Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Northern Thailand

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The Mekong. Its an exotic name guaranteed to fire up the imagination. Riding high on the global hotlist, it is home to such iconic sights as Angkor Wat, Halong Bay and Luang Prabang.

One of the worlds great rivers, the Mekong winds its way down from the foothills of Tibet to the South China Sea, encompassing some of the most diverse backdrops in Asia. Its dramatic journey southwards takes in remote national parks and immense waterfalls in Laos, traditional towns and 21st-century cities in Thailand, freshwater dolphins and forgotten temples in Cambodia and a patchwork of emerald greens in Vietnams Mekong Delta.

Experience old Asia and new Asia jostling for space. One minute its Bangkok, riding the Skytrain to a state-of-the-art shopping mall, the next its an elephant careering through the jungle in Cambodia. In the cities, the pace of life runs at a dizzying speed, matched only by the endless rush of motorbikes and call of commerce. In the countryside, life seems timeless, the rural rhythms the same as they have been for centuries, with pyjama-clad peasants tending the fields and monks wandering the streets in search of alms.

Travelling in the Mekong region is as much about the journey as the destination, although it is not always as smooth as the brochures would have you believe. Float down the river by slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, passing by distant minority villages in a land that time forgot. Hitch a ride on a remork (a motorbike-drawn carriage) around the ancient temples of Angkor. Or explore the bustling backstreets of old Asia from the comfort of a cyclo (bicycle rickshaw). Experience some rough with the smooth for the real flavour of the Mekong region.

Quench your thirst for adventure with some adrenalin-fuelled activities in the jungle before relaxing on a beautiful beach overlooking the South China Sea. Delve deeper to discern the mosaic of ethnicities and learn about their incredible cultures and lifestyles. The people are irrepressible, the experiences unforgettable and the stories impossible to re-create, but sometime during your journey, the Mekong and its people will enter your soul. Go with the flow and let the Mekong spirit course through your veins.

Halong Bay (), Vietnam
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One of the worlds most magnificent sights, the temples of Angkor ( ) are so much better than the superlatives. Choose from Angkor Wat, the worlds largest religious building; Bayon, one of the worlds weirdest; or Ta Prohm, where nature runs amok. Siem Reap is the base to explore the worlds grandest collection of temples and is a buzzing destination with a superb selection of restaurants and bars. Beyond the temples lie floating villages on the Tonl Sap Lake, adrenalin activities such as quad biking and microlighting, and cultured pursuits such as cooking classes and birdwatching.

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Luang Prabang

Hemmed in by the Mekong and Khan rivers, this ancient city of temples ( ) is a travel editors dream; rich in royal history, Buddhist monks, stunning river views, world-class French cuisine and the best boutique accommodation in Southeast Asia. Hire a bike and explore the tropical peninsulas backstreets; take a cooking workshop, elephant trek, or just ease back with a restful massage at one of a dozen affordable spas. Prepare to adjust your timetable and stay a little longer than planned.

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Hoi An

Medieval-looking Hoi An ( ) was once Vietnams most cosmopolitan port. Today the good times have returned and this beautiful, ancient town is bursting with gourmet Vietnamese restaurants, hip bars and cafes, quirky boutiques and expert tailors. Immerse yourself in history in the warren-like lanes of the Old Town, shop til you drop, tour the temples and pagodas, dine like an emperor on a peasants budget (then learn how to cook like the locals), hit glorious An Bang beach, explore the riverside and backroads. Hoi An has it all.

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Halong Bay

Halong Bays stunning combination of karst limestone peaks and sheltered, shimmering seas is one of Vietnams top tourist draws, but with more than 2000 different islands, theres plenty of superb scenery to go around ( ). Definitely book an overnight cruise, and make time for your own special moments at this World Heritage wonder; rise early for an ethereal misty dawn or pilot a sleek kayak into grottoes and lagoons. If youre still hankering for more karst action, move on to less touristed, but equally spectacular, Lan Ha Bay.

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Bangkok

The original City of Angels lives up to the hype as one of Southeast Asias most buzzing cities. Excuses to delay your trip upcountry include the citys excellent-value accommodation, cheap and spicy eats, unparalleled shopping and a rowdy but fun nightlife scene. Bangkok ( ) also functions as the unofficial gateway to the rest of the region, with cheap flights, cosy train rides, modern buses and a variety of other convenient and comfortable transport to your next destination if you ever decide to leave, that is.

ANDERS BLOMQVIST / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

Gibbon Experience

Minus the surfboard heres your chance to become the Silver Surfer as you whiz way above the forest floor attached to a zip-line. These brilliantly engineered cables some over 500m long span forest valleys in the lush Bokeo Nature Reserve ( ), habitat of the black-crested gibbon and Asiatic tiger. Your money goes toward protecting the eponymous endangered primate and your guides are former poachers turned rangers. Zip into and bed down in vertiginously high treehouses by night, listening to the call of the wild. This is Laos premier wildlife and adrenalin high.