Getting there: The following fares are available through Trailfinders
(0845 0505892, www.trailfinders.com
) for travel before May 31.
Vietnam: Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways and Cathay
Pacific fly to both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi from about £529 return, and
also allow open-jaw tickets out of both cities, which is great for overland
travel.
Laos: Vientiane is served by Thai Airways and EVA Airways via Bangkok
from £525 return.
Cambodia: you can fly to Phnom Penh with Singapore Airlines, Malaysia
Airlines, Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific from about £519 return or to Siem
Reap with Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines from about £519 return;
open-jaw tickets available.
Burma: Rangoon is served by Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and
Thai Airways from about £519 return. Qatar Airways has good fares to Ho Chi
Minh City and Rangoon from £459 return.
Hotels: Asia Hotels (www.asia-hotels.com)
is a useful starting point, with reviews and travel tips as well as good
rates.
Tour operators: Audley Travel (01993 838100, www.audley
travel.com), Cox & Kings Far East (020-7873 5000, www.coxandkings.co.uk),
Kuoni (01306 747002, www.kuoni.co.uk),
Somak Holidays (020-8423 3000, www.somak.co.uk),
Walks Worldwide (01524 242000, www.walksworldwide.com).
Guidebooks: First-Time Asia (Rough Guides, £9.99) is great for the
basics. The Southeast Asia travelpack from Lonely Planet would also suit
first-timers. It includes: Southeast Asia on a Shoestring, Southeast Asia
Phrasebook and Healthy Travel India & Asia and costs £18.99 from www.lonelyplanet.com
.
Laos: The Rough Guide to Laos (third edition, February 2007, £12.99); A
History of Laos by Martin Stuart-Fox (CUP, £17.99).
Vietnam: The Eyewitness Guide to Vietnam and Angkor Wat is published on
June 7 at £14.99; The Quiet American by Graham Greene (Vintage Classics,
£7.99).
Cambodia: Cambodia (Footprint, £12.99); Art and Architecture of
Cambodia by Helen Ibbitson Jessup (Thames & Hudson, £9.95).
Red tape: Visa rules change quite often, so check before you buy an air
ticket. Countries that admit you without an advance visa, such as Laos,
Cambodia and Thailand, will let you stay only for a certain number of days
but you may be able to get an extension. Also check that your passport is
valid for six months after your return – Laos is strict about this.
Health: There is malaria risk throughout the region. For affected areas
and advice on vaccinations, check www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.
Useful websites: Cambodia: www.mot.gov.kh;
Laos: www.visit-laos.com;
www.tourismlaos.gov.la;
Vietnam: www.vietnamtourism.com.
One of the 'new breed' of tour operators in the region is Selective Asia (www.selectiveasia.com). They create far more independent itineraries than soem of the older operators. Our friends booked with them and had a great 2 weeks in Thailand and Laos. Not to miss out, I've just booked 2.5 weeks in Vietnam for my family!
Nick, Birmingham,