WE ARE A FAMILY OF FIVE ON A BUDGET WITH THREE DAUGHTERS 15, 17 AND 19 KEEN FOR A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS OVER DECEMBER/JANUARY. WE ARE THINKING ABOUT SOUTH-EAST ASIA OR INDIA. WE NEED TO CONSIDER CLIMATE, SAFETY, HEALTH AND EASE OF TRAVELLING. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
T. NETHERY, CUDGEN
I'm waving the flag for Vietnam, with India in second place. Vietnam has the cultural variety you're looking for, the food is sensational, it's great value for money, easy to arrange your travels and security is not a major concern. The shopping scene gets a big tick, from silks to lacquer ware to artefacts, the Vietnamese do great massages, spa and beauty treatments at a fraction of the cost in Australia and given the composition of your family this might be a priority.
Consult your GP for health precautions but if you follow good hygiene practices and stick to freshly cooked food the risk factor is low. One negative in Vietnam at this time of the year is weather. This is the winter monsoon period, which particularly affects the north and central regions. Hue and the coastal resort of Hoi An are likely to experience grey skies, but the more southerly coastal resort of Nha Trang is a fairly safe bet in January.
This is a fine time to visit Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, and you might even consider a side trip to Angkor Wat. Hanoi is cool and drab around Christmas and while this adds something to its socialist character, I'd be inclined to stick to the southern half of the country.
Southern India comes into its own around this period with the states of Goa and Kerala in the middle of the frame. Lovely as they are, these are second-string Indian destinations. Goa is essentially a beach haven for Europeans looking to thaw out in mid-winter while Kerala, one of the most easygoing and likeable parts of the country, does not have enough to sustain you for three weeks. For the first-time visitor to India, the northern cities and states – Delhi, Agra, Amritsar and Rajasthan in particular – have more cultural depth and breadth, but they're just too bleak in December/January.
