I’ve spent nearly 30 years traveling around Southeast Asia, long enough to witness just how much the region has transformed.
Over the years, I’ve watched destinations rise and fall. Some began as exotic tourism gems, but now struggle with overtourism — Bali is a good example of this.
Other cities, like Bangkok, remain perennial tourist magnets, managing to thrive thanks to careful resource management. Then there are the places that showed great promise when they opened to the world — I’m looking at you, Myanmar — only to become no-go zones due to political turmoil.
Nonetheless, there are a few special spots in Southeast Asia that I often revisit. Like well-made coconut wine, these three seem to get better as the years go by.
1. Siem Reap, Cambodia
When I first visited Siem Reap in 2003, it was something of a cowboy town, with more bicycles than cars. “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” starring Angelina Jolie, had been released a few years earlier, with scenes filmed at Angkor Wat, but the city still wasn’t a common feature on the average bucket list.
Back then, its main landmark was Psar Chas — the old market — and the soon-to-be-renamed Pub Street was still just a jumble of guesthouses and restaurants that serviced mostly budget travelers.
Marijuana-laced “happy pizza” was a common item on menus, and there were even places that delivered straight to your room.
Two decades later, the hippie backpacker vibe has been greatly diminished, replaced by a more cosmopolitan collection of chic boutique hotels standing beside wine bars, hipster cafés, and restaurants boasting cuisine from all over the world.
These days, Siem Reap is basking in the glow of a post-COVID era facelift that widened the main roads and beautified the city’s parks. To the east, the recently built Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport — which opened in October 2023 — has replaced the smaller landing strip that stood close to the city.
Despite more tourists, Angkor’s UNESCO World Heritage sites are also managed better with an online booking app that lets you buy entrance passes without having to join the long lines. There’s also more effective crowd control, especially in popular spots like Angkor Wat and the Bayon.
Clearly marked walkways and “no entry” signs help keep visitors from getting lost. Angkor may no longer offer the “lost jungle ruin” experience of decades past, but stricter regulations help ensure the preservation.
2. Ipoh, Malaysia
I remember when Lonely Planet’s “Southeast Asia on a Shoestring” edition described Ipoh — a city in Malaysia about 120 miles north of Kuala Lumpur — as “so seedy you’re unlikely to linger.” Decades ago, I walked through the old quarter of this city and found little more than crumbling shophouses set alongside grand-but-aging colonial-era buildings.
Still reeling from the collapse of its industry in the ’80s, this once-affluent tin mining community didn’t seem to be doing too well. In fact, it had a hint of seediness that kept me from lingering too long.
Thankfully, much has improved since then. Renewed interest in local heritage sparked an urban revival that restored the city’s venerable old structures. Colorful street murals added a quirky charm, making Ipoh an essential stopover for travelers in Malaysia on the Malacca-Kuala Lumpur-Penang route.
Nowadays, the city’s rediscovered nostalgia is everywhere on display, from stylish B&Bs like the Sekeping Kong Heng — built on top of a still-operating vintage coffeeshop — to the ever-busy Concubine Lane where antique shophouses play host to numerous craft and souvenir stores.
And one of Malaysia’s oldest bars — the 94-year-old Sinhalese Bar — still keeps its after-work crowd despite being surrounded by newfangled, IG-friendly espresso bars and watering holes. Ipoh’s growing tourism industry has so far remained manageable, and I’m thankful that this picturesque heritage city has kept its soul.
3. Hanoi, Vietnam
When I first visited in 2007, I struggled to like Hanoi. At that point, it had not yet become a mainstream tourist destination.
Sure, it had interesting neighborhoods and a vibrant street scene, but I found locals in Vietnam’s capital to be cold and indifferent toward outsiders. At times, it felt like everyone — taxi drivers, market vendors, even public toilet attendants — was just waiting to make a quick buck off me.
Maybe my not-so-great first impression had something to do with Vietnam’s tough postwar years, when the country had to fend for itself.
But fast-forward 18 years, and the city feels completely different.
Hanoi has not lost any of its timeless character, and its ancient corner temples and ornate French colonial-era mansions still proudly display their patina.
Motorbikes continue to zoom recklessly, and conical hat-wearing vendors still roam the streets with their merchandise on their shoulders. But today’s Hanoi seems to have put on a friendlier face.
Since my first visit, the city has upgraded its infrastructure and services to a more international standard. A new metro now provides a direct connection to the countryside, while price-regulated taxis and regular buses now transport travelers from the airport.
Young Hanoians come across to me as more welcoming, offering more smiles and fewer scowls. In fact, during recent trips, I’ve had random folks help me navigate fish-out-of-water situations. Like when a local customer scolded a noodle vendor who was trying to rip me off. There was also a friendly couple at a dessert stall who proudly taught me how to order ca phe in Vietnamese.
Friendly interactions like these — a quick translation, a helpful tip, or even a friendly chat — now color my view of the storied and beautiful city.
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