Indochina

For the flights it might be easier to fly to Bangkok and take a local flight into Siem Reap and out of Vientiane (not sure which airlines fly these routes nowadays). I don't know if there are any flights between Cambodia and Laos as I didn't the 2 countries on the same trip and travelled overland to both from Bangkok. Maybe Thai Airways would be a good place to start! Just did a search on Google and found this website that could be useful to start with http://www.cambodia-airports.com

Hi Moustique, firstly...lucky you! What a lovely birthday pressie :-) My DH and I travelled through Cambodia & Vietnam a few years ago as part of our trip around the world. I had wanted to visit both those countries for a long time, not sure why. I can honestly tell you that Cambodia was the highlight of our trip. It touched both my DH and I like we never would have imagined. We visited orphanages, the landmine museum, Tol Sleng, and a childrens hospital plus of course Angkor Wat which is just amazing. The two highlights for me were celebrating my 30th birthday at the top of a temple watching the sunset over the Angkor area and also having a traditional dinner with a Cambodian family in their village. After our dinner all the children from the surrounding homes came and we all danced the night away in the sweltering heat. It was just fantastic. They were such lovely children and all wanted to practise their english. The landmine museum was very emotional as was Tol Sleng. We did travel with Intrepid Travel though and not on our own. Vietnam we both enjoyed but not as much as Cambodia. We were caught in the worst flooding in 20 years that Hue had so were stuck there for 4 days!! So avoid the rainy season!! Halong Bay is an awesome trip, we overnighted on one of the junks and went through the caves there. There is a restaurant in Hanoi called KOTO (Know One Teach One) which employs street children to teach them cooking skills etc. The food was FAB. All in all, the people of Cambodia are just beautiful, always have a smile for you despite what they have been through in the past. Can't help with Laos unfortunately....thats next on our list! <em>edited by 2Blossom on 18/03/2011</em>

Hi Moustique, 3 countries in 2 weeks seems a tight schedule and especially with young children. I would also advise you to separate into 2 trips. Laos + cambodia VietNam Concerning Laos: the south part is amazing and beautiful Vientiane, Vang Vieng & the national park Phou khao khoay (Buffalo Horn Mountain) http://www.trekkingcentrallaos.com/ Cambodia: sorry, can't give any tip. I have never been there Viet Nam: just send a message when you want to visit the real Viet Nam. Bon voyage! PS: If you can have some nice bonbon Krema, chocolate... in your packbag to give to poor children in Laos, they will be over the moon.

Hi - I met these people in Thailand last year. They are an amazing couple and I find very honest and objective about their world trip. Take a look at their Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos experiences http://thetravellingmallorys.wordpress.com/ Another EW'er is travelling Vietnam right at this moment so she will be able to bring back lots of advise too. Some of the below I also wrote in a mail to her: We travelled Vietnam in 2008 with two kids. We flew to Hanoi for 4 nights, then Halong Bay for a day trip and back to Hanoi where we took an interal flight to HoiAn. We stayed in HoiAn for a week and experienced that whole area. From HoiAn we took an internal flight to Saigon for another 4 nights or so. Vietnam is HECTIC travelling. It is an absolute assault on the senses - it is smelly, dirty, noisy, pulluted, crowded - 90 million people ALL on scooters in a country where there are absolutely no road rules. If you want to go around the roundabout, you go whichever way you choose. Expats and travellers are not permitted to drive in Vietnam but you can rent a scooter. Wouldn't do that either! Vietnam is also interesting, something very different, some of the scenery is breathtaking and it is an experience not to be missed. It is the type of place that grow on you afterwards - through reflection. Nov/Jan/Feb/Mrch is VERY cold up north incl Hanoi. Meaning also that you freeze in hotels and restaurants, hot water frequently running out and almost zero heaters. In fact expats and travellers make lists of cafes where one can go and defrost in front of some sort of heating system. Summer is hot and humid. Add the pollution and you want to run away after 3 days in Hanoi. Down South is tropical year round. Hanoi is stunning. The city turned 1000 years old last year and is very traditional. It is distinctly different from the more international, tropical Saigon. Hanoi is close to China so took on a lot of the characteristics from that nation. Whilst the whole world is currently enjoying the Year of the Rabbit for instance, Vietnam follow their own animal system and is in the Year of the Cat. I definitely think that one HAS to see Hanoi first as Saigon doesn't quite capture the essence of Vietnam in the same way as Hanoi. This is a list of 100 coffeeshops in Hanoi http://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=698b2e63fb46c56cd73dbb722b209a3a&#!/group.php?gid=6413866102 The best places are hidden away so you might want to take a brief look. I know that Vietnam is one of the biggest of not the biggest coffee producer in the world - I have had some of the most aweful coffee of my life in Vietnam. Best to look out for Segafredo or at least nicer restaurants as the average place sells a terrible, salty, flat tasting coffee. Everybody raves about Vietnamese food. I found it apalling, close to disgusting. Poor versions of chicken noodles/pineapple chicken, oily-oily deep fried rice rolls, dodgy seafood and ever more dodgy meat. In fact you will be walking past this: http://gijoh.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Dog-meat-in-Vietnam.jpg - grilled dog head and all. The European and other expat eateries however, are superb. You need to be armed with a list of suitable places to eat or else you might just find yourself in a dingy dodgy eatery. I had the best pizza of my life in HoiAn - a four cheese chilli number. Also great "Caribbean meats South-east Asian" type of food. Places like this is amazing http://www.greentangerinehanoi.com/index.php?lang=en I don't care what Anthony Bourdain and other travel cooks say about streetfood in Vietnam - I wouldn't touch it with a bargpole :\: It is not the refined food of say Tailand. Language is a big problem in Vietnam, however people are eager to try and help and try and understand. You will always hear: It is goos - Meaning The dish is nice/good. That said they will say that about every single dish on the menu LOL. You will be considered a walking ATM and will be ripped off. Hanoi is very traditional, quint and pretty. Holiday wise I prefer Hanoi to Saigon. To live as an expat Saigon is preferable to Hanoi. Our family is currently splitting time between Hanoi and Penang and DH just arrived back from Hanoi last night. Make sure you have proper health and other insurance. One of his employees was ripped of 600USD !!!!!! for 2 doctors consultations. Here in Penang for e.g. we only fork out between AED40 and AED50 for a doctors consultation at a Private Hospital. This is the best site to check out (similar to EW, but actually better. It has an I-phone app, google maps etc so that you can easily found your way in the maze that is Hanoi) http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/

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This probably won't help you decide but I've been to all 3 countries and my fav one was Cambodia. The people there were amazing. Smiling despite everything they went and are going through! If you go to Siem Reap I would recommend visitng the landmine museum, your entrance fee funds a charity helping children who suffered from landmines. The children also do a show in the evening which is fun and I'm sure your children would love it. The temples in Angkor are unbelievable. I would also recomment Phnom Pen Russian Market and Genocide museum (though not sure if appropriate for kids). I know you can also do boat trips on Tonle Sap lake and meet the people living on the lake (again check for kids and safety) Laos and Vietnam were good too but I would def do Vietnam on a separate trip. There is a lot to see and the country is quite big. In Hanoi you must the water pupets with your children! I thought Vietnam was a bit overwhleming (too much noise, people and scooters everywhere). Laos was beautiful but in a much quieter kind of way. LB's idea of combining Cambodia and Laos is quite good I think. If you have anymore questions don't hesitate to ask!

No travel agent. Didn't book anything ahead of time. Just rocked up. I use agoda in cambodia but is wasn't really necessary in Laos. If you choose to do that route then i will let you know the nicer hotels we stayed in (assuming you dont want backpackers hehe). I think you could do all 3 in that time, many people do, but I think it would be better, more relaxing/rewarding to not do all 3.

Laos was the most amazing as far as being a really untouched experience, I have photos of me with local children walking through abandoned temples in jungles etc etc. Luang Prabang was the most amazing town and if you ever said to DH or I where could you be right now we would both yell 'LP' if you wanted to do Laos and Cambodia with Kids I would suggest fly to LP, maybe 6 days there, fly to Pakse, 2 night cruise boat trip on the Mekong (check about the kids) then from Pakse to Siem Reap (in Cambodia). You can do all sorts of day trips from there but have a lovely base to work from. We used buses for the long trips and included a few other spots but that might not be practical for you! Vietnam is much more mainstream I guess. We are leaving it for later...

I WISH I WAS YOU! We did Laos and Cambodia Summer last year. Saw loads of young families (I look out for these things these days, got to convince DH lol). For 2 weeks I would choose either Vietnam or Laos and Cambodia together. Then it totally depends on how adventurous you are. Are you willing to fly internally, will you get on a bus etc etc. We had an awesome time. Such special places.

A poster has done the 3 countries in 2 weeks a year ago. I will contact her now and I am sure she will give you her views.

hi there... not very sure about Vietnam but i have a family friend who runs a farm house in Chang Mai (Northern tip of Thailand)... it's as close to nature as u can get... and the kids will have a blast... let me know if u want more details