Southeast Asia is a wonderland of ancient temples, pristine beaches, colorful markets and rich cultures. The region is home of amazing adventures ranging as far as the sacred plains of Myanmar to the coral reefs of the Philippines. Cheap, multicultural, and inclusive, it is the best choice both of a newcomer and a seasoned traveler. Find out about the top ten places that have to be visited to see the beautiful side of Southeast Asia.

Bagan, Myanmar

Vast flat terrain of Bagan stretches on and on under the golden sun of Myanmar with over 2,000 ancient Buddhist temples and pagodas spread around. It is an archeological heaven and used to possess more than 10,000 religious structures making this place one of the densely concentrated locations of Buddhist temples.

There is no better way to see the grandeur of Bagan than to do so in a hot air balloon at sunrise as the mist rises off of the Irrawaddy River as the monks start their day. Stop on the ground to rent an electric bike and head to the smaller temples away from the crowds where you can visit by yourself and admire the centuries-old frescoes and Buddha statues.

Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang feels like zoning back in time embedded between the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. This world heritage site intrigues travellers with its French colonial structures, gold temples and the ritual offering of alms by saffron-clad monks in the morning ritual.

The night market in the town is illuminated with local crafts, handwoven fabrics and the mouth-watering food of Lao preparation. Join a cooking course to learn how to make classic Laotian cuisine, such as laab or sticky rice, before taking a dip in the tropical clear waterfalls at Kuang Si falls, a short 30- minutes drive outside town.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi Ans streets and canals are like lit with lanterns and the effect is almost magical especially during the Full Moon Festival that takes place once a month. This old trade and a recreational city is an amalgamation of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese cultures in architecture, food and their culture.

The town boasts of talented tailors who cancreate custom clothes within a period of 24-hours and also its cuisine ranks as being some of the best in Vietnam. You cannot leave Hoi An without tasting cao lau a special noodle dish served only in Hoi An or without attending a cooking course here to discover how to make Vietnamese dishes.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is the oldest religious building in Southeast Asia, the largest of the world and the greatest achievement of Khmer people which boasted an impressive architectural culture. This colossal temple complex that was built in the early 12 th century on over 400 acres of land and symbolizes the apogee of the classical Khmer architecture.

Although Angkor Wat is the most visited object, there are plenty of other temples with different charisma discovered at the Angkor Archeological Park. Bayon Temple is fascinating with 54 towers which have peaceful stone faces.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali impresses its guests through a revival of beautiful things: Hindu spirituality, arts and beauty of nature go hand in hand. The “emerald rice terraces” of Jatiluwih, the dramatic pieces of temples on cliff-tops of Uluwatu, it has more experiences in a quite small area.

Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali and there is plenty to explore, including the monkey forests, art galleries and the traditional villages where craftsmen will be working on wood carvings and batik textiles. The spiritual seekers come to the town to take yoga classes, to cleans themselves in the yogas of the yoga centers, and the surrounding rice paddies offer a tranquil strolling experience.

The southern peninsulas provide surfing and white beaches of world-class standards. Early evening is a good time to watch a traditional performance of the kecak dance, a performance of dozens of men who chant rhythmically and around a flickering fire related Hindu epics through movement and music.

Palawan, Philippines

Palawan extends as a sliver-like finger across the South China Sea and between the Sulu Sea, where some of the most intact marine environments in the world are found; it has spectacular karst topography. The giant karst structures of El Nido produce secret lagoons, which can only be reached by kayak where crystalline waters are reflected by vertical wall cliffs.

El Nido has been cited as having one of the best snorkeling and diving spots in the world which is the Bacuit Archipelago, with coral gardens that are home to various kinds of tropical fish, sea turtles, and manta rays. Secret beaches and underwater cathedrals are a few of the sites revealed in island-hopping tours that most travelers do not visit.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

People are fascinated by Chiang Mai because it is a city with the ideal mixture of a modern city and ancient traditions. The ancient capital has been the center of the temple-filled ancient city with the old walls and water moats which counts 300 temples and the most breathtaking Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is located high on a hill overlooking the valley.

Sunday Night Market: this night market is held every Sunday night in the inner streets of the old city, where locals are selling traditional crafts and there are food stalls selling local specialties like food. It is surrounded by mountains which offer trekking activities, elephant farms as well as hill tribe villages.

Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Yogyakarta or Jogja has been the cultural capital of Indonesia and the center of the Javanese tradition. The city is the gateway to two of the great temples in the world; Borobudur and Prambanan were part of the world heritage sites under the Unesco and have demonstrated the rich Buddhist and Hindu heritage of Indonesia.

Also scheduled is a visit to the legendary Borobudur constructed in the 8 th century and considered the biggest Buddhist temple in the world with amazing sunrise scenery over a mist covered plain of Javanese. The Prambanan complex nearby represents a Hindu architecture with a beautiful structure that has towering spires in the names of Trimurti gods.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Koh Rong presents a piece of tropical heaven off the coast of Cambodia that features powdery white sand beaches and warm, clear-blue waters that make great swimming and snorkeling spots. This is an Island getaway that spices up the temple congested mainland of Cambodia.

The island has a beautiful long beach that covers more than four miles of length of the island and has dense jungle in the backdrop of various types of wildlife. At night, bioluminescent sea planktons leave a bluish streak through the sea as it is violently jostled, which is an almost magical display of nature.

Koh Rong has been developed but by the ideal amount, retaining the relaxed atmosphere and the perfect environment among the accommodations available.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Kuala Lumpur reflects the contemporary face of Southeast Asia with a strong belief attached to the presence of multiple cultures. The city is defined by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers in the sky and a vibrant scene at street level as a result of its varied Malay, Chinese and Indian populations.

The city's food scene reflects this cultural diversity magnificently. Sample authentic dim sum in Chinatown, savor spicy Indian curries in Little India, or hunt for the perfect bowl of laksa at local hawker centers. The Jalan Alor night market becomes a food lover's paradise after dark.

Conclsuion

Southeast Asia is a land that rewards people who can plan and those that are spontaneous. Efficient transport networks ensure that it is easy to travel to more than one country such as Thailand to Vietnam or to island hop in Indonesia. Avoid rainy seasons, or the high season, but be adaptable in changing your schedule as the last minute discoveries, such as a secret waterfall, or a local festival are the best. Explore, immerse, discover this fascinating area.