Best Travel Destinations in Southeast Asia: 12 Places and When to Go

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most rewarding regions: ancient temples, tropical beaches, volcanoes, rainforest, extraordinary food and some of the warmest hospitality anywhere. The hardest part is choosing. Here are the best travel destinations in Southeast Asia that our specialists recommend most, and when each is at its best.

Vietnam

A long, thin country that packs in Ha Long Bay, Hoi An’s old town, the imperial city of Hue and the Mekong Delta. Best time: varies by region; November to April is a good general window. Explore our Vietnam luxury tours.

Don’t miss: a night aboard a Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay cruise, a lantern-lit evening in Hoi An and a bowl of pho in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Best for: first-timers, food lovers and travelers who want variety in one country. For Vietnam-only trip planning, our sister site Vietnam Private Tours has detailed regional guides.

Cambodia

Home to Angkor Wat and the temples around Siem Reap, plus Phnom Penh and the riverside towns of the south. Best time: November to February. Read our guides to visiting Angkor Wat and things to do in Siem Reap.

Don’t miss: sunrise at Angkor Wat, the faces of the Bayon, the tree roots of Ta Prohm and Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace. Best for: history lovers. A short trip of five to seven days fits easily alongside Vietnam or Thailand.

Laos

Quiet and spiritual, with Luang Prabang’s UNESCO old town, the Plain of Jars and the 4,000 Islands. Best time: November to February. See things to see in Laos.

Don’t miss: the morning alms-giving procession in Luang Prabang (watch respectfully, from a distance), the Kuang Si waterfalls and a slow boat on the Mekong. Best for: travelers who want a slower pace and a gentle, traditional culture.

Thailand

Bangkok’s temples, Chiang Mai’s culture and the Andaman Sea’s islands: the most varied of all. Best time: November to February for most of the country. See Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Phuket.

Don’t miss: the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in Bangkok, Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Phang Nga Bay by long-tail boat and a night market for street food. Best for: first-timers, families and honeymooners who want culture and beaches in one trip.

Bali, Indonesia

Rice terraces, temples, surf beaches and luxury villas. Best time: April to October. See things to do in Bali.

Don’t miss: the rice terraces of Tegallalang and Jatiluwih, the water temple of Tirta Empul and a sunset at Uluwatu. Best for: couples, wellness travelers and anyone who wants luxury villas at good value.

Java and Komodo, Indonesia

Beyond Bali, Indonesia offers two more world-class experiences. On Java, Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world, and the Hindu temples of Prambanan are both easily reached from Yogyakarta, the island’s cultural capital. To the east, Komodo National Park combines Komodo dragons with pink-sand beaches and some of Asia’s best diving, explored by boat from Labuan Bajo. Best time: roughly April to October for both.

The Philippines (Palawan)

Limestone lagoons, wartime wrecks and island-hopping. Best time: November to May. See our Palawan travel guide.

Don’t miss: the Big and Small Lagoons on an El Nido island-hopping tour, and the wreck dives around Coron. Best for: beach lovers, snorkelers and divers.

Malaysian Borneo

Orangutans, rainforest lodges, caves and Southeast Asia’s highest peak. Best time: March to October. See our Borneo island travel guide.

Don’t miss: the Sepilok orangutan center, a river safari on the Kinabatangan for proboscis monkeys and hornbills, and the giant caves of Mulu in Sarawak. Best for: wildlife lovers and families with older children.

Malaysia’s cities and Penang

Kuala Lumpur and George Town for food and culture. See our Malaysia itinerary.

Penang’s George Town and Malacca are UNESCO-listed for their multicultural heritage of shophouses, temples, mosques and clan houses, and many travelers come just for the hawker food. Best time: the west coast is warm year-round, with heavy showers in some months.

Singapore

An easy, high-end stopover with great food and gardens; a natural start or finish for a regional trip.

Do not miss Gardens by the Bay, the hawker centers (some stalls have Michelin recognition) and the colorful shophouses of Joo Chiat and Kampong Glam. Two or three nights is enough for most travelers.

Myanmar and the Indochina routes

For travelers who want less-visited landscapes, Myanmar’s temples and lakes reward careful planning. Check current travel advice before you go.

Sample two-week combinations

• Vietnam and Cambodia: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, then three nights at Angkor. The classic first trip to Indochina, best from November to March.
• Thailand and Laos: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, the slow boat or a short flight to Luang Prabang, then a Thai beach to finish.
• Thailand and Cambodia: Bangkok, a short flight to Siem Reap, then back to Phuket or Krabi for the beach.
• Bali and Komodo: Ubud and the coast, followed by a few nights on a boat in Komodo National Park. Best from April to October.
• Singapore, Malaysia and Borneo: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang, then Sabah for orangutans and the rainforest.

As a rule, allow at least three nights per stop and one flight per country. Trying to fit four or five countries into two weeks means more time in airports than in the places you came to see.

Which Southeast Asian destination is best for wildlife?

Malaysian Borneo, for wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and hornbills, followed by Komodo National Park for its dragons and marine life.

Which destination is best for a honeymoon?

Bali for villas and culture, Thailand’s islands for beach resorts and Palawan for remote islands and lagoons.

Is Myanmar open to tourists?

Check the latest government travel advice before planning a trip. The situation has changed often in recent years, and many advisories currently recommend against travel.

When to go: a quick planner

Destination	Best months (approximate)
Northern Vietnam, Laos, northern Thailand	November to March
Cambodia, southern Vietnam, Bangkok	November to February
Thailand’s Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi)	November to April
Thailand’s Gulf islands (Koh Samui)	January to August
Bali, Java and Komodo	April to October
Palawan	November to May
Malaysian Borneo	March to October

The pattern is clear: the mainland is best in the northern winter, while Indonesia is best in the northern summer. This means there is always a good destination in Southeast Asia, whatever month you travel.

How to choose

• First-timers: Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
• Culture lovers: Cambodia, Laos and northern Thailand.
• Beaches: Thailand’s islands, Bali and Palawan.
• Wildlife: Borneo.
• Couples and honeymooners: Bali, Thailand and the Philippines.

How to combine them

Short flights link the region’s main hubs, so two or three countries fit comfortably in two weeks. Vietnam and Cambodia are the classic pair; Laos and Thailand add depth; a beach finale in Bali or Thailand rounds it off. See our Southeast Asia tours and multi-country itineraries.

Entry requirements at a glance

Rules differ by country and change often, so always check official sources for your passport. As a guide for US travelers at the time of writing: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines allow visa-free tourist stays but require an online arrival card or registration; Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos issue e-visas; Indonesia offers an electronic visa on arrival, and Bali charges a separate tourist levy. Allow time for these steps when you plan a multi-country route.

Best places to visit in Southeast Asia: FAQ

What is the best country to visit in Southeast Asia?

For a first trip, Vietnam, Cambodia or Thailand.

What is the best time to visit Southeast Asia?

November to April is the best window for most of the mainland.

How many days do you need for Southeast Asia?

Two weeks for two or three countries.

Which country is best for beaches?

Thailand, Bali and the Philippines.

Is Southeast Asia safe?

Generally yes; check current advisories for each country.

What is the best place in Southeast Asia in July or August?

Bali, Java, Komodo, Malaysian Borneo and Thailand’s Gulf islands, which are in their drier season while much of the mainland has its monsoon.

Can I visit three countries in two weeks?

Yes, with short flights between hubs: for example, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, or Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.