South-East Asia attractions

South-East Asia is considered one of the world`s best places for beach vacations in winter time. When it is winter in the northern hemisphere, and at most resorts of Europe and Mediterranean Region water is very cold for bathing, it is high season at resorts of South-East Asia.

South-East Asia includes Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, as well as the south of China (Hainan Island). Excepting Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos all these countries have excellent infrastructure for beach vacations. Thailand and Indonesia are the leaders by the number of tourists and diversity of resorts. Recently tourist infrastructure has also been actively developed on Chinese island Hainan.

Thailand is one of the most attractive countries in the region. You should start your travel over this country from its capital, the city of Bangkok, which airport receives regular flights almost from every corner of the world. Bangkok is one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. You must spend there at least 2-3 days, so that you can see the Temple of Emerald Buddha, Wat Arun, Wat Po, the Grand Palace and many other sights of Bangkok.

Thailand has a wide choice of seaside or beach resorts. If you want to see the most scenic landscapes speckled with karst or limestone mountains, you should go to the islands Phi Phi or Krabi. Phuket and Samui, as well as Pattaya, are much bigger resort centers. Although they haven’t as beautiful nature as that of Phi Phi or Krabi they have much more active night life and can offer more diversified amusements.

If you will go to your destination through Bangkok, we advise you to consider a visit to Angkor Wat located in the neighbouring Cambodia. You can get there either by plane or by bus. You can quite consider this grandiose temple complex as one of the world`s wonders. Angkor Wat may only be compared with Jerusalem by the impression it can give you. As to beach resorts of Cambodia, for example Sihanoukville, they are just being developed.

By the number of tourists Indonesia takes the second place after Thailand. On Bali Island there have been created excellent opportunities for beach vacations. There are hundreds of hotels on the island. If you are tired of beaches, you may go in the deep of the island, to the village Ubud to have a rest in solitude of rainforest. Indonesia has also some other developing resorts such as Lombok Island.

You can also buy an exotic tour to some island of the Philippines. Boracay, Bohol and Palawan are the most famous of them. They have splendid beaches, and offer interesting opportunities for jungle trips and diving. To the north of Manila you can see the famous Banaue Rice Terraces.

Beach tourism is also actively being developed in Malaysia. This country is located on Malay Peninsula and Borneo Island. Its continental part is more economically developed. There you can visit its capital Kuala Lumpur, as well as have a rest on Langkawi Island. So far Borneo Island has no adequate tourist infrastructure, but you can see its rainforests and Kota Kinabalu National Park, as well as make a trip to Sipadan Island, one of the best diving sites in the world.

Chinese island Hainan is one of the most actively developing seaside resorts in South-East Asia. Taking into account the rate with which hotels and other tourist infrastructure are being constructed, it may soon become a worthy competitor of the most famous resorts in the region. The main resorts of Hainan Island are located around its capital, the city of Sanya. You may spend your time at Sanya itself; however, you`d better go to nearby villages Yaluvan, Dadonghai and Sanyawan.

Also it will be quite interesting to go to Hong Kong located not far from Hainan Island. There you can feel the maddening beat of this city of skyscrapers while having an opportunity to rest either on well-arranged Stanley Main Beach, or wild beaches of Tai Long Wan. Hong Kong is very diversified and beautiful, and you may have a good shopping there as well.

Singapore can be at least as interesting as Hong Kong. However, its single beach zone, Sentosa Island, is in the middle of the city, so it has almost no resort atmosphere. It won`t be exaggeration to say that Singapore is the cleanest city in the world. But you must remember what hard measures the city authorities had to take to achieve it. Before you go to Singapore you must know the deeds for which you may be fined. You will be amazed.