Laos is now an independent state with a fairly progressive communist government which is tolerant of religion and has undertaken a programme of urbanisation and industrialisation. The fall of the USSR may well have accelerated that policy. Despite being a one party communist state

Visa travel is the norm these days but countries like Laos have realised that it is important to make them readily available to tourists on Laos travel packages. A good Laos tour operator will certainly be able to advise you about the requirements. In most cases a visa can now be obtained on arrival; the main airports in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse are the most popular places of entry and each has the facility to provide a visa if needed.

While there are similarities between the different cuisines of South East Asia, there are also several differences, country to country. The produce that chefs have throughout the region and there has been significant movement

Laos is a fascinating country to explore and even with its two distinct weather seasons, it is still a wonderful country to travel to year-round. Laos’ climate is fairly straightforward and consists

Cambodia has had a troubled past and it still remains fairly fresh in the memory. The Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot were an awful regime and many atrocities were committed during their rule.

All Cambodia tour packages obviously include the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor yet the Country has so much more to offer.

While there is evidence of human settlement in the Iron Age it was the Khmer Empire in the 9th Century that lasted for a few centuries that was the real beginning of Cambodia

Traditional Khmer dress goes back many centuries; little has changed. Prior to the Khmer Empire the style of clothing showed major Indian influence but gradually things changed. Fashion has come and gone but often tradition has been revived and today Cambodian clothing is both colourful and traditional. A good Cambodia travel agency will introduce visitors to the local costumes.

Cambodia’s majority is Khmer, an ethnic group that makes up 90% of the national population of just over 15 million. There are Khmer people also living in neighbouring Vietnam and Thailand with perhaps 1 million in Thailand and possibly many more in Vietnam, largely in the Mekong Delta?

Tradition plays a huge role in Cambodian life. The people embrace their culture and this takes the form of festivals and special events. If you are enjoying Cambodia tour packages when there is something on the calendar, then there is a good chance that you will see it. Some events centre on the capital Phnom Penh but others are nationwide.

Song and dance are an important part of life. In Asia, these things are often part of tradition. Cambodia tour packages involve sights and sounds, day and night. During a holiday that offers a comprehensive insight into Cambodia it is likely that song and dance will play a part.

Culture embraces a number of things; it affects the behaviour of groups of people, not necessarily a nation, and sometimes across national boundaries that did not exist through the ages. In the case of Cambodia, it is part of a wider geographical region, sometimes known as Indochina,

Ancient remedies have always been part of life in Asia, and that applies as much to Cambodia as anywhere else on the continent. In rural Cambodia which will always be part of any Cambodia travel package, you are going to see life as it has been for generations

Cambodia’s popularity with tourists was really initiated by the backpackers, the younger generation in search of adventure and new destinations. Since that time, Cambodia has attracted a wider audience with annual numbers now in excess of 4 million, and rising. More and more people are enquiring about Cambodia holidays and talking to experts who can arrange Cambodia travel packages

Shopping in Phnom Penh is now quite diverse, and you can find most anything you want or need to buy. There are three main local markets, and many other, smaller local markets scattered though out the city.