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Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand
  • Jackie Routledge
  • Jackie Routledge

Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand

A 27-day adventure by Jackie Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 23, 2026
  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Sa Pa

    February 26 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Travelled down in a sleeper bus, for the six hour journey Lovely sunny day and mist on hills, with a beautiful view of rice fields from the balcony. The bed in the room is massive. Nice afternoon and evening just wandering around shared our first ban mi, the equivalent of a subway and just as unhealthy. A couple of random coffees with condensed milk and egg coffee too. And a meal in a pumpkin.!Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Sa Pa Fansipan

    February 28 in Vietnam

    Visit to fansipan today. It gets a lot of attention with Chinese visitors posing at every opportunity. It’s a huge complex and hosts a massive statue of a Buddha
    To get to the top, you board a train / funicular, then a 20 minute cable car and the option to walk the last section instead of using another funicular. We had to walk the last section to the highest point, in Indochina a breath taking ( the air felt so thin) walk up. 600 steps to the summit. It felt like a lot more, the Garmin reliably tells me we covered 44 floors. There was an option to walk up the whole thing over two days glad we didn’t take that option. Gary jumped on a cable car without me So I was in a car full of young people from the Philippines. They were all chanting something that I joined in with. I am now one of their followers on facebook 😂Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Night market Hanoi

    March 1 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Back from Sapa in the sleeper bus. Decided to have a chill with a few beers. Visited the night market where there’s Lots of north face gear etc, all at knock off prices Stopped off for a vietnam beer at 85pence a bottle. Had a wander through the market and an egg coffee
    In a quirky place covered in sticky notes,written by visitors with various sentiments covering the whole building. A good night after an early start.    Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Last day in Hanoi

    March 2 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    A long enjoyable day walking
    Starting with Ho Chi Minh
    Mausoleum. Though sadly it was closed.

    Wandered through a slightly underwhelming Northern Gate but it linked to the definitely impressive Imperial Citadel Of Thang Long

    A trek round random streets getting lost and enjoying a fresh lime juice on tiny chairs

    Then onto west lake via a tuk tuk
    to see the oldest pagoda in Hanoi - Tran Quoc Pagoda. Garry sporting a sarong to cover his legs. Beer street was absolutely heaving, so noisy, but everyone having a great time.    Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Ninh Binh

    March 3 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Coa Lu - Trang An - Mua Cave
    Today we join a small 2 night tour. The group are lovely. Nice mix some young couples Australians. Did a little Cycling
    And boating, where they filmed King Kong ( Skull Island ) and 500 steps up Mua Cave.
    Evening in Ninh Binh. £5.74 for our meal and 2 beers. Followed by a bubble waffle on the street for 57 pence. The prices are really hard to get your head round. Our tipping is almost as much as the meal costs.    Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Hoi An

    March 7 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Lots of shops, markets and bustle. Arrived late. Lovely walk along the river in the morning, did a little shopping though it was a tad unpleasant with people pressuring you to buy. Had a lovely morning at My Son Sanctuary. A Hindu temple complex.

    Great night at the Memories Hoi An, a sort of theme park with a show , lots of dancing and great effects, including fire.

    Set off early to go to see lady Buddha, Mua Cave and Marble Mountains. More steps but worth it for the views and the area itself    Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Cambodia

    March 9 in Cambodia ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    It’s different here, noticeably poorer, with a bigger divide between those that have and those with money. Interestingly as a tourist it’s more expensive, but still cheaper than home. The dollar is everywhere , though admittedly in the time we have, we haven’t had time for much beyond the tourist areas. Beautiful hotel with a lovely pool area and the villa room is massive. First day we took a tuk tuk. A snip at 4 dollars though we soon realised it wasn’t going to cost that! Palaces and not sure where but a lovely morning. Finishing at the war museum
    Made real by Sinad who talked through the history and his role it was moving and we were reminded how lucky we are. The 15 dollar journey didn’t feel too much after that. They have a all you can eat Buffet different to the ones we’re used to and all the ingredients are raw so each table has two burners to grill and boil.    Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Angkor Wat

    March 11 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    A 4am start was rewarded by a beautiful sunrise over Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple, but later Buddhas were added.
    A private guide worked really well to allow us to manage the pace
    The history was interesting and we learnt a little of Cambodia too.
    We eagerly await our pension but no government organised pensions here The youngest child appears to get the responsibility for living with and caring for their parents
    The visit to Angkor Wat and the other temples was worth the effort of travelling to Cambodia.    Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Siem Reap Botanical Gardens

    March 12 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    After a day of temples, we chose a different day today. Visiting the botanical gardens, it a perfect afternoon strolling round the gardens. We saw how the giant rats were being trained to sniff out landmines that are still causing deaths and are lying undetected mainly across farmland. We ended the day at a lovely restaurant.Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Ho Chi Minh /Saigon

    March 14 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Arrived at lunchtime. Spent time arranging flights and
    decided to make the most of the issue by extending and flying back from Bangkok.
    The city is very different to Hanoi, more cosmopolitan, with a Starbucks! though we are not in the old town here. Skyline is fabulous and we scoped out our own tour for tomorrow. Fancy Japanese toilet is entertaining, not sure I will be having a soak in the outside jacuzzi bath.Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Cu Chi tunnels

    March 15 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Started the day with a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels, 250km underground network used by Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam war. It was both interesting and salutary to see the tunnels for those mainly living in them to the tactics employed to deter the enemy the American soldiers. To hear of agent orange and the long term effects. We crawled through a small few metre section made bigger to accommodate tourists But it was still an experience dark humid and cramped we were glad to get out.Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Ho Chi Minh our walking tour

    March 15 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Lots of walking today, sadly Notre Dame was being renovated, but mooched round the central post office, then book street. Visited the Reunification Palace (Independence Palace) in designed by Ngô Viết Thụ and opened in 1960. It was the home of the South Vietnamese president and marked the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. It restored rooms, a command bunker, were really interesting. The architecture was really iconic 60s, would love it at home. Brief trip to the Market, so busy great atmosphere.Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Bangkok day one

    March 18 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Here we are at our unexpected
    Extra country, due to flight cancellations and the middle
    East. Determined to make the most of it.
    Day one a leisurely start and a taxi to Wat Pho to mainly see the reclining Buddha, the whole complex was extremely impressive and beautiful despite the crowds.
    A Tuk tuk tour ( we should learn) that included the mandatory tailor and jewellery (didn’t have 7k spare for the necklace) shops despite us saying no shops !! All part of the experience. We also saw Wat Sa Ket, part of the area, but lovely and quiet. Finally the Grand aPalace, where Garry was unable to sport his sarong ( only allowed for women) and had to
    Purchase an attractive pair of
    Trousers. It was extremely hot by this time and the coconut milk wasn’t enough to cool us. So we risked a taxi to the sky tower. The sky tower was very impressive with beautiful arial views across the city.    Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    Day 2 Bangkok

    March 19 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Took the BTS train to see Jim Thompson museum. A silk designer from the 60s that built his own traditional home, still preserved and then went to Malaysia and was never see again He designed the fabric for king and I too.
    Spent the evening by the pool overlooking the city, making the most of happy hour. just great !    Read more

  • Jackie RoutledgeVietnam, Cambodia, ThailandJackie Routledge

    The last day.

    March 21 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    An easy chill by the pool resulting in one pink leg and arm. Took the train to central pier and went up and down the river on the hop on and off boat. Spent an hour in the Iconsiam, a huge shopping mall Garry loved it. Pizza by the pool, then an early night for a 5 am start. The party’s over, it’s time to call it a day 🎶Read more

    Trip end
    March 21, 2026