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.
