Oct 03, 2026
Our Southeast Asia Journey
Our upcoming journey through Southeast Asia began with a mistake fare.
Mistake fares are rare, with flight-tracking services recording only 15 to 16 in 2025. They only last a few minutes until the airline fixes the price. And the airline is not required to honor the fare so it is recommended to wait at least two weeks before booking any non-refundable reservations.
This time, we booked round trip tickets Denver to Manila for $450 a piece. The normal rate is $970-$1700. We thought the tickets might be cancelled by Philippine Airlines. They were not.
We have purchased mistake fares in the past. In 2020 we booked round trip tickets Phoenix to Melbourne for $350 per person. It took Air Canada two days to reach out and say they could not honor the fare and that the tickets would actually be $1300 each. In 2021 we booked round trip tickets Phoenix to Tokyo for $250 each. These were not cancelled by United Airlines, but Covid shut Japan down so the trip was cancelled.
Beyond getting deeply discounted tickets, we have more reasons to celebrate! The Philippines will be John’s 50th country! And The Philippines will be my 56th country on my 56th birthday! The Philippines has been high on my list of destinations because my parents lived there for two years, and my uncle served there in the peace corps.
John has been doing an impressive amount of research ever since we started talking about the trip. He studies neighborhoods, hotels, restaurants, museums, galleries, and where we should eat.
Once we started planning, we realized how easy it would be to add more Southeast Asia destinations to our trip. So now our journey includes five cities in four countries: Manila, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Siem Reap, and Kuala Lumpur.
Manila
Population: approximately 24,735,305. Number 8 on the UN’s list of largest cities.
There seems to be something wonderfully appropriate about beginning this journey in Manila. From everything we’ve been reading, Manila is a place of contrasts: Spanish colonial churches, gleaming skyscrapers, crowded markets, elegant shopping districts and neighborhoods. Manila also has a thriving art scene with so many galleries and museums.
We’re particularly looking forward to Intramuros, Manila’s historic walled city. Then there is Binondo, Manila’s historic Chinatown, which seems almost tailor-made for us because it combines two things we love: exploring neighborhoods and eating. We want to try as many Filipino specialties as we can—adobo, sinigang, pancit, lumpia and lechon.
One of the experiences we’re especially excited about is a tasting menu at HELM, The Philippines only 2-star Michelin restaurant, where we’ll celebrate my birthday.
For our first hotel, we chose The Peninsula Manila in Makati. The Peninsula has been a Manila institution for decades, and I like the idea of beginning this trip somewhere that feels both glamorous and connected to the city.
Ho Chi Minh City
Population: 14,052,713. Number 20 on the UN’s list of largest cities.
From Manila, we’ll head to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, and I expect the change of pace to be immediate.
Everything we’ve read suggests a city that moves at full speed. Motorbikes flood the streets, sidewalk cafés are everywhere, markets are alive from morning until night, and French colonial architecture appears unexpectedly among modern towers.
We want to explore the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum. But we also want to leave plenty of room for wandering.
John has done considerable research into the food scene. We’re hoping to eat plenty of pho, banh mi, banh xeo, bun thit nuong and fresh spring rolls.
For our Ho Chi Minh hotel, we booked Mai House Saigon. Located in District 3, Mai House has the kind of atmosphere we’re looking for: elegant, comfortable and rooted in the city’s French-Indochinese history without feeling stuck in the past.
Hanoi
Population: 9,500,000.
Hanoi feels as though it will be the counterpoint to Saigon.
From everything we’ve seen, Hanoi has a slower, more contemplative quality. The city is deeply historic, with French colonial architecture, temples, narrow lanes and long-established traditions woven into everyday life.
We want to explore the Old Quarter, where I suspect we’ll spend far more time than planned simply walking around.
We’re also looking forward to the Temple of Literature, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh complex.
And, naturally, the food.
Hanoi may be the city where we need the most restraint. We have booked a walking Food Tour called Hungry Hanoi that will cover lots of our favorite Vietnamese dishes!
For Hanoi we booked AIRA Boutique Hanoi Hotel & Spa. The hotel is close to the Old Quarter and many major sights, but it also has a peaceful quality that should make it easy to escape the city when we need to.
Siem Reap
The Siem Reap urban area is much smaller than the major capitals on our itinerary with a population of about 200,000.
The main reason we’re going is Angkor Wat.
I’ve seen Angkor Wat in photographs countless times, but I know that standing in front of those stone towers will be completely different. We have a sunrise tour booked with a local, and we are really looking forward to seeing the sights with our own eyes.
Our hotel choice, Shinta Mani Angkor, may be one of the most exciting parts of the trip. Designed by architect Bill Bensley, the hotel combines lush gardens, pools, bold architecture and Khmer influences in a way that feels distinctly tied to its setting. But what really interests me is the story behind Shinta Mani. The property has deep connections to a nonprofit hospitality school and ongoing social-impact work in Cambodia.That gives the hotel a purpose beyond simply being beautiful. We’re also looking forward to experiencing Cambodian food at Kroya, where traditional Khmer cuisine is presented in a more contemporary style. And we also have reservations for the tasting menu at Cuisine Wat Damnak.
Kuala Lumpur
Population: 8,443,731. Number 40 on the UN’s list of largest cities.
One of my dear friends of over 30 years is from Malaysia, and I have followed her many trips home to see family with great interest. I have always wanted to visit.
Kuala Lumpur brings together Malay, Chinese, Indian and colonial influences, and nowhere is that mixture more apparent than in the food.
We want to see the Petronas Twin Towers, Merdeka Square, Chinatown and the Batu Caves, but once again, we expect the restaurants to be just as important as the sightseeing.
We want to eat nasi lemak, roti canai, laksa, satay and char kway teow, ideally in as many different settings as possible.
We booked Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, near KLCC Park and the Petronas Twin Towers.
Ending a trip at the Four Seasons feels appropriate. After several weeks of temples, markets, historic districts and busy streets, it will be wonderful to have a beautiful hotel where we can slow down and take everything in.
1 Comment
Molly Greene
What a treat to read such a delightful trip itinerary! It is a marriage of John’s thoughtful research and your lens on all things joyful in exploring disparate cultures! I can’t wait to hear about your adventure.