Favorite place in South East Asia?
Replies: 12 - Last Post: Sep 4, 2012 10:13 AM Last Post By: 5leloi
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1
This is such a hard decision to make... but I'm going to go with two: one for history and one for culture. My favorite place for history is undoubtedly Angkor. I know a lot of people who could easily quit after one temple and be sick of them, but as someone who did indepth studies of the history and archaeology of the Khmer empire, I could spend months without getting tired of the art and ingenuity. There's like what, 700 temples in the Siem Reap area? Temple heaven!For culture, I think my other favorite option is around Inle Lake in Myanmar. I think the thing I loved so much about Burma is how pristine it is. At the time I went, there was virtually no foreigners, which made it seem so magical and untouched. That feeling is probably not the same anymore, certainly not after I've read how tourism has exploded in the past year. But the ethnic peoples, the floating farms, the tribal markets - it is (or probably was) like a little hidden gem, probably what most of Southeast Asia looked like before the influx of tourists and foreign influences.
3
If you have to choose one of place to come, I suggest you go to Vietnam to see Ha Long Bay which is one of 7 wonder world as well as Nha Trang beach which is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I beleive that you will enjoy interesting time and never forget fascinating beauty there.4
I'm gonna choose 2 also. For me I would choose Hoi An in Vietnam, it's an amazing little place that has everything you would want, a beautiful river, old buildings and a beach a short bike ride away.I would also choose Malaysian Borneo (because I haven't been to the Indonesian side YET!) it is a great spot and the jungles there are just breathtaking...so peaceful!
5
Bus that was never full from Dien Bien Phu to Muang Khua, then the boat ride down the Nam Ou river from Muang Khua to Nong Khiaw.7
Angkor Siem Reap when I visited in 1992 but not now as overrun by tourists and would also exclude Hoi An for same reason so would probably say either Ha Long Bay where you can still be alone on a boat or else staying with a family in the Cambodian jungle8
Ha Noi, definitely my #1, such an extraordinary city, parts are very beautiful, parts are very atmospheric. But high marks also to:Angkor Wat etc for obvious reasons
Da Lat for its mild climate
Vn's central highlands for its beauty and cooler climate.
The karst scenery of Ninh Binh area; caves and rivers.
The huge monastery/temple at Bai Dinh
HCMC for its cosmopolitan feel and liveliness
9
Sounds like Vietnam is extremely popular... and here I had all but removed it from my cramped SEA itinerary. Back to the drawing board.11
other fantastic places in south east asia:- siem reap / angkor wat, angkor thom, banteay srei etc.
- luang prabang and surroundings
- bagan
- halong bay
- mandalay, u bein bridge, and surroudings
- saigon
- inle lake, villages, temples, atmosphere
- halong bay
- fantastic beaches and islands in thailand
12
Vietnam, since I "grew up" here. I have changed so much from that shy girl I was a few years ago. I have met wonderful friends, too.
