Two of the most beautiful, historic, and friendly places in all of Asia, dynamic Vietnam and pastoral Cambodia, are intriguing studies in contrast. Each possesses its own unique charm and social traditions, its own tragic history and complex past. Ho Chi Minh City offers a heady mixture of old and new, often surprising visitors with its charm. As the lifeblood of Southeast Asia, the Mekong teems with colorful floating villages. Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s thriving capital, is fast-forwarding to the future yet retains a provincial intimacy. And colorful Siem Reap provides the gateway to the vast UNESCO-designated jungle temple complex of Angkor Wat.