A country of contrasts, best summed up by the difference between the relaxed and placid capital Hanoi, and the frenetic Ho Chi Minh City, known under its old name of Saigon. In between these two is the old imperial city of Hue. Laos is a relaxed, laid back country, which still has many French influences and a deeply religious population. Lines of monks on their morning alms round are one of the sights of Laos. Cambodia has had more than its share of troubles in recent history but has come through to claim it's place in the tourist pantheon - mainly due to the fantastic ruins of Angkor Wat.
