Butterfield &amp; Robinson’s trips often include biking and hiking, though you don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy strolling a serene country lane or pedaling an e-bike on a flat path.&nbsp;The company’s family trips cater to children as young as eight and are designed and test-driven by actual parents to prioritize a balance of family togetherness and adults-only time.&nbsp;Families with young adult offspring may participate in special itineraries for families with older teens and young adult children. A&nbsp;<a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/peru-walking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">walking trip in Peru</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;biking in <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/cambodia-vietnam-biking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cambodia and Vietnam</a>&nbsp;allows your family to bond in a whole new way. The presence of other young people creates the opportunity for peer friendships to blossom.&nbsp;All trips leave room for independent activities and cultural experiences, so you’re not tethered to the group.&nbsp;On Butterfield &amp; Robinson trips, accommodations are curated to fit the region you’re visiting; you’ll never stay at a cookie-cutter chain hotel. And while meticulous planning goes into each trip, you can expect impromptu pitstops and last-minute simple pleasures that make travel so worthwhile.&nbsp;<a href="https://tourscoop.com/best-guided-tour-companies-for-family-tours/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the full story on tourscoop.com &gt; </a>

10 Best Guided Tour Companies for Family Vacations

B&amp;R Veteran Guide Alice Van der Voort reflects on visiting Vietnam and Cambodia with fresh eyes, and her lessons learned on gratitude amidst hardship.

It’s been four years since my last visit to Cambodia and three years since my last trip to Vietnam. Being back after such a long time, I realize how much I’ve missed this place. Seeing the impact of the lockdowns and the hardships that the Khmer people have had to endure due to Covid is heartbreaking. Without tourism, they’ve had to go back to the basics: things like surviving on rice and water.

I was saddened to learn that Mr. Hak, B&amp;R’s head Tuk Tuk driver since 2007, had to sell his new car and move back to his hometown to support his family. He worked so hard for that car and was so proud of this achievement, but he was forced to sell it at a big loss due to the economic impact of the pandemic. But when I arrived, I saw Mr. Hak waiting for me in front of my hotel in his old Tuk Tuk, and the joy of seeing each other again erased the four-year gap between us. We hugged, and he started laughing and smiling, and we were back to our good old times.These moments made me realize the lasting relationships that we've built here. Mr. Hak told me about the many restaurants that closed down due to the pandemic and how he lost a dear friend from Sweden who had supported him and his family for the last ten years. Despite the obstacles he faced, Mr. Hak still managed to focus on the positives. It was heartwarming to see him back to work with his jokes and infectious smile, and I'm grateful for the friendships that have been forged during my time in Cambodia.

On a day off during my trip, I visited the Killing Fields with my friends as they wanted to understand more about the Khmer Rouge regime. Although I prefer not to visit such sights, Mr. Hak dropped us off at the Memorial site. I must warn you, spending an hour here will guarantee that you won't sleep for at least three nights!It is a horrible sight, and nobody speaks. The silence is deafening. When we exited the site, a scooter passed by with two little kids who greeted us with smiles shouting, "Hello, hello!" I was amazed at how quickly they turned the tide. They're so happy to live in the present moment and forget about the past.

This is one of the many reasons why I like to guide expeditions. I believe that we need to experience these emotions, be grateful for where we live, see how other people cope with their problems and enjoy the simplest things in life. They expect only the best, do not worry about tomorrow and cherish every moment.What's more, the colours of the countryside, the little shops, the smell of food, and the background noise of the Tuk Tuks all melt together with the smiles of these lovely people. I am so grateful to be here and witness all of this. It puts me back into the right perspective, which I had lost in the last three years: being grateful instead of resentful. Carpe diem.

In Cambodia, A Return to Gratitude

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Where to Travel this Fall and Winter to Escape the Cold

<h2>Plan Ahead for 2019</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40755 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/kids-seal-galap-400.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="254" />If you’re a long-term planner, clear your schedule for winter 2019! Our most popular trips usually need to be booked a year in advance, especially when it comes to the busy holiday season. Wait any longer, and the best hotels, guides, and spaces for these trips won’t last. 
<h3> 
An eco-adventure to remember in the Galapagos</h3>
Get the jump on Galapagos as you witness Darwin’s beloved islands on an eco-adventure with the whole family. Our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/ecuador-galapagos-family-private/">Ecuador &amp; Galapagos Family Adventure</a> takes you to see the tortoises, sea iguanas, blue-footed boobies, accessing islands by private ship.
Go your own way in the Galapagos. Let Trip Designer <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/veronika-macas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Veronika Macas</a> work her magic!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40754 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/galapagos-jump-732.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="536" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/galapagos-jump-732.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/galapagos-jump-732-410x300.jpg 410w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h3> 
Explore the remotest regions of Patagonia</h3>
Go to the edge of the earth as you explore untamed, wild Patagonia. A place of explorers, rugged glaciers and craggy mountains, we take you into the vastness of the region. Emerge renewed and inspired for just about anything: get further into the wild on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/patagonia-expedition/">Atacama to Patagonia Active Expedition</a> or bring the whole gang along on an unforgettable <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/patagonia-family-adventure/">Patagonia Family Adventure</a>!
Prefer to do Patagonia your way? Reach out to B&amp;R&#8217;s tough-as-nails Patagonia expert, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/amanda-gary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amanda Gary</a>.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40756 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="720" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3> 
Embrace Safari Season </h3>
From the rainbow sprays of Victoria Falls to some of the most luxurious lodges on the continent, gain early access to the best. From seeing the Hemingway-approved “most beautiful lake” on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/ecuador-galapagos-family-private/">Northern Tanzania Walking Safari</a> to marvelling at the balancing granite boulders at the Matobo Hills on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/zimbabwe-active-expedition/">Zimbabwe Active Expedition</a>—or simply enjoying the lush urban playground that is Cape Town on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/south-africa-walking-safari/">South Africa Walking Safari</a>, there’s reason to return again and again.
Our Africa experts can help design the trip of your dreams. Get in touch with our dream weavers, a.k.a. Trip Designers <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/michele-harvey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michele Harvey</a> and <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/christine-tucker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christine Tucker</a>.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40758 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cape-town-960.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="402" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cape-town-960.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cape-town-960-480x201.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cape-town-960-768x322.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3> 
Adventure your way through Costa Rica</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40759 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/costa-rica-horse-400.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="279" />Costa Rica’s a green paradise year-round, filled as it is with rainforests, a symphony of nocturnal animals at nightfall, and plenty of activities during the day to satisfy the thrill-seeker in you. Make the most out of life, Tico-style on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/costa-rica-active-expedition/">Costa Rica Active Expedition</a> or a <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/costa-rica-family-private/">Costa Rica Family Adventure</a> which will have you horseback riding along the beach, zip lining through the rainforest, and kayaking through mangroves!
Prefer to go private in Costa Rica? We know a guy: our oh-so-talented Trip Designer, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/steve-wilson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Wilson</a>, can call in a few favours.
<h3> 
Yucatan Peninsula and Baja</h3>
After over a decade, we’re back to explore the offbeat regions of Mexico. Brand new, head on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/baja-family-adventure/">Baja Family Adventure</a> to snorkel, surf, and swim (perhaps along gentle giants, whale sharks) along the wild coastline of Baja California. Our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/yucatan-active-expedition/">Yucatan Active Expedition</a> brings you on a pilgrimage to ancient Mayan ruins, marvelling at the spectacular Chichen Itza, swimming in cenotes and ending in chic Tulum.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40760 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/izamal-732.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="488" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/izamal-732.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/izamal-732-450x300.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />

Ask The Experts: Advice on Holiday Travel

Laos

<h3>Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos</h3>
A symbol of Lao nationalism and the most important national monument in the country, this golden Buddhist stupa is surrounded by legend: that Indian missionaries created the structure to house a piece of the Buddha’s breastbone in the 3rd c. It has been reconstructed several times, most recently after the Second World War. There is also a large statue of King Jayavarman VII from the Khmer empire here.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-37584 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed.jpg" alt="Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3>Wat Xieng Thong, Laos</h3>
An intricately constructed Buddhist temple initially built in the 1550s, this &#8216;golden temple&#8217; is revered throughout the country for its importance in Laotian history. The site of many festivities and of the coronation of all the Lao kings, this gateway to Luang Prabang spectacularly borders the Mekong River. With about twenty structures on site, you will find a massive 12-metre funerary carriage, golden-covered walls, rare buddhas, and mythical naga serpents guarding nearly every corner, augmented by beautiful ornamental gardens. Here, this intertwining of religion and spirituality, artistry and royal history makes it one of my favourite places to visit time and time again.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-50186 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos.png" alt="Wat Xieng Thong, Laos" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos-768x480.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3>Bayon Temple, Cambodia</h3>
Built at the end of the 12th c. by the most powerful Khmer monarch of all, King Jayavarman VII, who converted the entire Khmer empire to Buddhism, this spectacular site is renowned for its stone-carved ‘face towers’ which are meant to represent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalokite%C5%9Bvara">Lokesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion</a>, but the faces also resemble the king himself! oversee the landscape, as well as bas-relief galleries depicting Cambodian life and history.   
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-50188 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia.png" alt="Bayon Temple, Cambodia" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-768x480.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
&nbsp;
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-50189 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1.png" alt="Bayon Temple, Cambodia" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1-768x480.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></h3>
<h3>Ninh Binh, Vietnam</h3>
Truly one of Vietnam’s hidden jewels, the jaw-dropping rural beauty of Ninh Binh is truly some of the finest in Southeast Asia. If you&#8217;re into supernatural scenery, this northern coastal region has it all. Marvel at soaring limestone mountains, lush green hills amidst a wild profusion of nature: underground cave systems, emerald rivers snaking through valleys, steep stone steps winding through mountain paths, and temples carved out of mountainsides. Your camera won&#8217;t do it justice.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-50187 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam.png" alt="Ninh Binh, Vietnam" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam-768x480.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
&nbsp;

7 Most Scenic Spots in Southeast Asia

Hotels

See + Do

<h4>Metropole Hanoi: Colonial Flair</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36831 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-room-350px-cmopressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="262" />With an unmistakable neoclassical vibe, this old-world hotel, built in 1901 and designed by the French, graces Vietnam’s capital city with colonial elegance. From its twinkling lanterns, original wrought iron exterior and green wooden shutters to the crisp interiors, rich in mahogany and teak contrasted against crisp white linens and rich furnishings, there’s no question that your stay will be impeccable. (Ambassadors and foreign dignitaries, actors, authors, and royals are among those who have stayed here).
Located in the French Quarter of Hanoi, steps from the Opera House and from the banks of the Red River, you’re free to explore the best of the city from this ideal home base. A curious side note: the Metropole recently rediscovered and re-opened its subterranean air raid shelter, its tightly packed tunnels (Joan Baez spent time here during the Christmas air raids of 1972) are now open for tours, to hotel guests only.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36825 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="696" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed-414x300.png 414w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed-768x557.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed-828x600.png 828w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h4>Emeralda Ninh Binh: A Hidden Gem</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36846 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Emeralda-Pavilion-350px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="234" />Truly one of Vietnam’s hidden jewels, the jaw-dropping rural beauty of Ninh Binh is amongst the finest in Southeast Asia.
It’s the scenery that you’re here for: set amidst the soaring green limestone mountains, you’ll find temples and pagodas, amidst a wild profusion of nature: underground cave systems, emerald rivers snaking through valleys, steep stone steps winding through mountain paths, and temples carved out of mountainsides. (Its cinematic wonders aren’t lost on Hollywood: the region served as a backdrop for the recent Kong: Skull Island movie). The richness of this area with its unexpected beauty and drama makes the hotel an ideal upscale hideaway with a casual and family-friendly feel.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36847 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h4>We Also Love: Pilgrimage Village</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36828 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Pilgrimage-Village3-Pool-350px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="235" />A resort located just outside of the city of Hue, this family-run resort is one of our favourites for its welcoming atmosphere and charming staff, even if it isn’t the fanciest. Just a short drive away from town, this welcoming and family-friendly resort features a variety of lodging styles, from multi-bedroom villas to individual rooms.
Relax at the mirrored pool amidst thatched umbrellas, or head into the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hue, the old imperial capital, resplendent with its ‘forbidden city’ of old, and rich in royal traditions (from some of Vietnam’s most delicious regional foods, to the invention of the Vietnamese national dress for women, the ao dai).
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36851 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vietnam-1235938_1920-HUE-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="436" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vietnam-1235938_1920-HUE-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vietnam-1235938_1920-HUE-960px-compressed-480x218.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vietnam-1235938_1920-HUE-960px-compressed-768x349.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

<h2>Cambodia</h2>
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Cambodia is similar to Saigon in that the temperature doesn’t change so much throughout the year. That said, you’ll find more consistent thunderstorms in the afternoon; one can almost guarantee afternoon rain from April through November.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as <a href="https://weatherspark.com/y/114683/Average-Weather-in-Siem-Reap-Cambodia">Siem Reap</a> can feel pretty dusty and hot by the end of March. The much-needed showers add gorgeous green to the atmosphere and even freshens up the air temperature for a couple hours before the next day clouds overdevelop and shower again. 
Best trip: <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/cambodia-bistro-biking-private/">Cambodia Biking</a>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35496 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c.png" alt="" width="960" height="643" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c-448x300.png 448w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c-768x514.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c-896x600.png 896w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>Laos</h2>
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The residents of <a href="https://weatherspark.com/y/114340/Average-Weather-in-Luang-Prabang-Laos">Luang Prabang</a> prepare for rain to start falling in mid-April. If you’re lucky enough to be there in April, don’t miss <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran_(Lao)">Songkran</a>, a water festival to celebrate the Lao New Year and the imminent arrival of rain. The whole town, travellers included, participates in a massive three-day water fight. With your phone in a Ziploc bag and Super Soaker water gun in hand, it’s great fun! The fall in Luang Prabang is ideal for travel. In the winter months, the town can get a bit foggy and cooler in the mornings, but still great for biking. By the time March and April roll around, it gets hot, humid, and muggy. 
Best trip: <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/laos-biking-private/">Laos Biking</a>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35499 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c.png" alt="" width="960" height="625" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c-461x300.png 461w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c-768x500.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c-922x600.png 922w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

The best way to see Southeast Asia: by bike!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34540 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sea_kids-350c.png" alt="" width="350" height="374" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sea_kids-350c.png 350w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sea_kids-350c-281x300.png 281w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />I’d be amiss to skip over B&amp;R’s favourite way to explore the world, by two wheels, so here are a few of my favourite routes and rides. If you’re trying to decide where to go, ask yourself what your activity level is, or what type of ride you’re seeking – hilly, flat, scenic, or with a lot of spots along the way to stop at?
If you want a mellow ride that’s relatively flat, my favourite ride in the Mekong Delta features a jaunt through local markets, rice paddies blowing in the breeze, and sometimes even joining along in the commute with local kids on their way to school!
For something hilly that will challenge your legs further, one of my favourite climbs is in Luang Prabang, Laos, as well as along the Hai Van Pass between Hoi An and Hue, Vietnam. The Hai Van Pass is particularly scenic with its twisting road, and was of strategic importance in Vietnamese military history. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34554 alignleft" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/haivan-350-c.png" alt="" width="350" height="234" />
Biking the terrain in Northern Vietnam is also something I’m particular to: you will cross rivers, pass through rural villages, and even travel amongst towering limestone peaks. Feel like an adventurer and supplement your rides by taking a local boat through tunnels or hiking dramatic ‘dragon spine’ mountains for the full experience.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34548 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
I’ve already touched upon this if you head to Cambodia, but the loveliest scenic bike routes are, unsurprisingly, found when you leisurely pedal from one splendid temple to another. The roads are flat, and you’ll find some nice 10 to 15 km stretches that will give you some room to open up and speed up. (Also, there are less chickens along the road to slow you down!)
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34551 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c.png" alt="" width="960" height="638" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c-451x300.png 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c-768x510.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c-903x600.png 903w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

<h2>Specialty Markets</h2>
<h3>Flower Markets</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-full wp-image-32900" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-Flowers.png" alt="" width="400" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-Flowers.png 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-Flowers-225x300.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />Maybe I’m a hopeless romantic, but I love flower markets. (Or maybe I’d just rather look at flowers than raw chickens.)
The all-day and often visited flower market in <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/03/31/ho-chi-minh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ho Chi Minh City</a> remains wonderful, but my favourite is the 4 a.m. market in <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/05/deep-hanoi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hanoi</a>. It’s at the terminus of the bike bridge over the Red River and is a wholesale market with local villagers coming in and selling to vendors that will re-sell around the city. It’s fantastic.
<h3>Votive Markets</h3>
I also like the votive offering markets. These are the paper displays of money, clothes and other items that are burned as an offering to ancestors that they can use in the afterlife.
In the weeks leading up to Tet (more on that below), these markets triple in size, and it’s fascinating and fun to walk through them and appreciate the scale of this, taking in paper versions of cars, mopes, cigarettes and more.
<hr />
<h2>Spontaneous Stops</h2>
<h3>A Random River Float</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-full wp-image-32902" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-Rafts.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" />One of my favourite spontaneous stops was on a bike ride in Ninh Binh, in northern Vietnam.
I was biking with six travellers and we were having a good time riding along a river.
We stopped to drink water and there were some bamboo rafts parked in front of us on the river bank. One of the travellers jokingly said, “Wouldn’t it be fun to ride those rafts?”
After some quick negotiating, we were each onboard a raft and floating down the river with our bikes floating on a separate raft beside us. We floated to the next bridge, where we continued our ride, and this became the running joke for the rest of the week.
<h3>A Quick Dip</h3>
I am also a big fan of swimming if the water looks good. I always have a good supply of towels in the van and if it’s hot, the biking clothes dry fast.
Biking along a great coastal road on the far side of Hai Van Pass was a place I often swam when I was on my research trips.
<figure id="attachment_32904" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32904" style="width: 752px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-32904" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-beach.png" alt="" width="752" height="499" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-beach.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-beach-452x300.png 452w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-32904" class="wp-caption-text">Body surfing, anyone?</figcaption></figure>
On this one trip, the waves were good and I convinced 18 fully clothed travellers to body surf in the waves of Lang Co Beach (pictured above). The body surfing was followed by a great lunch, and lots of wet clothes that dried during our bike ride.
<hr />
<h2>Tet</h2>
<h3>A New Year I&#8217;ll Never Forget</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-32906 size-full alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-monkey.png" width="350" height="231" />
Travelling in Vietnam during Tet (the Vietnamese New Year, which takes place in late January) is a total blast.
The whole country is like one big street party. On one of my favourite trips, we were hiking in a remote village on the Ninh Van Penninsula.
We stumbled across a travelling troop of performers doing flips and pranks. I think they just roam villages during Tet and collect money from tips.
They were dressed up as the Hanuman and his friend, the mischievous monkey who goes on adventures through Nepal, India and China. We watched the random show in this tiny fishing village, hugged the monkey and had a great day. (To read more about the experience, check out <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Dolce_Story_Web.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this article</a> I wrote for Dolce magazine.)

family

<h2>5. Dolomites</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32919 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/dolomites-family-300x400.png" alt="mountain climbing in the Dolomites" width="300" height="400" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/dolomites-family-300x400.png 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/dolomites-family-300x400-225x300.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Uncover Italy&#8217;s best-kept secret with the family and explore the incredible Dolomites mountain region. Perfect for large families, the activity can be dialled up or down for people of all abilities and you&#8217;re sure to be in good hands with the local mountain guides to assist.
Shoot up the mountain on an e-bike, head out on a leisurely walk or opt for a challenging trek. Looking for a new and exciting activity? Try paragliding, rock climbing or heli-hiking. In the Dolomites, the options are endless and the views are outstanding. Combine this region with Venice on our <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/dolomites-family-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dolomites to Venice Family Adventure</a> for a truly unforgettable family experience.
<h2>6. Arizona</h2>
Whether horseback riding among iconic Saguaro cacti, flying over the wonder that is the Grand Canyon or learning about the unique flora and fauna (or, as you can put it to the kids: cool cacti and awesome animals), Arizona offers an amazing array of activities for the whole family. Ride horses, hike through deserts and enjoy desserts under the stars. Here, adventure awaits at every turn.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-32348 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cool-family-vacation-ideas-Arizona.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="350" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cool-family-vacation-ideas-Arizona.jpg 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cool-family-vacation-ideas-Arizona-480x223.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
<h2>7. Iceland<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32230 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iceland-600x600-300x300.jpg" alt="iceland-600x600" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iceland-600x600-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iceland-600x600.jpg 600w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iceland-600x600-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></h2>
Done family reunion picnics to death?
Iceland is especially perfect for those seeking adventure.
Push the boundaries with epic waterfalls, Northern Lights, otherworldly vistas and hidden hot springs. By journey’s end, even your surliest niece will plead to stay longer.
But don&#8217;t take my word for it. Instead, check out photos from traveller Ken Finkelstein&#8217;s <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/08/24/in-pictures-a-perfect-icelandic-itinerary/">family trip to Iceland</a>.
The trip was such a success that they went back a second time (in the same year!) for a winter adventure.
<h2>8. Ireland</h2>
Want to get everyone together but worried about the stress of logistics, moving around and keeping everybody happy?
Consider a <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/custom/ireland-bespoke/">private castle stay in Ireland</a>.
Ideal for families or private groups, you and your clan will unpack once and explore from a home base.
Whether you’re heading back to your Irish roots or simply looking to immerse yourself in true Celtic culture, the kids will never forget that time they slept in a <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2016/10/31/best-hotels-ireland/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medieval castle</a> and honed their skills with an archery lesson.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31860 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Best-Hotels-Ireland-Ashford2.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="400" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Best-Hotels-Ireland-Ashford2.jpg 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Best-Hotels-Ireland-Ashford2-480x255.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
<h2>9. Tuscany</h2>
A villa stay in Tuscany is another perfect setting for families wanting to unpack once with access to a broad range of activities delivered straight to your door. From painting to flag throwing, pizza making to cooking demonstrations, Tuscany is the perfect home base for you to sit back and relax while the kids jump from activity to activity.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-32917 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/tuscany-family-752x500.png" alt="" width="752" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/tuscany-family-752x500.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/tuscany-family-752x500-451x300.png 451w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
Set off each day with an active morning with your group then unwind by the pool in the afternoon. Mid-day meals are as many events as they are refuelling and dinners at the villa in the evening allow for super convenient meals with flexible menus to please everyone in the family. Talk to a seasoned Trip Designer about <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/tuscany-bespoke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuscany Bespoke</a> options for your family.
<h2>10. Galapagos</h2>
Bring the family to explore the land that stirred Darwin and turned science on its ear.
Here, you can sail into a turquoise cove with no other boats in sight, sit yourself down on a lava rock, and watch a baby sea lion sneak up for a closer inspection.
Spot <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/08/15/5-must-see-galapagos-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rare animals </a>with the kids, like the Galapagos tortoise and blue-footed boobies. Then, walk barefoot down a powdery white beach while they distractedly snorkel in the crystal-clear waters.
An <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/ecuador-galapagos-bespoke">Ecuador &amp; Galapagos Family Adventure</a> is sure to provide your family with memories they’ll treasure endlessly.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-32801 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/galapagos-2-752x500.png" alt="" width="752" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/galapagos-2-752x500.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/galapagos-2-752x500-451x300.png 451w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
&nbsp;

10 of the Coolest Places on Earth to Take Your Entire Family

Eat &amp; Drink

Chef Q&amp;A

Thailand

In your book, Hot Sour Salty Sweet, you explore the cuisine in multiple countries along the Mekong River and recognize that the flavours and tastes from the surrounding countries were all closely related. How does Northern Thai cuisine differentiate itself from the rest?
In one region you can find the food of another, but they all have very distinct cuisines.
Northern Thailand has strong regional traditions and very intense flavours. There’s a pushiness and intensity of the flavours and spices that you don’t find in other regions.
In Northern Thai cuisine many things are steamed to cook and the grill is primarily used to flavour dishes. Chilies, garlic and shallots are all grilled first, then combined into a sauce or salsa, similarly to how it’s done in Mexico.
Since the grill is used to flavour, they grill over charcoal to create these lovely and intense sauces, like nam prik pao, for example.
Your latest cookbook on Persian cuisine focuses on a number of countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Kurdistan. Can you define this cuisine and how it differs from Thai cuisine?
The food in the Persian culinary region is representative of more temperament climate conditions. They use nuts more, to give meaning to food through the sauces.
There is much less fish in the culinary world of the Caucasus Mountains, and fruit plays a big role in the culinary flavours. In Thailand, the focus is more on bitter and aromatic leaves. In the Persian region, they use tart fruits and fresh herbs, because of the desert and drier climate in places like Southern Iran.
Similar to Thailand, rice is a big part of the cuisine. It differs in many ways though. In Thailand and most of Southeast Asia, jasmine rice is served as bread, used to balance out dishes and accompany the strong flavours of the main dish.
In Persian culinary tradition, basmati rice is important and flavoured while it cooks with salt and seasoning. They typically use flatbread as their plain dish to be served alongside strong flavours.
What’s your best advice for getting past the fear travellers sometimes have of eating in markets. It can be an overwhelming place, so how does one start?
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32391 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Thai-Market.png" alt="thai-market" width="350" height="234" />There are typically a few reasons people struggle with eating in markets; the concern for cleanliness and the overwhelming variety of choices.
Generally, in Thailand, there is a huge emphasis on cleanliness. There’s plenty of water in Thailand and the locals are known for showering to refresh themselves from the heat multiple times a day!
Many times I’ve entered friends’ homes and they ask if I’d like to refresh myself with a shower. It also helps to rest your body temperature.
This emphasis on cleanliness means that you don’t smell rotting fish in the markets, and the clean-up is so thorough that when they’re done for the day you can’t even tell there was a market there! This is especially impressive given the tropical climate.
Addressing the amount of choice, I’d recommend you don’t bother trying things you know you don’t like and don’t waste any eating opportunity on a western dish you could get back home. It’s important to try the local cuisine to help get an appreciation for the region and a true sense of the food landscape.
When travelling from Northern Vietnam to Southern Vietnam, the classic Vietnamese Pho dish changes along the way. What dishes change in a similar fashion from Myanmar into Chiang Mai? Is there a specific dish travellers should look for?
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32393 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Khao-soi.png" alt="khao-soi" width="350" height="263" />Khao soi (see recipe, below) is a dish widely served in Northern Thailand that is Burmese-influenced. It’s similar to Ohno khao swe, the Burmese noodle dish that is also a coconut milk-based dish.
These dishes are very different but are related, as you can even see by their names. Also, generally, there is much less chilli heat used in Myanmar than in Northern Thailand so most dishes are different for that reason.
How do you think food helps one understand a place?
I’ve always seen the world through food, it’s the best window into a culture. I love taking groups into a region and focusing not on hands-on cooking but on seeing the world through food.
If you had one tip for travellers heading into the region, what would it be?
What’s most important is that you look at a topographic map to get an understanding of where you’re going.
Look at the mountains. Acknowledge where the Burma border lies. Observe where the Mekong winds.
In Chiang Mai, you’re at a meeting place of cultures, where the lowlands meet the mountains. From town, you can see the hills, and it’s remarkable to think that Myanmar is just across the mountains.
It may seem close, but back in the day, those were very hard to cross. When you travel by plane sometimes you forget where you are and how you got there.
Understanding by taking the time to look at a map beforehand will leave you with a real appreciation for the region and a sense of wonder to see where you are in relation to the rest of Southeast Asia.
Editor&#8217;s Note: Naomi was kind enough to share the below recipe and excerpt from her book, <a href="http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/p/104862/mcms.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hot Sour Salty Sweet</a>, coauthored with Jeffrey Alford.

<h2>Recipe: Chiang Mai Curry Noodles</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-32395 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chiang-Mai-Curry-339x300.jpg" alt="" width="339" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chiang-Mai-Curry-339x300.jpg 339w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chiang-Mai-Curry-768x681.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chiang-Mai-Curry-677x600.jpg 677w" sizes="(max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px" />
We&#8217;re told by friends in Chiang Mai, Thailand&#8217;s northern capital, that this noodle dish is originally from the Shan State of Burma; others say it came with Muslim traders from Yunnan.
Whatever the story, khao soi is now known as a Chiang Mai specialty. It&#8217;s an easy-to-make, very rich and delicious one-dish meal.
The broth that bathes the noodles is flavoured with a little curry paste, turmeric, and garlic and is smooth and thick with coconut milk. Traditionally khao soi is made, as it is here, with beef; you can also make it with chicken.
The recipe calls for Chinese egg noodles, available from most Chinese groceries. They come in one-pound packages and are about linguine width and pale yellow. The cooked noodles are placed in large individual bowls and the curry sauce is poured over them when the dish is served.
Khao soi is usually topped with a small nest of crispy noodles, egg noodles that have been briefly deep-fried; they add a delightful contrasting texture. There is a small array of condiments traditionally served with khao soi; don&#8217;t worry if you don&#8217;t have pickled cabbage.
<h3>Khao soi &#8211; Northern Thailand</h3>
<h5>Serves 4</h5>
<h5>Ingredients:</h5>
2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled 
1-inch piece fresh turmeric, minced, or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 
1 teaspoon salt, plus a pinch 
1 tablespoon Red Curry Paste (page 210 or store-bought) 
1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil 
3 cups canned or fresh coconut milk, with 2 cup of the thickest milk set aside 
2 pound boneless flavorful beef (sirloin tip or trimmed stewing beef), cut into 2-inch chunks 
1 tablespoon sugar 
1 cup water 
3 tablespoons Thai fish sauce 
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 
Peanut oil for deep-frying noodles (optional) 
1 pound Chinese egg noodles (bamee)
<h5>Toppings &amp; Condiments</h5>
Fried noodle nests (optional; see below) 
2 cup coarsely chopped shallots 
2 cup minced scallions 
2 cup Pickled Cabbage, Thai Style 
1 lime, cut into wedges
<h5>Directions:</h5>
Place the garlic in a mortar with the turmeric and the pinch of salt and pound to a paste. Alternatively, finely mince the garlic and whole turmeric, if using, and place the garlic and turmeric in a small bowl with a pinch of salt.
Stir in the red curry paste and set aside.
Place a large heavy pot or wok over high heat.
Add the 1 tablespoon oil and, when it is hot, toss in the curry paste mixture.
Stir-fry for 3 seconds, then add the reserved 1/2 cup thick coconut milk and lower the heat to medium-high.
Add the meat and sugar and cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes, until the meat has 
changed colour all over.
Add the remaining 1/2 cups coconut milk, the water, fish sauce, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook at a strong simmer 
for about 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice. (The soup can be prepared up to an hour ahead, then reheated just before serving.)
Meanwhile, make the optional crispy noodles:
Place a plate lined with several layers of paper towels by your stove. Place a large wok or heavy pot over high heat and add about 1 cup peanut oil.
When the oil is hot, drop in a strand of uncooked noodles to test the temperature. It should sizzle slightly as it falls to the bottom, then immediately puff and rise to the surface; adjust the heat slightly, if necessary.
Toss a handful (about 1 cup) of noodles into the oil and watch as they puff up. Use a spatula or long tongs to turn them over and expose all of them to the hot oil. They will crisp up very quickly, in less than 1 minute.
Lift the crisped noodles out of the oil and place on the paper towel-lined plate. Give the oil a moment to come back to temperature, and then repeat with a second handful of noodles. (The noodles can be fried ahead and left standing for several hours.)
To serve, bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil over high heat. Drop in the remaining noodles (or all noodles, if you didn&#8217;t make crispy noodles), bring back to a boil, and cook until tender but not mushy, about 6 minutes. Drain well.
Divide the drained noodles among four large bowls. Ladle over the broth and meat. Top with crispy noodles, if you have them, and a pinch each of shallots and scallions.
Serve with the remaining condiments set out in small bowls so guests can garnish their soup as they wish. Provide each guest with chopsticks and a large spoon.
<hr />
Excerpted from Hot Sour Salty Sweet by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. Copyright © 2000 Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. Excerpted with permission from Random House Canada, an imprint of RH Canadian Publishing., a division of Penguin Random House of Canada Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Taste Your Way Through Thailand: An Interview with Author Naomi Duguid

Resto

Travel Tips

<h5></h5>
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-30569 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Khmer-Kitchen-450x300.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Khmer-Kitchen-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Khmer-Kitchen.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><a style="font-size: 16px;" href="http://www.khmerkitchens.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khmer Kitchen</a></h3>
“Local” restaurants are a dime a dozen these days, but 15 years ago the Khemer Kitchen was the only game in town.
And ever since, it has remained a shining light of friendly service in a casual setting. You can leave your credit card at home, just be sure to come with at least ten dollars – you&#8217;ll likely spend less than that per person!
<h3><a href="https://www.thesugarpalm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sugar Palm</a></h3>
A traditional home-style comfort food spot that&#8217;s famous for it&#8217;s Amok.
They have a big menu with lots of vegetarian options and the food is great.
<h3><a href="http://www.chanreytree.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chanrey Tree</a></h3>
Chanrey Tree has been around for a couple of years now and probably offers the best balance between fancy and good in town. They&#8217;re in a great location on the river and have terrific, friendly service.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-30574 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Chanrey-Tree.jpg" alt="best restaurants in Siem Reap - Chanrey Tree" width="855" height="350" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Chanrey-Tree.jpg 855w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Chanrey-Tree-480x196.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Chanrey-Tree-768x314.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px" />
<h3><a href="http://www.cuisinewatdamnak.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cuisine Wat Damnak</a></h3>
After many years of trying, I finally got to eat at the most famous game in town. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait – I will definitely be heading back.
Fantastic Cambodian food cooked by a top French chef and served by his lovely partner. The whole thing is set in a traditional Khmer home and it just works.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-30575 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Cuisine-Wat-Damnak.jpg" alt="best restaurants in Siem Reap - Cuisine Wat Damnak" width="750" height="495" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Cuisine-Wat-Damnak.jpg 750w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Cuisine-Wat-Damnak-455x300.jpg 455w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" />
<h3><a href="https://www.spoonscambodia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spoons</a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-45125 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/spoons.jpg" alt="Best Restaurants in Siem Reap" width="380" height="253" />This special local restaurant not only serves delicious Cambodian food but is also driven by an important social purpose. Spoons is part of an organization that trains underserved young Cambodians for careers in hospitality. Yes, it&#8217;s a training restaurant, but under the tutelage of experts, they produce excellent cuisine!
Beneath a bamboo canopy, sample a wide array of Khmer dishes, including their scrumptious chicken wings with amok sauce!
<hr />
<h3>The Verdict</h3>
After sampling amok and many other tasty delicacies at (what I consider) to be the best restaurants in Siem Reap, I have to confess that for my money, the best dinner option in the city is the three-dollar (that&#8217;s right – three dollars!) curry from Khmer Kitchen.
Feeling inspired to taste your way through Siem Reap? Get inspired and start planning your trip with Nathan.

Accolades

TravelAge West

Butterfield and Robinson's New Luxury Mekong Voyage

<h3><a href="https://www.aman.com/resorts/amansara" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amansara</a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-29359 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Amansara-Siem-Reap-resized-382x300.jpg" alt="Amansara, Siem Reap" width="382" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Amansara-Siem-Reap-resized-382x300.jpg 382w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Amansara-Siem-Reap-resized.jpg 763w" sizes="(max-width: 382px) 100vw, 382px" />Think: Zen mellow meets luxury. Horizontal lines. A khaki &amp; black colour scheme.
Basically, this is an oasis of calm in bustling Siem Reap. This place is ideal for a relaxed visit or a honeymoon stay. My favourite element is the preserved original structure that now houses the restaurant, which, if you’ve got the same cultural reference points as me, makes you feel as if you’ve descended into a James Bond movie from the 60’s—directly into the secret layer of Dr. No.
Vodka martini, anyone?
If I were to change one thing: It’s not ideal for groups or families as the vibe leans toward hush hush rather than ha ha (read: you’re not encouraged to have loud fun).
Room category I prefer: <a href="https://www.aman.com/resorts/amansara/suites/pool-suite" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pool Suite</a>
<h3><a href="https://angkor.shintamani.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shinta Mani Angkor &amp; the Bensley Collection Pool Villas</a></h3>
Meet a hotel with a social purpose. Shinta Mani is doing just about everything right in terms of training and support for the community in which it resides. On top of the social aspect, the food is excellent and the entire hotel is designed in authentic Khmer style by renowned architect <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/bill-bensley-profile" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bill Bensley</a> who found inspiration in the nearby temples of Angkor Wat.
If I were to change one thing: I would make the rooms just a touch bigger.
Room category I prefer: <a href="https://angkor.shintamani.com/rooms/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pool Room</a>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-29342 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Shinta-Mani-Siem-Reap-960x540.jpg" alt="Shinta Mani, Siem Reap" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Shinta-Mani-Siem-Reap-960x540.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Shinta-Mani-Siem-Reap-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Shinta-Mani-Siem-Reap-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3><a href="https://www.treelinehotels.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Treeline Urban Resort</a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-45118 size-full alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/treeline-urban-resort.jpg" alt="" width="380" height="253" />As the name suggests, this hotel aims to raise you to another perspective, with its pool, bar and terrace sitting literally at the treeline! The Cambodian property owner lent a hand in the design, which shows in the attention to detail, like the installations and works of local artists in the shaded courtyard and rooms, which change four times a year.
Natural materials, a zero-plastic policy and all-organic hygiene products add to the holistic feel. You&#8217;ll find restaurants and the exciting Siem Reap nightlife mere steps away.
If I were to change one thing: A higher-end restaurant on-site or adjacent would be a great addition!
<h3><a href="https://www.jayahouseriverparksiemreap.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jaya House River Park</a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-45117 size-full alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/jaya.jpg" alt="" width="380" height="214" />An irresistible package of sustainability, luxury and style, this boutique hotel engages fully in the natural and cultural life of Siem Reap: they have planted 849 trees around their location on the Siem Reap River and have eliminated 95% of their plastic waste.
Intriguing art and garden displays in the beautiful grounds add to the fresh, dynamic feel. The high number of return visitors at this hotel shows that their commitment to sustainability, environmental and otherwise, has been a wise choice. If you’d rather spend a day at the hotel, the stunning pools and spa (one free hour of treatment per day!) invite you to relax and refresh in an oasis of tranquillity.
If I were to change one thing: The hotel is a bit of a walk from dining options or the bustling city center, but that’s also part of its tranquil natural charm. Plus, with the free tuk-tuk service and loaner mobile phone provided, this doesn’t pose much of a problem!
<h3><a href="http://www.maisonpolanka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maison Polanka</a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-29349 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/maison-polanka-siem-reap-resizedx2-449x300.jpg" alt="Maison Polanka, Siem Reap" width="449" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/maison-polanka-siem-reap-resizedx2-449x300.jpg 449w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/maison-polanka-siem-reap-resizedx2.jpg 705w" sizes="(max-width: 449px) 100vw, 449px" />This little Eden is my secret favorite (I really tried to be impartial). The layout features two private villas with a couple of rooms branched around tropical gardens and a classic pool. As you could say of the original Eden, this property is virtuous and tranquil with a twist of French style and service (the latter, my projection). I’m just waiting for the perfect group to do a complete takeover of this property, really let their hair loose and love it.
If I were to change one thing: Actually I wouldn’t, but I would prefer to use it exclusively for full takeovers. Not to exhaust the metaphor, but in such an intimate space it’s nice to know you’ve got it all to yourself: True Eden styles.
Room category I prefer: <a href="http://www.maisonpolanka.com/suites/khmer-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khmer House</a>
<h3><a href="https://www.salalodges.com/house/house-bram-bei/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sala Lodge </a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-51624 alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sala-Lodges-300x300.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sala-Lodges-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sala-Lodges-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sala-Lodges.jpeg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />These authentic Cambodia houses have been lovingly rebuilt into a stunning hotel in the tranquil countryside. Each room boasts unique histories and architecture. The oldest date from the late 1950s. A 4-star stay full of love, attention and the occasional bug:
If I were to change one thing:  Somehow a bit higher end services so it could be this but 5 star.
Villa I prefer: <a href="https://www.salalodges.com/house/house-bram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bram Bei</a>
&nbsp;

Insider's Guide: The Top 9 Hotels in Siem Reap

Experts + Insiders: Dane Tredway

Need to Know

Cities

In Deep

<h2>After the Vietnam War</h2>
Later, from 1954 to 1975, Saigon was the capital of the independent state of South Vietnam. At the conclusion of the Vietnam War, on April 30, 1975, the city came under the control of the Vietnamese People&#8217;s Army, and in 1976, upon the establishment of the unified communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chí Minh City in honour of the late communist leader Ho Chí Minh. The former name Saigon is still widely used by many Vietnamese, especially in informal contexts, and the word &#8220;Saigon&#8221; can also be found on shop signs all over the country, even in <a title="Hanoi" href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/05/deep-hanoi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hanoi</a>. (It&#8217;s also worth noting that one of the city&#8217;s boroughs, District 1, is still named Saigon. Often the entire city will be referred to as Saigon when speaking of this district, much as the name New York is often used when people refer to Manhattan.)
<h2>The Man Himself: Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969)</h2>
Born in 1890, Ho Chí Minh spent more than 30 years of his life outside of Vietnam. He spent time working in New York and studying in Moscow and Paris, giving him an intimate understanding of both the Americans and the French. Perhaps this is why he was able to defeat both. His communist activities began early on with his studies of Marxism after the end of the First World War. Not only was he the founder of the Viet Minh (Vietnamese Communist Party), he was also a founding member of the French Communist Party in Paris. In 1925, he established the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League in Canton, China, thereby beginning his long struggle for Vietnamese independence. Twenty years later, Ho Chí Minh declared the independence of the Republic of Vietnam in Ba Dinh Square shortly after the defeat of the Japanese forces in China. Ironically, he based his famous speech on the American Declaration of Independence.
The French surrendered to the Viet Minh after the battle of Dien Bien Phu on May 7, 1954, thereby ending French Colonial rule. The Geneva Accords were signed in 1956, dividing the country into the North and the South at the 17th parallel. The Americans were determined not to allow the South to fall to Ho’s communist forces. Ho died in 1969, so when Saigon fell to the Viet Cong in 1975, he was not there to see his dream of a unified Vietnam come true. His body was preserved by the same doctor who worked on both Lenin in Moscow and Mao in Beijing. Ho lies in state in a glass case within the <a title="Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum" href="http://www.bqllang.gov.vn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mausoleum</a> in <a title="Hanoi" href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/05/deep-hanoi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hanoi</a>, which is open for visitation in the mornings only.

In Deep: Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon)

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Taking a Walking Tour...

Must Sees

Monuments

The temples are a testimony to the golden age of the Angkorian period. About 40 principal temples were built around the site of Angkor, spread across an area of about 400 square kilometres (250 miles). Hundreds more were built throughout the Khmer kingdom and can be found in present-day Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Other Angkorian temples include the ninth-century Roluos Temple Group, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei and Bayon.
<h5>Temple Architecture</h5>
As with many other aspects of their early culture, Indian architectural methods influenced the Cambodians. When the Hindu religion took root in Cambodia around the second or third century, many temples were built to honour Hindu gods and epic heroes, but by the seventh to eighth centuries Khmer architecture began to develop independent of Indian architectural influence. It flourished under ambitious kings who ruled an empire rich in manpower and wealth, and it was under these kings in the 11th and 12th centuries that the largest projects were undertaken at Angkor.
Jayavarman II introduced the cult of Devaraja into Cambodia, and established the king as representative of the Hindu god Shiva; from this time forward, temples were built to honour both the god and the king. The next kings established the practice of building personal temples that became royal tombs upon the king’s death. Jayavarman II also made the first attempt at a pyramidal temple, imitating the cosmic mountain of Hindu mythology, Mount Meru.
This form would gradually evolve over the next 350 years to its most complex and brilliant creation, the Temple of Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat and The Temples of Angkor

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How About a New Lang Syne?

Profiles

Italy

Favourite hotel in the world? 
<a title="Six Sense Ninh Van Bay " href="http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ninh-van-bay/destination" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Six Sense Ninh Van Bay</a> in Vietnam is a fun one. I love the isolation, using a bike to get around on the property, the personal pools for each bungalow, the personal butlers and the beautiful scenery.
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-18692 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Christina_1.jpg" alt="Christina Cain" width="320" height="212" />
Favourite restaurant in the world? 
I’m a big fan of the simple, local food spots. One that comes to mind is in Nha Trang, Vietnam. They literally pull up plastic seats and a grill on the sidewalk and cook up the freshest catch right in front of you. It’s the simplest thing sitting on the sidewalk watching the world go by like the locals do, but it’s meals like this that stay in my memory.
Favourite bar/wine bar/watering hole in the world? 
I love little old enotecas (wine bars). One of my favourites is in Le Marche and is run by the local Sommelier association. It’s like stepping into a library of wine from the region. I also love the small old-style ones you find in the south of Italy where you can sit outside on the piazza and enjoy a glass of wine and people-watch.
Favourite bottle of wine? 
Depends on the season. When it’s cold outside, I love a good <a title="Vines 101: Piemonte Wine " href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/03/25/vines-101-piemonte-wine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbaresco from Piemonte </a>. In the summer, I love a crisp white from the Südtirol and Alto Adige region in northern Italy, or a Rosato from the Salento in Puglia.
Do you have a favourite travel quote, mantra or words to live by? 
&#8220;Go with the flow&#8221; is the first. Be open, invite conversation, notice things.
Someone has just landed in a country they’ve never been to, where they don’t speak the language. What’s your number one piece of advice for them? 
Enjoy, turn off your cell phone, live in the moment.
And finally, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or done while on a trip? 
Ah man, you can’t ask that! You know the golden rule: what happens on a trip stays on trip. (Ed. Note: <a title="Tom Abraham" href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/09/26/experts-insiders-tom-abraham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I get that a lot</a>, but I keep asking. Tough crowd, these guides turned Trip Designers.)

Experts + Insiders: Christina Cain

OK, time for the lightning round. What&#8217;s your favourite trip you’ve ever taken? (I know, I know, but try to narrow it down to one!) 
Syria.
Favourite trip you’ve ever designed? 
Myanmar and Bhutan is a fantastic trip. Very similar countries in many ways but the contrasts that do exist are stark and fascinating.
Favourite hotel in the world? 
Difficult question! I have so many favourites, but if I&#8217;m forced to choose, Amankora Punakha – a converted Bhutanese farmhouse. It&#8217;s small and intimate, only eight or nine rooms, and the setting overlooking the valley is incredible.
Favourite restaurant in the world? 
It ranges from holes-in-the-wall to street stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants. But taste is subjective and my favourite restaurant is generally where ever I ate the last meal I loved.
Favourite bottle of wine? 
I love Cakebread Sav Blanc.
Someone has just landed in a country they’ve never been to, where they don’t speak the language. What’s your number one piece of advice for them? 
Change money and have the hotel address written in the language of the country you are in. Have fun.
What&#8217;s one destination you haven&#8217;t visited, but want to visit? 
Iran. I am obsessed with visiting Iran. The history, the incredible friendliness of the people, the culture. I can&#8217;t wait to go!
What trips do you have in store for yourself: where are you headed in the next 12 months? 
Hopefully back to India and Bhutan—and Iran!
We all mistakes. What’s your most embarrassing travel story? 
What happens on trip, stays on trip.
OK, fair enough. But what&#8217;s the craziest thing you&#8217;ve seen on trip? Probably the monkey with a mustache and toy gun in Varanasi. Don’t ask.

Experts + Insiders: Karen MacRae

#myBNR

Columnists

Favourite trip you’ve ever taken? (I know, I know, but try to narrow it down to one!) 
In 2003 my wife and I kayaked the outside of the BC coast from the Alaska Border to Vancouver Island. Fifty-two days of pristine scenery, crazy weather, unforgettable wildlife sightings, huge ocean swells or mirror-calm seas, freeze-dried veggies (yuck!) paired with fresh fish and foraged berries, massive sand beaches and even bigger sea cliffs. Oh, and great company. Bliss and adversity—often on the same day. It’s a trip I revisit in my mind regularly.
Favourite trip you’ve ever designed? 
Impossible to answer, although I tend to really enjoy planning big rambling odysseys.  I’ve planned and researched  three  60-plus day trips in the USA and Canada in the last five years, which can be a bit harrowing but fun, and I’m working on a 40-day Himalayan journey for a couple right now. I’d like to go on that one myself, but I don’t think they’ll invite me. On the other end of the scale, I also planned a four-day Places on the Verge trip to the Alberta Oil Sands that was highly interesting and educational to research.
Food is such a gateway into a new region. What’s the most memorable meal you’ve had on the road? 
I was researching travel opportunities in Mongolia in 2006 or so. In the far west of the country there is an extensive population of expat Kazakh nomads, who live in yurts and follow their flocks around the open steppes and mountain valleys. I was lucky enough to meet a large extended family, who was celebrating successfully moving its herds to the summer pasture. They invited me for a meal, which consisted of five kinds of animal fat, boiled into submission, covered with a layer of homemade dumpling. I sat to the right of the headman, and after his wife placed the pot in front of him, he pulled a large knife out of his boot (honest), poked at the largest piece of Bactrian camel fat, identified by its luminescent yellow hue, and offered it to me. With 20 expectant faces watching every move, I managed to eat it, smiled at the cook, and settled in for a very long meal.
<h3>&#8220;I’d like to visit Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar&#8230; it will really annoy my friend Tyler Dillon if I get there before he does.&#8221;</h3>
What’s your most embarrassing travel story? 
I hate costume parties, dressing up etc. For the final night of a very fancy <a title="Bespoke" href="https://www.butterfield.com/private-travel/bespoke/" target="_blank">Bespoke</a> trip in Venice, I was coerced into wearing the most ridiculously foppish outfit of a baroque-era Venetian Prince. We had to walk through St Marks Square to reach the venue. There were four of us guides in period costume, and we must have been stopped by 100 tourists for photos. They thought we were street performers. However, luckily my embarrassment was upstaged by one of my co-guides, who stepped on the hem of her dress and went down in the middle of St Mark’s Square like a lacy sack of spuds.
You&#8217;re a B&amp;R veteran, you must have a good George Butterfield story. 
At the end of my very first guiding job for B&amp;R, I was sitting in the office in Beaune, labouring over my trip accounts. Sitting near me, also trying to balance his trip accounts, was an older guy. At one point he grumbled out to the rest of the office, “what happened to the days when we used to just hand the guides a pile of money and tell them to spend it and run a good trip? This paper work is killing me!” That was my introduction to George Butterfield. After that, I knew I’d be able to get along in this company.
And finally, in all your gallivanting around the globe, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or done while on a trip? 
Definitely classified information. First rule of guiding: what happens on a trip, stays on a trip. I can’t believe you even asked that!

cambodia

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