Best Places to Visit in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is known for its tropical environment. This part of Asia consists of 11 countries which are Brunei, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. These countries are so similar to one another, from their climate, plants and animal life up to the food that they eat. Throughout the region, temperatures are generally warm, although it is cooler in highland areas. Much of their natural resources are unique to the region and were therefore much desired by international traders in early times. Mainland Southeast Asia is divided into the countries of Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Vietnam, and the small city-state of Singapore at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula; Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, which occupy the eastern portion of the mainland, often are collectively called the Indochinese Peninsula. Malaysia is both mainland and insular, with a western portion on the Malay Peninsula and an eastern part on the island of Borneo. Except for the small sultanate of Brunei, the remainder of insular Southeast Asia consists of the archipelagic nations of Indonesia and the Philippines. 

Southeast Asia’s setting is characterized by three intermingled physical elements: the mountain ranges, the plains and plateaus, and the water in the form of both shallow seas and extensive drainage systems. In all of these, the rivers probably have been of the greatest historical and cultural significance, for waterways have decisively shaped forms of settlement and agriculture, determined fundamental political and economic patterns served as great transportation in the early days and helped define the nature of Southeast Asians’ worldview and distinctive cultural syncretism. With that great historical significance, Southeast Asia has been very diverse culturally. With a total of six thousand languages spoken in the world today, an estimated thousand are found in Southeast Asia, plus hundreds of ethnic groups are also found in the region which shows how culturally diverse these countries are.

Traveling around Southeast Asia is a must-try experience to everyone as it offers remarkable beaches, affordable delicious cuisines, traditional and preserved culture, and the most exciting part is its great people as they are known for being hospitable, jolly and very welcoming.

Here are some of the Best Places to Visit in Southeast Asia:

Phuket Island (Thailand)

Phuket is Thailand's largest island and is considered the most famous. Blue waters, sandy beaches, spicy Thai cuisine, and excellent snorkeling and diving are all part of the appeal. Arriving from all over the world, travelers flock to Phuket for relaxation and adventure, and the island is rated as one of the most popular destinations in Thailand. Phuket has an exceptional climate with warm, sunny days year-round. Monsoon season is usually during mid-May through October, but it might only rain once or twice a day during this period.

Coron Palawan (Philippines)

Coron is a large island that is part of the Palawan archipelago in the Philippines. It is a cute island from where you can take nice boat trips going to beautiful lakes and other islands. In contrast to the rest of Palawan, Coron gives a small resemblance to Italy in terms of ambiance or presence. There are a handful of established package tours, where visitors can quickly join up with other travelers to see some of Coron’s top tourist spots. Visitors can easily travel in Coron with the new P100 million road-widening project of the Coron-Busuanga Road headed by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar. Enjoyable activities like hopping on a boat and heading to the stunning islands for quality snorkeling, scuba or wreck diving, and beach camping are the most popular ones. But hiking up a mountain is for those who seek a stunning sunset or dip in a hot spring.

Borobudur (Indonesia)

An ancient temple and one of the most famous and culturally significant landmarks in Indonesia. Borobudur was built in the 8th century and constructed in the shape of a traditional Buddhist mandala. This massive temple was forgotten for centuries, it is believed that much of the population moved to eastern Java due to volcanic eruptions. But it was rediscovered in the 1800s and, today is one of the main draws in Java. Visiting the temple at sunrise for a torch-light climb up will give you a breathtaking experience while watching the complex is surrounded by sunlight. Borobudur lies near Yogyakarta, an old Javanese city known for its rich cultural and historical offerings. It is considered as one of the top UNESCO World Heritage sites and is considered one of the greatest Buddhist sites in the world.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Vietnam)

image from thelostpassport.com

Phong Nha-Ke Bang is more than a National Park, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam. The result of earth crust development 464 million years ago it’s the oldest major karst formation in Asia. It is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam for caving, the dramatic karst mountain formation honeycombed with huge caverns, which are home to superb stalactite and stalagmite displays. The most popular destination within the park is the Paradise Cave, which extends for a staggering 31 kilometers below ground. The yawning caverns here are truly spectacular. Tu Lan Cave is a "wet cave," and a visit here includes swimming through the cave-systems river. The other most popular excursion is to the Phong Nha Caves, where the interior is accessed by boat. You can access Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park from Son Trach.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifudin Mosque (Brunei)

image from idesignarch.com

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is an Islamic mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is often considered one of the most beautiful mosques in the Asia Pacific. It is a wow gagging view above the Brunei River, and the so-called village in the water, Kampong Ayer. Built on an artificial lagoon on the banks of the river, the mosque initially seems more of an attraction than a place of worship. It is named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, who initiated its construction. The mosque serves as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei and dominates the skyline of Bandar Seri Begawan. The building was completed in 1958 and is an example of modern Islamic architecture.

Universal Studios (Singapore) 

Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, featuring 24 rides, shows and attractions in seven themed zones. It occupies 49 acres of Resorts World Sentosa. The park is arranged thematically, with each area paying tribute to a location, film, or television show. Destinations include New York City, Hollywood, Madagascar, and a trip back to Ancient Egypt. Fiction-themed areas include Shrek's Far Far Away, Lost World, and Sci-Fi City, where Battlestar Galactica-themed dueling roller coasters and an indoor dark coaster, Revenge of the Mummy, dominate the thrill rides.

Angkor Wat (Cambodia) 

Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia and is the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares. Originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. It is known as the best-preserved temple in Cambodia and it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors. UNESCO has set up a wide-ranging program to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings, as it is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia.

Southeast Asia is one of the first places people try out when they start their nomadic lifestyle. It's nice, it's warm, it's easy to get to, and it's a lot of fun. People often consider it as a short-term place to vacation or run errands. But it is also a great place to live or to settle in, living in luxury homes plus its warm and cozy environment will totally give the dream life of everyone. Southeast Asia is not just a place to enjoy and to roam around, it is a big part of history and living in a historic place feels different and exciting.