{"id":14011,"date":"2019-12-02T17:22:54","date_gmt":"2019-12-02T17:22:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seeker.io\/?p=14011"},"modified":"2019-12-02T17:22:54","modified_gmt":"2019-12-02T17:22:54","slug":"backpacking-southeast-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seeker.io\/article\/backpacking-southeast-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"Backpacking Southeast Asia: 41 Destinations That Won&#8217;t Blow Your Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Like a bar mitzvah or a grad party, backpacking the well-worn trails of Southeast Asia is nothing short of a rite of passage. For the budding traveler, the trodden route that links electrifying Bangkok to the temples of Angkor and the rolling surf of Bali is a chance to discover what street food and tuk tuks and hostel pub crawls are all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the circuit isn&#8217;t a modern phenomenon. It&#8217;s been going since the days of The Hippie Trail and the first influx of tourists to Southeast Asia. They call it the Banana Pancake Trail, on account of all the fruit-infused flatties you&#8217;ll be served for breakfast along the way. It encompasses fascinating, hedonistic, and stunning destinations all over the region, and can chop and change depending on your preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, we take a look at some of the hotspots that await between Thailand, the sand-fringed isles of the Philippines, the jungles of Malaysia, and beyond. It&#8217;s an itinerary that&#8217;ll evoke your inner gap yearer, and get you glugging bucket cocktails in no time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"13.756331\" data-longitude=\"100.501762\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/6lj2loIqQ\/bangkok-bangkok-thailand\" data-placeid=\"1645\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/6lj2loIqQ\/bangkok-bangkok-thailand\">Bangkok<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"13.756331\" data-longitude=\"100.501762\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/6d152dbd-19aa-43e0-98d5-d80227b0b346-1400.jpg?placeid=1645&amp;name=Bangkok&amp;lat=13.756331&amp;lng=100.501762\" alt=\"Bangkok, Thailand. Craig Schuler \/ Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption>Bangkok, Thailand. Craig Schuler \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hey, who wouldn&#8217;t want to kick start their Southeast Asia backpacking trip with deep-fried crickets, knock-off beer tees, and bucket cocktails filled with god knows what? Viola: Khaosan Road awaits. It&#8217;s a heady mix of go-go bars, DJ clubs, bazaars, tailors, and massage parlors, all rammed into the gritty alleys of Bangkok&#8217;s Banglamphu. But this vast capital is about more than the area made famous by DiCaprio in <em>The Beach<\/em>. It&#8217;s also got the<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.royalgrandpalace.th\/en\/home\" target=\"_blank\"> Grand Palace<\/a> (home of the Thai king) and the pulsing Chatuchak Market (the largest in the country). A perfect mix of history and culture, <a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/bangkok-travel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Bangkok travel<\/a> holds a little something for everybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"14.02278\" data-longitude=\"99.532814\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/yHa0tJSF9\/kanchanaburi-kanchanaburi-thailand\" data-placeid=\"4566\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/yHa0tJSF9\/kanchanaburi-kanchanaburi-thailand\">Kanchanaburi<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"14.02278\" data-longitude=\"99.532814\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/a4ba3ee4-4662-4799-80b4-87a9cb2d6b9b-1400.jpg?placeid=4566&amp;name=Kanchanaburi&amp;lat=14.02278&amp;lng=99.532814\" alt=\"Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua), Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.\"\/><figcaption>Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua), Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After the heady haze of Bangkok, make room for the chilled town of Kanchanaburi. It straddles the River Kwai (yep, the one from the film) around three hours to the west. There, tuk tuk convoys and pub crawls are replaced by the misty outlines of the Tenasserim Hills and the murky waterways of the Kwai itself. Try to choose a place to stay that backs onto the river from the north banks \u2013 sipping a Chang with the sunset is one of the very <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"best things to do in Thailand (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/things-to-do-thailand\/\" target=\"_blank\">best things to do in Thailand<\/a>. During the day, make a trip to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thainationalparks.com\/erawan-national-park\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Erawan<\/a> for natural fish exfoliation in tiered waterfalls hidden in the jungle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"14.353213\" data-longitude=\"100.568962\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/5-bxmqXrA\/phra-nakhon-si-ayutthaya-phra-nakhon-si-ayutthaya-thailand\" data-placeid=\"3734\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/5-bxmqXrA\/phra-nakhon-si-ayutthaya-phra-nakhon-si-ayutthaya-thailand\">Ayutthaya<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"14.353213\" data-longitude=\"100.568962\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/fc0ae3d2-d413-49bc-b7fb-4236c7e6a7bb-1400.jpg?placeid=3734&amp;name=Phra%20Nakhon%20Si%20Ayutthaya&amp;lat=14.353213&amp;lng=100.568962\" alt=\"Wat Chai Wattanaram, Ayutthaya, Thailand.\"\/><figcaption>Wat Chai Wattanaram, Ayutthaya, Thailand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whoever said backpacking Southeast Asia can&#8217;t be educational? Well\u2026the<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/576\/\" target=\"_blank\"> UNESCO-tagged town of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya<\/a> certainly is. It was constructed by the old kings of Siam back in the 1300s, lasting more than 400 years before it was razed by the Burmese in the 18<sup>th<\/sup> century. What remains is a vast complex of half-crumpled temples, soaring<em> prang <\/em>(stone spires), and reclining Buddhas. Rent a bike and cycle the sites; it&#8217;s the most pleasant way to navigate. Itineraries should certainly include Wat Mahathat and its haunting statues writhed in teak trees, and Wat ChaiWatthanaram, which reflects beautifully in the Chao Phraya River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"14.799508\" data-longitude=\"100.653374\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/1ffKpqsb6\/lopburi-lopburi-thailand\" data-placeid=\"4567\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/1ffKpqsb6\/lopburi-lopburi-thailand\">Lopburi<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"14.799508\" data-longitude=\"100.653374\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/c6a9beb2-0548-4432-8286-c8026dd4d3c4-1400.jpg?placeid=4567&amp;name=Lopburi&amp;lat=14.799508&amp;lng=100.653374\" alt=\"Phraphrangsamyod Temple, Lopburi, Thailand.&#xA0;topten22photo&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption>Phraphrangsamyod Temple, Lopburi, Thailand.&#xA0;topten22photo&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Move north from ancient Ayutthaya to the fabled<a href=\"https:\/\/www.placesofjuma.com\/lopburi-thailand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Monkey City of Lopburi<\/a>. Zip up your bags and keep your pockets sealed, though \u2013 the 1,000 or so crab-eating macaques that share the Old Town with the locals have been known to steal all sorts! You can encounter those cheeky simians at Phra Prang Sam Yot. It&#8217;s a half-ruined Khmer shrine with red brick stupas. And it&#8217;s the home of the city&#8217;s monkey colony. Around that, the streets sizzle with noodle stalls and beer bars where you can munch pad thai while watching macaques swinging on the telephone wires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"17.005556\" data-longitude=\"99.82637\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/vHyPxMwzF\/sukhothai-sukhothai-thailand\" data-placeid=\"3735\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/vHyPxMwzF\/sukhothai-sukhothai-thailand\">Sukhothai<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"17.005556\" data-longitude=\"99.82637\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/fde92030-068f-4aa4-8132-bd1fa09e999a-1400.jpg?placeid=3735&amp;name=Sukhothai&amp;lat=17.005556&amp;lng=99.82637\" alt=\"Wat Mahathat Temple, Sukhothai city, Thailand.\"\/><figcaption>Wat Mahathat Temple, Sukhothai city, Thailand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You might be roughing it in hostels and eating banana pancakes for breakie, but there are always moments of wonder on this Southeast Asia backpacking trail. Cue<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/574\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Sukhothai Historical Park<\/a>. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place that&#8217;s sure to get the jaw a-dropping, it&#8217;s a vast reserve that covers more than 27 square miles and a whopping 193 individual ruins. They are all of what&#8217;s left of the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom of the 13<sup>th<\/sup> century, offering glimpses of the Wat Sa Si and its emerald ponds or the Lanka-style elephant niches of Wat Chang Lom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"18.787746\" data-longitude=\"98.993126\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/HXXxZxN2\/chiang-mai-chiang-mai-thailand\" data-placeid=\"964\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/HXXxZxN2\/chiang-mai-chiang-mai-thailand\">Chiang Mai<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"18.787746\" data-longitude=\"98.993126\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/d467da52-b4c1-45db-b514-efef43cec2f8-1400.jpg?placeid=964&amp;name=Chiang%20Mai&amp;lat=18.787746&amp;lng=98.993126\" alt=\"Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai, Thailand.\"\/><figcaption>Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai, Thailand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Chiang Mai is the stuff of Southeast Asia backpacking legend. It&#8217;s Thailand&#8217;s second city and you&#8217;ll find it tucked into the jungle-covered hills deep in the north of the country. It perfectly melds the old and the new Land of Smiles. The wood-carved cottages and moat-rimmed ancient walls hearken back to the days of the<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/thailandtravelbag.com\/the-history-of-the-lanna-kingdom\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Lanna kingdom<\/a>. Then come the rows of cocktail joints and the hip coffee roasteries where digital nomads tap away on laptops. After dark, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is a must. It unfolds just outside the main town with electronics hawkers, spice emporiums, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/thailand-budget-food\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">budget Thai food<\/a>, candle shops, jewelry sellers \u2013 you name it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"19.358219\" data-longitude=\"98.440483\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/VjqtujSXz\/pai-mae-hong-son-thailand\" data-placeid=\"4569\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/VjqtujSXz\/pai-mae-hong-son-thailand\">Pai<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"19.358219\" data-longitude=\"98.440483\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/bf0e8233-6662-4953-a26e-941ae465555a-1400.jpg?placeid=4569&amp;name=Pai&amp;lat=19.358219&amp;lng=98.440483\" alt=\"Pai Sai Ngam hot springs, Pai, Thailand. iambasic_Studio&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption>Pai Sai Ngam hot springs, Pai, Thailand. iambasic_Studio&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And relax\u2026Pai, <a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/thailands-hippy-paradise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Thailand&#8217;s hippie paradise<\/a>, is on the horizon. It might take a stomach-churning 762 turns in the road to reach this hidden hill station on the cusp of Burma, but boy is it worth the rollercoaster! The town spreads around the Pai River in a patchwork of crooked bamboo shacks and eco hotels. There are reggae bars lining the main street, along with New Age crystal shops and vegan curry outlets. During the day, you can relax in steaming hot springs or hike the knife-edge ridges of Pai Canyon. At night, head for<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SpiritbarThailand\/\"> Spirit Bar<\/a>, where fires crackle under the stars and homemade tie dye is the apparel of choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"20.262817\" data-longitude=\"100.434036\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/2axOPRfSn\/huay-xai-bokeo-province-laos\" data-placeid=\"4571\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/2axOPRfSn\/huay-xai-bokeo-province-laos\">The Mekong River<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"20.262817\" data-longitude=\"100.434036\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/14f2cbf4-e970-4c3a-898f-b5abc9f516e2-1400.jpg?placeid=4571&amp;name=Huay%20Xai&amp;lat=20.262817&amp;lng=100.434036\" alt=\"Mekong River, Southeast Asia.\"\/><figcaption>Mekong River, Southeast Asia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The great move eastwards through Southeast Asia will inevitably fling you into the course of the mighty Mekong River. Thankfully, there are longboats at hand to help you conquer the courses of the great waterway. You can board them at the Thai-Laos border in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrazytourist.com\/15-best-things-to-do-in-huay-xai-laos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Huay Xai<\/a>. Then, it&#8217;s a two-day sail down the muddy waters as you delve into the real wilds of the continent: think endless jungles of emerald green, mist-haloed karsts, and the sounds of gibbons echoing in the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"19.883286\" data-longitude=\"102.138718\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/4AFB9m6OX\/luang-prabang-luang-prabang-province-laos\" data-placeid=\"3695\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/4AFB9m6OX\/luang-prabang-luang-prabang-province-laos\">Luang Prabang<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"19.883286\" data-longitude=\"102.138718\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/11b6a304-b1e7-4f4d-8198-6be756b081f3-1400.jpg?placeid=3695&amp;name=Luang%20Prabang&amp;lat=19.883286&amp;lng=102.138718\" alt=\"Luang Prabang, Laos. \"\/><figcaption>Luang Prabang, Laos. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Often ignored but rarely forgotten, Laos is one of our favorite <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"off-the-beaten-path travel destinations (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/off-the-beaten-path-travel\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">off-the-beaten-path travel destinations<\/a> in Southeast Asia. Longboats down the Mekong often stop at the ancient, and UNESCO, city of<a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/479\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Luang Prabang<\/a>. It rarely disappoints. Carved Laotian houses mingle with gold-shimmering stupas here as the chants of amber-robed monks emanate from the meditation halls. Grab a French baguette and sip a coffee to watch the sunrise over the Nam Khan River. Or, escape to the rainforests to encounter the paradisiacal Kuang Si Waterfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"18.95009\" data-longitude=\"102.443787\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/rpIbnUXyz\/vang-vieng-vientiane-province-laos\" data-placeid=\"4572\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/rpIbnUXyz\/vang-vieng-vientiane-province-laos\">Vang Vieng<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"18.95009\" data-longitude=\"102.443787\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/44c3e333-be35-4db5-bd84-5e8e5f9c5285-1400.jpg?placeid=4572&amp;name=Vang%20Vieng&amp;lat=18.95009&amp;lng=102.443787\" alt=\"Vang Vieng, Laos. \"\/><figcaption>Vang Vieng, Laos. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There was a time when<a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/vang-vieng\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" Vang Vieng (opens in a new tab)\"> Vang Vieng<\/a> meant one thing and one thing only: tubing. Yep, this was the rubber ring and whiskey capital of Southeast Asia. But boozy trips down the Nam Song River all but ended in 2012 with a<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/travel\/article\/vang-vieng-laos-adventure\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"> government crackdown<\/a>, leaving VV to be reclaimed by locals and adventurers. The town sits in a stunning bowl of karst mountains. They spike the horizon like dragon scales surrounded by waterfalls and jungle. So head here for trekking, climbing, kayaking, and caving \u2013 but don&#8217;t expect the hedonism of old!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"17.975706\" data-longitude=\"102.633102\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/OYjoD9Kkd\/vientiane-vientiane-prefecture-laos\" data-placeid=\"4573\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/OYjoD9Kkd\/vientiane-vientiane-prefecture-laos\">Vientiane<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"17.975706\" data-longitude=\"102.633102\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/1b55f8f5-bb65-45c8-bb64-1c0440dd54ff-1400.jpg?placeid=4573&amp;name=Vientiane&amp;lat=17.975706&amp;lng=102.633102\" alt=\"Wat Xieng Khuan Buddha park, Vientiane, Laos.\"\/><figcaption>Wat Xieng Khuan Buddha park, Vientiane, Laos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving southwards from the karst mountains to the capital of Laos is a trip worth savoring: vistas of forest-filled valleys and rustic villages hemmed in by rice paddies dominate the whole way. Then the city itself awaits. Curiously infused with French culture, it&#8217;s a chilled town with coffee shops, baguette bakeries, and expat bars on virtually every corner. A glimpse of the gold-glowing Pha That Luang is probably about as glitzy as things get. But you also might like the carnivalesque array of Buddha effigies at the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlasobscura.com\/places\/xieng-khuan-park-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Xieng Khuan sculpture park<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"14.098512\" data-longitude=\"105.870186\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/OrvRavwih\/si-phan-don-phan-don-champasak-province-laos\" data-placeid=\"4574\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/OrvRavwih\/si-phan-don-phan-don-champasak-province-laos\">Si Phan Don<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"14.098512\" data-longitude=\"105.870186\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/c1a64d3b-b9b0-470d-a92b-034e61e7b2c9-1400.jpg?placeid=4574&amp;name=Si%20Phan%20Don&amp;lat=14.098512&amp;lng=105.870186\" alt=\"Si Phan Don, Champasak Province, Laos.\"\/><figcaption>Si Phan Don, Champasak Province, Laos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mekong gets to its most dramatic as it tumbles over the rocky plateaus of Southern Laos and into the jungles of Cambodia. The region is known to locals as the Si Phan Don. You might have heard of it as the 4,000 Islands. The name is apt, what with countless outcrops of rock jutting from the eight-mile-wide waters. Some are gnarled like giant&#8217;s fingers, others are dressed in dashes of emerald forest. Oh, and this is also prime territory for glimpsing the rare<a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/species\/irrawaddy-dolphin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> pink river dolphin<\/a>, so be sure to consider an aqua safari!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"13.363253\" data-longitude=\"103.8564\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/WT96KhUbY\/krong-siem-reap-siem-reap-province-cambodia\" data-placeid=\"4575\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/WT96KhUbY\/krong-siem-reap-siem-reap-province-cambodia\">Siem Reap<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"13.363253\" data-longitude=\"103.8564\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/e076bede-9ffb-48ad-ba5d-b79d456c4399-1400.jpg?placeid=4575&amp;name=Krong%20Siem%20Reap&amp;lat=13.363253&amp;lng=103.8564\" alt=\"Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. \"\/><figcaption>Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Charge the camera, folks \u2013 Krong Siem Reap is the home of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Angkor Wat (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/angkor-wat-cambodia\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">Angkor Wat<\/a>. A wonder of the world, it spreads over a mega 402 acres just outside of the town. It&#8217;s a mix of Hindu shrines and Buddhist worshipping spots that go back all the way to the 12<sup>th<\/sup> century. Pick a tour that gets you to the main Angkor Wat temple for sunrise, and be sure to include a stop at<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ta_Prohm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Ta Prohm<\/a>, where silk-cotton trees have writhed and grown around ancient carvings. Back in Siem Reap&#8217;s center for the evening, a colorful night market and a pulsing Pub Street keep the action going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"11.556374\" data-longitude=\"104.928207\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/wKvVBaq56\/phnom-penh-phnom-penh-cambodia\" data-placeid=\"4576\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/wKvVBaq56\/phnom-penh-phnom-penh-cambodia\">Phnom Penh<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"11.556374\" data-longitude=\"104.928207\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/e4961b54-ce05-4660-8f35-1ea541333d94-1400.jpg?placeid=4576&amp;name=Phnom%20Penh&amp;lat=11.556374&amp;lng=104.928207\" alt=\"Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.\"\/><figcaption>Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The bus trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh crosses the heart of Cambodia. Rice farms, water buffalo, the glimmering surface of huge Tonle Sap Lake \u2013 there&#8217;s no end to the sights you&#8217;ll see. Then it&#8217;s onto the capital. Darker tales await there, what with the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.killingfieldsmuseum.com\/s21-victims.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in S-21<\/a>, an erstwhile school turned torture camp under the Khmer Rouge. You should also visit the monuments at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, where mass graves and sobering memorials spread around a Buddhist stupa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"10.729083\" data-longitude=\"103.23172\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/gwhe1ZJ_R\/koh-rong-preah-sihanouk-sihanoukville-cambodia\" data-placeid=\"4577\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/gwhe1ZJ_R\/koh-rong-preah-sihanouk-sihanoukville-cambodia\">Koh Rong<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"10.729083\" data-longitude=\"103.23172\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/c53085aa-d226-4342-bf2d-2510f03fa510-1400.jpg?placeid=4577&amp;name=Koh%20Rong&amp;lat=10.729083&amp;lng=103.23172\" alt=\"Koh Rong, Vietnam.\"\/><figcaption>Koh Rong, Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After backpacking through Southeast Asia&#8217;s endless rainforests and rice paddies, you&#8217;re sure to be pining for the sea. It comes with Koh Rong and the glistening waters of the Thai Gulf. Shaped like an egg timer, this island sits off the jetties of Preah Sihanouk with its ramshackle bamboo huts and reggae bars. It&#8217;s a fine combo of party island (think bucket cocktails until four) and beach mecca (the sand here is cotton white and lapped by see-through waters). The best of the coastline comes with Sok San Beach and its deluxe villa resort, and secluded Long Set Beach, where the twilight heralds shows of<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitkohrong.com\/koh-rong-plankton\/\" target=\"_blank\"> bioluminescent plankton<\/a> along the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"10.588622\" data-longitude=\"103.295212\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/eJhPeL2V6\/koh-rong-sanloem-preah-sihanouk-sihanoukville-cambodia\" data-placeid=\"4578\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/eJhPeL2V6\/koh-rong-sanloem-preah-sihanouk-sihanoukville-cambodia\">Koh Rong Sanloem<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"10.588622\" data-longitude=\"103.295212\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/7bbfd5ec-3faf-4fda-ae94-f7ed85f64132-1400.jpg?placeid=4578&amp;name=Koh%20Rong%20Sanloem&amp;lat=10.588622&amp;lng=103.295212\" alt=\"Koh Rong Sanloem, Vietnam.\"\/><figcaption>Koh Rong Sanloem, Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Just when you thought you&#8217;d seen paradise, you add a Sanloem and things get even better! Yep, Koh Rong&#8217;s smaller brother sits just to the south. You&#8217;ll need to negotiate with a local longboat driver to get there (the ride should cost a couple of dollars). Then, it&#8217;s across the choppy strait and into wide<a href=\"https:\/\/www.movetocambodia.com\/island-guides\/koh-rong-sanloem\/geography-and-beaches\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Saracen Bay<\/a>. There, you can expect to find charming clutches of bamboo bungalows thatched with palm fronds, all facing sugar-soft sands, and a sea that&#8217;s a perfect turquoise. If you&#8217;re up for a trek through the jungle, Sunset Beach has stunning evening light shows to the west. Just be wary of the snakes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"10.823099\" data-longitude=\"106.629662\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/VzYsxQqkD\/ho-chi-minh-city-ho-chi-minh-city-viet-nam\" data-placeid=\"1664\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/VzYsxQqkD\/ho-chi-minh-city-ho-chi-minh-city-viet-nam\">Ho Chi Minh City<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"10.823099\" data-longitude=\"106.629662\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/414f8015-d4c4-47c1-bcb8-9e0bf2de0d2d-1400.jpg?placeid=1664&amp;name=Ho%20Chi%20Minh%20City&amp;lat=10.823099&amp;lng=106.629662\" alt=\"Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.\"\/><figcaption>Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Kiss goodbye to your lonely hammock and coconut husks \u2013 Ho Chi Minh City is up next! This colossal megacity is one of the largest in all of Southeast Asia. It was once known as Saigon and saw some hard-fought sieges during the Vietnam War. These days, it&#8217;s a hubbub of tofu-touting, crab-cracking street stalls and bazaars like Ben Thanh Market. Backpackers tend to coalesce around body-packed Bui Vien Street and bubbly <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Vietnam rooftop bars (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/bars-vietnam\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">Vietnam rooftop bars<\/a> at night. It&#8217;s a whole strip of ramshackle bars where Asian babushkas refill your tumbler with uber-cheap beer whenever you&#8217;re finished. During daylight, be sure to hit the whizzing slides and space bombs of the<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.damsenwaterpark.com.vn\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.damsenwaterpark.com.vn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Dam Sen Water Park (opens in a new tab)\">Dam Sen Water Park<\/a>; rides like the \u200eKamikaze are aptly named!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"12.238791\" data-longitude=\"109.196747\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/u8yJi1YCf\/nha-trang-khanh-hoa-province-viet-nam\" data-placeid=\"2113\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/u8yJi1YCf\/nha-trang-khanh-hoa-province-viet-nam\">Nha Trang<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"12.238791\" data-longitude=\"109.196747\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/d49573f0-2c21-44a5-aaa9-4c95d9f0bb86-1400.jpg?placeid=2113&amp;name=Nha%20Trang&amp;lat=12.238791&amp;lng=109.196747\" alt=\"Nha Trang, Vietnam.\"\/><figcaption>Nha Trang, Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Nha Trang means it&#8217;s time for a taste of Vietnamese sand and sea. A bumping, buzzing resort town that&#8217;s arced around a big bay on the South China Sea, this one&#8217;s got miles of palm-speckled shoreline to laze on from morning until night. Talking of night\u2026the city shows its hedonistic side when the sun disappears. This has long been <em>the <\/em>place in Vietnam to hop on a<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alexinwanderland.com\/nha-trang-party-boat\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Vietnam booze cruise<\/a>, which whisks you away into the jungle-topped karst islets of Nha Trang Bay, with unlimited G&amp;Ts included, of course. Then, you can return to Tran Phu Street for seafood broths and parties until morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"15.880058\" data-longitude=\"108.338043\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/vngXfv1J1\/hoi-an-quang-nam-province-viet-nam\" data-placeid=\"2110\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/vngXfv1J1\/hoi-an-quang-nam-province-viet-nam\">Hoi An<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"15.880058\" data-longitude=\"108.338043\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/c0296390-0838-46b3-8020-3e9ba1b985d3-1400.jpg?placeid=2110&amp;name=H%E1%BB%99i%20An&amp;lat=15.880058&amp;lng=108.338043\" alt=\"Hoi An, Vietnam.\"\/><figcaption>Hoi An, Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hoi An isn&#8217;t like anywhere else in Vietnam. Here, you&#8217;ll wake to the sound of water buffalos splashing in the rice paddies. You&#8217;ll whiz on rickshaws between paint-peeling coffee shops. You&#8217;ll wander narrow alleys laced with Buddhist shrines and noodle kitchens. Try to stay somewhere within reach of the old center; it&#8217;s UNESCO listed and oozes atmosphere. Those looking to bolster their wardrobe might want to get a three-piece made because Hoi An is the tailoring capital of Asia (<a href=\"https:\/\/bebetailor.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">BeBe<\/a> is a trusted place to go). Alternatively, rent a bike and cycle through the gardens to An Bang Beach, a long run of powdery sand backed by casual bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"16.463713\" data-longitude=\"107.590866\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/RfiZ9zLwM\/hue-thua-thien-hue-viet-nam\" data-placeid=\"3743\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/RfiZ9zLwM\/hue-thua-thien-hue-viet-nam\">Hue<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"16.463713\" data-longitude=\"107.590866\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/33bc77bb-9a80-4eb2-97d6-18b3a001efd5-1400.jpg?placeid=3743&amp;name=Hue&amp;lat=16.463713&amp;lng=107.590866\" alt=\"East Gate, Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam.\"\/><figcaption>East Gate, Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hue is the place to go to get in touch with the glorious past of old Vietnam. It was once the epicenter of the Nguyen Empire, whose influence stretched north to China and west to Thailand. Visions of the Imperial Citadel and the half-ruined Forbidden Purple City offer a glimpse into the grand court rooms and palaces that were raised during that age. Meanwhile, on the far side of the Perfume River, modern Hue bustles with its parklands, eateries, and motor rickshaws. Hue is also the start of the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Hai Van Pass (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/hai-van-pass\/\" target=\"_blank\">Hai Van Pass<\/a>, a crazy winding road that overlooks Vietnam&#8217;s best beaches and rocky cliffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"20.250614\" data-longitude=\"105.974457\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/Vvsg4pbKo\/ninh-binh-ninh-binh-province-viet-nam\" data-placeid=\"2103\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/Vvsg4pbKo\/ninh-binh-ninh-binh-province-viet-nam\">Ninh Binh<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"20.250614\" data-longitude=\"105.974457\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/02aa3fa9-a3a9-4fc9-93f7-5d3aabbdadac-1400.jpg?placeid=2103&amp;name=Ninh%20B%C3%ACnh&amp;lat=20.250614&amp;lng=105.974457\" alt=\"Ninh Binh by bike, Ninh Binh, Vietnam. thi&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption>Ninh Binh by bike, Ninh Binh, Vietnam. thi&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>An overnight ride on the <em>Reunification Express<\/em> takes you deep into the heart of North Vietnam. First stop: Ninh Binh. The Vietnam of the travel brochures, this is a land of needle-like rock spires and dramatic karst mountains, all dropping down to flat valleys patched in rice paddies and wiggled through by riverways. Cycling is perhaps the most adventurous way to get around (if you&#8217;re feeling particularly brave, try <a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/backpacking-vietnam\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"bikepacking in North Vietnam (opens in a new tab)\">bikepacking in North Vietnam<\/a>). A bike will let you navigate to the mysterious ancient capital of<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/hanoiexploretravel.com\/things-to-do-ninh-binh\/hoa-lu-ancient-capital\" target=\"_blank\"> Hoa Lu<\/a> and the photogenic rural landscapes of Tam Coc, which is particularly Insta ready in June when the rice shoots turn daffodil yellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"20.910051\" data-longitude=\"107.183899\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/L8yBxcMZH\/ha-long-bay-thanh-pho-ha-long-quang-ninh-viet-nam\" data-placeid=\"2102\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/L8yBxcMZH\/ha-long-bay-thanh-pho-ha-long-quang-ninh-viet-nam\">Ha Long Bay<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"20.910051\" data-longitude=\"107.183899\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/f3698084-327d-4872-845e-34ca8ac5ef67-1400.jpg?placeid=2102&amp;name=H%E1%BA%A1%20Long%20Bay&amp;lat=20.910051&amp;lng=107.183899\" alt=\"Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.\"\/><figcaption>Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Get the sharpie ready \u2013 you&#8217;re about to shorten that bucket list because this is one of the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"best places to visit in Vietnam (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/things-to-do-vietnam\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">best things to do in Vietnam<\/a>! Yep, the gasp-inducing <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/travel\/destinations\/asia\/vietnam\/halong-bay-world-hertitage-site\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ha Long Bay<\/a> is the sort of place you&#8217;ll be talking about for years to come, much to the irritation of home friends. It stretches over a whopping 1,500 square kilometers in the South China Sea, unfolding in a series of craggy hoodoos, grottoes, colossal cliffs, and islets for as far as the eye can see. A popular way to explore the UNESCO site is on a traditional junk boat or by private plane for an other-worldly <a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/birds-eye-view\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"birds eye view (opens in a new tab)\">birds eye view<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"22.336361\" data-longitude=\"103.843788\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/a29TQVASU\/sa-pa-lao-cai-lao-cai-viet-nam\" data-placeid=\"2104\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/a29TQVASU\/sa-pa-lao-cai-lao-cai-viet-nam\">Sa Pa<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"22.336361\" data-longitude=\"103.843788\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/2c4ea848-6413-45d3-a07c-735a707ee923-1400.jpg?placeid=2104&amp;name=Sa%20Pa&amp;lat=22.336361&amp;lng=103.843788\" alt=\"Sa Pa, Vietnam.\"\/><figcaption>Sa Pa, Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ve got to admit that the French probably knew what they were doing when they chose Sa Pa as a hill station back in the 1880s. Of course, today&#8217;s Southeast Asia backpackers are hardly drawn by the mild climate and fertile soils. They come to spend evenings in traditional Vietnamese longhouses. They come to learn local cooking techniques in homestays. They come to<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/vagrantsoftheworld.com\/trekking-in-sapa-vietnam\/\" target=\"_blank\"> trek the well-worn trails<\/a> that weave under FanSiPan mountain (the highest in the country). Whether you&#8217;re looking for a day of adventure or a day of rest, Sa Pa is one of the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"best places to visit in all of Vietnam (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/best-places-vietnam\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">best places to visit in Vietnam<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"21.027763\" data-longitude=\"105.83416\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/t14yV9INt\/hanoi-hanoi-viet-nam\" data-placeid=\"1824\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/t14yV9INt\/hanoi-hanoi-viet-nam\">Hanoi<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"21.027763\" data-longitude=\"105.83416\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/ac8ed3a2-68c1-47ca-857e-69dc27cb0e66-1400.jpg?placeid=1824&amp;name=Hanoi&amp;lat=21.027763&amp;lng=105.83416\" alt=\"Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi, Vietnam. Efired&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption>Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi, Vietnam. Efired&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Look one way and there&#8217;s a USSR-style mausoleum holding the remains of revered Ho Chi Minh. Look another and you&#8217;ll spy an incense-smoking Buddhist shrine. Take one turn and you&#8217;ll be lost in old guild markets where car batteries and lightbulbs and spices all spill from the stalls. Take another and you&#8217;ll find bumping backpacker bars and sizzling noodle-soup kitchens. Welcome to Hanoi, the sleepless and enthralling capital of Vietnam. If you ever need a break from it all, mosey across to<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ho%C3%A0n_Ki%E1%BA%BFm_Lake\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Hoan Kiem Lake<\/a>, where joggers move past the handsome 18<sup>th<\/sup>-century temples of Jade Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"14.599512\" data-longitude=\"120.984222\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/RMB56Ixpx\/manila-metro-manila-philippines\" data-placeid=\"1731\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/RMB56Ixpx\/manila-metro-manila-philippines\">Manila<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"14.599512\" data-longitude=\"120.984222\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/d49ac6bc-6913-4995-aab7-37ee4946dd86-1400.jpg?placeid=1731&amp;name=Manila&amp;lat=14.599512&amp;lng=120.984222\" alt=\"&#xA0;Greenbelt Park, in Ayala, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines.\"\/><figcaption>&#xA0;Greenbelt Park, in Ayala, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Manila will welcome you to the Philippines in one frenetic haze of hurtling jeepneys and gritty port areas. A colossal city, you&#8217;d do well to focus your time on the district of Intramuros. That&#8217;s the old Spanish heart of the capital, a maze of cobbled lanes fringed with Mexican-looking cantinas, all ringed by age-stained fortification walls. Day trips from the center can also reveal some of the startling wonders of Luzon island. They include the mighty volcano of Taal, where you can trek a submerged crater on the Pacific Ring of Fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"9.848188\" data-longitude=\"126.045845\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/Pe6oS6bzl\/siargao-island-caraga-philippines\" data-placeid=\"4579\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/Pe6oS6bzl\/siargao-island-caraga-philippines\">Siargao<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"9.848188\" data-longitude=\"126.045845\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/4e84a741-afa4-407e-8137-7afa2878c503-1400.jpg?placeid=4579&amp;name=Siargao%20Island&amp;lat=9.848188&amp;lng=126.045845\" alt=\"Siargao, Philippines.\"\/><figcaption>Siargao, Philippines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Siargao has gone from Philippine backwater to fodder for drone-shot<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=l6K6FgR2xB8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Youtube travelogues<\/a> in the space of about five years.<strong> <\/strong>It&#8217;s a vogue place to travel right now, so it comes as a relatively modern addition to the classic Banana Pancake Trail. But there are plenty of reasons for its newfound fame. It&#8217;s the surf mecca of the Philippines for starters, touting roaring tube breaks like Cloud 9 next to the accessible novice wave at Jacking Horse. There are the Magpupungko tidal pools that shimmer emerald blue. And there&#8217;s a rollicking jungle party that takes place under the palms just outside of General Luna on Friday nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"9.446231\" data-longitude=\"118.392944\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/QE4D8BoyT\/palawan-mimaropa-philippines\" data-placeid=\"4580\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/QE4D8BoyT\/palawan-mimaropa-philippines\">Palawan<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"9.446231\" data-longitude=\"118.392944\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/ffc1b3d0-9bca-4c9a-946a-ec41e530c3a2-1400.jpg?placeid=4580&amp;name=Palawan&amp;lat=9.446231&amp;lng=118.392944\" alt=\"Palawan, Philippines.\"\/><figcaption>Palawan, Philippines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s put it this way: no backpacker jaunt through the Philippines could possibly be complete without a pitstop in Palawan. Like a long finger pointing westwards through the Sulu Sea, this one is unlike anywhere else in Southeast Asia. El Nido is the star of the show. A lively town on the north shore, it&#8217;s considered a scuba and snorkeling paradise. Hop on a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=K8G52b4Q1tQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> day-long boat trip<\/a> and you&#8217;ll find yourself swimming in the company of curious jellies, bulging brain corals, and zebrafish! The hidden beaches of Port Barton are also worth checking. They&#8217;re chilled and chalk white, with hammocks and bamboo bars galore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"10.315699\" data-longitude=\"123.885437\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/DLo8BAsax\/cebu-city-central-visayas-philippines\" data-placeid=\"1697\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/DLo8BAsax\/cebu-city-central-visayas-philippines\">Cebu<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"10.315699\" data-longitude=\"123.885437\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/71fe82db-4b8a-4285-bead-8aef7374a116-1400.jpg?placeid=1697&amp;name=Cebu%20City&amp;lat=10.315699&amp;lng=123.885437\" alt=\" Kawasan Falls, Cebu, Philippines. valeriy eydlin&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption> Kawasan Falls, Cebu, Philippines. valeriy eydlin&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine a place where you can pull on the board shorts, dive off a cliff, and be swimming in the company of turtles. Well\u2026that&#8217;s Cebu. An island in the heart of the famous Visayas chain, it&#8217;s blessed with plenty of things to keep the pancake-munching backpacker busy. Make for Moalboal if you want to snorkel with our shell-backed buddies, along with schools of sardines and black-wringed sea kraits (keep your distance from those!). Inland, days of canyoneering can reveal the luminescent plunge pools of the Kawasan Falls. Meanwhile, little Oslob in the south offers chances to meet hulking whale sharks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"-8.723796\" data-longitude=\"115.175224\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/RBO1Ls2VZ\/kuta-bali-indonesia\" data-placeid=\"4581\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/RBO1Ls2VZ\/kuta-bali-indonesia\">Kuta<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"-8.723796\" data-longitude=\"115.175224\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/f227eacd-b9c4-4289-9a37-1546410e788a-1400.jpg?placeid=4581&amp;name=Kuta&amp;lat=-8.723796&amp;lng=115.175224\" alt=\"Kuta Beach, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. \"\/><figcaption>Kuta Beach, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Kuta lets you bid farewell to the Philippines and <em>om swastiastu <\/em>to Bali in a whirlwind of rooftop parties and bumping pub crawls. This is the most energetic and happening town on the whole Isle of the Gods. Legendary clubs like Sky Garden and the Engine Room pulse with shots and buckets here until the early hours. When the sun rises, everyone reaches for the surf wax and hits<a href=\"https:\/\/magicseaweed.com\/Kuta-Beach-Surf-Report\/566\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Kuta Beach<\/a>. It&#8217;s considered <em>the <\/em>place to learn how to ride in Indo. A mere $25 gets you a lesson from a local, and the waves tend to be small, glassy, but with just enough punch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"-8.506854\" data-longitude=\"115.262482\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/YAp63QRht\/ubud-bali-indonesia\" data-placeid=\"4034\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/YAp63QRht\/ubud-bali-indonesia\">Ubud<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"-8.506854\" data-longitude=\"115.262482\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/bf607121-a7e8-4a70-b1bb-303607c37478-1400.jpg?placeid=4034&amp;name=Ubud&amp;lat=-8.506854&amp;lng=115.262482\" alt=\"Ubud, Bail, Indonesia. \"\/><figcaption>Ubud, Bail, Indonesia. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To steal a phrase from Guns N&#8217; Roses: welcome to the jungle! That&#8217;s what surrounds Ubud up in the highlands of Bali north of Kuta. Swirled in plumes of mist and crowned by clumps of monkey-swinging teak trees and palms, this is perhaps the most mystical part of the isle of the gods. Bali is both a top-notch <a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/best-yoga-travel-destinations\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"destination for yoga lovers (opens in a new tab)\">destination for yoga lovers<\/a>, and it&#8217;s drawn artists for decades \u2013 the countless galleries and museums attest to that. Hindu temples poke above the woods at the<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.monkeyforestubud.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Monkey Forest<\/a>, where you&#8217;ll need to keep an eye on your wallet as you stroll the stupas and dodge the macaques. Take a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Bali bicycle tour (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/ubud-bali-bicycle-tour\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bali bicycle tour<\/a> for a mix of culture and history, and for dinner, don&#8217;t miss Dewa Warung: a traditional, down-to-earth Indonesian tavern with mouthwatering tempeh satay skewers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"-8.650979\" data-longitude=\"116.324944\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/ApubRKb1V\/lombok-lombok-west-nusa-tenggara-indonesia\" data-placeid=\"4582\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/ApubRKb1V\/lombok-lombok-west-nusa-tenggara-indonesia\">Lombok<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"-8.650979\" data-longitude=\"116.324944\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/7f349de4-c192-4ad6-a1a2-59627edc8ddb-1400.jpg?placeid=4582&amp;name=Lombok&amp;lat=-8.650979&amp;lng=116.324944\" alt=\"Sunrise from Mount Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia.\"\/><figcaption>Sunrise from Mount Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bali&#8217;s twin brother sits just to the west. It&#8217;s a primeval place, watched over by the sleeping giant of Mount Rinjani: an active volcano of 3,726 meters in height that you can climb in two days if you&#8217;re feeling it. If you&#8217;re not, no worries. The shoreline of Senggigi is a glimpse of what Bali was 40 years ago, stretching with black-tinged sands past rows of lanky coconut trees. To surf, make for<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepassportmemorandum.com\/blog\/5-best-kuta-lombok-beaches\"> Kuta Lombok<\/a> in the south. Timber shacks huddle just meters back from a big bay there, while fishermen double as taxi rides out to rolling reef breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"-8.351844\" data-longitude=\"116.05616\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/bsSpBXWZU\/gili-islands-regency-west-nusa-tenggara-indonesia\" data-placeid=\"4583\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/bsSpBXWZU\/gili-islands-regency-west-nusa-tenggara-indonesia\">The Gili Islands<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"-8.351844\" data-longitude=\"116.05616\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/8daf007e-4e2f-4a0f-877e-f6759d502386-1400.jpg?placeid=4583&amp;name=Gili%20Islands&amp;lat=-8.351844&amp;lng=116.05616\" alt=\"The Gili Islands, Indonesia.\"\/><figcaption>The Gili Islands, Indonesia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hold the phone, folks! <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Tropical paradise (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/tropical-destinations\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">Tropical paradise<\/a> beckons. At least that&#8217;s how most people talk about the Gilis: a chain of three tiny specks of land in the Bali Sea, they are best accessed from Lombok on a fast boat transfer. The main island is<a href=\"https:\/\/www.indonesia.travel\/uk\/en\/destinations\/bali-nusa-tenggara\/lombok\/gili-trawangan-and-the-gilis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Gili Trawangan<\/a>, which has garnered a rep for hedonism on account of its rambunctious Irish bars and tri-weekly parties. Then there&#8217;s Gili Meno and little Gili Air, where mangroves frame lux resorts that offer yoga pads and hammocks. Whichever you choose, you can look forward to alabaster sands and seas of azure blue, ringed by some of the most pristine coral gardens for miles around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"-7.79558\" data-longitude=\"110.369492\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/U8FR3P59C\/yogyakarta-special-region-of-yogyakarta-indonesia\" data-placeid=\"4584\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/U8FR3P59C\/yogyakarta-special-region-of-yogyakarta-indonesia\">Yogyakarta<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"-7.79558\" data-longitude=\"110.369492\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/22e997c8-5bb2-4514-baee-2e7abb0e062c-1400.jpg?placeid=4584&amp;name=Yogyakarta&amp;lat=-7.79558&amp;lng=110.369492\" alt=\"Borobudur Temple, Magelang Regency, Indonesia. \"\/><figcaption>Borobudur Temple, Magelang Regency, Indonesia. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Roll out the yoga mat and prepare to align those chakras, Yogyakarta is about as close as you can get to Rishikesh on the Banana Pancake Trail of Southeast Asia. A magnet for New Agers and hippies, it&#8217;s a whole city of temples and gamelan music, of batik workshops and yogi schools. Its spirit resides in the complex of the Sultan&#8217;s Palace (also called the Kraton): an ancient walled town filled with bazaars and mosque minarets. A short trip into the volcanos nearby can bring you to the eye-watering complex of<a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/592\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Borobudur<\/a>, too. That&#8217;s a jaw dropper, rising with countless stupas to claim the title of the world&#8217;s largest Buddhist temple.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"1.352083\" data-longitude=\"103.819839\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/PaAXLazN\/singapore\" data-placeid=\"777\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/PaAXLazN\/singapore\">Singapore<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"1.352083\" data-longitude=\"103.819839\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/e632b8ce-e74a-407d-a595-7f5e3a676c2d-1400.jpg?placeid=777&amp;name=Singapore&amp;lat=1.352083&amp;lng=103.819839\" alt=\"Singapore, Malaysia.\"\/><figcaption>Singapore, Malaysia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You might want to ring fence a little of the budget for this one: Southeast Asia backpackers have been known to survive on budget <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Singapore street food (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/street-food-singapore\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">Singapore street food<\/a> (plus a fair share of insta-noodles and 7\/11 mashed potatoes) in these parts. And it&#8217;s true, the prices crank skywards in this modern megalopolis. It&#8217;s a banking and business hub with some of the cleanest streets and the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"coolest airport (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/worlds-coolest-airports\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">coolest airport<\/a> on the globe. Still, a couple of days is all it should take to explore the curious mismatch of districts. There&#8217;s Chinatown, lit by red lanterns and sizzling with soy-doused noodles. There&#8217;s Little India, where Keralan <em>thali <\/em>meals are served on banana leaves. Oh, and don&#8217;t miss the Marina Bay, with its futuristic<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/environment\/urban-expeditions\/green-buildings\/green-urban-landscape-cities-Singapore\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Supertrees<\/a> and skyscrapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"2.189594\" data-longitude=\"102.250084\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/uxuiocmmy\/malacca-malacca-malaysia\" data-placeid=\"3699\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/uxuiocmmy\/malacca-malacca-malaysia\">Malacca<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"2.189594\" data-longitude=\"102.250084\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/2f823626-5ba6-45a3-ae99-062242929ebe-1400.jpg?placeid=3699&amp;name=Malacca&amp;lat=2.189594&amp;lng=102.250084\" alt=\"Malacca, Malaysia.\"\/><figcaption>Malacca, Malaysia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Portuguese explorers, Malay sultans, and British colonists have ruled and shaped Malacca over the centuries. Its tactical location on the Asian straits made it an important place for controlling trade throughout the continent. These days, that rich past is still palpable at the red-painted clocktower and Dutch-style town hall that stand in the center. Around that, walking streets play host to buzzing night bazaars. And there&#8217;s<a href=\"http:\/\/www.malacca.ws\/dining\/capitol-satay-celup.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Capitol Satay Celup<\/a>, a legend on the Malay dining scene, where skewers of veg and meat are dipped into boiling cauldrons of capsicum-peanut sauce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"3.139003\" data-longitude=\"101.686852\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/FSxW3uQGS\/kuala-lumpur-federal-territory-of-kuala-lumpur-malaysia\" data-placeid=\"1648\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/FSxW3uQGS\/kuala-lumpur-federal-territory-of-kuala-lumpur-malaysia\">Kuala Lumpur<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"3.139003\" data-longitude=\"101.686852\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/7a2d7ba3-9bdb-43e3-88cc-0bc595d872d7-1400.jpg?placeid=1648&amp;name=Kuala%20Lumpur&amp;lat=3.139003&amp;lng=101.686852\" alt=\"Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Creativa Images&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption>Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Creativa Images&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The bright lights of KL are another must on any backpacking circuit of Southeast Asia. An injection of big-city life comes with the neon haze of Bukit Bintang and its walking markets, which brim with knock-off Ray Bans and designer trinkets (it&#8217;s a real Rolex, honest!). The dual spires of the Petronas Towers command the horizon overhead, and there&#8217;s Hindu mysticism on offer at the nearby Batu Caves. Try to score yourself a bed in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reggaehostelsmalaysia.com\/\"> Reggae Mansion<\/a>. With a cinema and a rooftop bar, it&#8217;s hailed by some as the most deluxe poshtel going! Wander a few hours outside of the city and find the hidden river banks of <a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/kampung-kuantan-fireflies\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Kampung Kuantan (opens in a new tab)\">Kampung Kuantan<\/a> filled with twinkling fireflies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"4.47212\" data-longitude=\"101.380142\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/v1tdKlJQa\/cameron-highlands-pahang-malaysia\" data-placeid=\"4585\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/v1tdKlJQa\/cameron-highlands-pahang-malaysia\">Cameron Highlands<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"4.47212\" data-longitude=\"101.380142\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/a22cf5ff-b55e-43f3-9d8b-712b8323f4ea-1400.jpg?placeid=4585&amp;name=Cameron%20Highlands&amp;lat=4.47212&amp;lng=101.380142\" alt=\"Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.\"\/><figcaption>Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think it&#8217;s just about time for a tea break on your Banana Pancake Trail, you&#8217;ve come to the right place. Draped over the cool plateaus of central Malaysia, the Cameron Highlands are a blanket of endless greenery. To sip your own hot brew and hike muddy paths between the farms, head for the BOH Tea Plantation. There, jungles crown the tallest ridges overhead, but undulating stretches of tea leaves dash through the valley bottoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"5.414131\" data-longitude=\"100.328751\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/pptWpK-RH\/george-town-penang-malaysia\" data-placeid=\"4586\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/pptWpK-RH\/george-town-penang-malaysia\">George Town<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"5.414131\" data-longitude=\"100.328751\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/322a7f0f-1532-4430-907d-2bcd92655e76-1400.jpg?placeid=4586&amp;name=George%20Town&amp;lat=5.414131&amp;lng=100.328751\" alt=\"Penang jetties, George Town, Thailand. \"\/><figcaption>Penang jetties, George Town, Thailand. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Few cities on the planet can match the sheer multiculturalism of George Town. One moment you&#8217;ll be transported to the spice-scented streets of Jaipur as you dodge the Bollywood CD emporiums and smell Rajput curries in Little India. The next, you&#8217;ll see Peking duck and hairy crab being cooked up in the steamy kitchens of Chinatown. Or, you&#8217;ll meet ancient clan people on the rickety<a href=\"http:\/\/www.penang.ws\/penang-attractions\/clan-jetties.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Jetties of Penang<\/a>. If you&#8217;re short on time, head up the funicular to Penang Hill for 360-degree views of the whole island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"7.746116\" data-longitude=\"98.778412\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/3V_Sulgo_\/ko-phi-phi-don-ao-nang-krabi-thailand\" data-placeid=\"4587\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/3V_Sulgo_\/ko-phi-phi-don-ao-nang-krabi-thailand\">Koh Phi Phi<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"7.746116\" data-longitude=\"98.778412\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/18ab538f-da2d-44df-912e-d218a2628965-1400.jpg?placeid=4587&amp;name=Ko%20Phi%20Phi%20Don&amp;lat=7.746116&amp;lng=98.778412\" alt=\"Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. \"\/><figcaption>Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IlXhywbggFY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Phi Phi isles<\/a>. This is quintessential South Thailand, rising with dappled karst cliffs straight from the pearly blue Andaman Sea. Only a short ferry ride from Phuket, they await with scenes of shimmering gold sand and bobbing longboats. The only populated island in the group is Koh Phi Phi Don. Alight there and you&#8217;ll find a buzzing town of beer bars and open-air clubs, all spilling out onto gorgeous Ton Sai Bay. Be sure to organize an outing to Phi Phi Leh and Bamboo Island, too, where snorkeling with turtles and sharks is on the menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"7.624368\" data-longitude=\"99.079224\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/3U6xqIG9e\/ko-lanta-krabi-thailand\" data-placeid=\"4588\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/3U6xqIG9e\/ko-lanta-krabi-thailand\">Koh Lanta<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"7.624368\" data-longitude=\"99.079224\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/53063544-f0b5-48d4-b8c1-78793af48403-1400.jpg?placeid=4588&amp;name=Ko%20Lanta&amp;lat=7.624368&amp;lng=99.079224\" alt=\"Koh Lanta, Thailand.\"\/><figcaption>Koh Lanta, Thailand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Loveable Lanta is a hidden gem of an isle that&#8217;s still not totally in the spotlight. While backpacking Southeast Asia, ride the ferry from the Phi Phis to the port at Ban Saladan and then jump on a shared jeepney down to Long Beach. The always-smiling folk at Joker Bar will welcome you with a cold Chang and games of Jenga. Just behind, a run of pristine sand dips into a sloshing Andaman Sea. A jaunt to<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/lantaanimalwelfare.com\/tag\/koh-lanta\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Lanta Animal Welfare<\/a> is another must; they&#8217;re always looking for travelers to help walk the pups! For the sunset, make for Secret Beach, which lurks down a palm-lined track that ends with a single pad thai noodle cook and a stunning cove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"marker-heading seeker-place seeker-place-heading\" data-latitude=\"9.731875\" data-longitude=\"100.013596\" data-placeurl=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/of_JFB4qP\/ko-pha-ngan-surat-thani-thailand\" data-placeid=\"4320\" class=\"wp-block-seeker-place-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/app\/place\/of_JFB4qP\/ko-pha-ngan-surat-thani-thailand\">Koh Phangan<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-latitude=\"9.731875\" data-longitude=\"100.013596\" src=\"https:\/\/d39ghehfp8sbx4.cloudfront.net\/media\/img\/1\/20de315c-5e58-4cc6-b02a-680bb7648c17-1400.jpg?placeid=4320&amp;name=Ko%20Pha%20Ngan&amp;lat=9.731875&amp;lng=100.013596\" alt=\"Full Moon Party, Koh Phangan, Thailand.  GlebSStock&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption>Full Moon Party, Koh Phangan, Thailand.  GlebSStock&#xA0;\/&#xA0;Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Last, but certainly not least, on the ultimate Banana Pancake Trail circuit is the legendary home of the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fullmoonparty-thailand.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"> Full Moon Party<\/a>. Ever since the first long-haired hippies came here in the 60s and 70s, Koh Phangan has been the hedonistic hub of the Thai Gulf. Yes, it&#8217;s got daffodil-hued beaches and crystal waters, but it&#8217;s really the lunar shindigs that draw the crowds. Bring your backpacking jaunt to a wild close by joining the 30,000 revelers right on the sand with bucket cocktails and fire shows and more!<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like a bar mitzvah or a grad party, backpacking the well-worn trails of Southeast Asia is nothing short of a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":43045,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":"","_classifai_error":"","_classifai_text_to_speech_error":"","_classifai_text_to_speech_scheduled":false},"categories":[35,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia","category-bucket-list"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Backpacking Southeast Asia: 41 Destinations That Won&#039;t Blow Your Budget - Seeker Travel Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Backpacking Southeast Asia is nothing short of a rite of passage. Here are 41 of our favorite stops on the infamous Banana Pancake Trail.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/article\/backpacking-southeast-asia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"41 destinations in Southeast Asia that won&#039;t break the bank (with photos and map) - Seeker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Temples in Thailand, sand-fringed isles in the Philippines, lush jungles of Malaysia \u2014 it&#039;s an itinerary that&#039;ll evoke your inner gap year-er and get you glugging bucket cocktails in no time.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/article\/backpacking-southeast-asia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Seeker Travel Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-12-02T17:22:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"JRFrancis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Backpacking Southeast Asia: 41 Destinations That Won&#039;t Blow Your Budget\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/seeker.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/shutterstock_1421149127-2.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"JRFrancis\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"23 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/backpacking-southeast-asia\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/backpacking-southeast-asia\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"JRFrancis\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/68a89558d18470b1c2a7a998a93a272b\"},\"headline\":\"Backpacking Southeast Asia: 41 Destinations That Won&#8217;t Blow Your Budget\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-02T17:22:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/backpacking-southeast-asia\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4774,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/backpacking-southeast-asia\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/12\\\/shutterstock_1421149127-2.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Asia\",\"Bucket List\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/backpacking-southeast-asia\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/backpacking-southeast-asia\\\/\",\"name\":\"Backpacking Southeast Asia: 41 Destinations That Won't Blow Your Budget - Seeker Travel Network\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/backpacking-southeast-asia\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/article\\\/backpacking-southeast-asia\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/seeker.io\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/12\\\/shutterstock_1421149127-2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-02T17:22:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"Backpacking Southeast Asia is nothing short of a rite of passage. 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