There are those rare places where you can feel the magic in the air as soon as you step out of your chosen transport - and Kratié is one of these.

Crumbling colonial mansions still stand regal amid shopfronts and apartments on the bustling city streets; the riverfront area offers magnificent sunsets; and on the outskirts of town are traditional Cambodian villages, where stilted wooden houses are dotted against a lush backdrop of rice paddies, coconut palms and tangled jungle vines.

First up on most Kratié itineraries is a boat trip to the nearby village of Kampi to see the endangered, freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin - there are less than 100 of these graceful creatures left on the planet, and these waters are one of the best places to see them.

Also don’t miss a trip to charming Koh Trong, a riverine islet where you can experience local country life and visit a Vietnamese floating village.