As the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, Hanoi is considered one of the main cultural centres of the nation. Despite very few relics survived through war and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike. French colonial architecture is also quite dominant, with many examples still remaining until today. Hanoi has rich food traditions, such as the widely known Phở, which has been named one of the Top 5 Street Foods in the world according to Cathy Huyghe of GlobalPost.
Phnom Penh is the vibrant bustling capital of Cambodia. The city exudes a provincial charm and tranquility, with French colonial mansions and tree-lined boulevards a midst monumental Angkorian architecture. Many interesting touristy sites can be found in the capital, including the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and Wat Phnom. Several market places sell interesting items from carvings, paintings, silk, silver and even antiques.