SOUTHEAST ASIA
Southeast Asia
Bare feet and silence in the temples, noise and spice at the night markets: many faiths share one land.
City guides
Start with a city
Every city guide has a timeline, stories of local figures, must-see sights, festivals and local etiquette.
กรุงเทพฯ Bangkok
Bangkok
5 places
Two royal capitals on the Chao Phraya: Wat Arun in Thonburi and the Grand Palace on Rattanakosin
เชียงใหม่ Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
4 places
Old capital of the Lanna kingdom: a moated old city, more than 300 temples and Doi Suthep
Singapore 新加坡
Singapore
6 places
From Temasek to the Lion City: a garden city where Chinese, Malays and Indians live together
Hội An 会安
Hội An
3 places
An old port lit by lanterns: the Japanese Bridge, Chinese assembly halls and yellow houses
Kuala Lumpur 吉隆坡
Kuala Lumpur
3 places
A tin-mining town where two rivers meet grew into a capital beneath twin towers
George Town, Penang
George Town, Penang
1 places
Britain's first settlement in Southeast Asia: shophouses, clan halls and street food
Bali · Ubud
Ubud, Bali
4 places
An artists' village on the Island of the Gods: rice fields, temples, dance and daily offerings
សៀមរាប Siem Reap
Siem Reap
2 places
Gateway to Angkor: Angkor Wat at sunrise, the smiles of the Bayon and temples in the jungle
Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
2 places
The heart of Javanese culture: the Sultan's Palace, Borobudur and Prambanan
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ภูเก็ต Phuket
Phuket
1 places
An island built on tin: a Sino-Portuguese old town, two heroines and the Andaman Sea
Grand Palace
The glittering palace of the Chakri dynasty, a sacred place in Thai hearts
Wat Pho
A 46-m golden Reclining Buddha, and the birthplace of Thai massage
Phuket
Pearl of the Andaman Sea, a byword for southern Thai sunshine and beaches
Chiang Mai
Rose of the Lanna Kingdom: an old northern Thai city of temples, night markets and slow living
Koh Samui
A luxurious island shaded by coconut palms: a paradise for honeymooners and divers
Chiang Mai khao soi
Muslim noodles that came down the trade routes from Yunnan became northern Thailand's signature dish.
Pad thai
A 'national dish' that only appeared in the 1930s, promoted to build national identity.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai's guardian temple: a long staircase lined with naga balustrades leads up to a golden chedi holding a relic of the Buddha.
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
A towering prang on the west bank of the Chao Phraya: King Taksin arrived here at dawn, giving the 'Temple of Dawn' its name.
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Loy Krathong
November 24, 2026
On the full-moon night of the twelfth Thai month, people float candlelit krathongs on the river to thank the water and send their troubles away.
Songkran (Water Festival)
April 13 – 15, 2027
Thai New Year: bathing Buddha images at temples at dawn, pouring water on elders' hands for blessings, and in the afternoon whole streets turn i…