The high end tour operator offers an incredible journey through three nations in Southeast Asia allowing guests to explore the riches of six world heritage sites.

The Indochina tour highlights the ancient cultures of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Guests will land in Luang Prabang, Laos, and fly to Vietnam before ending the tour in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Highlights of the trip include the historical sites of Myson, Hoi An and Hue in Vietnam; a cruise on the renowned Halong Bay; and access to Laos’ Luang Prabang Town and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

Visit luxurytravelvietnam.com for more information and booking.

To be held at Khemara Angkor Hotel and coincide with the Capacity Building for Partnerships on February 20 to 22, the event features a panel discussion on the “Investment Landscape in Mekong Region,” as well as a moderated marketplace with about 15 international investors focusing in the region and 30 MFIs.

Those who are interested to participate in the Invest in Mekong Region Marketplace event have to pay US$100, while those attending both events have to pay a combined fee of US$300.

The event is organized by Singapore-based microfinance network Banking with the Poor Network (BWTP Network).

“We first visited Siem Reap as part of a five-month, educational around-the-world trip that our parents took us on in 2010-11. We went to Siem Reap to see the ancient ruins at Angkor Wat, but ended up meeting quite a few kids that were our age selling things in the street to earn a bit of money for their families, so my sister and decided to help them once we got back to the U.S.,” said Chelsea

Since then, the twins have raised more than $450 through snow shovelling and Christmas carolling. The money will be used to purchase school supplies for a school and a water buffalo for a family in Siem Reap. It will also be used to support English classes for Cambodian children in rural areas.

“Tourism is really big in Siem Reap, and English skills are important for someone who wants to work in a hotel, for example. By providing village kids with training, we can hopefully help them improve their chances for eventually getting good jobs to help their families”, Charlotte said.

Meanwhile, the twin’s father, James, who teaches Global Business at the University of Washington, Bothell, will be taking 17 MBA students to Cambodia and Thailand on a study tour in March. They will be helping NGOs in the Kingdom with their business strategies and sponsoring the construction of compost toilets, vertical gardens and water wells through the funds they are raising. Those who are interested in donating money, clothes or games to these initiatives can email James at jreinn@u.washington.edu.

In partnership with ‘Voyages to Antiquity,’ Titan Travel launches the new ‘Cruises to Ancient Civilisations’ brochure, a great addition to its program of small ship cruise itineraries.

Featuring cruises onboard the MV Aegean Odyssey, the new brochure brings together an exciting series of tours through the Mediterranean in summer this year before moving to India and Southeast Asia at end-2012 and into 2013.

Guests will surely have enough time to relax onboard the elegant Aegean Odyssey, which comes with various amenities including two restaurants, four bars, three lounges, spa, library and an outdoor pool.

Each cruise itinerary has been specially designed by experts to reveal the fascinating culture and architectural treasures of ancient civilisations and the great artistic feats of former cultures.

In 2013, guests will enjoy a New Year cruise to the ‘Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia’ as they travel from Bangkok to Hong Kong and take in some of the most remarkable man-made and natural wonders of Southeast Asia.

Beginning in the lively city of Bangkok, guests will experience Angkor’s magnificent temples before travelling on to discover the fascinating nations of Vietnam and Cambodia.

The 22-day cruise, which leaves on December 27, 2012, costs from £3,895, inclusive of 14 nights full board cruise, one night in Siem Reap, three nights in Bangkok, two nights in Hong Kong, return flights, excursions, all transfers, as well as beer, soft drinks with dinner, wine and the VIP Home Departure Service.

“Adventurous backpackers usually travel by land from Ho Chi Minh or Bangkok to Siem Reap, just so they can visit Angkor Wat, part of the Angkor World Heritage site. Now, Cebu Pacific can fly them to Siem Reap on its trademark lowest fares,” said Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and distribution at CEB, in a press statement.

Angkor is considered as one of Southeast Asia’s most important archaeological sites, with the Angkor Archaeological Park being a home to remains of various capitals of the Khmer Empire between the 9^th and 15^th century, including the famed temples of Angkor Wat, Bayon and Angkor Thom.

To launch its latest international route, the budget carrier is offering P888 seats from Manila to Siem Reap from January 27 to 29 or until seats are still available, for travel between April 19 and May 31, 2012.

The latest route is due to leave Manila at 7:50pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, and arrive in Siem Reap at 9:30pm, while return flights will depart from Siem Reap at 10:30pm and arrive in Manila at 12:10am.

Reflection Rooms in Siem Reap

A one-of-a-kind and creative boutique art hotel has opened its doors in Siem Reap after a long wait and slight flood damage.

Hospitality magnate Anusorn Ngernyuang, also known as Nong, launched Reflection Rooms in Siem Reap over Christmas, further expanding his portfolio of restaurants and stores in Phnom Penh and Thailand, together with the Beaches by Reflections bar and Reflections store in Siem Reap.

This new hotel, which reflects Nong’s philosophy for converting trash into something extraordinary, features 16 rooms designed by his artistic friends.

SuperVerySnapShot designed a teenage girl’s bedroom that meets a serial killer’s mind, with the bright orange room full of magazine cut-outs of models and celebrities.

Other odd rooms include Kathy McLeod’ idea of inside a mind of a cat, complete with balloon rides and deep-sea exploration. Heng Sreylen of the Cambodian Disabled Women’s Group also contributed a beautiful design; her forest-themed room is dotted with more than 100 birds – an overall effect that gives ode to retro story books.

With the opening of the hotel, guests were treated to both edible and visual delights. Richard Arnold, a consultant for the launch, describes the food as Asian fusion with western snacks. “I’ve lived in Thailand for years, but the Thai dishes in Beaches are some of the best I’ve had,” he said.

Arnold expects that the new hotel will attract refined travelers. “It will be an eclectic, international art clientele. People tired of sameness, looking for a stunning design and a unique experience.”

Like its Bangkok sister, Reflection Rooms in Siem Reap is expected to be a hit among aesthetically-minded travelers, from kitsch-loving Asians and Europeans to hipster flashpackers who will love the irony and novelty of the design.

According to Yiang Tal, administration head at the Rural Electrification Fund, over 10,000 solar home systems had already been installed in several provinces including Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Ratanakiri as part of the World Bank-financed project.

Around 43 percent of the Kingdom is covered by licensed power suppliers, with pending licenses for another 18 percent of the nation, said the Electricity Authority of Cambodia.

While this still leaves around 40 percent of Cambodia off the electricity grid, authorities say the solar project is a means to reach off-grid areas.

“The solar home system provides access to clean power and complementary electricity services to rural households that could not be commercially connected by the grid, through off-grid options based on renewable energy resources,” said World Bank Senior Operations Officer Veasna Bun in an email.

The total cost of the 50- and 30-watt panels is around $330 and $260 for every unit respectively, but a subsidy worth $100 reduces the sale price to around $230 and $160 per unit, said Veasna Bun.

Customers will be given four years to pay the costs of the panel; they will pay around $4.80 and $3.30 per month for 50- and 30-watt panels, respectively, said Yiang Tal.

The contract bid for the project went to Laos firm Sunlabob, which had provided materials and supervised installation in the previous three months, said Yiang Tal, adding that the panel’s total purchasing cost stood at $4 million.

The project was part of Cambodia’s bigger plan to supply electricity to all homes by 2030, said Yiang Tal.

“We’ve implemented only the first phase in these seven provinces,” he said. “We will continue to implement this project, and are looking for funding.”

The event, organized by the “Enhancing ASEAN FTA Negotiation Capacity Program” of the EU-ASEAN, centers on the EU and ASEAN trade policies, and on emerging and new trade issues.

A stakeholders dialogue will be held during the four-day event, allowing participants to share their experience and knowledge related to major issues like the FTA’s political economy, the challenges faced when implementing trade agreement and post-trade agreement adjustment.

ASEAN SEOM Chairman and Director General of Cambodia’s Commerce Ministry, Pich Rithi, has expressed his great appreciation to the EU for offering technical assistance on the Enhancing ASEAN FTA Negotiating Capacity Program to private sector and government representatives of the member states of the ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat officials.

In a statement released by the EU delegation in Siem Reap, Pich Rithi said, “With a series of 10 workshops all over ASEAN, starting here today in Siem Reap, the EU-ASEAN cooperation will provide a forum for ASEAN trade practitioners and officials to reflect on trade issues, which really matter.”

“We expect a meaningful contribution to enhance mutual understanding on trade matters and the negotiation processes, because trade is such an important matter.”

Free trade was not only important for economic growth and development in support of poverty reduction, consumer welfare and competitiveness; it brought together ideas and people. he said.

During the event, attendees will also take part in negotiation simulation exercises focusing on trade negotiating techniques, tools and methodologies.

The event will also include awareness-raising seminars on various international trade, globalisation, investment and related socio-economic and political economy issues, which will be opened to the civil society, public and private sectors.

The EU-funded “Enhancing ASEAN FTA Negotiating Capacity Program” is a 2.4 million euros technical cooperation program for the benefit of the member states of the ASEAN.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong said the Kingdom would urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s foreign minister to attend an ASEAN Regional Forum meeting being planned in July.

“Cambodia will facilitate for bilateral talks between DPRK and Republic of Korea,” he told the media following the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Siem Reap. “Cambodia will also make efforts to resume the six-party talks.”

The six-party talks between the US, Russia, North and South Korea, Japan and China, which was launched in 2003, have been delayed since 2009 following North Korea’s missile launch over Japan.

The ASEAN foreign ministers also talked about development towards democracy in Burma and decided to put an end to the United Nations Secretary General’s role on human rights issue in Burma, said Hor Nam Hong.

Considering the rapid development, the ministers approved Burma’s request that it is not anymore needed to arrange any international conference on Burma, he said.

Other issues discussed at the meeting were the South China Sea, ASEAN community building, development in drafting an ASEAN Rights Declaration, disaster management and protocols for the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone Treaty.

The victim is now in critical condition in Angkor Hospital for Children in the province of Siem Reap.

According to a statement, the patient became sick on January 3 with fever, runny nose, cough and vomiting. He was first treated by local private practitioners, but his condition got worse and he was taken to the hospital on January 9.

“The diagnosis of the clinical samples on Jan. 12 found that the boy had contact with sick or dead poultry prior to becoming sick,” it said.

The kid is the 19^th person in the Kingdom to contract with the fatal avian influenza and the first victim this year, the statement said. Sixteen of the 19 patients died.

“Avian influenza is still a threat to the health of Cambodians. This is the first case of H5N1 infection in human this year, and children appear to be most vulnerable,” said Health Minister Mam Bunheng in the statement.