Southeast Asia

Ranked · where to go & why

The Top 20 in Southeast Asia

The world’s most rewarding region for the curious traveler — temples and street food, jungle and reef, ancient cities and island-perfect water, all at a value that still astonishes. Here is Southeast Asia, ranked.

1. 1Bali (Ubud)Explore →The Island of the Gods — rice-terrace temples, a deep wellness culture, and surf-and-sand to the south.
2. 2BangkokExplore →Southeast Asia’s electric heart — glittering temples, the world’s best street food, and rooftop glamour.
3. 3Phuket & the AndamanExplore →Thailand’s beach hub and launchpad to Phi Phi, James Bond Island and the Andaman’s limestone karsts.
4. 4Hoi AnExplore →A lantern-lit UNESCO ancient town — riverside silk-lantern nights, master tailors, and Vietnam’s best food.
5. 5Siem Reap (Angkor)Explore →Angkor Wat at sunrise — the largest religious monument on Earth, and one of travel’s great bucket-list mornings.
6. 6Chiang MaiExplore →Northern Thailand’s soul — moated old-city temples, ethical elephant sanctuaries, and mountain markets.
7. 7Raja AmpatExplore →The richest marine biodiversity on the planet — the holy grail of diving, far off the beaten track.
8. 8SingaporeThe garden city — Marina Bay’s skyline, Gardens by the Bay, and a hawker-food scene with Michelin stars.
9. 9Halong BayThousands of limestone karsts rising from emerald water — explored by overnight junk cruise.
10. 10Luang PrabangLaos’ serene UNESCO town — saffron-robed dawn alms, French-colonial streets, and the slow Mekong.
11. 11El Nido & PalawanThe Philippines’ jaw-dropping lagoons and limestone cliffs — routinely voted the world’s most beautiful island.
12. 12Koh Samui & the Gulf IslandsThailand’s palm-fringed gulf escape — luxury resorts, full-moon legends, and easy island-hopping.
13. 13Komodo & FloresPink beaches, manta rays and the legendary dragons — Indonesia at its most wild and cinematic.
14. 14HanoiVietnam’s atmospheric capital — the Old Quarter’s chaos, French-colonial grandeur, and pho at its source.
15. 15George Town, PenangMalaysia’s street-food capital — a UNESCO melting pot of Chinese, Malay and Indian flavours and murals.
16. 16Ho Chi Minh CitySaigon’s relentless energy — war history, rooftop bars, and a food scene that never sleeps.
17. 17LangkawiMalaysia’s duty-free island — rainforest cable cars, sky bridges, and quiet Andaman beaches.
18. 18Phong NhaCentral Vietnam’s karst wonderland — home to Son Doong, the largest cave passage on Earth.
19. 19The Gili IslandsCar-free specks off Lombok — turquoise shallows, turtles, and a barefoot, hammock-slung calm.
20. 20BoracayThe Philippines’ White Beach — powdery sand and sherbet sunsets, reborn after a careful clean-up.

Curated by TravelWell, in the spirit of the great travel guides. Linked picks open a full guide + Safety Card; more are being added.