Meet in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur A small colonial-style city just half a century ago, Kuala Lumpur is now one of ASEAN’s most vibrant urban centres. The total reshaping of the downtown area with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers has helped forge a new image for the 150-year old capital. Kuala Lumpur is today a cosmopolitan city, blending old […]
Meet in Viet Nam
Ha Noi The capital of Viet Nam is one of the most charming cities in Southeast Asia with its harmonious blend of oriental life and French style. With its old temples, its manicured parks and gardens, the serenity of its lakes and the beautiful colonial villas and official government buildings dating back to French times, […]
Chinatown
Chinese merchants were already trading in the Philippine archipelago when explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521, and later the Spanish colonial rulers encouraged the development of Southeast Asia’s first Chinatown in Manila. Relations between the residents of Chinatown and the greater city were not always civil, however, and those who refused to convert to Catholicism […]
Naturally Spectacular: Sarawak, Malaysia
The park ranger gets word over his radio: the dominant male has been spotted. “Ladies and gentleman, we shall be moving to the car park.” After trekking back down the path that had taken us into the forest 20 minutes earlier, our group of 25 or so tourists search expectantly up into the dense trees […]
In Love with Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, considered one of the best preserved towns in Southeast Asia, and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, presents loads of historic, cultural and natural attractions, many of which can be accessed by foot, bicycle, tuk-tuk and even electrically boosted bikes. Luang Prabang straddles a 1-km peninsula at the confluence of the Nam Khan and […]
Hunting Lady Luck in Southeast Asia
Casinos dot Southeast Asia from small border gaming halls to Vegas-like casinos. Many cater to Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese players, who cannot legally gamble at home, but westerners are welcome to try their luck. Along with familiar games played in the West, the region presents some alien ones you may want to try. How about […]
A Backpackers Guide to the Galaxy
If you are slinging on the backpack and travelling to Southeast Asia for the first time, here are a few words of sage advice to ensure the experience is the happiest it can be. 1. Pack Light Your backpack may not seem heavy when you put it on at home, but after six blocks in the […]
Attractions in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur, the economic capital of the country, is the best introduction to Malaysia. The city is impressive with its skyline of glitzy buildings standing next to beautiful colonial mansions. The capital is also the centre of Malaysian culture, reflected in its numerous museums and in its very active arts scene. Shopping is […]
If I Had 2 Weeks In Southeast Asia Id…
SoutheastAsia.org asked its writers what they would do with 2 weeks to spend in Southeast Asia. Two weeks in spectacular, exotic Southeast Asia is an exciting prospect. While you can’t see everything, there are still myriad rich and varied experiences on offer. The following itinerary features a mix of personal favourites and as-yet-unvisited must-see destinations. […]
Thats Hot: The Tastes of Thailand
Thai food has become a world superstar in the last 20 years, and many visitors will have tried dishes from the Land of Smiles in their home towns. But visiting the country itself is an opportunity to taste the real deal, the authentic flavors and recipes that are (often wrongly) deemed unsuitable for foreign palates. […]