Best places to visit in Southeast Asia 2026

1. 🇹🇭 Thailand — The complete Southeast Asia package

Thailand is the obvious starting point and still the best overall destination in the region. It has everything: buzzing Bangkok, the mountainous north around Chiang Mai, and some of the world's most beautiful islands in the south. The infrastructure for travellers is unmatched — overnight trains, cheap flights between cities, and an accommodation scene that runs from €5 dorms to stunning boutique resorts.

Best time: November to April (dry season). Avoid May–October in the south (monsoon). Budget: €45/day mid-range.

2. 🇻🇳 Vietnam — The street food capital of the world

Vietnam's long, thin shape is ideal for travellers: fly into Hanoi, make your way south through Hoi An and the central highlands, and fly home from Ho Chi Minh City. Every stop has its own distinct personality and cuisine. The country is one of Southeast Asia's cheapest at €32/day, and the coffee culture alone is worth the trip.

Don't miss: Halong Bay, Hoi An's lantern-lit streets, the rice terraces of Sapa.

3. 🇮🇩 Bali — More than a cliché

Yes, Bali is famous. It's famous because it deserves to be. The rice terraces of Ubud, the surf breaks of Canggu, the temples of Uluwatu at sunset — Bali delivers on every promise. It's also evolving rapidly: the digital nomad scene around Canggu has made it one of the world's top remote work destinations, with world-class co-working spaces and reliable internet.

4. 🇰🇭 Cambodia — Angkor and beyond

Cambodia is anchored by one of the most extraordinary sites on earth: Angkor Wat. But the country has more than its temples — Phnom Penh is a city grappling honestly with its history, and the southern coast around Kep and Kampot offers a slower, riverside travel experience. At €30/day it's one of the cheapest countries in the region.

5. 🇵🇭 Philippines — 7,000 islands of choice

The Philippines is the region's best-kept island secret. Palawan's El Nido has waters that rival the Maldives at a fraction of the price. The Visayas islands are a world-class diving destination. The catch: inter-island travel requires more planning than mainland Southeast Asia. Reward: crowds that are a fraction of Thailand's tourist trail.

6. 🇲🇾 Malaysia — The underrated middle child

Malaysia sits between Thailand and Singapore and is often skipped by travellers rushing between the two. That's a mistake. Kuala Lumpur is one of Southeast Asia's great food cities. The Cameron Highlands tea estates are atmospheric and cool. Penang's Georgetown is a UNESCO-listed street food paradise. And the Borneo side offers jungle trekking and orangutan encounters.

7. 🇱🇦 Laos — The slow travel antidote

Laos is what Thailand was 30 years ago. Luang Prabang's monks collecting alms at dawn, the Mekong flowing past wooden guesthouses, the Kuang Si waterfall cascading through turquoise pools — Laos rewards travellers who slow down. At €28/day it's the region's most affordable destination and deliberately low-key.

8. 🇸🇬 Singapore — The world's best stopover

Singapore is expensive by Southeast Asian standards (€120/day) but worth it as a 2–3 day stopover. Changi Airport's free city tours for transit passengers are legendary. The hawker centres serve outstanding food at surprisingly affordable prices. And the city is a masterclass in urban planning and multicultural coexistence.