Every time Cambodia is brought up, it seems like Angkor Wat follows in the next sentence. It is perhaps the most famous of attractions in all of Cambodia, and the history surrounding it is enough to catch anyone’s attention and imagine. When the name of Angkor Wat is translated into English it comes to mean “Temple City” and that’s an accurate description. After all Angkor Wat is more than just one building that has become famous. Angkor Wat is a collection of buildings, temples, pagodas, and more that are all open for the public to explore. It’s no wonder Angkor Wat has become the focal point of Cambodia’s tourist industry.

Cambodia may be a small country, but it is a country with big history. During the Khmer era this place was grandiose and even now, as temples and shrines lay in a state of disarray and the country grows and flourishes beyond its history, the kingdom’s old-fashioned charm and sleepy little towns will draw you in; the warmth and hospitality of its people will make you feel instantly at home.

While Cambodia is one of the smaller Southeast Asian countries, it packs as big of a punch as all the other countries, and Siem Reap sits at the forefront of Cambodia’s historical legacy. In fact, today, the crumbling remains of the Khmer Empire are the biggest draw in all of Cambodia. After building up a kingdom that stretched into neighbouring Thailand and China, the Khmers fell, leaving behind an incredible collection of temple complexes, most notably Angkor Wat, which is located in Siem Reap.

Cambodia holds a wealth of traditional and international festivals throughout the calendar year. Most of the time, visitors can participate in the celebrations with locals. It is during these festivals with the country comes together with a shared understanding of the values and traditions, and even during times of hardship, people will focus on these events and try their hardest to make it the best ever. Almost all of the traditional festivals are influenced by Buddhism, Hinduism and royal cultures. Cover-More will take you through the most important Cambodian festivals that take place throughout the year.

Khmer, also called Cambodian, is the language spoken by most of the people of Cambodia, as well as in parts of northeastern Thailand and southern Vietnam. Khmer belongs to the Austroasiatic group of languages, which are widely spread throughout mainland Southeast Asia.

Even with the tumultuous history that Cambodia has, the infectious smiles of its residents will leave you with a sense of the optimism and unbreakable spirit that pervades the entire country.

As a UNESCO site, Hue is full of tombs and palaces, rich history to be explored. The days can be long and hot and though you may have come to learn about the history of the formal capital city, you may find that your tired limbs are aching for a relaxing day at the beach.

Planning a holiday is all about living your daydreams. After all, you’ve been thinking about what you’ll do in Vietnam for a while; you’ve done the research on the attractions and accommodations and flights. There is likely one part of the trip that you haven’t yet considered, though: how to get around Vietnam once you land from Australia.

Hue (pronounced “hway”) is located on the banks of the Song Huong-Perfume River where it serves as the capital of the Thien Hue province in central Vietnam. Here, you will find palaces, pagodas, tombs, temples, history and much more to explore and enjoy. While this city doesn’t have the same “big city”-esque vibe as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Hue has its own charm and draw for tourists and locals alike. Perhaps the most impressive accolade of the city is its UNESCO World Heritage site status. While many of the finest buildings from imperial Vietnam were destroyed during the Vietnam War, there are still plenty of artefacts and history to sate the most voracious of history lovers.

The social scene in Hanoi, Vietnam is slightly different from those you find in other major cities around the world. Instead of microbreweries and craft beers and wine bars, Hanoi has a specialty that, if you love beer, will surely enjoy. Bia hoi refers to Hanoi’s drink of choice—loosely translated, it means “fresh beer.” It is a very light, refreshing and cold draught beer that locals and tourists love equally. In fact, the bia hoi scene is so popular that it makes up 30% of Vietnam’s beer market, which makes a lot of sense because it is dirt cheap. It will be a mere $0.50AUD for each glass of the straw-coloured beverage.