Indochina - Mekong River, South China Sea, and More

We are on our way to southeast Asia, a region referred to as Indochina. More specifically, we'll be travelling in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Folks our age will remember the Vietnam War of the 1960's and 70's, and may not be able to imagine why we would want to travel there. In addition, our Footprint Travel Guide quoted a Human Rights Watch Director, David Roberts, Cambodia is a "communist free-market state with a relatively authoritarian coalition ruling over a superficial democracy." Also not very inviting, it indicated that Cambodia scored poorly in an annual index (2015) ranking their Rule-of-Law, 99th place out of 102 countries.

However, our research also indicates that Vietnam has moved beyond the war. Many of the scars have healed, the people are friendly, and the country is open for business, or at least as open as a Communist country can be. Our travel Guide also speaks of Cambodia's beautiful scenery, developing economy, and historic Hindu temples.

Both countries not only have coastline on the South China Sea, but they also share the Mekong River. The Mekong is 4500 kms long. It stretches from its tributaries in eastern Tibet to the famous Mekong Delta, where it dumps into the Sea. With over 6000 years of human history, the River has played key roles in shaping the culture and economies of both Vietnam and Cambodia.

During the next couple of weeks, we're hoping to have some fun and adventure, hiking and biking. Travelling an unfamiliar part of the world with different currencies, languages and cultures, all suggest we should expect the unexpected.

This being the case, we're enthused with the prospects. Now of course, it wouldn't be the same without you; so please join us on our adventure to Indochina's Mekong River, South China Sea, and more.

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