As the name suggests, there is a fairy-tale, mystical quality to Indochina’s Three Kingdoms. This is a part of the world where the mythical and the earthly coexist in close proximity; a reverence for the spiritual and a desire to cherish the traditions of long-departed ancestors are combined with a very immediate sense of life, joy and optimism. The three countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are steeped in their own distinct legends and customs, but each is united by a shared history which is at times tragic and often awe-inspiring.

The Three Kingdoms are places of great abundance in terms of natural wonders, culture, architecture and cuisine. Opportunities to explore the latter are particularly plentiful, and from humble street vendors to world-class restaurants, the food is consistently affordable and delicious, with many regional variations and delicacies available.

“small picture-book villages are scattered like grains of rice across a verdant, fertile landscape”

The countries also offer a feast for the eyes; when you travel across the region. Silhouettes of monumental ancient temples emerge from above forest treetops, mountain peaks loom sin a spectral manner from the mist and small picture-book villages are scattered like grains of rice across a verdant, fertile landscape of terraced fields and overflowing jungle. The temples of Angkor in Cambodia are among humankind’s most awesome achievements—their sheer scale and magnificence are matched only by natural features such as the Kuang Si Falls in Laos or the crystal waters and stunning rock formations of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s most populous urban area and the perfect place to begin a tour of the region. It is vibrant and bustling—sometimes overwhelmingly so—and its buzzing energy provides an ideal introduction to this unique country. One of the best ways to explore a place is to get lost in it, and the winding streets and alleyways of Ho Chi Minh City offer plenty of opportunities for the traveller to become immersed in a colourful patchwork of sounds, sights, tastes and smells. It is a city of thriving street markets where a stunning variety of foods, fabrics and other finery burst forth in colourful profusion wherever the eye alights. It also boasts the graceful architecture of the colonial-style Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, the inspiring and moving spectacle of the Reunification Palace, and the soaring modern skyscrapers of the financial district.

“Using simple ingredients, even the most unassuming of street vendors is able to craft dishes of surpassing quality and delectability”

Ho Chi Minh City—and Vietnam as a whole—has a knack for combining opulence with humility, and nowhere shows this more obviously than in the cuisine. Using simple ingredients, even the most unassuming of street vendors is able to craft dishes of surpassing quality and delectability. Jon Kennedy, who paid a visit to the Three Kingdoms recently, says: “The street food was very delicious, particularly the pho bo, which is a clear noodle soup made with thinly sliced beef. In fact you could barely move for street vendors and small restaurants, which are definitely worth exploring.”

Beyond its cities, Vietnam is rightly celebrated for its astounding natural beauty. The Mekong Delta—a vast region of meandering waterways, sprawling rice paddies and picture-postcard islands—is a diverse and lively region that is crucial to Vietnam’s economy. The rivers and tributaries of the delta are crammed with junks, skiffs and other small water craft, used by fishermen to ply their trade and by the locals to simply navigate their way across this magical landscape.

Magic is not in short supply in Cambodia either; when visiting the village of Siem Reap, for example, the traveller is likely to feel that they are stepping foot into another world. Venture beyond its colonial architecture and chic modern amenities, and you will quickly discover that it is a portal to an ancient past. The Hindu temples of Angkor, just outside Siem Reap, are globally celebrated for their profound beauty and air of mystery. As Jon says of his visit to Angkor Wat, “That was an experience that has genuinely lived long in my mind. The most impressive architectural constructions I have ever seen. Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples really deserve a place in the wonders of the world. Yes, it is a very touristic place, but that really just reflects how amazing and unique it is there. But if you were really to dig deep into the place and visit some of the smaller ruins, you can escape the herds.”

“even the most sceptical of visitors are likely to feel a certain connection with the sacred when walking around these dizzyingly ornate historical sites”

Angkor Wat is probably the most famous attraction in the area, but no traveller should neglect the equally breath-taking temple of Angkor Thom, with its colossal carved stone faces, the Temple of Shiva or the Banteay Srei Temple, among many others. It is no accident that this whole area has been seen as a holy place for centuries—even the most sceptical of visitors are likely to feel a certain connection with the sacred when walking around these dizzyingly ornate historical sites. The fact that they are embedded deep within some of the planet’s most luscious and teeming jungle rainforest only adds to their romance and mystique.

Across the border in Laos, yet more historical treasures and natural wonders await. Jon says:

“I remember being blown away upon entering Laos and taking a slow boat towards Luang Prabang. The whole place was just covered in undisturbed, pristine jungle.” One of the highlights of Luang Prabang is Wat Sen, or ‘Temple of 100,000 treasures’, a Buddhist site which, as its name suggests, contains a wealth of material and spiritual riches. Buddhism is also practised at the Pak Ou Caves, where the sight of hundreds of stone carvings of Buddha and modern-day saffron-robed monks demonstrates powerfully how strong the link between past and present here is.

The past is also alive and well in the work of the region’s artisans. The local rice whiskey ‘lao lao’, for example, has been prepared in Ban Xang Hai using the same methods for centuries, as has the handiwork of the jute paper craftsmen of Ban Xang Khong. (Incidentally, lao lao has the dubious distinction of being the world’s cheapest whiskey. Don’t let that put you off however—it has a mild, almost vanilla-like taste and is notably less likely to leave you with a hangover the next day than many of its far more expensive counterparts.)

“Every traveller’s experience of somewhere as huge, dynamic and dramatic as the Three Kingdoms is bound to be different—after all, this is a place of extremes, even though it is perfectly suited to self-reflection and spiritual awakening”

Back across the border in Vietnam, and not far from the capital Hanoi, is the heart-stoppingly beautiful Ha Long Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage site is an enchanting maze of charming grottoes, idyllic islands, gorgeous beaches and impressive limestone pillars that ascend from the azure-blue and emerald-green waters. It is probably about as close to paradise as it’s possible to get on earth, and a perfect place to conclude a visit to the country.

Every traveller’s experience of somewhere as huge, dynamic and dramatic as the Three Kingdoms is bound to be different – after all, this is a place of extremes, even though it is perfectly suited to self-reflection and spiritual awakening. But the underlying sense of peace, harmony and wonder that governs life here is tangible. It is no coincidence that many of those who have already been are counting down the days until their return.

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