Ha Long Bay, Indonesia, Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Singapore are among the best places in Southeast Asia for summer. With countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and many more, you can never run out of exotic destinations in Southeast Asia to explore. With a collection of uniquely yet equally fascinating countries, containing stunningly beautiful yet diverse landscapes, plenty of historical sites and ancient treasures, bustling cities, strange and wonderful flora and fauna, and a variety of cultures and ethnicities, Southeast Asia is rightfully one of the most beloved travel destinations in the world. Southeast Asia Bucket List -- Thailand is an impressive gateway into Southeast Asia for many backpackers thanks to its friendly locals, ancient temples such as those in Ayutthaya, dramatic islands, vibrant nightlife, and delicious street food.

Given recent tourist trends, Thailand is growing in popularity as one of the best destinations in Southeast Asia to go on water adventures and island-hopping. Southeast Asia Bucket List: Cambodia With the spectacular Angkor Temples and gorgeous beaches, Cambodia is a popular addition to the southeast Asia tourism circuit.

Siem Reap, Cambodia Best known for its Angkor Wat 12th-century temple, Siem Reap has rapidly developed into a vibrant city. Angkor Wat in Cambodia is located here when visiting Angkor to experience the culturally rich site, which is replete with archaeological sites and history. Starting from the gorgeous Thailand, the route makes its way into emerging Laos, across Vietnam, and past Angkor Wat Temples. The trip begins in Stung Treng city, where you can either bike, motorbike, or take a long-tail boat down the Nam Song river, near the Cambodia-Laos border town of Preah Romkel.

Explore the lower Mekong, which winds its way across south Vietnam and Cambodia, with a tableau of stilted-house villages, bustling floating markets, and ruined Khmer temples along with pulsating Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, two cities bookending this fascinating waterway. One of the best adventures I had in Southeast Asia was taking a river cruise from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We crossed by boat and by road from Vietnam, spent a couple of days in Phnom Penh, and then drove on to Siem Reap to see the Angkor Wat temples, then crossed over to Thailand via truck. Then it was on back into gorgeous Thailand, with people heading to the south for parties on the Thai islands, then moving on to Malaysia and Singapore.

Located in the north-eastern part of Vietnam, Kota Kinabalu is a UNESCO world heritage site, one of the best places in Southeast Asia to visit during the month of November. Sihanoukville, the most famous Cambodian beach resort, is the site of Americas final fight of the Vietnam War. None of the beaches of Sihanoukville will be considered as among the best beaches in Southeast Asia. The most popular Cambodian beach resort is an ideal spot for relaxation after visiting all of Cambodia’s Khmer ruin sites elsewhere. Hanoi has influences from the Southeast Asia, China, and France all reflected in its stunning culture.

You are going to be temple-overloaded at one point or another but do as many temples as you can since each is unique to their respective countries and regions. Most Buddhist temples across Southeast Asia are free to visit, although some of the most well-known and largest, such as Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Wat Pho in Bangkok, lovely Thailand; Temple of Literature in Hanoi; and Wat Sieng Toung in Luang Prabang, emerging Laos, are $3-5 USD each to enter.