Southeast Asia is a group of diverse countries between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean,
featuring indigenous cultures influenced by Indian, Chinese and Western culture. It has
long been a favorite corner of the world for globe-tramping backpackers, known for its
perfect beaches, tasty cuisine and low prices. The region represents a totally different
culture for Western travelers. Instead of cathedrals, they’ll find temples. Instead
of cold temperatures in the winter, they’ll be bathed in a tropical climate. They may
find simple accommodations in remote fishing villages but also luxurious hotels in the
cities and on the islands. Here’s a look at the best places to visit in Southeast Asia:
21. Vientiane
Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is located on the Mekong River near the border with Thailand.
A former French holding, it is a graceful city that is now the country’s economic
center. Visitors to Vientiane won’t want to miss the Pha That Luang, a a Buddhist stupa
that dates back to 1586. The stupa stands 49 meters tall and is believed to contain
relics of Buddha. Buddhist temples and sites abound, but travelers also will want to walk
through the Mekong Riverside Park.
20. Hanoi
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, blends the charm of the old world with a pace of life
that is quickening as this old city modernizes. Visitors may see locals taking tai-chi lessons
in the park in the mornings, while skateboarders zoom by. At the heart of Hanoi is its Old
Quarter, an open-air museum of historic Asian and French colonial architecture that has
largely remained intact. Ancient temples and art museums share the attractions list with
museums devoted to the Vietnamese revolution and military history.
19. Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a bustling city that serves as the capital of Malaysia. The country’s
most populous city, it has a landscape filled with innovatively designed skyscrapers, including
the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest twin towers. Kuala Lumpur also boasts
an outstanding Islamic Arts Museum; the Bukit Bintang pedestrian bridge that connects the
downtown area, and a bird park that is the world’s largest walk-in aviary.
18. Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are three small islands located in northwestern Indonesia off the coast of
Lombok. The islands are perfect for travelers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle
of modern life. Cars aren’t allowed on the islands, with people using horse carriages
or bicycles to move about. Relaxing may be the primary activity here, but the islands
also are popular with divers and snorkelers.
17. Phnom Penh
Once known as “the pearl of Asia,” Phnom Penh is considered one of the prettiest of
the cities the French built in Indochina, though the city is still recovering from war
and revolution. French influence can still be found today in Cambodia’s capital. Located
on the Mekong River, the city actually dates back to the 15th century. Top attractions
include the Royal Palace and the National Museum, which contains a large collection
of Khmer artifacts.
16. Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, was founded in the 13th century, and is one of the most
culturally significant cities in the country. It’s located on the Ping River among Thailand’s
highest mountains. The region is home to more than 300 Buddhist temples. The most famous
temple lies just outside the city on a hilltop overlooking Chiang Mai – head here for a
fantastic view. The city also hosts a night market that is famous for handicrafts.
15. Inle Lake
Located in southeast Myanmar, Inle Lake is the country’s second largest lake. The Intha
people live in small villages round the lake and in floating houses on the lake itself,
making for a picturesque scene. Besides fishing, locals also grow fruits and veggies on floating
gardens. Commuter and tourist motorboats and flat-bottomed skiffs navigate the vast lake,
the latter propelled by the unique Intha technique of leg rowing in which one leg is wrapped
around the paddle to drive the blade through the water in a snake-like motion.
14. Palawan
Palawan is an island province in the Philippines that stretches from Mindoro to Borneo between
the South China and Sulu seas. Puerto Princesa, which is close to large karst formations with
an underground river, is the provincial capital. Coron Reefs is one of the best diving spots
in the world, drawing divers who want to explore Japanese shipwrecks from World War II. Another
popular destination is El Nido, a town sandwiched between towering limestone karst cliffs and
a beautiful bay.
13. Hoi An
Hoi An is a charming town known for its great atmosphere at the mouth of the Thu Bon River
on Vietnam’s central coast. The town boasts a well-preserved Southeast Asian trading port,
which it once was until the river silted up. The narrow, winding lanes of the old port
are lined with beautiful old architecture, traditional wooden houses and hundreds of
tailor shops selling everything from clothing to souvenirs.
12. Mount Kinabalu
Towering 4095 meter above northern Borneo, Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain between
the Himalayas and the island of New Guinea. The main peak of the mountain can be climbed
easily by a person with a good physical condition, and requires no mountaineering equipment although
climbers must be accompanied by guides at all times. For those with limited time or
energy, there are gardens and many short walks through the jungle to enjoy in the vicinity
of the entrance.
11. Komodo National Park
Komodo National Park is located on an archipelago near the island of Flores. The islands are
populated by thousands of giant lizards known as “Komodo dragons” because of their appearance
and aggressiveness. This is the only place in the world where these lizards, the largest
in the world, can be found. Although attacks are very rare, Komodo dragons have been known
to attack humans.
10. Singapore
Singapore, a city-state, lies at the south end of the Malay Peninsula just 137 km above
the equator. Chinese are the predominant ethnic group, at 75 percent of the population. Travelers
will hear residents speaking a variety of languages: Mandarin, English, Malay and Tamil.
Singapore is a former British colony, with its top sights including the graceful Raffles
Hotel, gardens and nature trails, the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum, and the city zoo.
9. Ko Phi Phi
Phi Phi is a beautiful archipelago located in the Krabi Province not too far from Phuket.
Ko Phi Phi Don is the only island in the group with permanent inhabitants while the smaller
Ko Phi Phi Leh is famous as the filming location for the 2000 movie “The Beach”. Travelers
go here enjoy the beaches and to participate in a variety of water recreation activities,
such as snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking. The island was devastated by the 2004 tsunami,
but is bouncing back with new constructions.
8. Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang lies at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers in northcentral
Laos. The former royal capital is famous for its Buddhist temples and monasteries, with
monks walking through the city collecting alms in the morning. The old town is popular
with tourists who want to shop, visit temples or soak in the atmosphere. There are several
waterfalls nearby, as well as the famous Pak Ou Caves.
7. Borobudur
Located on the island of Java, 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta, the Borobudur is the largest
and most famous Buddhist temple in the world. The Borobudur was built over a period of some
75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries out of an estimated 2 million blocks of stone.
It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a mystery and for centuries
lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash.
6. Ifugao Rice Terraces
Photographers will want to have lots of memory cards with them when they visit the picturesque
Ifugao Rice Terraces on the island of Luzon. For 2,000 years, people have been growing
rice on terraces that follow the contours of the Cordilleras Mountains. The most famous
ones can be found around the town of Banaue. They were created by the Ifugao ethnic people
without modern tools and are still used today.
5. Bagan
Myanmar’s answer to Angkor Wat, Bagan is home to the largest concentration of Buddhist
temples, pagodas and stupas in the world. Bagan was the capital of the First Burmese
Empire from the 9th to the 13th centuries. The site that Marco Polo once described as
the “gilded city” was home to around 13,000 Buddhist temples in its 11th-century heyday.
Thousands remain, including the famous Ananda temple with its sparkling gold spires.
4. Bangkok
What started out as a small trading post in the 15th century has now grown into a city
of eight million people: Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Visitors will find plenty of
photo ops at the city’s famous floating markets where they can also buy veggies, tropical
fruits and Thai snacks made in a floating kitchen. When travelers grow weary of visiting
temples, they can visit a snake farm or just go shopping.
3. Ha Long Bay
Located in northeastern Vietnam, Ha Long Bay resembles a scene from a fantasy story with
its thousands of limestone karst islands of different shapes and sizes. Halong means descending
dragons, which is indicative of the silhouette of the limestone outcrops that poke out from
the water. Some of the islands contain lakes while some are hollow, with a colorful fairyland
of grottoes inside. An overnight boat trip is a spectacular way to experience the beauty
of the bay and to see as many of the islands as possible.
2. Bali The undisputed favorite of Indonesia’s more
than 17,000 islands, Bali lives up to its reputation as the quintessential tropical
paradise. The waters around Bali are known for its high marine diversity and coral reefs
while the lush rice terraces provide a picturesque backdrop to its colorful and deeply spiritual
Hindu culture. The island also has several great beach towns, like Kuta, as well as other
areas, such as Ubud, which are known for performing and artistic arts.
1. Angkor
When it comes to archeological sites, travelers won’t want to miss Angkor in northern Cambodia.
It contains some of the world’s most important cultural remains. These include the enormous
Angkor Wat temple, the Bayon temple with its multitude of massive stone faces and Ta Prohm,
a Buddhist temple ruin entwined with towering trees. Historically, Angkor served as the
Khmer capital from the ninth to 14th centuries, which influenced art throughout Southeast
Asia. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored, making tit one of the wonders of
the ancient world while offering an outstanding look of Khmer history.