Selling Travel June 19

Indochina 9
three of a
Kind
HIEP NGUYEN
Culturally rich, scenically beautiful and
numbering idyllic beaches and a raft of new
luxury hotels among other attractions, the
countries of Indochina deserve an extended
look, says Kathryn Liston
It’s virtually pitch-black as we leap off
the wooden fishing boat and plunge
into the warm sea - but that’s how
we want it, the darker the better.
I move my arms and legs rapidly through
the water. No, I’m not drowning, just
witnessing the amazing light show that
erupts before my snorkel-masked eyes.
Darting shards of gold and electric blue light
dance all over my limbs - it’s like a starry sky
all around me. Only visible in the dark, the
bioluminescent plankton glow when the
water is disturbed.The more rapidly I thrash,
the brighter the light display.
The experience is so mesmerising that
we have to be called
waters and beachside barbecues where we
dine on sea bass and barracuda with the
sand between our toes. Bliss.
Moving on up
New luxury island resorts are contributing
to Cambodia’s growing success as a
standalone destination.
Lucy Howard, Marketing Executive at
Exsus Travel, says that exciting new hotels
such as Alila Villas Koh Russey, Six Senses
Krabey Island and Shinto Mani Wild, have
moved Cambodia from being a “book-end
tour location” to a “sole destination in its
own right,” while existing hotels have also
had to up their game.
from the boat to “Visit quaint fishing Chris Greener,
return to shore. The
Senior Southeast Asia
village Hoi An, join a
engine thrums as we
Product Executive
market tour and cooking
are whisked back to
at InsideAsia Tours,
the soft powder-white class and sample its agrees: “Cambodia is
sands of Saracen Bay,
the main resort of
signature cao lau
noodles and white-rose
now seen much more
as a full destination,
Samloem, a Robinson-
rather than just the
dumplings”
Crusoe-like island in the
historical Siem Reap
Richard Keeling, Pettitts Travel
Koh Rong archipelago,
add-on to Vietnam
an hour’s flight from
Siem Reap.
Samloem is the perfect place to kick back
bare-foot on pretty-much deserted beaches.
Sister island, Koh Rong, the filming location
for TV show Survivor, is far busier with
backpackers and party bars.
There are no roads on Samloem, just
white-powder sands, turquoise bath-warm
or Thailand. With the
wealth of idyllic Cambodian island beach
options, the increase in exposure and
high-end properties in Phnom Penh and the
improved road network, Cambodia is an
incredible country to spend two weeks in.”
Mekong river cruises are also selling
strongly, particularly between Saigon
(Vietnam) and Siem Reap (Cambodia).
sellingtravel.co.uk