Southeast Asia is an incredible region of the world to travel, with history, culture, ancient temples, cities, islands, beaches, tasty food and some of the friendliest people on the planet.
If you are wondering what you shouldn’t miss in Southeast Asia our guide to the top rated destinations will help you to get inspiration for where to visit.
There are 11 countries in Southeast Asia and thousands of islands that you could spend a lifetime exploring. Each country offers something different and we really could have added hundreds of locations to our list.
We have included a diverse selection of locations including super modern cities, spectacular islands, beautiful beaches, and places home to some of the most exotic wildlife in the world which you really shouldn’t miss on your next trip.
Best Destinations in Southeast Asia
Here’s our list of the best countries and destinations in Southeast Asia that you really need to add to your bucket list.
1. Siem Reap & Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor, located in the north of Cambodia’s and around 5 miles from Siem Reap, is one of the most incredible archaeological sites in the world.
Angkor Wat is an enormous Buddhist temple complex as seen in the image above, whilst there are also lots of other temples and ruins to see, including Angor Thom which was brought to the world’s attention in the film Tomb Raider staring Angelina Jolie.
No visit to Cambodia would be complete without seeing these temples and seeing sunrise over Angkor Wat is a magical experience and something you really need to tick off your bucket list.
There are also lots of other things to do in Siem Reap, including enjoying the entertainment on Pub Street, taking a food tour, exploring local markets, visiting the Cambodian Landmine Museum and doing day trips to the Kulen Mountain and Kampong Phluk floating village.
2. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the most amazing backpacking destinations with so many tourist attractions and Hạ Long Bay is among the best. Located in northeast Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is a really beautiful area to visit with emerald waters and more than 1,600 towering limestone islands and islets.
In 1994 Hạ Long Bay was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of its outstanding, universal aesthetic value.
There are lots of tours, cruises and sea kayak expeditions whilst if you are looking for more adventure you can also go scuba diving, rock climbing and hiking.
3. Gulf of Thailand
Thailand is blessed with some of the most beautiful islands in the world and almost every island could be added to our list. There are so many beautiful islands in Thailand including Koh Samui, Phuket, Koh Lanta, Koh Tao, Koa Lanta and Phi Phi, just to name a few. Each island is different and offers unique experiences, from partying, to scuba diving, to relaxing on some of the most stunning beaches in Asia.
4. Luang Prabang, Laos
Laos is one of the most beautiful countries in Asia and Luang Prabang is a destination you shouldn’t miss.
While some places in Southeast Asia are now super touristy like Thailand, Laos still remains authentic and generally untouched by globalisation. Because this country is still off the main tourist radar you get the chance to experience somewhere really authentic.
If you take the time to discover Laos you will experience a different corners of Southeast Asia and fall in love with this country. Luang Prabang has breathtaking scenery, temples and stunning nature.
5. Boracay, Philippines
Boracay is one of the best places to visit in the Philippines and is popular do to its pristine white beaches, water activities and entertainment. This island is very small with only a few beaches and is a great destination to meet other travellers from all over the world and enjoy the relaxation and nightlife. The beaches are some of the most picturesque in Asia.
6. Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand is one of the best countries to visit in Southeast Asia and Bangkok it’s capital if a fascinating city to explore. Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world with over 24 million people arriving here every year.
The chances are if you are going to be travelling in Southeast Asia you will fly into or pass by Bangkok, and although it doesn’t have the glamour or beaches of the south, but it is a great destination if you like cities. Expect a mix of ancient temples, bustling streets, entertainment and super modern hotels and shopping centres.
There are lots of ways to explore the city but the best are riding a classic tuk-tuk taxi or heading to the river for a water bus tour. Some of the best tourist sights in Bangkok include the Grand Palace, the sleeping Budha, the royal Vimanmek Mansion and Wat Arun.
7. Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and home to exotic wildlife like orang-utans. This island is spectacular located in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago, and. is shared by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan and the tiny nation of Brunei.
Borneo has beautiful beaches, a stunning rainforest and the huge 4,095m-tall Mount Kinabalu, the island’s highest peak. Borneo is a great destination to experience beautiful outdoor locations and see animals like orang-utans. This is also a world famous scuba dive location with Sipadan Island being a top rated destination.
8. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is one of the most well-known and also most visited destinations in Asia. Famous for beaches, rice paddies, coffee, spas, scuba diving, and temples, Bali offers something for everyone. By visiting Bali you will get to enjoy the relaxed culture and feel the warmth of local peoples hospitality. You can. find incredible places to stay in Bali and some of the most Instagrammable locations in Southeast Asia.
9. Bagan, Myanmar
Bagan is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, more than 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed here and there are still over 2,000 intact temples, stupas and pagodas.
10. Singapore
Singapore is one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia and it is also one of the most modern in the world.
When exploring Singapore you can see ancient temples, huge hotel complexes and the spectacular Gardens by the Bay as seen in the image above. There are world class restaurants, and lots of markets and hawker centers which are open-air food courts serving a wide variety of tasty Asian dishes.
If you have a large budget, or just want to treat yourself check out the world class Marina Bay Sands Hotel. This hotel is world class and as well as having all the modern facilities of a luxury hotel, it has an infinity pool on the roof with amazing views over the Singapore skyline.
11. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and is such an underrated city to visit. Kuala Lumpur has amazing food, nature, wild monkeys and the impressive Petronas Towers – the world’s tallest twin towers (1,482 feet high) that loom high over the city, totally dominating the skyline.
12. Yangon, Myanmar
Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon) is the former capital and largest city in Myanmar.
You can find a mix of British colonial architecture, modern high-rises and temples making it a great city to explore with your camera.
Some of the most famous tourist sites include the Botataung and Sule pagodas, and the Shwedagon Paya, a huge, shimmering pagoda complex, which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
13. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is one of the most relaxed cities to visit in Asia, and the main highlight is it is home to some incredible elephant sanctuaries where local organisations are doing incredible work to conserve these beautiful animals.
Sanctuaries offer a safe haven for elephant which have usually been abused, used in the logging industry or made to give rides to foreigns in the tourism industry. You can visit a sanctuary to see elephants up close in a natural environment, or stay do something rewarding by volunteering and helping. You’ll get to learn more about animals and what is being done to protect them.
Chiang Mai is also a great city to go sightseeing to see temples.
14. Bohol, the Philippines
Bohol is another location in the Philippines making our list. Bohol is located east of Cebu and is famous for its unique scenery and spectacular coral reefs. One of the main attractions is the Chocolate Hills, located near the town of Carmen. There are over one thousand symmetrical mounds which cover the skyline for miles around.
If you like adventures, Bohol offers so many trips including hiking and diving.
15. Hội An, Vietnam
Hội An is a city located on Vietnam’s central coast and is famous for its well-preserved Ancient Town with scenic canals running through it.
Hội An is very touristy and it is easy to see why, the streets are very scenic and it is also a great stop off for any trip starting or finishing in Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City.
The architecture is a mix of Chinese shophouses, colourful French colonial buildings, Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda.
16. Palawan, Philippines
Palawan is one of the top destinations in the Philippines with lots of beaches, forests and nature locations which are home to incredible biodiversity. Travel + Leisure voted Palawan the “World’s Best Island” for two straight years, beating the likes of Boracay, Santorini, and Bali.
The Philippines has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and in Palawan you can experience some of the most impressive ones. Palawan is also one of the best diving destinations in the world with stunning coral reefs and marine life.
There are courses and trips available for complete beginners and experiences divers. Tubbataha Reef is one of the top locations to check out, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can see corals, manta rays, lionfish, hawksbill tortoises, clown fish, and eels.
17. Sapa, Vietnam
If you are planning an itinerary to visit Vietnam most people include the tourist hotspots of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Ha Long Bay. But you really need to also see Sapa. Sapa is located in northern Vietnam and is really scenic with rolling green fields and rice paddies. The Sapa Valley includes lots of villages and terraced rice paddies, trekking and exploring this area is a beautiful experience and you can get amazing photos.
18. Vigan, Philippines
Vigan is one of the lesser known destinations on our list and it really is a hidden gem.
Vigan is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre city on the west coast of Luzon island, Philippines. This destination is totally different to everywhere else on our list and looks like Spain rather than Asia due to its preserved Spanish colonial architecture.
Vigan is a great city to visit as a tourist, there are pretty cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and rustic colourful buildings. The Vigan Cathedral and the fountain light show at Plaza Salcedo are two of the highlights.
19. Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Thailand has so many beautiful national parks including Thap Lan National Park, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Ko Similian National Park, Kui Buri National Park, Hat Chao Mai National Park but the best is the Khao Yai National Park.
The Khao Yai National Park is located around 3 hours north of Bangkok and was founded in 1962 and is lush with nature and wildlife. The park covers an area of more than 2,000 sq km and is part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a UNESCO-recognised area.
There are lots of eco accommodation and tours available in the Khao Yai National Park where you can see animals like elephants, bears, gibbons, birds, pythons, Chinese water dragons, and lizards.
20. Komodo Island, Indonesia
Komodo Island in Indonesia is a unique destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island is home to over 4,000 3m-long Komodo dragon monitor lizards which live in the Komodo National Park.
The landscape is really amazing too with red volcanic hills, savannahs and forests surrounded by waters and coral reefs which are perfect for diving.
To reach Komodo island, you need to to Labuan Bajo by either plane or boat from Bali and then depart to Komodo Island by boat. Some airlines fly from Bali to Labuan Bajo on Flores Island which is another transportation option.
Every country in Southeast Asia is different and offers unique experiences. It was really difficult even to narrow down our list to 25 locations as we really could have added 100+ destinations. It’s impossible to see everywhere especially in one trip unless you have the freedom and flexibility to travel full time. But by trying to see as many destinations as possible, you will get to experience some of the most amazing places in the world. Start. Ticking them off your bucket list on your next trip.
