Weekly magazine from the United States, National Geographic, named three ASEAN countries on its list as the best places to visit in 2025. Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are involved.
Bangkok, Thailand
On its 25 lists, There is Bangkok, Thailand stands out in third position. The country that has an epithet “White Elephant” blends old and new that surrounding on its capital city, Bangkok. There are skyscrapers which offer shopping malls like Siam Center or classy hotels like Innside.
Also, Bangkok offers some art festivals that can be attended for tourists to spend their leisure time. There are the Bangkok Art Biennale and the Bangkok International Film Festival. And, tourists can also explore the cultural heritage of its town.
Bangkok city as capital of Thailand | Pixabay by Walkerssk
Furtherly, Thailand also offers one of the country’s most vital monuments. It is Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a Buddhist temple that was built in the 17th-century. It was built by King Prasart Thong in 1630. The temple has a unique story behind its astonishing architecture. King Prasar Thing built it as a tribute to his late mother.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram is located in Ayutthaya. Its position, the holy tempe, is opposite to Ayutthaya Historical Park in the south western end. So, the tourists can enjoy the building on a boat trip along the Chao Phraya river, to see how beautiful the temple is. Wat Chaiwatthanaram is the place where the royal family kingdom worship the god privately.
Also read: Experience the Wildlife: Top Three National Parks in Southeast Asia
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
The magazine, which was established in 1888, offers the underwater beauty of Raja Ampat to readers. Diverse marine life, such as fish and coral reefs, is an unique and special commodity that Raja Ampat offers to visitors.
"The Raja Ampat Islands of Indonesia is a marine wonderland with about 500 types of corals, more than a thousand species of reef fish, and creatures such as manta rays and dugongs; Zebra sharks are also back thanks to conservationists," National Geographic wrote in its publication.
The beauty of Raja Ampat | Pixabay by Ady Fauzan
Quoting Indonesia Kaya which cited a report from an international conservation agency, Raja Ampat has about 75% of marine species worldwide. Not only stopping there, the sea and land area of Raja Ampat which has an area of 4.6 million hectares is home to 540 types of coral reefs, 1,511 species of fish and thousands of other marine life.
Sport diving is a special commodity in Raja Ampat. A lot of tourists come to this place only for experiencing an new heaven in the world. Not only diving, but also tourists can enjoy a beautiful view of Raja Ampat island from the luxury cruise.
Eastern and Oriental Express, Malaysia
Malaysia offers travel by using super luxury cars, Eastern and Oriental Express. There are two regular routes that offer three-night itineraries from Singapore. The "Wild Malaysia" trip, created in collaboration with conservation group Save Wild Tigers, visits the National Park, where guests can learn about the endangered Malayan tiger and take a wildlife photography class.
Eastern and Oriental Express Train | Instagram @/Starluxairlines
Tickets for the Eastern & Oriental Express are now on sale, and prices start at around US$ 3,410 per person. The train have been operating since February 2024, and bookings are always a expected to be in high demand. Indeed, some dates have already been fully booked in just the first few days because of its truly interesting experience offering.
