women were brought up according to a strict discipline and have been traditionally less educated than men.

After marriage, woman became housewife and mother. She was expected to be depended upon her husband, took care of children and even grandchildren as well as performed all household tasks. A wife can be unhappy in her marriage, nevertheless, rather than accepts divorce; the family encouraged her to sacrifice and to endure the difficulties of the marriage for the sake of her children.

In Vietnam, family meal is very important. It is one part of a happy family especially when people become busier with their business. In some big cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, parents are always busy. They have to get up early in the morning
to take their children to schools before going to work. In the past, a wife often prepares breakfast for the whole family but this tradition or habit has been ignored somehow due to limited time.

These days, the value of family’s meals has been still highly appreciated as dinner is an opportunity for them to share a meal and talk together after a hard day. That the reason why restaurants have still been strange to many people and families in Vietnam. For many people, family meal is one way to keep their family happy. The meal is not simply understood as lunch or dinner; it can be understood as feeling and sympathy, sharing and care. In many Vietnam families, the wives know which are their husbands' or children' favorite dishes. Then, they try to make those dishes as frequently they can or at least on special occasions.
Come back to the parental role in Vietnamese family. Obedience and respect were the traditional virtues which Vietnamese children were taught to exhibit in their family. Discipline and physical punishment were acceptable remedies for disobedience. When parents grew old, children were expected to take care of them to compensate for the gift of birth and upbringing.

Boys and girls are not free to do what they want. Yet, girls are under strict supervision. Western style courtship and romance were seen as inappropriate things for unmarried children. As virginity is cherished, pregnancy out of wedlock is a grave disgrace to the family. For their children's marriage, parents generally made decision because they could judge better.

Vietnamese placed a higher value on education rather than on material success. That the reason why parents encouraged their children to study and excel in their education. Vietnamese parents had a high regard for it which was considered as a way for family advancement.

Koh Thmei Beach, Ream National Park

Koh Thmei Beach, Ream National Park

Ream National Park is a mountain, mangrove, island and beach park just 18 kilometers from downtown Sihanoukville. It is home to some of Cambodia’s most exquisite beaches. Once you pass through the entrance to the park, it’s another 10 kilometers to the beach.There is a ranger station on the left as you pass through the park entrance. Travel to Cambodia

Koh Thmei

A small that is flanked by mangrove forests, Koh Thmei is uninhabited except for one set of bungalows. There are dozens of different species of birds on the island. The beach next to the dock boasts thousands of glittering shells. The beach on the east side of the dock is best known for its picturesque sunrises and lovely yellow sand. Vietnam and Cambodia tours

Koh Rong Island

The waters around Koh Rung Island are excellent for diving and snorkeling, and it is easily one of the most beautiful islands in the Gulf of Thailand. The island boasts 43 kilometers of white sand beach. To get to Koh Rong, you can catch a boat in Sihanoukville with any of the guesthouses on the island. The journey is generally 2-3 hours long.

Southwestern Beach

A five kilometer stretch of white sand beach and sparkling turquoise waters. The southern end of the beach has quite a few rocks, but it’s also a popular choice for snorkelers because you can watch schools of colorful parrot fish, sergeant fish and rabbitfish. MANGO CRUISE

Koh Thmei Beach, Ream National Park

Long Set Beach

Long Set Beach is named after a nut and fruit farmer who lives there. The beach is nestled in the southernmost cove of Koh Rong. Long Set’s empty white sand beaches and calm waters are just a short walk away from the main part of southeast Koh Rong. It’s a beautiful beach for sunning, crabbing, and collecting shells.

If you’re there when the moon is waning, don’t miss out on doing a little night swimming. You  can see bio-luminescent plankton that cause a ethereal phosphorescence in the water.

Lazy Beach, Koh Rong Saloem

Just two hours off the coast of Sihanoukville, you’ll find the beautiful beaches of Koh Rong Saloem, but of all those beaches, Lazy Beach is known for being particularly beautiful with its golden sand and numerous pine trees. In the evenings, the sun sets in a showy display of deep pinks and reds.

Monkey Island

You’ll find Monkey Island on the southeast side of Koh Rong. An ancient Cambodia legend claims that the island was once home to a mighty ape. The deserted island is serviced by a set of beach bungalows, but there is no  ATM, shops, beach vendors, or any other amenities that you’re used to. Bungalows are powered by a generator which is on between 5:30pm and midnight.