To outsiders, Cambodia has long been thought of as a mystical and spiritual place. Ancient rites of religion and superstition have always been a part of the Khmer way of life. This is especially true of Battambang, a place where religion and superstition reign supreme.
Laura McKay reveals that Kep is more than a crab-eating launch pad to Rabbit Island.
Famous for its seafood, pepper, countryside and garden of islands, Kep has continually proven itself to be a popular tourist destination for everyone from King Sihanouk to the average city dweller looking to bathe on the beach. For those staying more than one night, Kep has a lot more to offer than a trip to Rabbit Island and a place to get your seafood on.
According to Jetstar Pacific, its current daily HCMC-Hai Phong flight will be increased to ten per week with additional services on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
The additional flights for HCMC-Hai Phong and Hai Phong-HCMC will depart at 6:45 a.m. and 9:10 a.m. respectively.
Jetstar Pacific has announced the temporary phase-out of domestic route HCMC-Hue effective from June 15.
The route Hanoi-Hue was temporarily closed from June 2.
The low cost carrier's daily flight HCMC-Vinh has also been cut from daily to four flights weekly on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Compared with its high profile neighbors, wartorn Vietnam and the idyllic paradise of Thailand, Cambodia tends to fly under the radar. But that does not mean this fascinating country has any less to offer.
After three decades of war, Cambodia is now at peace and attracting more and more tourists with the promise of Indiana Jones- or Tomb Raider-type adventures. Undoubtedly Cambodia is a beautiful country, quite different from its neighbors.
Malaysia has been making huge strides in recent years to boost awareness of its potential for tourism. Located between Thailand to the north and Singapore and Indonesia to the south, Malaysia represents different things to different people: A melting pot of cultures, a vibrant developing nation and a haven of natural bio-diversity.
Whether you come for a city break, a beach holiday or to fulfill your scuba diving dreams, Malaysia usually exceeds expectations.
The Koh Ru bungalows of Bamboo Island [ Koh Russei ], have always seemed to be something of an enigma to me. While the nearby beaches of Sihanoukville are rammed with tourists and vendors hawking endless tat, this particular island has managed to preserve its quietness and exclusivity.
The boat trip from Bar Ru, Occheutel Beach is a mere $10 return and takes just an hour to deliver you away from swarming beach chaos and into the arms of a peaceful retreat up there with the best kept secrets in the world.
Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Thursday 17 that he expected the local tourism industry to increase 20 percent in 2008. The increase is equivalent to around 6 million tourist visits.
"I think that the Koh Kong coast and the ecotourism area in the northeast are the two areas which will drive local tourist growth," he told reporters at a tourism development workshop.
He said that road improvements and better infrastructure would drive Cambodians to explore their own country.
The government has agreed to investment projects on two islands off the coast of Cambodia's southeastern resort town of Sihanoukville, according to a statement released yesterday by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).
A foreign firm has been given permission to develop both Koh Rong and Koh Russei into private resorts, said the CDC statement, which did not specify the duration of the investment or the amount of money involved.
Vieng Xai is approximately 30 km from the Vietnamese border, 150 km from Hanoi. The town is home to 33,000 people and a great market where you can get a bowl of pho for 5,000 kip. The town is surrounded by green hills and limestone cliffs that house hundreds of caves. Inside these is where the modern political history of Laos began.
Combining proximity to a valuable political ally, a sympathetic local population, and a nearly impregnable defensive position, the Pathet Lao chose Vieng Xai to serve as their headquarters during their resistance against the U.S.
Too much rain, rapid urbanization and old-fashioned production methods have created havoc in Vietnam's salt production and the country is facing a shortage. Cambodia has been taking up the slack with large volumes of salt being exported to Vietnam since the beginning of this year. Last month, however, production was also low in Cambodia, and officials have no idea if Cambodia's salt production will cope with their neighbor's voracious demands.