Southeast Asia

[Taggart]

Outside of Thailand, do you have any favorite towns or cities where you've spent maybe a few days, and think, "I like this place, I could stay a month or two here"?

Edited September 16, 2007 by Taggart

[chinthee]

Bali's nice, but I suppose that's cheating.

[Taggart]

Bali's nice, but I suppose that's cheating.

I think you're OK. Part of Indonesia, which is in the maritime area of SEA.

[samran]

maybe not two months, but Luang Prabang is quite nice.

And if I could stay at the Metropole for the duration, then I'd say Hanoi is another place that would be close to the top of the list!

[chinthee]

maybe not two months, but Luang Prabang is quite nice.

And if I could stay at the Metropole for the duration, then I'd say Hanoi is another place that would be close to the top of the list!

Samran, I agree with you about the Metropole. Simply one of the classiest old world hotels in the world. Hanoi is not my favorite though...

Vung Thau, the beach resort south of Saigon (I refuse to call it Ho Chi Min City) is also quite nice and I did spend about a month there some years ago.

[sutnyod]

Hanoi is my favoured, although I do not know all its areas (stay mainly around Hoan Kiem lake). But the feeling is right: old and new mixed, LOTS of activities, much green, helpful people always take you on their motorbike , good food, a wide choice on anything...

Next is Phnom Penh for its cultural richness (some bars even screen documentary films), its frantic pace of life, its beauty (much green, many trees) and the progress it has made (I still know how PP looked like in the 80ies).

edit: put in 'documentary'

Edited September 17, 2007 by sutnyod

[ngangu]

I went to Sihanoukville, Cambodia for a weekend and stayed 6 months! Except for Khmer holidays when everyone comes form PP it's a great place to chill by the sea!

[BADBRAD]

I love Ha Noi, lived there for two years. Sapa and Da Lat are both really beautiful small towns in Viet Nam though a little cool and foggy in the winter. Someone else mentioned Luang Prabang which I really liked too, but you might get bored before a month or two. Sihanoukville and Pnom Penh in Cambodia are cool (not weather wise) with the former having the added advantage of a beach. There are a few other places that come to mind as well, but I think I have too many "favorites."

[Florin]

Seems like Hanoi will be to my liking, based on what you guys posted...going there in a couple of weeks and planning to stay at the Metropole.

From what I've seen, I really enjoyed Georgetown, Penang...superb old-world feel, but with all the amenities for civilized life - the E & O, especially is one of the finest hotels I've ever been in.

I also agree about Phnom Penh, it really has character! (And characterS, quite an interesting/shady bunch of people that live there) It's so rare in SE Asia to be able to enjoy a great meal at a shady streetside terrace, love the Sisowath area.

I'd also like to point out a place which could have so much potential if the goddamn junta goes away - Rangoon! It has some marvelous colonial architecture, wide boulevards, it could become a very cool spot if everything starts being maintained and the import restrictions get lifted.

[my friend I]

Melaka good food, places to see in town & nearby, cool sea breeze.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I love Ha Noi, lived there for two years. Sapa and Da Lat are both really beautiful small towns in Viet Nam though a little cool and foggy in the winter. Someone else mentioned Luang Prabang which I really liked too, but you might get bored before a month or two. Sihanoukville and Pnom Penh in Cambodia are cool (not weather wise) with the former having the added advantage of a beach. There are a few other places that come to mind as well, but I think I have too many "favorites."

Aren't there a lot of Vietnamese in Hanoi??  (oops, perhaps not PC?)

I do prefer Laos having lived there for nine years, including about six months in LP split between 1967 & 1969.  Not so boring in those days but a whole lot less road travel available.  Last trip in 2000 drove up to Nam Bac where I was working in spring of '67, wow, electricity, Thai TV, even a gas station near by.  Progress....

Mac

[wileycoyote]

For a short visit,I liked Macau and Cebu,Surabaya.

To relax for a longer period Penang .

Wiley Coyote

[calibanjr.]

I really like Vientiane. Great food, nice to stay by the river. Not a hel_l of a lot going on, though. I think when I'm older I could really enjoy staying there for a long time. I'd need a really good 'net connection, though. I guess maybe 10 years from now. Luang Prabang is cool, too.

[chinthee]

I agree with Florin about Burma. Absolutely magical and fantastic things to see there. I was in Burma about 10 years ago, visited both Rangoon and Mandalay. If you like Buddhist traditions, hands down the most amazing place in Asia if it could open more.

[technocracy]

I really like Vientiane. Great food, nice to stay by the river. Not a hel_l of a lot going on, though. I think when I'm older I could really enjoy staying there for a long time. I'd need a really good 'net connection, though. I guess maybe 10 years from now. Luang Prabang is cool, too.

There is a lot more here than most people normally see i.e. not in guide books and frequented by locals only - but if you go they will welcome you equally! Most people wouldn't know but there is quite a lot of girlie bars (if that floats your boat) they just aren't obvious obviously as it's illegal, there are also a couple of casinos . . . you need to know the outskirts rather than the Fa Ngum road!

The internet ain't bad either!

For me outside of Laos it's an obvious one but I really like Singapore and HCMC is also a place I could spend more time.

Edited September 17, 2007 by technocracy

[lawling]

I agree with Florin about Burma. Absolutely magical and fantastic things to see there. I was in Burma about 10 years ago, visited both Rangoon and Mandalay. If you like Buddhist traditions, hands down the most amazing place in Asia if it could open more.

I would agree regarding Mandalay - spent a very pleasant time there about 5 years ago.

Anybody for Hue in Vietnam? Another nice place with a lot going for it, I thought.

[BADBRAD]

I love Ha Noi, lived there for two years. Sapa and Da Lat are both really beautiful small towns in Viet Nam though a little cool and foggy in the winter. Someone else mentioned Luang Prabang which I really liked too, but you might get bored before a month or two. Sihanoukville and Pnom Penh in Cambodia are cool (not weather wise) with the former having the added advantage of a beach. There are a few other places that come to mind as well, but I think I have too many "favorites."

Aren't there a lot of Vietnamese in Hanoi??  (oops, perhaps not PC?)

I do prefer Laos having lived there for nine years, including about six months in LP split between 1967 & 1969.  Not so boring in those days but a whole lot less road travel available.  Last trip in 2000 drove up to Nam Bac where I was working in spring of '67, wow, electricity, Thai TV, even a gas station near by.  Progress....

Mac

I actually like the Vietnamese, and the big plus is there aren't so many ###### Westerners in Ha Noi as there are in Thailand and some of the other places.

[duchovny]

Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

[qualtrough]

Penang, although I liked it more pre-bridge and sleepy. Rangoon. I like the old buildings in both, and the colonial heritage so evident everywhere you go.

[Rinrada]

maybe not two months, but Luang Prabang is quite nice.

And if I could stay at the Metropole for the duration, then I'd say Hanoi is another place that would be close to the top of the list!

Samran, I agree with you about the Metropole. Simply one of the classiest old world hotels in the world. Hanoi is not my favorite though...

Vung Thau, the beach resort south of Saigon (I refuse to call it Ho Chi Min City) is also quite nice and I did spend about a month there some years ago.

Metropole Bar used to do a "buy one get one free"on Sunday afternoon (albiet about 10 years ago)and agree beautiful place but a leeeeetle bit "peng"

I installed their standby gene at the time.....quiet...init

Stayed in Hanoi for over a year and local hangout on Giang Vo was the "Purple Rain"gin joint...probably gone now but loads of other happy session hangouts....nice

[tutsiwarrior]

lived and worked in HCMC for 4 months last year...my most enjoyable 4 months in SEA...I didn't even mind the shitty VN client (most normal VN are cool) and working conditions or the horrendous traffic.

[LeungKen]

Years & years ago Lombok used to be great, not sure if it's as good now or whether my old memory is playing tricks. Has anyone been lately ?

[LadyinRed]

Bali's nice, but I suppose that's cheating.

I have never been to Bali - how does it compare, with say, Phuket for example?

[RueFang]

For a short visit,I liked Macau and Cebu,Surabaya.

To relax for a longer period Penang .

Wiley Coyote

Penang, although I liked it more pre-bridge and sleepy. Rangoon. I like the old buildings in both, and the colonial heritage so evident everywhere you go.

Can you tell me what's special about Penang? I found it to be quite dead (in Georgetown) and the only nice thing I saw was the botanic gardens! I've only been once though and would like to know where to go next time because a lot of people really like Penang. Cheers!

[girlx]

never made it to hanoi but i loved hoi an, vietnam. beautiful town, great food and art, nice beach nearby. nha trang was good too. also could stay in ubud (bali) for awhile. pokhara, nepal too, though i guess that doesn't count in SE asia.

[chinthee]

Bali's nice, but I suppose that's cheating.

I have never been to Bali - how does it compare, with say, Phuket for example?

Honestly, Phuket is better, more vibrant and interesting. Bali may be prettier and more remote though. Beaches on both are great.

[qualtrough]

For a short visit,I liked Macau and Cebu,Surabaya.

To relax for a longer period Penang .

Wiley Coyote

Penang, although I liked it more pre-bridge and sleepy. Rangoon. I like the old buildings in both, and the colonial heritage so evident everywhere you go.

Can you tell me what's special about Penang? I found it to be quite dead (in Georgetown) and the only nice thing I saw was the botanic gardens! I've only been once though and would like to know where to go next time because a lot of people really like Penang. Cheers!

I think what I liked about it was that it was dead. It used to be a laid back, sleepy colonial outpost. It still has lots of beautiful old buildings. You can take the funicular railway up the hill and enjoy the view and walk around, or take the bus to the end of the road past Batu Feringhi and take a hike in the jungle. Lots of good food too, Chinese, India, Malay, etc. Those that want excitement/entertainment a la Pattaya or Phuket will be disappointed.