Welcome to our Summer Newsletter. In this edition, we are focusing on South East Asia. Karen and her love for Cambodia, Jo's hidden delights in Vietnam, Stacey's top reasons to visit Malaysia, Ash explores a new region in Thailand and Bec goes undercover at Club Med Bintan.
 

Happy New Year to you all. We hope you have enjoyed the wonderful Summer weather we have been given over our traditional Christmas/school holiday time.  The real heat has passed and we are entering a more temperate time. We have been offering lots of ideas on short break holidays, all around Australia, close by, even cruising for those of you wanting to start the New Year with a holiday.
 

People ask me why I love to travel to Vietnam so often -it should be on the top of everyone's travel list, It's that simple. With its dramatic landscapes, fascinating history, epic food and pulsating energy, Vietnam will electrify all of your senses and seize you from all angles. Vietnam is at once crazy and serene, thrilling and relaxing.
 

The Vietnamese culture is very much still alive and well despite the bustling tourist industry.  The countryside is still afloat with hardworking farmers; bison led equipment and modest homes which remind visitors of the backbone behind the flashy cities. The French occupation has also left its mark as well on the people and the towns. You can see the European architecture, the abundant café culture and see the locals meeting outside of them for traditional Vietnamese coffee and tea.
 

 

Besides the beautiful sights and cuisine, there is enough to do within Vietnam so you will never grow bored. Go trekking and shopping in traditional villages when you visit Sapa; kayak, swim and tube in between beach lounging while in Ha Long Bay; scuba diving, snorkelling and wind surfing are all viable options when you visit the beach towns of Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. Stick to the cities and listen to live music, see traditional dance and water puppet shows or take a cooking class and learn the language.

My favourite place to visit is Hoi An in central Vietnam. You will get a sense of history as soon as you arrive in Hoi An. The town itself is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the many ancient temples, bridges and other buildings. Late afternoon it is “foot traffic” only which only adds to its charm and combined with the lanterns and fairy lights, Hoi An at night is amazing. Not to mention the beautiful beaches, incredible food and tailoring done to perfection!

Vietnam’s history is one of its main draws for tourists. The country is filled with educational sites for visitors that documents the Vietnam war and other historic events. Start in Saigon and visit the emotion inducing war museum and imperial palace. You can see old war planes scattered around the city and visit the Cu Chi war tunnels to get an insider look at what the war was like for many soldiers. Scattered around the city are war monuments and in Hanoi, you can even visit the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh himself.

Whether you like history or not, there is no doubt that you will learn a thing or two just by being in the country.

If you are after something different from beach hopping, then escaping to nearby waterfalls is a good way to see the raw nature near Khao Lak whilst cooling off in the crystal clear pools. Don’t miss the five-tiered tumbling waters of Lam Ru or the pools of Khao Lak Lam Ru and Ton Chong Fah. Some hotels will arrange a candle light dinner for you and your loved one at one of these beautiful spots.

With the Similan and Surin islands lying offshore, the Khao Lak region offers some of Thailand’s best diving opportunities. The live-a-board boats offer day tours out to the islands. If you’re into wreck diving, you really can’t beat the eerie and amazing sunken wrecks like HTMS Prathong, Premchai and MV Sea Chart.

If like me, you love a market, then the Ban Niany Night Market is a must. Located just 20 minutes from Khao Lak Beach, this giant night market opens up twice a week and is host to amazing Thai Street Food. From the scrumptious to the strange, you can try everything from Pad Thai to grilled insects at this exciting night market. Even if you don’t decide to eat here, you should explore, you never know what hidden gem is lying around the next corner.

Although Khao Lak is a little bit more expensive than some other places in Thailand, you are rewarded with a laid back alternative to Phuket, with lots to see and do both in town and in the surrounding national parks and beaches. No matter how you spend your time on the west coast of southern Thailand, try to make sure that beautiful Khao Lak is on your itinerary.

Finding the perfect holiday location can be tricky at the best of times, let alone with 2 children. Club Med made the decision easy.  We flew into Singapore and spent a couple of days exploring the zoo, the gardens and the hidden alleys.