Southeast Asia is the area located between the two giants of India  and China . It consists of two geographic regions: the Asian mainland, and the island arcs and archipelagos to the east and southeast. Southeast Asia has a total area of approximately 4 million sq. km. (1.6 million sq. mi.) and a total population of more than 600 million; more than a fifth of them (125 million) live on the Indonesian island of Java, the most densely populated large island in the world.

The mainland part of Southeast Asia consists of Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia) and Vietnam. The maritime section consists of Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Bornean Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. Although most of these nations resemble each other, they offer variations on the same theme. Buddist culture dominates the northern countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Malaysia and Indonesia are Islamic nations, in fact Indonesia is the world's most populous Islamic nation. In the Philipines, a former Spanish colony, Christianity dominates. However in Southeast Asia religion rarely interferes with neighborly relations.

Thailand lies at the heart of Southeast Asia and is the most popular destination in the region. It has world class beaches, many five star hotels and resorts, lots to see and do as well as a relaxed and friendly population. Surrounding the kingdom of Thailand and connected by the Mekong River are Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Laos is still locked in time, but slowly opening up to tourism. The former royal capital of Laos, Luang Prabang, a UNESCO site, is among the most magical places in Asia. Cambodia is in a similar condition, its main tourist attraction is the impressive temple complex of Angkor, but some very good seaside destinations have recently been developed. Myanmar  is a military dictatorship open to the adventurous traveler, it has the potential to become an amazing destination if the military government is ever broken. Its ancient Buddist cities like Pagan and Mandalay is well worth a visit.

Malaysia and  Indonesia are both fascinating blends of several ethnicities. Their relative lack of tourism makes them great places to explore. Natural wonders like rainforests, volcanoes and exotic wildlife await more adventurous travelers. Indonesia is the largest archipelagos country in the world, with more than 18,000 islands. Vietnam has now opened up for international tourists, and is rapidly becoming a popular destination in Southeast Asia. It has many attractions, among these the well preserved ancient trading port of Hoi An. Singapore is a clean and orderly island-city state. Among its attractions are the colorful ethnic districts of Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam.

Southeast Asia's touristy countries (Malaysia , Philippines  , Singapore and Thailand) do not require visas from most visitors. Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and East Timor offer visas at most points of entry. A visa must be obtained before arriving in Myanmar and Vietnam.

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Southeast Asia	Thailand	Malaysia	Vietnam	Indonesia	Other Destinations
Holiday Hotels	Bangkok	Kuala Lumpur	Hanoi	Jakarta	Singapore
Holiday Resorts	Chiang Mai	Malacca	Ho Chi Minh City	Bali	Cambodia
Beach Holidays	Pattaya	Penang Island	Hue	Java	Laos
Adventure Holidays	Hua Hin	Langkawi	Halong Bay	Sumatra	Myanmar (Burma)
Cruise Holidays	Phuket	Pangkor	Nha Trang	Indonesian Borneo	The Philippines
Tourist Attractions	Krabi	Tioman Island	The Mekong Delta	Papua	Brunei
Southeast Asia Golf	Ko Samui	Bornean Malaysia	Vietnam Diving	Sulawesi	Papua New Guinea
Air Travel	Thailand Golf	Malaysia Golfing	Vietnamese Food	Indonesia Activities	East Timor
Climate	Thailand Diving	Malaysia Diving	Entry Requirements	Indinesia Adventures	Hong Kong
Travel Insurance	Thailand Fishing	Malaysia Fishing	Travel Insurance	Getting to Indonesia