A honeymoon is only supposed to happen once in a lifetime and there is no excuse to not make it a special occasion. Why not head out to South East Asia for fantastic weather, top notch hotels and some memorable sights?You could take a trip to South East Asia where you can enjoy a spa in Northern Vietnam and set aside a day in Cua Dai to take a breather before hitting Hong Kong to experience hyper-modern Asian culture. From here, take things to the extreme in the Cambodia jungle or keep it on the quiet side in Phnom Penh, ending your honeymoon on the undiscovered coastline of Sihanoukville, Kep and Koh Kong. Here are some of our favourite destinations:
Sapa, Vietnam
Northern Vietnam is an intriguing place and often missed by travellers heading straight to the city of Hanoi. Before exploring the city and the nearby natural wonder of Halong Bay, its well worth spending a few days in this mountainous idyll. The Vietnamese Highlands are famous for their people, still living much as they always have. You could take the elegant Victoria Express out of Hanoi and arrive in the morning to a view of alpine rice terraces and orchid-strewn fields. At the local markets, youll be able to buy the colourful fabrics endemic to this part of the world and its friendly people.
Hong Kong, China
Hong Kongs bright lights initially conceal a fascinating history. Take a cruise in a traditional junk around the harbour, explore the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and hop over to nearby Macau for a taste of how the locals spend their leisure time. There are some amazing hotels to stay in here, as youd expect, including the Upper House a trendy, zen-like boutique hotel with skyscraper views.
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Cambodia is home to a huge variety of hotels which pride themselves on their eco credentials. Some of the resorts along the coastline are among the most luxurious in the world. The beaches are Sihanoukville are stunningly beautiful and served by a hip and happening nightlife. If youre after something more peaceful, try heading to the Sokha Beach Resort away from the downtown area, or move inland slightly, to sleep in tented luxury on the river at the Four Rivers Floating Ecolodge.
Koh Kong, Cambodia
Koh Kong is the place to get back to nature. This little visited spot has wild elephants roaming in the Cardamom Mountains, and reefs along the coast. Its the perfect place to find a deserted beach all to yourselves. If its serious luxury youre after, then the Song Saa Private Island resort is the one for you. A thirty minute speedboat ride out of Sihanoukville will bring you to your private jetty on these exquisite islands.
Luang Prabang, Laos
If you are going to just one place in Laos, make it Luang Prabang. This justified pearl of the Orient is a hot destination, with its idyllic riverside setting, beautiful hotels, local customs and stunning jewelled and gold-tipped temples to explore. The whole town is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason, with its mixture of French colonial architecture and traditional Laotian holy buildings. Its still the spiritual capital of the county, and monks in their ochre gowns walk the streets at sunrise to gather donations of rice according to age-old tradition.
