Top 6 Countries to Visit in Southeast Asia in 2018
Asia is the largest continent of the world which consists of innumerable countries that have various stories to share. One of such enriched part of Asia is the Southeast Asian countries that fall between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Southeast Asia consists of a group of diverse countries like Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, etc.. All these countries have indigenous cultures that are majorly influenced by the Chinese, Indian and Western culture of livings. These Southeast Asian countries are famous tourist spots for travelers all around the world as they provide ample quality of perfect beaches, tasty cuisines, quality living- all for a fairly low budget. Keep reading to find out the Top 6 Countries to Visit in Southeast Asia in 2018.
The appeal of Southeast Asian Countries
Southeast Asia is a place which would appeal mainly to people who are looking for adventurous traveling with trekking, jungle safari, diving into the coral reefs, water rafting, camping, etc. It also has various temples to visit along with many cultural sites which tell us about their history.
The best part about Southeast Asia is that the air tickets for Southeast Asian countries are always easily available at cheap prices. As it is a tourist hub of Asia, there are multiple flights available from every part of the world and pocket-friendly price. All the online flight booking agents and sites also keep coming up with various offers to attract the travelers.
Travelers can also easily find accommodations to live in these countries as the major economy of these places are based on their tourist services. You can find both luxurious 5-star hotels and cheap hostels at best prices if you book online beforehand. You can also look for ongoing Cleartrip offers to avail huge cashback on hotel and flight bookings.
Top 6 Countries to Visit in Southeast Asia
1. Singapore
Singapore is a small country or island with rapid developments. It is also known as the country of skyscraper buildings, which is way ahead of its time with their modern architecture. Singapore is also famous for their huge shopping malls, exquisite dining venues, and luxurious hotels. It is a perfect place to visit with your family on a holiday trip or with your friends to enjoy the extraordinary nightlife of the country.
Best places to visit in Singapore
Singapore, a Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking country, is a hub for people who enjoy different cultures. Even though heavily influenced by Chinese culture, it also promotes various other cultures in the world, which can be seen in its most visited tourist places known as Little Indian and Arab Street. Other famous places to visit in Singapore are Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Flyer, Universal Studios, Botanical Garden, Chinatown, Singapore Zoo, etc.
Best Food to eat in Singapore
Singaporean cuisine is famous for its spicy and salty taste. Being an island, their cuisine is also heavily influenced by seafood like wanton mee, dim sun, crabs, curry fish head, fried carrot cake, kaya toast, and soft-boiled eggs, especially for breakfast. And if you are looking for something for your sweet tooth check out the cakes at https://www.emicakes.com.sg/.
Best time to visit Singapore
Singapore can be the ideal place for you to visit in 2018. It remains hot and humid throughout the year, so the best time to visit Singapore is from February to April, as during this time, the weather there is relatively moderate. Other than that, you can also visit Singapore between July and September as they celebrate various food festivals and Singaporean sales during this time.
2. Malaysia
You must have heard the tagline “Malaysia, truly Asia”. Being true to its tagline, Malaysia is truly one of the most diverse countries in the world. Malaysia hosts one of the largest ethnic cultures in the world, which consists of a blend of various traditions, cuisines, religions, etc. Malaysia is also one place where you can find all islands, mountains, fertile highlands, and tropical rainforests.
Best places to visit in Malaysia
Malaysia is a unique country that is divided into two landmasses- Western Malaysia, which is shared with Thailand, and East Malaysia, which is situated on Borneo Island. You can find all kinds of places to visit in Malaysia, be it cultural, historic, or natural attractions like- Pulau Gemia Island, Kuala Lumpur (also the capital city), Manukan Island, Kek Lok Si temple, Batu caves, Semenggoh Nature Reserve, North Borneo Railway, etc.
Best Food to eat in Malaysia
The majority of the Malaysian food includes rice. Some of the famous Malaysian dishes are Nasi Dagang, Banana Leaf Rice, Nasi Kandar, Sang Har Mee, Rojak, Hokkien Char Mee, etc.
Best time to visit Malaysia
Malaysia has a tropical climate that offers warm weather throughout the year. Weather-wise the best time to visit Malaysia is from December to April. The eastern coast of Malaysia, which falls under Borneo Island, is best enjoyed from April to October.
3. Thailand
Thailand is one of the most visited foreign countries in the world. The major economic condition of the country is based on its massive tourist footfalls and its heavenly beach abode. It is said that over 35 million people visit this country every year. It is a perfect holiday destination with friends as the air tickets to Thailand are fairly cheaper than any other country. Thailand is also famous for its inexpensive clothes that are affordable to buy and stylish to wear.
Best places to visit in Thailand
Thailand, though a small country, has many interesting places to visit. Bangkok, which is the capital of Thailand, has many amazing places to host tourists, like the floating market, the Grand Palace, the Temple of Dawn, etc. Other famous places to visit in Thailand are- Phanom Rang temple, Railay Beach, Khao Sok National Park, Sukhothai Historical Park, Similan Islands, and many more.
Best Food to eat in Thailand
In recent years Thailand cuisine has become very famous all over the world. When visiting Thailand, one should always remember to taste their famous Pad Thai curry, Tom Yum Goong soup, Som Tum, i.e., their famous papaya salad, etc.
Best time to visit Thailand
Thailand is a party-central place in Asia with an amazing tropical climate, which means you can visit Thailand at any time of the year. However, during the holiday seasons like Christmas and New Year, Thailand is at its touristy peaks with most offers and discounts going around.
4. Indonesia
Indonesia is a vast nation that is also one of the most populous countries in the world. The nation consists of 18,330 islands, out of which 6,000 are inhabited. It is also home to around 167 active volcanos. Indonesia is a place that is famous for its shopping, cultural history, diving, trekking, and breathtaking nature where one can go and enjoy their leisurely time in peace for a long-drawn holiday.
Best places to visit in Indonesia
Indonesia is a land with the most beautiful wonders in the world. It is a place where you can find both great mosques and earth Hindu temples at the same time. Bali and Lombok are undoubtedly two of the most visited tourist places in the world. Other than that, Indonesia also has various other places to visit like Gili islands, Jakarta, Mount Bromo, Lake Toba, Baliem Valley, Raja Ampat, Komodo National Park, etc.
Best Food to eat in Indonesia
There’s actually much more to Indonesian cuisine than the world knows about. Some of the most famous and tastiest Indonesian foods are Beef Rendang, Fried Rice, Nasi Rawon, soup buntut, i.e., an Oxtail soup, Sweet Martabak, Indomie, and Nasi Uduk.
Best time to visit Indonesia
The best time to visit Indonesia is during the dry season, which falls between May to September. Travelers can visit Indonesia during June and July to experience their ethnic celebration of various festivals.
5. Philippines
The Philippines is one of those gorgeous places where planning a trip can be a little tricky, not because it is a difficult place to visit, but because it becomes a difficult task to choose over 7,000 islands for your travel destinations. The Philippines is divided into three main island groups- Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, each of which represents a different region of the country. Each of these regions has a different history of its own.
Best places to visit in the Philippines
Even though visiting 7,000 islands in one year is a difficult task, we have narrowed it down to places in the Philippines where you can visit in 2018. Some of these super cool places are Boracay, Manila, Mayon Volcano, El Nido island, Coron, Tubbataha Reef, Vigan, Chocolate Hills, Negros, etc.
Best Food to eat in the Philippines
Philippian food is famous all around the world. Some of the tastiest Philippian cuisines are Chicken adobo; Halo-halo is a cheeky dessert; Tapsilog Paksiw na lechon, SINIGANG which is a sour meat stew; Kinilaw is a raw fish salad; Kare Kare, which is internationally known as oxtail stew, Balut is a duck embryo street food snack, etc.
The best time to visit the Philippines
The most popular time to get yourself your Philippines e-travel QR code and visit is during their dry season, which is between November to April. The coolest month Philippines experience is from December to February- so that is another time when you can place your trip to the Philippines.
6. Vietnam
Vietnam is a beautiful and spectacularly scenic place to visit for a travel destination. Vietnam has a long history of war and slavery for themselves. It is the youngest country to taste independence in recent years. That being said, they have been rapidly growing as a tourist country where every year more than 10 million people visit. Vietnam hosts mountains, deep valleys, sparkly white sand beaches, deltaic creeks and sand dunes all in one place.
Best places to visit in Vietnam
Vietnam is a complete package when it comes to a travel destination. Other than Ho Chi Minh City, which is the largest city and also the capital of Vietnam, the beautiful places to visit in Vietnam include- the Mekong Delta, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in the Hanoi region, the War remnant museum, Chu Chi tunnels, Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary, Cham island, Hue, Sa Pa, Halong, Central coast, Dalat gardens, Sand dunes of Mui Ne, Phu Quoc sparkling sand beach, Ninh Binh and many of such gorgeous places.
Best Food to eat in Vietnam
Vietnamese cuisines are famous for their authenticity and creativity. Even though Vietnam is majorly influenced by Chinese descent, the taste in their cuisine differs from the territorial ancestors. Some of the famous Vietnamese cuisines are Bánh Cu? n (Steamed Rice Cake), Bánh Xèo (Sizzling Pancake), Bánh Kh?t (Miniature Fried Pancakes), Bún Riêu (Crab and Tomato Noodle Soup), Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Sandwich), G?i cu?n (Spring Rolls) and many more.
Best time to visit Vietnam
The best time to visit Vietnam is during the spring season, which is between February to April, and during autumn, which is between August to October.
Conclusion
The countries of Southeast Asia represent quite a familiar culture for us Indians. They have a number of temples instead of cathedrals, hot and sunny weather instead of teeth-shattering winter, and a quiet and tropical climate. Being a tourist hub of Asia, one could easily find luxurious as well as convenient and pocket-friendly accommodation to live in the remotest of the island there. So get ready and plan your Southeast Asian holiday today with your family and friends or by yourself!
I would love to see Thailand.