[Updated – July 2020] Thinking about a visit to Southeast Asia? Good choice! The next part is to figure out exactly where to go. With so many reasons to visit to the region, choosing where to travel in Southeast Asia is not the easiest of tasks.
Whether your motivation is food, fun, history or something else, it can be hard to narrow down the choices. We’ll help you figure it out below:
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Where to Travel in Southeast Asia for Food
Southeast Asia has great food. It is easy to understand why Pad Thai and Pho are found in cities across the world. And few (legal) endeavors in life are so pleasurable as slurping down a hot bowl of bun cha or khao soi.
Some of Southeast Asia’s greatest exports are edible, and, naturally, the real thing from the source is going to be better. So what country is the best place to travel in Southeast Asia for food?
Great food can be found in any country in the region. However, when food-focused travelers are deciding where to travel in Southeast Asia, it is much easier to narrow down the list when you’re looking for the best.
Travelers craving a taste of something unique and unmatched should consider Thailand and Vietnam. Thai food has become a trendy Western choice and receives a lot of international attention, whereas Vietnamese food enjoys a slightly less notoriety.
Comparing Vietnamese and Thai food is difficult, as the two cuisines are drastically different. Thai food varies more within the country from north to south, while twists on dishes in Vietnam are not as significant from Hanoi down to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Most foodies will jump to proclaim spicy Thai food, with its powerful flavors, as the best in the region. In many ways, Thai food deserves to be in the conversation of best food in the world – it really is that good. In Southeast Asia, Vietnamese food remains a strong challenger. For one, it is cheaper, and that’s always a good thing. The country also bakes some of the best bread in the world, and that means pastries, too. Perhaps more importantly, street food in Vietnam is better.
Neither Thailand nor Vietnam has better food. Each country has unique, fantastic cuisine. For travelers looking to try new and delicious foods, these two nations should be at the top of the list.
Myanmar has a few bright spots, and Malaysian food, a blend of Indian, Chinese and Southeast Asian, is also pretty damn good.
Foodies looking for the best place to travel in Southeast Asia should be aware that, as a whole, Laos and Cambodia are a little stale. There’s plenty to offer for backpackers, curious travelers and culture enthusiasts – they’re fantastic places to visit, in general – but food in these countries is mediocre compared to their neighbors.
There’s no need to panic or go hungry, but temper your expectations. The food just doesn’t stand out. Much of what is considered to be local cuisine is also found in neighboring countries. Cuisine in Laos and Cambodia doesn’t compare to the cuisine in places like Thailand or Vietnam.
The Best Place to Travel & Party in Southeast Asia
For some reason, thousands of travelers head to Southeast Asia to party. The allure of doing illegal drugs and soliciting prostitutes of unknown gender, in a place that (literally) has deathly punishments, is lost on me. Nevertheless, travelers head to Southeast Asia to go wild and be free.
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and other countries are infamous for drug use and sex tourism, so, naturally, that’s a draw for a special breed of vile tourist. Don’t be that kind of tourist.
**I strongly discourage anyone from partaking in any type of sex tourism. Not only are deadly STDs on the rise in Southeast Asia, this abhorrent business will only grow if travelers continue to support it.
I also advise against using illicit drugs in Southeast Asia. Party hardy travelers die every year from overdoses in the region. The punishments for being caught with these substances, even a small personal quantity of marijuana, can land you in jail for years. Not worth it. You can go to Amsterdam and legally smoke weed until you melt. Don’t take the risk.**
Now that the warnings are out of the way, where is the best place to travel and party in Southeast Asia?
Thailand, obviously, is on the list. Phuket may not be serene anymore, but it is still a hot spot for fun. Bangkok, as the backpacking travel hub of Southeast Asia, has plenty of nightlife to satisfy the desire for a crippling hangover. Head to Khao San Road for a plethora of grimy options to start the night.
In Vietnam, Saigon has a lively scene of overpriced bars in the city’s backpacker corner. Hanoi is tamer than Saigon, but Beer Street is a good place to start. Regardless of what country it is, $0.25-0.50 beers are a win in my book.
Cambodia’s party scene is pretty well limited to Siem Reap, primarily around Pub Street, now that things in Phnom Penh have calmed down. The island of Koh Rong, and to a lesser extent the smaller island of Koh Rong Samloem, is the place for a beach party in Cambodia.
If you’re heading to Malaysia, forget about partying unless you have deep pockets. It’s too expensive. The same can be said for Singapore, per usual.
Vang Vieng is a once-infamous party town in Laos. Now, the drunken river scene is all but gone. There are a few bars left, but police are cutting down on illicit activities. The once-wild atmosphere has dwindled to a few, pungent holes in the wall.
Searching for the best place to travel and party in Southeast Asia is not a hard task. Most travelers head to Thailand. This is not likely to change anytime soon. However, a party can be found nearly anywhere. Having fun is part of travel, but keep your wits about you. Tourists are easy targets.
Where to Travel in Southeast Asia for Beaches
There are a lot of options for beaches in Southeast Asia. Laos is the only landlocked country, and nearly other country in the region has a few decent beaches.
Thailand is, by far, the most popular place to travel in Southeast Asia for a beach getaway. The country’s ease of access and quality infrastructure makes it an easy destination for international travelers, and there are plenty of islands from which to choose.
Phuket may have been inundated and spoiled by tourists, and Phi Phi Island may be so fragile that it is now periodically closed to rehabilitate the habitat, but there are other islands we tourists have yet to destroy!
Whether it’s Ko Lanta, Ko Samui or another sultry utopia, Thailand has a lot of beautiful islands and is a beach-lovers dream.
Once the tropical crown jewel of Southeast Asian travel destinations, Bali evokes ideas of luxury, sunshine, empty beaches and pristine water. Today, travelers are just as likely to find thousands of other tourists and seas of trash as they are paradise.
Fortunately, Indonesia has over 17,000 islands. Even if Bali has lost its magic, it shouldn’t be too tough to find the perfect beach in Indonesia.
There are great beaches elsewhere in Southeast Asia, but most places are less popular for a reason. Malaysia has nice beaches, but costs run higher; and many of the nicer beaches in Malaysia are more difficult to reach. Cambodia also great beaches, but they are fewer and the infrastructure is less developed. Vietnamese beaches are just okay. Myanmar, while home to thousands of islands and pristine tropical paradise, seriously lacks the necessary infrastructure to support much beach tourism.
Ultimately, the best place to travel in Southeast Asia for a beachy, sun-filled stay is Thailand or Indonesia. The beauty is unquestionable, but the infrastructure make these countries the most logical choice for travelers.
Travel in Southeast Asia for History Lovers
Asian history, including that of Southeast Asia, goes back thousands of years. For travelers with an interest in history, there are a few destinations in Southeast Asia that stand above the rest.
Angkor Wat is the single most well-known historical attraction among all Southeast Asian travel destinations. The ancient capital of the Khmer Empire draws over two millions visitors annually. The once-mysterious and forgotten jungle megacity is now a hugely popular destination on the outskirts of a highly developed city. Even with massive popularity and large crowds, Angkor remains a fun place to visit. The various structures date back hundreds of years, with some parts of the city over a thousand years old.
Another spectacular, timeworn place to travel in Southeast Asia is the ancient capital of Bagan, in central Myanmar. Bagan is home to thousands of temples and structures from the Pagan Kingdom, dating back about a thousand years.
In a rural area of Myanmar, Bagan lacks the development and oversight of similar ancient places. Once visitors pay the fee and enter the area, they are left entirely to themselves. While some structures are unstable and off limits, tourists are still able to climb atop several temples and find striking scenes over Bagan. Best of all, Bagan has very few visitors in comparison to Angkor. During low-seasons, the Myanmar treasure of Bagan is virtually free of tourists.
Laos’ Plain of Jars is an even older ancient site in Southeast Asia, but visiting does not compare to Angkor or Bagan. The large “jars” are undoubtedly a curious sight, but there isn’t much else to warrant the tedious trip to visit this corner of Laos.
More recent history is also visible across the region. Remnants of European colonialism provide a lot of interesting history and beautiful architecture, but the ancient history is a more unique draw.
For the incredible ancient sites of Angkor and Bagan, Cambodia and Myanmar are the best places to travel in Southeast Asia for history enthusiasts.
Off the Tourist Trail
Despite am enormous increase in popularity, Southeast Asia is still off the tourist trail for most travelers. But which country in Southeast Asia is the best to visit to travel off the beaten path and avoid the masses?
It’s fairly easy to get lost, avoid crowds and find something unique in Southeast Asia. But it is easier in some countries than others.
Laos is the best place in Southeast Asia to travel to avoid other tourists. Aside from Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, Western tourists in the country are few and far between. Even the other popular places in the country bring in few tourists.
Si Phan Don, better known as Four Thousand Islands, is popular with travelers, but its remote location in the middle of the Mekong River in extreme southern Laos makes it difficult for numbers to swell.
The Plain of Jars, near Phonsavan in Northeastern Laos, is growing in notoriety. However, again due to a remote location, there are few tourists in the area.
Motorbike excursions are also a popular method of touring rural Laos where travelers will encounter very few tourists. Even in Vientiane, the capital and largest city of Laos, tourists are scarce compared to big cities in neighboring countries.
Myanmar is another Southeast Asian travel destination with few tourists. Bagan is the most popular attraction for tourists in Myanmar. With ongoing conflicts in multiple regions of the country – several areas are off limits to outsiders – many travelers avoid the nation. With a population of over five million, Yangon (formerly, Rangoon) is the center of political and economic life in the country. Nevertheless, few tourists make it to Myanmar, leaving it as a destination yet spoiled.
As a whole, Southeast Asia is no longer an unusual or uncommon place to travel. Millions of foreigners visit each year, but it is still easy to lose the crowds by venturing away from popular tourist centers.
Laos and Myanmar are two fascinating countries, but the allure is lost among most travelers. With few visitors even in the most popular spots, they are the best places to visit in Southeast Asia to get away from the tourist trail.
Where to Travel Cheap in Southeast Asia
With the major exception of Singapore, most of Southeast Asia is budget friendly. But what is the cheapest of the cheap?
Thailand is the most well-known country in Southeast Asia for budget-friendly travel. Much of the credence behind that notion can be attributed to travelers who don’t stray far from Thailand at all.
Bangkok is wild, massive and still cheap. The Insta-famous Thai islands are beautiful and fairly inexpensive compared to a pricey week in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. There’s no debate that Thailand is affordable, but it’s not the cheapest place to travel in Southeast Asia.
Thailand’s rise in popularity coincides with an increase in prices. It is still cheap, but extravagant meals for a buck and $5 a night for a nice room with air conditioning are things of the past.
For a country in Southeast Asia that better stretches your dollar, head to Vietnam.
Vietnam is incredibly cheap. Traveling in Vietnam lacks a certain quality of infrastructure and level of comfort, but this only increases the sense of adventure. If traveling on a budget is the goal, it’s easy to stick to it in Vietnam.
Food in Vietnam is not only fantastic, it’s a budget travelers dream. Local specialties are often found streetside for just a dollar or two. When dining out, prices are still very low considering the quality, freshness and overall spread on the table.
Prices vary across Vietnam, especially between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Even in the most touristy areas, cheap eats are plentiful. Accommodation in Vietnam is also cheaper. Decent hostels in Hanoi can be found for $5-7 USD per night. In Saigon (HCMC), the cost is a few dollars more, but still cheaper than most hostels of equivalent quality in other Southeast Asian travel destinations. Hotels, as usual, can be as expensive as a traveler desires, In Vietnam, a quality hotel with air conditioning in a decent part of town does not break the bank.
Without even considering airfare from home, travel transportation costs can really add up during a trip. In Vietnam, transportation is super cheap. If you take local buses and trains, it is alarmingly cheap – sometimes, a couple dollars can take you halfway through the country. Most backpackers take tourist buses. For a few dollars more, and still far from luxury, they are more spacious and comfortable than local options.
Where to Travel for Comfort in Southeast Asia
When roughing it and stretching dollars is not your style – if traveling in comfort sounds more appealing – options for where to travel in Southeast Asia are fewer. Most big cities sport at least one or two fancy hotels, but deeper travel requires more consideration than finding a nice hotel.
Overall comfort in a country has more to do with infrastructure than thread-count. The infrastructure in Malaysia, Thailand and (especially) Singapore is, in large part, considerably better than in surrounding nations.
Hours and hours on bumpy roads take a toll on any traveler. Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia have smoother roads. This goes a long way on cross country trips. These countries also have reasonably comfortable rail travel. *I cannot speak to the quality of infrastructure in Malaysian Borneo.
You can always pay a little extra for comfort. Air conditioning, for instance, is not common in Southeast Asia. Hostels usually offer A/C for a premium. Short flights are available to avoid long bus rides. Jack Daniels and Hennessy is around for those willing to pay. But you can forget about safe drinking water anywhere.
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand may be more comfortable for travelers in an arbitrary sense, but it’s nearly impossible to designate a single place in Southeast Asia as the best place to travel for luxury.
If you’re wondering what is the best place to visit or where to travel in Southeast Asia, comfort should be a lesser consideration. That would only lead to frustration. Other places in the world are better suited for luxurious and comfort-focused travel. Instead, consider the many other, far better reasons to travel halfway across the world to Southeast Asia.
Where to Go in Southeast Asia
Everywhere! Ideally, visiting as many places as possible will yield the best overall experience and the most comprehensive understanding of the region. There are too many reasons to count to travel to Southeast Asia. The region has become one of the most popular areas in the world for tourism. Travelers are drawn for many reasons, and the greatest challenge is time.
With beautiful beaches, sprawling cities, mysterious ruins and heaps of delicious food, any trip to Southeast Asia can be the trip of a lifetime.
With a little research and a better understanding of the region prior to your arrival, you can choose the Southeast Asian travel destination that best fits your desires of travel.
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