Your big Asian adventure

Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are the most popular places in Southeast Asia for a beach holiday. These countries attract tourists with their warm sea at any time of the year, exotic nature and affordable fruits and seafood. Read more about each country in this article!

Thailand

Thailand is the most popular destination in Southeast Asia. This is not only because of its long sandy beaches and warm sea, but also because of its wide range of excursions. You can explore ancient temple complexes, observe the unique life of the Thai people in floating villages, or walk through the mangroves to beautiful waterfalls.

Pattaya and Phuket are two famous resorts in Thailand. Pattaya is a busier, built-up, noisy and in some places not very clean city, but it is not as expensive as the Thai islands. This place attracts fans of vibrant nightlife and those who prefer an active city break. In the evening, you can walk along the famous Walking Street, and during the day you can visit the water park, dolphinarium or amusement park. Night fishing, snorkeling and diving are also available in the city.

If you do not like noise and dirt, then Phuket is the perfect choice for you. Although holidays here may cost more than in Pattaya, the quality of services here is much higher. There are no big cities on the island, all the main attractions and entertainment are concentrated in small resort villages and in the mountains. You can feed the elephants, go snorkeling or diving, visit Khao Sok National Park, relax with a Thai massage and go to an evening cabaret show.

As a beach holiday, you can also consider the island of Koh Samui, the province of Krabi and the resort of Khao Lak. In these places you can relax to the fullest, but it is worth remembering that the prices for all services here are higher than in Phuket, and much more expensive than in active Pattaya.

The best time to travel to Thailand is during the dry season - it lasts from November to the end of February, when there are no rains and extreme heat. From March to May, the amount of precipitation drops to a minimum, but the air temperature can exceed +40⁰ C. During the rest of the year, heavy rains and storm warnings are often observed in Thailand, while the air humidity becomes very high.

Vietnam

Nha Trang is another popular beach holiday destination. This city is one of the most affordable and active resorts in the country. Despite the fact that this is a major industrial center of Vietnam and the sea here is often not very clean, Nha Trang offers a lot of entertainment for every taste.

If you prefer a relaxing holiday and clean beaches, then you should go to Mui Ne or Phan Thiet. They are close to each other, but offer different types of recreation. Mui Ne is ideal for water sports enthusiasts - the area is known for its strong winds and waves, making it a suitable place for surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing. On the other hand, Phan Thiet is ideal for a romantic getaway or a relaxing family holiday. Here, hotels are surrounded by green palm groves, and all entertainment is concentrated along the beach.

Phu Quoc Island, located in the south of Vietnam, is an ideal place for those who are looking for a relaxing beach holiday with well-developed infrastructure. Inside the resort areas you will find many hotels, luxury resorts, diving centers, restaurants and amusement parks. However, outside of these tourist areas, you can find wild beaches, impenetrable jungle, amazing nature and traditional Vietnamese flavor. Local prices in restaurants, hotels and grocery stores are quite high by local standards, and there are almost no historical sights here.

Vietnam stretches from north to south for thousands of kilometers, which leads to the fact that dry season in the main resorts of the country falls on different periods of the year. The ideal time to visit the country is February-April and August-October when there is no precipitation and suffocating heat. As for the southern part of Vietnam, for example, Phu Quoc Island, here the rest will be most comfortable from December to March.

Indonesia

Indonesia is not only a place for a beach holiday, it is also an immersion in the history, culture and life of this wonderful country. Despite being the land of eternal summer, rain, cloudy weather and strong ocean waves are common here, making it less predictable compared to Thailand or Vietnam. Indonesia is ideal for those who want to combine a beach holiday with excursions. In addition, public transport on the islands is not so well developed, and you often have to move around on rented bikes, especially if you want to get to remote natural attractions where you simply can’t get by car.

Bali is the most developed and popular beach resort in Indonesia. There is a fairly wide choice of accommodation, from affordable guest houses to luxury villas. Bali is washed by the waters of two oceans - Indian and Pacific, which leads to strong tides, so do not count on swimming. However, it is ideal for surfers who come here searching for waves. In addition, various types of outdoor activities are available on the island, including diving, rafting, cycling, climbing volcanoes, hiking in the jungle or to ancient temples.

Those who prefer seclusion and unspoiled nature often choose the island of Lombok instead of the noisier and busier Bali. Lombok is famous for its picturesque scenery, including lakes, waterfalls and mountain peaks, as well as an abundance of coral reefs with a rich underwater world. Lombok is a Muslim region, far from the bustle of the city, where you will not find loud parties and entertainments. In addition, there are no significant cultural attractions.

If you want to see the real and not crowded Indonesia, consider visiting the beach resorts on the islands of Java and Sumatra. Java is home to the country's capital, Jakarta, where you can see ancient architectural structures, the Ujung Kulon National Reserve and the Krakatau volcano. In addition, there are two balneological resorts in Java - Bogor and Bandug. Sumatra, in its turn, offers the opportunity to feel like a pioneer, as this islamd is visited by not a lot of tourists. The infrastructure here is not so developed, but the magnificent nature compensates any shortcomings - untrodden beaches with black volcanic sand, orangutans roaming the rainforest, and the picturesque Lake Toba.

Indonesia is located in the equatorial zone, so hot and humid weather persists throughout the year. If you are planning a beach holiday on one of the islands, it is best to visit the country during the dry season, which lasts from April to October. In the rest of the months, tropical showers often pass here, the air humidity can reach 90%, and the water in the ocean becomes muddy.

Malaysia

Malaysia is not as famous among travelers as Thailand, Vietnam or Bali in Indonesia, but this makes it even more attractive. The lack of familiar language on the beaches and the uniqueness of the surrounding world allow you to fully immerse yourself in Asian exotics. The capital of the country, Kuala Lumpur, is a great place to start exploring Malaysia, although it is better to choose one of the islands or coastal cities for swimming.

Langkawi is the main beach resort in Malaysia. The infrastructure is well developed, and for diving enthusiasts the island offers excellent diving opportunities due to the abundance of marine life and crystal clear waters. Lovers of a relaxing holiday will be delighted with the spacious white beaches, rainforests with lakes and picturesque bays. In addition, Langkawi is a popular shopping destination as it is home to a free trade zone where prices for goods are lower than the average for Southeast Asia.

If you're looking for a place with a vibrant nightlife, an authentic Asian vibe and plenty to see and do, head to the compact island of Penang. Here, in addition to the classic beach holiday, you can explore Chinese and Indian architecture in the capital of the island - Georgetown, visit scenic national parks and enjoy a variety of delicious and cheap Asian cuisine.

If you prefer a vacation in harmony with nature and in protected areas, consider the islands of Pangkor and Borneo. These are resorts with a lot of greenery, no high-rise buildings and noisy city streets. Instead, wide sandy beaches, mountain parks and superb coral reefs for snorkeling await you. There is a large selection of affordable housing and cheap seafood, but the level of entertainment infrastructure is noticeably different from what you can find in Thailand or Vietnam.

Malaysia does not have well-defined dry and wet seasons, making it suitable for a beach holiday at any time of the year. The eastern part of the country usually receives most of the precipitation from November to February, while the west receives more rain in April, May, October and November. During these periods, air humidity increases, and sea water becomes less transparent.

We want to share a little secret with you - do not plan your vacation in only one country but visit several at once. Moreover, flights between Asian countries are not so expensive (search flights on fedafone booking), there are many low-cost airlines, and the feeling of flying and an amazing journey will remain for a long time. To do this, we have prepared a fedafone regional bundle for Asia so that you can save money and stay connected.