Southeast Asia is one of the most visited destinations in the world. With more than 133 million visitors every year, the demand comes with no surprise.

There are 11 countries that shape the region:

• Thailand
• Myanmar
• Philippines
• Cambodia
• Vietnam
• Indonesia
• East Timor
• Brunei
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Singapore

The distribution of tourists between those countries can be described in the following graph.

All over those Southeast Asian countries you can find a tremendous amount of sandy tropical beaches, jungles full of wildlife, never-sleeping cities, mysterious temples, delicious food  and most importantly quality vacations for a low price. Before packing your luggage, many questions might arise. For example, when is the best season to visit or what kind of visa will you need.Bbut most importantly you have to figure out which country is more suitable for a first time traveler. 

This post is not about my favorite country. It is about the country I would recommend to someone who has never been in this region and wants the most out of the experience.

For the past few years I have been traveling around all of those countries, daily being asked which place I would recommend for a first leap to the unknown world of traveling. After setting all the criteria that a first-time traveler would ask for, I narrowed down my list and I ended up in the Southeast Asian country that would best introduce you into this part of the world.

Important criteria to choose your Southeast Asian country

Safety

Safety must be the priority while organizing a trip, especially if it’s your first time visiting a new country. I’ve never had any bad experience while visiting Southeast Asia. Also, out of hundreds of people I have met, I encountered only a few who had to deal with serious trouble.

However, the most common disturbing fact that you have to be cautious about is pickpocketing. Every country has places that will be more dangerous than others. Usually those are mega-cities and very touristic destinations. A few countries will require more prudency than the others. Here is a table, showing how each of those countries rank according to Global Peace Index data

The countries that I felt were “less safe” would definitely be Cambodia and Philippines. Both countries are struggling with financial problems and a big part of the population is living in very poor conditions.

In Cambodia, a few times I came across kids trying to steal food from local shops, drove through very bad roads with drivers who often do not follow the traffic lights and felt multiple times that people wanted to take advantage of the financial status they assign to tourists in general.

In Philippines similar situations were taking place and I would add the fact that I witnessed the biggest amount of people carrying guns from all the neighboring countries.

On the other hand, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand never felt unsafe, even while walking around alone during the night. The well organized touristic industry in Thailand, as well as the natural hospitality of Thai people create a protected environment for a first-time traveler. Of course, in big cities like Bangkok you have to be extra careful. Be aware of in which neighborhood you are located and be cautious of your belongings especially while using public transportation.

Clear losers: Cambodia, Philippines

Clear winners: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia

Travel cost

Whether you are a first time traveler or an experienced one, the travel cost is one of the most important criteria to take into consideration. This isn’t just about the amount of money you will have to spend. Most importantly are the quality of services, experiences and products you can get while spending the same amount of money in each country.

In this category, my choice is also pretty clear. By far, the most expensive country in this region is Singapore. Most possibly you will need to put your hand deep into your pocket in order to have the same vacation quality compared to the neighboring countries.

Second place, but still much cheaper, would be Malaysia. As a muslim country, the taxes especially in alcohol and other  products are quite high. Also the rapid development of the country has increased the amount of money that local people can spend within the borders.

On the other hand, picking the cheapest country is a bit more tricky. Usually some countries are cheaper regarding accommodation (Indonesia), others regarding food (Thailand), transportation (Myanmar), sightseeing (Myanmar, Laos) etc.

However, in my opinion the country that scores best in general is Vietnam. A private clean double room would come as cheap as 8 dollars, a nice meal of the traditional pho soup in a local restaurant could start from 1 dollar. A 10-hours night bus would cost 6 dollars and many natural attractions and museums are either free or very cheap!

Clear losers: Singapore, Malaysia

Clear winner: Vietnam

Local cuisine

If you, like me, are in love with food and seriously taking into consideration the local cuisine while planning trips, then Southeast Asia is the right place for you. In almost every country you will find yourself in a food paradise. I am the kind of traveler that will always go for the local places where the original “homemade” taste will be accompanied by low cost.

One important goal of all my trips is to try as many regional dishes as possible.  However, according to my experience and my taste buds, there has been a country that failed to live up to the expectations: the Philippines. The food was usually too plain and simplistic. The combinations of the ingredients sometimes just didn’t match and the textures were not my personal favorites.

The countries that won my stomach’s heart were Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Malaysia is a multicultural country, with Muslim, Indian, Chinese and western influences. As a result, you end up in places like the Penang island where Chinatown with its distinctive cuisine is located a five minute walk from “little India”.

If you are a fan of spicy food and your dream vacation includes hours of walking in huge outdoor markets, then Thailand is your country. Vietnam has a globally recognised cuisine with amazing soups and my beloved French baguette (Banh Mi) easily found in every street.

Clear loser: Philippines

Clear winners: Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam

Tropical beaches

Let’s not hide it, when talking Southeast Asian destinations the first thing coming to mind is long white beaches with crystal water and palm trees to sit under while enjoying fresh coconuts and cocktails. Well, in almost every country you can fulfill

this dream. Here is a graph with a coastline comparison between those countries

One of those, Laos, should not be your first pick if you really need the beach, unless sitting on a sandbank by the Mekong river is your idea of a beach holiday. Instead, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia should be on the spotlight.

The Philippines has over 7000 islands, so most likely you will find one that is perfect for you! The country is full of small isolated islands to explore that will make you feel like Tom Hanks in “Cast Away”. Even the mainstream destinations like El-Nido, in Palawan island, will provide the scenery for out of this world Instagram pictures.

Thailand and Indonesia also have various wonderful islands and mainland beaches, the best of which are usually the less touristic ones. Bali is considered the last paradise on Earth (with good reason). More wild, quiet and unexplored beaches in the north (eg. Lovina), and more luxurious, touristic and service oriented beaches in the south (eg. Kuta). Similarly, Thailand can fulfill every taste from the busy beaches in Phuket (where I actually am while writing this article) to the virgin islands like Koh Lipe.

Clear loser: Laos

Clear winners: Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia

Nightlife and entertainment

Probably your trip wouldn’t be complete without some kind of entertainment. Whether you are looking to party until the morning or have access to theaters, bars and cinemas, things seem again pretty straight forward. Myanmar and Laos are two of my favorite countries in the world, but generally they have a more laid back atmosphere and are not the best place to visit if partying is a priority.

I should make clear though that even in these countries I had some of the most fun nights of my life. However, this is not what they are famous for. On the other hand, Thailand is a famous destination to party both on a budget (e.g. Khao San road in Bangkok) or spending some extra dollars in one of the endless rooftop bars and the seaside beach clubs.

Similar to that, Bali is also a party hub with numerous choices for a night out (especially in Kuta area) where thousands of tourists will always gather. Of course more tourists usually means higher prices and less local-authentic experience. 

Clear losers: Myanmar, Laos

Clear winners: Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam

So which country should I visit first?

Picking the next destination has always been a challenge for me because of the many options in each different part of the world. I have unforgettable experiences in every Southeast Asian country and each one of them has something different to offer.

With this said, for the purpose of this article to help with the decision of which country to travel first in Southeast Asia, it seems like Thailand is the winner. It can be a “soft” introduction before other more “intense” destinations.

As a matter of fact, Thailand was also my first country in that region. It helped me build the courage, knowledge and experience that every traveler needs to get the most out of SE Asia. From the safety, to comfort, low prices, exotic destinations, delicious food and wild nightlife, Thailand cdeserves your first reservation in Southeast Asia!