Highlights of Indochina

Bangkok is Thailand's huge and bustling capital, a chaotic and cosmopolitan city with many attractions. The most spectacular of these is the opulent and magnificent Grand Palace, reached on one of Bangkok's renowned waterways or klongs. Built in the late 18th century when Thailand was re-emerging from Burmese oppression, the complex is a vast collection of palaces, golden stupas, ornately decorative statues and wats, of which Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is the most impressive. Wat Po, home of the famous 46 metre long gold-plated Reclining Buddha, is another must-see. Elsewhere in the city, Jim Thompson's House is a museum containing superb examples of Thai art and furniture, collected by the former CIA officer and silk magnate. Shops and markets such as Chatuchak Market sell a huge range of Thai goods while at night Bangkok comes alive with a huge variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

The Kanchanaburi Province west of Bangkok is famous for being the site of the infamous 'Death Railway' and the 'Bridge on the River Kwai'. During the Second World War, the Japanese built a railway to link Thailand with Burma to carry supplies for their expanding empire - between June 1942 and October 1943 16,000 Allied prisoners of war and an estimated 75,000 Asian forced labourers died in its construction. The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and the JEATH War Museum commemorate those who died. You can take the train along part of the original railway and at 'Hellfire Pass' visit a memorial museum which chronicles the building of the railway.

Close to the Burmese border in central Thailand lie the wildlife sanctuaries of Thungyai and Huai Kha Kheng, covering more than 6,000 km² of various types of forest. The reserves are home to a wide variety of animal species including elephant and tiger and at least 34 endangered species. The region is also home to several spectacular waterfalls including Thi Lor Su Waterfall, one of the largest in southeast Asia with seven tiers of falls from high limestone cliffs, Kotha Waterfall and Thi Lor Lay Waterfall.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries

Ayutthaya was founded around 1350 and became the second capital of the Kingdom of Siam after Sukhothai. It soon became one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the East, capital of a kingdom which encompassed large parts of present day Burma, Laos and Cambodia. Ayutthaya developed its own distinctive artistic style, influenced by other cultures with which it traded, before it was destroyed by a Burmese invasion in the 18th century. Remnants of its golden period include the Royal Palace, Wat Mahathat, Wang Luang and numerous gigantic Buddha statues and prangs (reliquary towers).

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic City of Ayutthaya

Angkor is one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, containing the magnificent remains of the Khmer Empire. One of the great civilisations of south-east Asia, the Khmers kings ruled between the 9th and 15th centuries and saw their empire extend over most of the Indochina peninsula at its peak. With over 100 temples spread over 400 km², Angkor warrants several days of exploration. The 12th century Angkor Wat is the most famous monument, built as a funerary temple for Suryavarman ll in honour of Vishnu, noted for its imposing structure with five towers and intricate bas reliefs. The second Angkor capital built by Rajendravarman in the 10th century contains the temples of Prasat Kravan, Sra Srang, and East Mebon. The Royal Palace enclosure contains the Phimeanakas temple built by Suryavarman I and the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King. Jayavarman Vll built the fortified city of Angkor Thom at the end of the 12th Century, enclosed by an 8 metre high wall and five monumental gates. Inside lies the Bayon temple with fine bas reliefs in its temples and numerous towers. Other notable structures are the Banteay Srei Temple, one of the best preserved temples, and Ta Phrom, half buried in the jungle and famous as a location for the film 'Tomb Raider'.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Angkor

One of the finest cities in south-east Asia in the 1950s and 60s, Phnom Penh suffered considerably during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime but has managed to retain much of its attraction and charm. The Royal Palace is a magnificent and beautiful complex and includes the Silver Pagoda temple within its grounds, which houses the Emerald Buddha. The French Quarter near the riverfront has many colonial buildings beings restored and a lively bar and restaurant scene. The Central Market and Russian Market are good places to buy jewellery and clothes respectively. Other attractions in the city include the temple of Wat Phnom and the National Museum.

The regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s was one of the most brutal and murderous in human history, with millions of Cambodians murdered. There are some harrowing reminders of the atrocities in and around Phnom Penh. The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, 15km south-west of the capital, are the site where an estimated 17,000 Cambodians were killed. A memorial stupa there is a huge glass tower filled with human skulls. In the city the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is located in a former school that was transformed into a torture and interrogation centre (known as S21), from where up to 20,000 people were tortured or sent to their execution. The museum is a moving and sobering account of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge years.

The Mekong River originates in the Tibetan Plateau and flows through China, Burma, Laos and Cambodia before reaching Vietnam and splitting into many waterways and channels to form the Mekong Delta. The Delta, home to about 20 million people, is one of the most fertile areas on earth, known as Vietnam's rice bowl and where many of its tropical fruits are grown. The region is best explored on boat and travelling along the canals, rivers and backwaters allows you to appreciate the beauty of the area and understand the lives of the local people. You will pass rice fields, villages of stilted houses, local markets (the floating market at Cai Be is famous) and see the cottage industries of the villagers.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it's still known, is Vietnam's largest city and economic powerhouse. It's a vibrant, noisy and bustling city but also retains some of the colonial French architecture, such as the post office and city hall. Other attractions include the Reunification Palace, the chilling War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. Also worth visiting is the Chinatown district of Cholon to see the Binh Tay Market, pagodas and temples.

Almost 200 kilometres of underground tunnels were dug at Cu Chi, north of Saigon, during the Vietnam War which acted as a refuge for Viet Cong guerrillas and a means of staging attacks, particularly during the Tet Offensive in 1968. They included living quarters, hospitals and kitchens. Today, a small section has been renovated that allows visitors to crawl through. It's a cramped, dark and claustrophobic experience which gives you just a small indication of the conditions endured by the fighters. The sounds from a nearby firing range, where you can purchase bullets to fire from a range of weapons including AK-47s, adds to the atmosphere.