CLIA Asia River Cruise Conference Cambodia/Vietnam
I recently attended the inaugural CLIA River Cruise Conference and Destination Forum for travel agents. Conference sessions focused on identifying potential river cruise customers and learning more about the wide variety of experiences offered on a river cruise holiday, particularly around the cruise holiday choices in Asia.
The conference took place in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), followed by a cruise on the Mekong River on the Pandaw – a beautifully restored Heritage vessel. One of the highlights was dinner cooked by Luke Nguyen at Vietnam House. The restored colonial building once housed the famed Café L’Imperial in the early 1900s, and was a popular destination for the city’s affluent business class. Classic and modern Vietnamese dishes in a setting featuring hues of vibrant blues and greens complemented by wood accents adorning walls and ceilings.
The menu of Vietnam House Restaurant spans the country with classic dishes selected from North to South delivering a traditional style while reflecting modern trends with culinary impressions.
Next time you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City, be sure to drop by the new Vietnam House, and of course, make time for a cooking class at Grain by Luke Cooking Studio.
Lukes passion for cooking is infectious. For any foodies wishing to learn from Luke APT have some foodie tours in 2019 but be quick as these will sell out quickly.
In 2019, you too can eat and drink your way through France with Luke. He will escort APT guests on a unique gastronomic holiday, offering an authentic look at Paris and the Bordeaux region through his eyes. Luke is also hosting Vietnam and Cambodia foodie tours in 2019. During his time aboard the MS AmaDolce, Luke will host an insightful ‘Get to Know Luke Nguyen’ session. In Paris, visit a culinary school with Luke, where he will guide you through a fun and interactive cooking class. Gain an invaluable insight into the art of French- Vietnamese cuisine from the master himself, then savour your efforts accompanied by perfectly matched wines. In Saint-Emilion, enjoy a superb dinner at La Terrasse Rouge.
Luke, in conjunction with the restaurant’s head chef, has devised a menu showcasing the freshest local ingredients of the region, and together, they will prepare a decadent meal for you while you watch on in the open kitchen.
Our 3 day itinerary took in Sa Dec and a morning visit to Cai Be floating market along the canals and backwaters before continuing to Sa Dec via Vinh Long Province. Sa Dec has an interesting local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the 'lover' of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist whose book was immortalised in the film L’Indochine.
On arrival in Phnom Penh, we flew to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Siem Reap is a popular resort town and a gateway to the Angkor region. Its colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market are breathtaking. In the city, there are museums, traditional Apsara dance performances, a Cambodian cultural village, souvenir and handicraft shops, silk farms, rice-paddies in the countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake, and a vibrant, cosmopolitan drinking and dining scene. The most popular destination and well worth the 4am wakeup call was our visit to the Angkor temples. Only 30 minutes from Siem Reap the temples showcase classic khmer architecture and are breathtaking at sunrise.
Belmond Angkor located in Siem Reap was one of the first luxury hotels to open in Siem Reap. Launch into an otherworldly adventure at this leafy retreat where ancient tradition meets contemporary style. Retreat to the salt-water pool, or indulge at Kong Kea Spa. After a day of adventure, this hotel is the perfect welcome home.
The Cambodian people are gentle kind people and Cambodia is definitely worth a visit before word gets out and it is overtaken by tourists. There are some beautiful hotels, heaps of great restaurants at bargain prices. Our dinner for two with drinks was USD7 for 2!