Mekong Delta
At the heart of the city and encompassing a temple and lake with a topiary outline of Vietnam in the middle, this lush park is a wonderful place to…
Must-see attractions in Southeast Asia
Sabah
Partially eroded by the elements, the stone skull topping this squat stone container, resembling a postbox, gives a clue as to its past use. Back in…
Ubud Region
The majestic and tranquil Pura Samuan Tiga (Temple of the Meeting of the Three) is on a small lane about 200m east of the Bedulu junction. The name is…
Myanmar (Burma)
The once-huge Le-htat-gyi Paya resembles a smaller version of Mingun Paya. It has been dangerously fissured by earthquakes, but retains a fair amount of…
Ao Nang
About 8km east of Ao Nang at the eastern end of Ao Nam Mao is the Shell Cemetery: giant slabs formed from millions of tiny 75-million-year-old fossil…
Bukit Peninsula
One of the Bukit's southern-facing cove beaches, Green Bowl is reached by a pretty and strenuous walk down 300 concrete steps that begin near the Pura…
Timor-Leste
A handful of coffee cooperatives operate in Timor-Leste; this one was set up by Australian soldiers who served post-1999. Wild Timor Coffee has a cafe in…
Haiphong
In a splendid colonial building, this small museum concentrates on the city's history, with English translations on displays. The front hall's taxidermy…
Manila
Contains good resources on Filipino history, art and culture, and is also the repository of thousands of images related to the Philippines. Photography…
Bangkok
The origins of this riverside Buddhist temple located near Thewet Pier date back to pre-Ratanakosin days, but it was successively built upon and renovated…
Myanmar (Burma)
In the complex about 500yd west of Paya Thonzu, Mann Paya is a modern pagoda housing a 13th-century, 20ft gold buddha made of straw lacquer. As the story…
Melaka City
This small museum is a community effort with a collection of artefacts, including antique cendol (shaved-ice dessert with green noodles, syrups, fruit and…
Northeastern Thailand
This little aquarium with a walk-through tunnel houses fish found around Isan. Most of the tanks are rather plain and sad, but the walk-through tank has…
Miri
At Saberkas, one of the most colourful and friendly markets in Sarawak, vendors are more than happy to answer questions about their produce, which…
Hoi An
Occupies a restored wooden house and contains a small collection of artefacts from all over Asia, with oddities from as far afield as Egypt. While this…
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Discovered in 2012, and opened to visitors in 2015, Hang Va is explored on a two-day/one-night excursion that initially travels along an underground river…
Little India & Kampong Glam
This modest but colourful area of wall-to-wall shops, pungent aromas and Hindi film music is a welcome contrast to the prim modernity of many parts of the…
Northern Thailand
Across from the post office within the old city, Wat Phra Baht Ming Meuang combines two formerly separate temple compounds (one of which contains a museum…
Ko Samui
Near the wát þàh (forest temple) of the same name, this waterfall is reached after a mildly strenuous 30-minute hike over streams and boulders. The reward…
Lampang
A huge Lanna-style house built in 1895 and supported by 116 square teak pillars, Baan Sao Nak was once owned by a local kun·yĭng (a title equivalent to …
Siquijor
Just west of the village of Campalanas is a tremendous balete tree (banyan tree), estimated to be 400 years old and believed by some to be enchanted. In…
Semporna
Also known as the Semporna Islands Marine Park, this 350-sq-km protected area, a short boat ride from Semporna, comprises eight islands and two reefs…
Northern Laos
For great views across town climb to the stupa-topped peak of Phu Fa (1625m); it's a punishing, tree-shaded climb of more than 400 stone steps. A ticket…
Jakarta
Set in the centre of a fountain on one of central Jakarta's most prominent alun-aluns (public squares) is the Salamat Datang, or Welcome Monument. Built…
Ko Tao
With glorious vistas from up high, this viewpoint can be reached by motorbike but it’s not advisable for inexperienced two wheelers. Arguably it’s more…
Bangkok
Fakes are so prominent in Bangkok that there’s even a museum dedicated to them, where a mind-boggling array of counterfeit merchandise collected over the…
Makassar
Once the most formidable fortress in the archipelago, Somba Opu was decimated by the Dutch in 1669, then consumed by the Jeneberang River delta. One…
Northern Laos
Overlooking the Mekong, archaic little Wat Sin Jong Jaeng dates back to the early colonial period. Although its eaves have been entirely repainted, an old…
Johor Bahru
Well-displayed exhibits chronicling the history of Chinese immigrants in this part of the Malay peninsula are the highlight of this three-storey museum…
Pulau Tioman
Tioman’s commercial hub is a good, strategic central location from which to explore the rest of the island, and the beach on the southern end of town is…
Ang Thong Marine National Park
With an ethereal minty tint, the Emerald Lake (also called the Blue Lagoon or Inner Sea) on Ko Mae Ko is a large lake in the middle of the island that…
Singaraja
Museum Buleleng recalls the life of the last radja (rajah; prince) of Buleleng, Pandji Tisna, who is credited with developing tourism in Lovina to the…
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church
Penang
When this Catholic church was first established in 1854, it occupied a hut made of palm leaves; the handsome current structure dates from 1894. The floor…
Ubud Region
A carved stone head inside this temple compound is believed to be a portrait of Kebo Iwa, the legendary strongman and minister to the last king of the…
North Sumatra
On the road leading into the village of Lingga is this interesting little museum inside a traditional building with displays on Karo culture and artefacts…
Nusa Lembongan
The long, straight beach is usually lapped by small waves at this remote-feeling spot where, unfortunately, some guesthouses have built seawalls below the…
Kalimantan
An above-average museum of local arts and history, with approximate English translations providing nuggets of information about pivotal events – such as…
Pung Tao Gong Ancestral Temple
Chiang Mai
South of the flower market on Th Praisani, the Pung Tao Gong Ancestral Temple was founded in 1876, but the shrine fell into ruin as the city's Chinese…
Melaka
A good place for an easy ramble, this lush green enclave is part jungle and part landscaped park with paved trails along which you can walk, cycle or ride…
Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Center
Puerto Princesa
This wildlife reserve is a complex of concrete buildings and outdoor pens that house hundreds of crocs, from newly hatched to scary behemoths. Guided…
