Because typically pulling international locations out of a hat merely doesn’t work…
Asia is usually described as one of the vital breathtaking areas of the world and with good motive. From Bali with its Hindu temples and seaside golf equipment, and China with its historic buildings and silk manufacturing, to India with its spectacular monuments and richly flavoured dishes. But there are two particular international locations sitting facet by facet that additionally entice travellers by the hundreds – Cambodia and Vietnam.
While they’re each related in custom, delicacies, and surroundings, these international locations every have their very own distinct pure wonders, their very own concrete jungles, and their very own fascinating tradition that’ll be imprinted in your coronary heart lengthy after you’ve caught your flight dwelling. But which one to journey to first?
So you don’t should flip a coin, we’ve put collectively a complete, comparative listing that will help you make your resolution.
Landscapes
There’s loads to like about Cambodia however this nation’s distinctive and different landscapes will all the time discover an additional particular dwelling in your coronary heart (and take up area in your cellphone’s digicam roll). With giant, forested areas, highly effective rivers, enthralling mountain ranges, and spectacular lakes, Cambodia’s pure magnificence stand above the remainder.
Guaranteed to take your breath away, this nation is filled with nationwide parks corresponding to Ream National Park with its different wildlife and vital ecosystems and Bokor National Park, dwelling to dense jungles boasting cascading waterfalls and mild mountain streams, in addition to paradise-like islands you’re by no means going to need to depart – Koh Totang and Koh Thmei simply to call just a few.
JOIN OUR CAMBODIAN TRAVELLER ADVENTURE
Vietnam’s landscapes are arguably extra well-known than Cambodia’s with pure wonders corresponding to Halong Bay with its rising islets and unspoiled nature and Mai Chau with its rice paddies and misty mountains, however each their geography and setting are literally fairly related. However, landscapes which can be merely out of this world can’t actually be in contrast.
Featuring mountainous areas that contact the clouds and dense forests stuffed with fascinating animal and flora, in addition to sharing one of many 12 nice rivers of the world – the Mekong – with Cambodia (amongst different international locations), the surroundings in Vietnam is de facto fairly extraordinary.
But that’s not all. Vietnam’s terrain is comparatively untouched (nearly all of Vietnam’s inhabitants is condensed to its main cities) which lets you really feel as if you’re the primary individual to find its picturesque magnificence.
VISIT HALONG BAY ON OUR VIETNAM EXPRESS SOUTHBOUND
Cuisine
You may suppose you already know precisely what to anticipate from a food-centric journey via Cambodia (the delicacies centres round rice, noodles, and stir fry proper?) however the culinary delights of this eccentric nation will shock you. Generally not as spicy because the cuisines of its southeast Asian neighbours, the meals in Cambodia is robust in flavour and scrumptious in style.
Whether you need to snack on some tropical fruit throughout your go to – suppose jackfruit, mango, and watermelon – or delight your tastebuds with a serving of fish amok, Cambodia’s nationwide dish, you’ll by no means go hungry on this nation.
RELATED: CAMBODIAN CUISINE – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Influenced by its neighbours, Vietnamese delicacies is characterised by its freshness and its use of herbs and greens. While some facets of this nation’s delicacies nonetheless carry echoes of French colonialism, it’s additionally come into its personal over the past couple of many years with noodle soups, savoury pancakes, and baguettes stuffed with conventional meats and blended greens all gracing restaurant menus wherever you go.
Whether you’re into candy or bitter meals, steamed or fried meals, or ones which can be crunchy as an alternative of sentimental, you could find all of it in Vietnam. And belief us after we say your tastebuds will likely be singing your praises lengthy after you come dwelling.
RELATED: YOUR ULTIMATE VIETNAMESE EATING GUIDE
Culture
Cambodia’s tradition is an historic one, encompassing centuries of custom, respect, and honour with values corresponding to kindness, honesty, and humility on the forefront of on a regular basis life. This Khmer tradition is so ingrained into Cambodians that it’d be onerous so that you can journey across the nation with out experiencing heat and humble hospitality from everybody you meet.
Since many of the inhabitants apply Buddhism, anticipate to see numerous non secular festivals and on a regular basis celebrations throughout your go to and be ready to see orange-robed monks praying over small shrines left outdoors homes and strolling round bigger, detailed temples.
Some of the extra well-known and extensively recognised temples are Angkor Wat with its stone sculptures and protecting moats, Bayon with its elaborate design stuffed with smiling faces, and Banteay Srei with its conventional Khmer artwork and complicated carving.
EXPERIENCE OUR PREMIUM CAMBODIA TOUR
Vietnam’s tradition is much like that of Cambodia’s with a central deal with connection and household, drawing inspiration from different neighbouring cultures corresponding to Khmer, Chinese, French, and American to make sure celebrations corresponding to paying respect to ancestors is an integral a part of on a regular basis life. This sees households come collectively for numerous festivals and nationwide holidays, performing rituals, giving symbolic presents, and feasting on conventional meals.
Unlike Cambodia, there isn’t essentially one predominant faith that the Vietnamese apply, quite the nation is made up of a number of faiths together with Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Catholicism. However, you’ll not often see disagreements between neighbours, associates or strangers in Vietnam as Vietnamese individuals choose to be non-confrontational, particularly in public. Instead, it’s extra prone to see them stuffed with humility and optimism.
JOIN OUR PREMIUM VIETNAM IN-DEPTH ADVENTURE
Cities
Yes, Cambodia’s cities could also be chaotic however there’s a magnificence to that chaos with bustling markets, ornate temples, colonial-style buildings, and riverfront bars making certain there’s by no means a uninteresting second. When planning a visit to Cambodia there are just a few must-stop-at cities together with the nation’s capital, Phnom Penh, the peaceable and genuine area of Battambang, and Siem Reap with its stylish eating places and epic avenue meals scene.
If you’re after slightly extra peace and quiet and also you need to commerce all of the noise for silence, Cambodia additionally has loads of small cities and charming villages to maintain you occupied. From the blissful city of Kampot with its cascading waterfalls and mystic mountains to the sprawling ruins of Angkor, Cambodia’s busy and quiet cities will steal your coronary heart.
RELATED: A GUIDE TO BATTAMBANG, CAMBODIA’S UNDERRATED CITY
While Vietnam’s pure magnificence is unparalleled, there’s additionally one thing to be mentioned about its loopy, pulsating cities. From the rooftop cafes and motorbike-laden streets of Hanoi and the spectacular imperial websites and the scented river of Hue to Hoi An with its unbelievable Old Town and buying precincts and Ho Chi Minh City with its bustling markets and fashionable skyscrapers, Vietnam has a metropolis for everybody.
But the cities in Vietnam aren’t all fast-paced and packed to bursting. Looking for a extra romantic place to spend your time? Stop in Dalat with its lakes, forests, and waterfalls. Or maybe you’re in want of a seaside getaway? Make your strategy to Qui Nhon, a quaint and sleepy seaside city that’ll captivate your thoughts immediately. Maybe you need to head to the mountains? The vibrant villages of Sapa are value it each time.
The level is you received’t run out of locations to go to.
RELATED: TOP THINGS TO DO IN HUE
Weather
Cambodia’s local weather is tropical with scorching and humid temperatures skilled all year long because of frequent monsoon winds. This climate sample controls Cambodia’s seasons, producing two distinct ones: the moist season (May to mid-November) and the dry season (mid-November to April).
Even in the event you’re travelling throughout the moist season, anticipate temperatures to be sitting within the mid to excessive 30°Cs (they will even attain 40°C) so bear in mind to maintain correctly hydrated throughout your travels and to deliver some sunscreen and a hat with you to guard your pores and skin towards the solar’s UV rays.
While the most effective time to go to this spectacular nation is throughout its dry season when it’s unlikely to expertise any extended rainfall, travelling throughout the moist season can be a good time to see Cambodia’s landscapes because the rice paddies and tropical foliage develop into tremendous lush and inexperienced.
Vietnam’s local weather is influenced by its tropical monsoons and its different panorama of mountainous areas with two distinct seasons much like that of Cambodia – the moist season (May to October) and the dry season (November to April). However, the temperatures anticipated all year long differ relying in your location in Vietnam with the mountain area within the north dropping to a low of 4°C in winter and Ho Chi Minh City reaching a excessive of 36°C throughout the dry season.
While the most effective time of yr to go to this magical nation is throughout the dry season when rainfall is unlikely and clear skies reign supreme, you may nonetheless have a improbable vacation at any time of the yr as there’s all the time nice climate someplace in Vietnam because of its numerous geography.
The verdict
Trying to determine in the event you ought to go to Cambodia or Vietnam first is rather like making an attempt to determine whether or not you need to eat dinner or dessert – that’s to say, after all, you need each. So, we expect that’s the one acceptable answer to this downside. Why not journey to Cambodia and Vietnam on the identical journey?
From our better of Vietnam and Cambodia tour to our premium Vietnam and Cambodia journey, get able to expertise the most effective of southeast Asia on the vacation of a lifetime.