10 Best Places to Visit in Southeast Asia

Angkor Archeological Park embodies history, legend, and culture when considering Southeast Asia.

The complex of more than 70 major temples and countless minor temples was once hidden under the jungle brush, with foundations dating back to the 9th century AD, revealing what was once the world’s largest known city. The main temple reveals bas-reliefs sharing scenes of Hindu epics, adding to the majestic ambiance of temple towers, decorated halls, and the surrounding nature ready to again overtake the landscape at any moment.

Angkor temple and the greater archeological complex are a breathtaking display of the past and a representation of contemporary conservation efforts. Learn more about when to go and what to do during your trip with our Cambodia Travel Guide.

Highlights: Angkor Wat • Elephant Gate • Bayon • Ta Prohm • Ta Keo

Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days

Learn more: Cambodia Tours & Vacations

Ha Long Bay is an immersion into a surreal landscape, where limestone pillars tower over emerald waters, jade forest blankets idyllic islands, and white-sand beaches offer remote escapes from the bustle of daily life from which you can find inspiration using our sample Vietnam Tours & Vacations.

The islets scattered around the bay can demonstrate pristine coastlines or represent large rocks emerging from the sea, each with its own secrets, including inspiring caves to explore. Discover the calm of kayaking, embrace a treasured snorkeling expedition, or rock climb for superior views across the water.

Whether cycling or hiking, exploring the water or the sky, Ha Long Bay is a wonder of nature.

Highlights: Cruise • Cat Ba Island • Bai Tu Long Bay • Cong Do Island • Ti Top Beach

Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days

Learn more: Vietnam Travel Guide

Phuket captures Thailand’s legendary tropical paradise, providing visitors with layers of blue water, exotic marine life, and beaches blanketed with white and gold sands.

The largest island in the country, the coastline offers the marvels of beaches fringed with palms or bedecked with lounge chairs gazing out over the calm water. Heritage emerges from the shimmering museums and celebrated cooking classes set beneath the gaze of the Big Buddha.

Enjoy new ideas and insights for your trip with our sample Thailand Tours & Vacations as you consider Phuket, whether as a gateway to the nearby island paradises or as an idyllic adventure with warm sunny days and endlessly delightful beaches. You can also embrace the charms across the country when exploring what we consider the most romantic places in Thailand for couples.

Highlights: Kata Beach • Karon Beach • Phuket Town • Boat tours • Water activities • Big Buddha

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

Learn more: Thailand Travel Guide

A serene getaway, an island paradise, an introduction to ancient Hindu practices, Bali has gained a reputation for enticing all the senses to create an unforgettable experience for visitors, no matter their travel preferences.

The tropical air can offer hints of the sea or clues to rice paddies, reveal a hidden plume of frangipani or a delicious local cafe. Waves beckon surfers, the lush scenery frames gorgeous temples, and the spiritual layer of the arts contrasts an ambiance set by soothing spas and boutique shops.

Bali is a single destination, but can feel like an amalgamation of places, with each new city or town providing a fresh perspective of island life you can further discover with our Bali Travel Guide.

Highlights: Pura Tanah Lot • Mount Batur • Uluwatu Temple • Tegallalang Rice Terraces • Nusa Dua Beach

Recommended length of stay: 4-5 days

Learn more: Bali Vacations & Tours

Sukhothai opens the doorway to the golden age of Thailand's independence as the kingdom’s first capital. The temples, with nearly 200 excavated structures, exemplify the intellectual and artistic developments made during the 13th century.

Once the cradle of Thai culture, the remains of artistic and religious works exude from the complex’s oldest temple, Wat Mahathat, which features an impressive main chedi at the center, nearly crowning the heart of the 28-square-mile archeological complex.

Whether viewing the impact of Khmer architecture in Wat Si Sawai or counting the elephant decorations at Wat Si Chum, the demonstration of power and prestige emerges, with dramatic charisma easily uncovered when exploring the top things to do in Thailand.

Highlights: Sukhothai Old City • Wat Mahathat • Wat Traphang Ngoen • Wat Sa Si • Wat Sorasak

Recommended length of stay: 1-2 days

Learn more: Luxury Thailand Tours

Bangkok is much more than Thailand’s capital city. It features the depth of culture and history that spreads across the country.

The mixture of heritage and contemporary life does not always blend effortlessly and can often collide into a flavor unlike anywhere else in the world. Marketplaces erupt with culinary choices, with chefs focusing on showcasing favorite local flavors steeped in spicy, sour, sweet, and salty notes for a perfect introduction to a Thailand food tour.

Vendors and shops, eager to make a deal, offer handsome displays. From the historic temples, grand palace, and ancient waterway to the world’s largest market, Bangkok is a living interpretation of Thailand’s past, present, and future.

Highlights: Grand Palace • Wat Pho • Wat Arun • City canals • Wat Traimit • Chatuchak Market • Street food

Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days

Learn more: Bangkok Vacation Packages

Luang Prabang is an ancient royal capital where the serenity of nature meets the quiet magnetism of daily life. The early hours can drift into spiritual nourishment along the babbling banks at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers.

Gilded temples glint in the sunlight, monks in saffron-colored robes form an early-morning procession, elegant villas capture a passing era of history, and the delicious cuisine unveils the importance of local ingredients and favored flavors.

With connections to cycling trails and breathtaking waterfalls, kayaking excursions and mountain escapes, Luang Prabang is a captivating city with a charming village ambiance.

Highlights: Phousi Mountain • Wat Manorom • Kuang Si Waterfalls • Wat Xieng Thong • Rice fields

Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days

Learn more: Laos Tours

Komodo National Park is an incredible collection of peninsulas crowned by its namesake island and famous for its population of rare and vulnerable komodo dragons. Waters can glisten like crystal and the pink sands fringing the beaches may lead to red coral hiding beneath the calm sea.

Villages offer insight into the traditional lives of locals and safaris into the wilderness bring the truth of mythical dragons into reality. Hiking trails and waterfalls, pristine sunsets and exceptional marine life highlight only a fraction of the possibilities you can enjoy when visiting Komodo National Park.

Highlights: Padar Island • Komodo dragon safari • Snorkel • Rangko Cave • Komodo Village

Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second-largest city, but feels like a calm oasis rising out of the northern jungle. Whether wandering the streets of the Old City or visiting the village deep in the rolling mountains, the ambiance remains rooted in Thai traditions and culture, easily explored during a two-week Thailand tour.

The slower pace of the city can feel intoxicating, where visitors leave for multi-day treks and return with a new perspective on life, or travel between temples uncovering different historical aesthetics. With ample cooking classes and street-food vendors, museums and markets, Chiang Mai is a peaceful connection to what matters most to locals and visitors.

Highlights: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep • Doi Inthanon • Wat Chedi Luang • Wat Prasingh • Street Food

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

Learn more: Thailand Trip Planner

Whether looking for one of the most romantic places in Vietnam for couples or interested in what to try during your trip to Vietnam, Hanoi is a reflection of the country’s broader history, as well as a projection of its future.

French and Chinese architecture represents elements of the past, with marketplaces roaring with activity and the Old Quarter brimming with cafes. Artists showcase their local and international perspectives, luxury feels exceptional and accessible, and local food often becomes the focus of daily life.

From exciting streets to the peaceful walkways of Hoan Kiem Lake, the representation of power at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to the delightful storytelling at a water-puppet theater, Hanoi can feel like an endless burst of adrenaline, giving way to the softer sounds of museums and boat trips, panoramas and historical houses.

Highlights: Hanoi Old Town • Hoan Kiem Lake • Temple of Literature • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum • Water Puppet Theater

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

Learn more: Luxury Vietnam Tours

Southeast Asia is a marvelous collection of ancient splendor and contemporary, cosmopolitan culture. From culinary mastery to the grandeur of historic temples, puppet theater, and pristine hidden beaches, you can find the perfect blend of experiences, whether on a couple’s getaway or family vacation.

Embrace new opportunities by using our sample itineraries as inspiration for your Southeast Asia Tour & Vacation or enjoy discovering information about when to go, what to do, and more with our Southeast Asia Travel Guide.