Southeast Asia consists of 11 countries that boast extraordinary wonders. Asia has diverse tourism from different cultural heritage sites, crystal clear ocean waters with white powdery sands, mountain ranges, and lush green jungles. Southeast Asia has never left the list of being a famous travel destination for tourists. Listed below are the best first-time-friendly places to visit in this beautiful region of Asia:
10 Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
A perfect destination for day tours when visiting Vietnam is the turquoise – blue-green waters of Ha Long Bay. The bay consists of over 2000 islands, and only 40 islands are residential. There is a wide range of options on getting to HaLong Bay from the Hanoi capital, may it be through a minivan, bus, train, seaplane, or taxi. The island also offers various accommodations, from $6 per night to $695. Ha Long Bay features its limestones and giant cliffs that have been listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site.
9 Koh Samui, Thailand
Koh Samui is a go-to destination for beach and snorkeling enthusiasts visiting Thailand. This island features different resorts and white sand beaches. Beaches like Lamai and Chaweng are the crowd's favorite because these resorts are highly developed and offer excellent services. Aside from enjoying water activities, tourists can also explore the Ang Thong Marine National Park, Na Muang waterfalls, and the shrine of Big Buddha. An island is a perfect place for first-timers in Thailand because it is pretty popular, and tourists can easily find it.
8 Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Listed as one of the top World Heritage Sites is the largest temple of Angkor Wat. This religious structure is located in Krong Siem Reap and two of the most meaningful museums in Cambodia, The War Museum and The Cambodia Landmine Museum and Relief Center. The Angkor Wat is about 162 hectares wherein the monuments are built with sandstone blocks. Like any other popular travel destination, Siem Reap also offers plenty of accommodation lodges for tourists.
7 Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Bali, Indonesia
Bali, Indonesia, is rich in terrestrial wonders, featuring lush green jungle and the like. Bali boasts one of its most popular destinations, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces featuring the Ubud Monkey Forest, Puri Saren Agung’s royal palace, the water temple, a macaque sanctuary, etc. The rice terraces give a picturesque view from various accommodation lodges located at the top of the terrain. All of these attractions are located in the beautiful wonder of Ubud.
6 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Singapore is known for being Asia’s competitive city because of its location wherein significant corporations are operating. The Marina Bay Sands is a luxurious 55-story hotel with an imposing architectural structure. The hotel resort is located in Central Singapore, making it very convenient for first-time travelers in the country. Because it is located in the center, tourists can walk to different attractions, including Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Zoo, Botanical Gardens, etc. However, a stay in Marina Bay Sands is quite expensive because of its excellent services and accommodations.
5 Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and is listed as one of the top-visited cities in the world. Bangkok has so much to offer aside from being a gateway to most of Thailand's popular destinations. As first-time visitors, going to a capital city is the most convenient way of being introduced to the country's culture and people. In Bangkok, tourists will have a great opportunity of choosing the best yet not so expensive accommodation and plenty of things to do.
4 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur prides the world's tallest twin tower, the Petronas, with impressive architectural glass and steel materials. The building is about 452 meters high and is surrounded by parks and boutiques for shopping enthusiasts. Kuala Lumpur is also known for housing three of the largest shopping centers in the world, a true haven for shopping savvy. The city is eco-friendly as many parks are operating here, including the largest aviary bird park in the world.
3 Bagan, Myanmar
Bagan is Myanmar's ancient city with over 3,500 Buddhist temples spread in 41 square kilometers of land. Bagan is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of this Archaeological Zone. This place is a perfect destination for first-timers in Myanmar. The largest temple here is the Dhammayangi, while the most popular is the Ananda Temple.
2 Boracay, Philippines
Most tourists coming outside the Philippines will never leave the country without visiting the haven of Boracay Island. Boracay features its turquoise crystal clear waters, white powdery beach sand, and scenic sunset. Tourists would get a lot of choices on how to play with the waters like cliff diving, riding sailboats, trying a Jet Ski ride, and other water activities for all ages. It is also not that expensive depending on the tourist's hotel.
1 Northern Highlands, Luzon, Philippines
The Philippines does not just boast its beautiful coastline, and the country is also very rich in terrestrial wonders which are an important source of its economy. The highlands of Luzon is located in the northern part of the region, wherein tourists will have a different view of the Philippines. Places located here are the Cordillera Mountains, the stratovolcano in Zambales Mountains, Baguio, Benguet, and Tarlac. Baguio is a popular place in the Philippines as this city is rich in tall pine trees and local fruits where tourists can handpick strawberries.