Adios Mon Ami: August 2026

In 2024, I traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Previously, I had visited Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, so I thought I was well equipped to handle the very long haul from NYC, which I was.

This trip ended up being one of my all time favorite and interesting trips.

I was captivated by Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown" TV series, particularly the episode filmed in Vietnam, where he shared the local people's energy, food culture, resilience, and imagination (and a bonus meal with President Obama, sitting on those tiny plastic chairs).

Most people's connection with Vietnam, is the disastrous Vietnam War or the "American War", as the Vietnamese call it. The anti-war protest movement shook America in the '60s and '70s. I could not imagine what life in Vietnam would be like 60+ years later, or ever wanting to go there after that horrific period of destruction and loss of life. But I learned life goes on and things can change dramatically in a positive direction, given time.

My first stop on the itinerary would be nearby Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital city. This was a short, but very illuminating stay, before proceeding to Siem Reap to the impressive, ancient Angkor Wat temple, then onward to various locations in Vietnam.

GETTING TO CAMBODIA

I traveled to Southeast Asia with Cathay Pacific airlines and had a connecting flight in Singapore. I planned to stop at this luxurious airport because I had seen videos of its butterfly garden, magnificent water fountains, and immense, surreal gardens. It did not disappoint. There was a very nice shopping mall there as well, so the the layover wait flew by quickly (figuratively speaking 😊😊).

When I finally arrived at the Phnom Penh airport, I waited for my Grab driver, but in the interim, was aggressively approached by a swarm of random taxi drivers vying for my ride. I shooed them away. I was glad when my driver eventually showed up, after what seemed to be a long wait. Happily, I was dropped off at my hotel ~30 mins later.

My travel group was meeting the next day, so I had some free time to wander about once I got settled. I took a stroll down the road from my hotel and discovered a cute shop selling stylish hand crafted bags made with recycled materials. I grabbed a couple of pouches to keep myself organized.

I checked reviews for a few restaurants along the way, (yes ... there are restaurant reviews in Phnom Penh), and treated myself to a fresh watermelon cocktail ($3) and avocado salad. No intestinal issues to report.

I thought twice about walking further. Some of the streets looked sketchy with broken sidewalks and haphazardly parked cars. I did not want to get lost, especially not speaking the language. My inner voice told me to return to the hotel, and I listened this time, especially feeling a bit jet lagged.

But first, saw a storefront for "Massages"with a bunch of ladies standing outside. I assessed that they looked like regular folks. Hopefully nothing weird would happen. Massages in Southeast Asia are ridiculously affordable. The ladies were very eager to take me as it looked like a slow day. The massage was mostly fine, except I told myself that this was not one of my best moves.

THE TOUR BEGINS - PHNOM PENH -

A TRAGIC STORY FOR CAMBODIA

The next morning, I met up with Tran, the tour manager, and the rest of the travelers. The group seemed nice and friendly so I anticipated that it would be a good trip. I was kind of adopted by a married couple from California (former sky divers) and an extended family traveling together from Philadelphia, so there were always people to chat and hang out with.

To enter Vietnam and Cambodia, you must obtain a visa. You can easily obtain visas through the government websites for a nominal fee, but MUST do so well in advance of your travels. Tran reviewed all of our visas to ensure that the information was airtight. I learned that Vietnam and Cambodia are both very strict. The information provided must be perfectly accurate with dates of travel, locations of stays, point of entry and departure, etc... and absolutely no typos.

The first stop in Phnom Penh was the impressive Royal Palace, housing Cambodia's national treasures.

A more impactful site leaving a greater impression was the Genocide Museum, a testament to the cruelties of the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot from 1975 to 1979.

This regime attempted to create an extreme agrarian communist society and emptied the cities of all professionals and educated people, forcing millions into agricultural labor, while killing 1.5-2 million people. This was roughly one-quarter of the Cambodian population! Eventually, Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Khmer Rouge, but not soon enough to avert this despair.

I found it difficult to view the exhibits, but nevertheless, it is important to keep your eyes wide open to learn history's lessons and what can happen.

The award winning film, "The Killing Fields" (1984) depicts this event and all its depravity.

Soldiers are mandated to visit the museum site so they develop an understanding of the country's past.

A survivor of the Khmer Rouge documented his story in an autographical book.

THE EXTRAORDINARY ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE IN SIEM REAP - CAMBODIA'S NATIONAL SYMBOL

Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat, meaning "Temple City", is designated as one of the world's "Seven Wonders". It is part of the Angkor Archaeological Park which contains many other remarkable temples. The entire complex is a huge site which may take 2 days to thoroughly explore.

Angkor Wat is depicted on the Cambodian flag.

Angkor Wat was originally a Hindu temple but later when Buddhism became dominant in the region, it became a Buddhist site. It was intended to represent Mount Meru, the sacred cosmic mountain at the center of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. The five towers represent the peaks of Mount Meru. It has one of the world's longest bas-reliefs running long the outer walls, narrating stories from Hindu mythology.

It is very common for herds of tourists to arrive early in the morning to see the sun rising over the temple, trying to get in touch with their spiritual side or just hoping to get that special photo.

Our local guide "aka professor".

There is an incredible amount of carved sandstone.

Site with overgrown tree roots used for the filming of "Tomb Raiders" with Angelina Jolie.

You can climb to the top of these steps.

Big monkey. Evidently, visitors don't follow the rules about feeding them.

MORE ON SIEM REAP AND NEARBY RURAL AREA

As the main gateway for exploring Angkor Wat, the atmosphere in Siem Reap was relaxing and tourist oriented with plenty of restaurants, markets, cafes, and hotels at every price level. The food was surprisingly good and the people were welcoming and hospitable.