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Southeast Asia has a fascinating blend of traditions and cultures, and is home to some of the most stunning temples, palaces, and natural sites on earth.
The region is home to famous tourist attractions from Angkor Wat to Halong Bay, as well as sprawling cities such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and miles of pristine coastline around Indonesia and the Philippines. .
And while places such as Bangkok and Singapore have been visited by large numbers of British tourists for decades, other destinations, from lesser-known Laos to nearby backpacker favorite Cambodia, More and more people are beginning to gather in the area.
Whether you want to immerse yourself in urban exploration or hopping around some peaceful tropical islands, this corner of the world has plenty of options.
Below are Independent Travel’s selection of the best countries in the region to visit on holiday. Read this and start planning your next long-distance trip.
Thailand
Riley Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Thailand (Getty Images)
Thailand has long been a popular tourist destination for British people, including young people traveling and business people. The capital, Bangkok (locally known as Krung Thep), was the world’s most visited city for several years in a row before COVID-19, and is just a short distance from the ancient city of Ayutthaya.
Thailand has dozens of famous white sand beaches across the country (such as Railay and Koh Phi Phi), several areas of natural beauty (one of the most unique is Khao Sok National Park), and dozens of There are many temples and palaces. Anyone visiting this country can enjoy a diverse combination of sightseeing, urban experiences and relaxation, not to mention the country’s delicious cuisine.
Best time to visit Thailand
There is a rainy season from July to October, and the best time to travel is during the warmer months of November to April (average highs in the low 30s). May is usually a quiet time to visit, although brief periods of rain can interrupt the sunshine.
Vietnam
Ha Long Bay is located in northeast Vietnam (Getty Images)
Vietnam’s diverse natural beauties are most notable in this region. Halong Bay is the country’s most famous natural area, but the beaches of Phu Quoc and the Cham Islands offer the same beauty in different settings. Other natural attractions include Phong Nha and Hang Son Don caves, Marble Mountains and Mui Ne sand dunes.
As for cities, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang are the best for those who want to experience the “hustle and bustle” of Vietnam (Da Nang also has a beach area). Hoi An, on the other hand, is sometimes called the “Venice of the World”. It is called “Vietnam” because of its canals and well-preserved ancient cities consisting of Chinese wooden shopping streets and French colonial buildings.
Best time to visit Vietnam
April and September are around Vietnam’s high season, with lower humidity and temperatures than the peak summer. The weather can vary greatly from month to month across the country, so you should be able to enjoy the best weather overall.
Read more about traveling to Asia:
Singapore
Singapore Central Business District (Getty Images)
Singapore is a popular destination for British expatriates, with an estimated 50,000 residents. It is a country with little resemblance to any other country. Its urban planning strategy created a metropolis that could accommodate around 6 million people in an area roughly half the size of London.
Although the country is small, it has plenty to offer, from botanical gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and historical and art museums to Gardens by the Bay, a 101-hectare nature park and Universal Studios theme park. It also hosts the F1 race held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in September.
Best time to visit Singapore
Although Singapore receives considerable rainfall throughout the year, the country’s dry season is from February to April, when it is also the least humid. Specifically, February and September have the lowest precipitation and humidity, with average maximum temperatures of around 31 degrees Celsius. Low season also begins in September.
Indonesia
Bali is one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest country, is located at the southern tip of the region and consists of approximately 17,500 islands, including Sumatra and Bali. With so many islands, it’s no wonder this archipelago contains some of the region’s most attractive regions. Bali, in particular, is a popular tourist destination, but many of the islands are home to rainforests, rugged terrain, and even volcanoes (the country is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, and is prone to both eruptions and earthquakes. It is a very easy country).
Jakarta is the country’s capital and largest city, located on the island of Java along with the popular tourist city Yogyakarta. They are located in idyllic locations such as Lombok and Raja Ampat. Bromo His Tengar Semeru National Park and Komodo National Park offer an opportunity to observe unreal nature and wildlife.
Best time to visit Indonesia
The dry season typically lasts from April to October and is also the time when the country receives the most tourists. If you want to avoid the crowds, the average high temperature in May and June is around 31 degrees Celsius and more than 8 hours of sunshine per day.
Malaysia
View of Kuala Lumpur and the Petronas Towers, once the world’s tallest building (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Malaysian culture is an eclectic mix of European, Chinese, Indian and Malay influences, but the country itself is famous for its rainforests, beaches and capital Kuala Lumpur, with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers the country’s most One of the iconic symbols.
Away from the capital, many tourists choose to visit the Malaysian territory in the northern part of the island of Borneo. Trekking through the rainforest, spotting wildlife and relaxing on the beach are all possible there. Perhentian Islands and Sipadan are also popular destinations, while nature lovers flock to Batu Caves, Mount Kinabalu and Cameron Highlands.
Best time to visit Malaysia
Expect fewer crowds from March to June. The average temperature during these months is around 28 degrees, but June is the driest month of the year (note that you can still expect rain showers each month).
Philippines
The Philippines was named after King Felipe II of Spain (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Another archipelago, the Philippines, is made up of over 7,000 islands. Under Spanish rule for more than 300 years, the country is one of the few Roman Catholic-majority countries on the entire continent and has been widely influenced by Western culture and traditions. Ta. For those who want to see a city, the capital is Manila, but the largest city is Quezon.
The country’s thousands of islands are filled with tropical white sand beaches, and the volcanoes of Mayon and Teil offer dramatic views overlooking the ocean. Other locations include Sigma Lagoon, Pagsanjan Waterfall and Batad Rice Terraces.
Best time to visit the Philippines
The dry season in the Philippines is the middle of the low season for tourism. The driest period is from January to March, when there is almost no precipitation and the humidity drops to an acceptable level. Expect daily highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C.
Cambodia
Cambodia ended its dictatorship only recently in 1979 (Getty Images)
Cambodia welcomes visitors who want to learn about its complex history and experience a culture that blends Asian and French cultures. Despite being a largely rural country with a population of 16 million, only three of her cities are home to more than 100,000 people. While Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city, Siem Reap is another metropolitan center that also serves as the gateway to the ancient temple, Angkor His Wat, which today is the world’s largest religious structure.
The country’s islands, such as Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, are home to pristine white beaches, sandy coves and coral reefs, and are popular spots for parties. The Cardamom Mountains cover more than 4.4 million hectares of rainforest from the southeast to eastern Thailand and are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including sun bears, elephants, and Siamese crocodiles. Tonle Sap Lake is the largest in Southeast Asia, and its waters and floodplains are home to more than 3 million people and hundreds of different species of animals.
Best time to visit Cambodia
Temperatures are at their lowest during the dry season from November to February, but the average maximum temperature still reaches 30°C.
Laos
Luang Prabang is a city in Laos consisting of 58 villages bordering the Mekong River (Getty Images)
Laos is one of the smaller countries on the continent, bordering Vietnam to the east, Thailand to the west, and Cambodia to the south, which shows the geography here. Whether you want to cruise through dense jungle along the winding Mekong River, trek through the jagged karst terrain around Vang Vieng, or simply relax in the laid-back capital of Vientiane, we’ve got something for you.
Laos’ most important landmark is Phat Luang, a golden pagoda in Vientiane. Other attractions in the capital include temples such as Wat Si Saket and the Old City. If you have time, visit the tranquil Son River and the town of Vang Vieng before exploring the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang and the surrounding nature, including waterfalls, plunge pools, and the banks of the Mekong River.
Best time to visit Laos
The climate in Laos is ideal between October and April, when it is dry and not too hot. For river cruises, November to January are best if the water levels are high, but August is the wettest and wettest month.
