Holidays In Vietnam - Vietnam Tour Packages

This once quaint and quiet village has recently become the boom town of South East Asia, mainly due to the fantastic attractions in and around the city. The name Siem Reap literally translates as ‘Siam defeated’ – referring to the historic conflicts between the Siam and Khmer tribes. The city is nicknamed ‘The Great Gate to Angkor’ as it is host to one of the Wonders of the Ancient World – Angkor Wat.

The city has actually formed from a cluster of small villages situated along the Siem Reap river. It now features a main Market Area and this is where the old french colonial buildings, and also the main development has taken place. It has become a very popular destination for tourists and travelers, and therefore has a large number of modern hotels and restaurants, offering a great mix of the ancient city many foreigners want to see – with some luxuries thrown in to enjoy.

Angkor Wat Temples
This famous collection of temples was built in the early 12th century and is believed to be the largest group of religious buildings in the world. It begins just 6km from Siem Reap centre and is a great source of national pride for Cambodians. Many Western visitors find it hard to believe that the main temple was constructed so early by the Khmers – and mistakenly date it to the same era as the likes of Rome.
The huge park harbors an area of 400 square kilometers – and to get the greatest feeling and understanding of the place you need more than one day of exploration. The park opens at 5am all year round and many people get there early morning to watch the sunrise in the special setting.

Angkor National Museum
These impressive buildings located in the centre of town house thousands of artifacts recovered from the Angkor Wat ruins and the surrounding areas. Countless statues, art and a video presentation explaining the facts behind the items make the museum a must see for any visitor just come from the Temples. It can be comfortably explored in under half a day.

Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary
Lying deep in the marshes of Tonle Sap Lake, this bird sanctuary has become one of the biggest and important breeding grounds for endangered water birds in South East Asia. The sanctuary covers over 30,000 hectares at the northwest tip of the lake and plays host to species including Greater and Lesser Adjuncts, Spot-billed Pelican, Grey-Headed Fish Eagle and many more species. A very interesting activity for any traveler to Cambodia, but simply unmissable for any bird lovers.