5 Most Visited Countries in Southeast Asia

 

Tourism in the Southeast Asia has long been a favorite corner of the world-roaming tourists and adventuresome backpackers, best known for its perfect beaches, cultural sites, picturesque towns, scrumptious cuisine, steamy jungles and man-made natural wonders that it can be hard to know where to start as each destination offers something different and unique to every travel lover. As for the Question, Let me list down below, the 5 most visited countries throughout Southeast Asia.

 

1. Thailand

Thailand is the global hotspot of vibrant festivals, lively nightlife, tantalizing Thai cuisine and world-class shopping centers. It’s no secret that around 100 million tourists jet off to this party paradise to live the best days of their lives. Out of 76 provinces in Thailand, Krabi, Surat Thani and Chiang Mai are the major highlights that receive the highest volume of tourists traveling.

While Krabi province boasts some of the Southeast Asia’s best scuba diving and some of the world’s best sand and water, Surat Thani is the entryway to the popular islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao that has the best coastal shores.

In the meantime, Chiang Mai, nicknamed as Bangkok’s little sister, is the charming rose of the north that offers the country’s most beautiful areas such as ancient monuments, hilltribe villages, elephant habitats, lush jungles and rivers with a distinctly Thai city life, colorful night markets and rich cuisine. So, there’s always something new happening in this fantasy that directly or indirectly contributes the national tourism in a higher and a positive way.

 

 

2. Vietnam

Aside from the breathtaking mix of natural highlands, the cultural diversity that has developed over time in the Vietnam is unlike the rest of the countries. and that’s one of the reasons why Vietnam makes one of the Southeast Asia’s most sought-after destinations at the same time.

Sa Pa is one of the many popular places you can find as the South Asian trekking base, located in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains of Northern Vietnam and home to several ethnic minorities that settled in the region generations ago.

The karst seascape of Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a natural attraction you can enjoy up close in a magnificent way on a cruise. Additionally, Hoi An is another UNESCO World Heritage that follows dozens of routes from rice paddies to historical temples and most celebrated beaches.

Apart from these, Hue is one of the most ancient towns to get a blast from the past, whereas Nha Trang is a relaxing coastal haven to soak up in the sun and sand, while, Phu Quoc is the Vietnam’s largest paradise island for those who want to escape the big city life and taste the amazing array of authentic culinary delights.

 

 

 

 

3. Indonesia

When visiting Southeast Asia, Indonesia is a must-visit in your bucket list to explore the unexplored, as the vast archipelago that contains nearly 13,500 islands is once in a lifetime experience, which offers uncovered mysteries of temples, beaches and landscapes for every type of traveler..

Wandering in the tourist capital of Bali, “the Island of the Gods” is more than enough to keep you busy for a long while. Its not only made up for surfing in the clichéd beaches but also for visiting dizzying number of temples, remote villages and trek thrilling volcanoes in the jungle paradise.

Gili is the place to be, if you are looking for an alternative to Bali with even better and untouched beaches and tempting seafood. The group of 3 tiny islands –  Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, is a place to reconnect with your mind , body and soul with opportunities for diving , snorkeling, kayaking and even to check out turtle hatchery at turtle sanctuary.

However, Kuta Lombok is a great option to discover deeper into Southern Lombok and nearby Sumbawa, as it’s an excellent destination for Surfers of all levels without the heavy commercialization (Automobiles are prohibited) which adjusts itself to accommodating a small numbers of visitors toward stunning white sand or volcanic rock beaches.

Now, you will surely have a hard time choosing among the beautiful places to visit here. Nevertheless, whatever you choose, the experience is sure to be a fun filled one with awe and appreciation for a country full of surprises.

 

 

 

4. Malaysia

Malaysia is the most popular and preferred tourist destination in the Southeast Asia due to the myriad of tourist attractions spread across the country. The major attractions are located in the famous food capital, Penang, Asia’s green capital, Kula Lumpur and the land below the wind, Sabha.

Climbing Borneo’s highest mountain, Mouth Kinabalu in Sabah, can give all the way to the Philippines, even though the misty fog and rain covers the chances of seeing it, you can still try ascending on a fine day, If you want some real adventure! It’s the highest mountain in Southeast Asia and also one of the world’s most accessible mountains to see the dawn split the heavens, only if you try the hike excursion up to the 4,095-metre peak.

Moreover, Penang is a place to fill yourself with a unique fusion of Indian, Chinese and Malay delights. From spicy curries to savory soups or whatever the food you find on the menu is unbelievably cheap. Once you are done savoring the delicious meals, stop by Its capital city Georgetown to sightsee old temples, cultural spots, colonial buildings, and so much more as it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.

Finally yet importantly, Kula Lumpur or the KL is the main capital of Malaysia you can drop by for its world-renowned Petronas Twin Towers, and other array of skyscrapers.  In addition to national parks, sandy beaches, modern shopping malls, lively nightspots, colorful markets, and many other interesting things to see, Malaysia is also growing in the medical tourism where around 30 million people come to visit on an annual basis.

 

 

 

 

5. Philippines

The Philippines, world’s 2^nd largest archipelago comprises of more than 7,000 islands, is notorious among the most-visited countries for having a variety of attractions and activities to see and do, which mostly include El Nido, Coron, Bohol and Boracay.

El Nido is an exotic destination gifted with stunning rock formations, crystalline beaches, and aquamarine waters while Coron Island offers some uncommon fresh lakes of mixed seawater, hot springs, and easy entry to tons of island-hopping adventures.

Bohol is a nugget-shaped island made of bushy jungles, giant-eyed adorable Tarsiers, iconic Chocolate Hills, abnormal geological formations and pyramid-like mounds. Meanwhile Boracay is famous for the 4-kilometre long White Beach and endless nightlife.

What’s more, this country is home to a number of churches and shrines, as well as mountains, rivers, lakes, and rice terraces, which extends excellent opportunities for nature lovers.