Let’s face it: Departing the comfort of the American way of life, with its drive-thrus and the ever-present hum of air conditioning, to jet off to Southeast Asia isn’t just daunting—it’s a hit on the wallet that can make even the bravest soul pause. But, oh, the allure of those sun-soaked beaches, where the sand is softer than your high-thread-count sheets and the water clearer than your streaming service’s HD. Here’s the deal: Choosing just one of these paradisiacal beaches for your bucket list isn’t just recommended; it’s essential. It’s the kind of life-affirming, perspective-shifting experience that makes you understand what all the fuss about finding paradise is truly about.
1. White Beach, Boracay, Philippines
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 1 shutterstock 738867805 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_738867805-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Aleksandar Todorovic
Where the sand is so fine and white, you’ll doubt its reality. Perfect for: Budget backpackers and luxury seekers who agree on one thing—their love for stunning sunsets.
2. Railay Beach, Thailand
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 2 shutterstock 2124096590 1 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/shutterstock_2124096590-1-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Day2505
Accessible only by boat, offering a slice of paradise with towering limestone cliffs for the adventurous and beach bars for the…less adventurous.
3. Nacpan Beach, Palawan, Philippines
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 3 pexels miro alt 176395 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-miro-alt-176395-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / Miro Alt
Four kilometers of untouched beauty perfect for those who like their beaches wild and their coconut juice fresh.
4. Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Ley, Thailand
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 4 shutterstock 1094453324 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/shutterstock_1094453324-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Drone Thailand
Famous from The Beach movie; closed to recover from love’s labor lost to tourism but peeking back on the bucket list for its grand comeback.
5. Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Indonesia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 5 shutterstock 1139592560 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_1139592560-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / nelzajamal
Yes, the sand is pink. Yes, there are Komodo dragons. No, they don’t do selfies. For those who like their beach days with a side of natural wonder (and a dash of danger).
6. Sihanoukville, Cambodia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 6 pexels allphoto bangkok 12001672 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-allphoto-bangkok-12001672-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / allPhoto Bangkok
A party hotspot that’s transforming, reminding us that beaches, like people, can reinvent themselves. Now catering to a more upscale crowd but still keeping its chill vibe.
7. Mui Ne, Vietnam
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 7 pexels mohamed hamdi 20117735 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-mohamed-hamdi-20117735-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / Mohamed hamdi
From fishing village to windsurfing capital, Mui Ne is for those who like their vacations active and their seafood dinners well-earned.
8. An Bang Beach, Hoi An, Vietnam
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 8 pexels pixabay 269583 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-pixabay-269583-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / Pixabay
A serene escape from Hoi An’s enchanting lanterns, proving that you can have your cultural cake and eat your beachside banh mi too.
9. Perhentian Islands, Malaysia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 9 shutterstock 248941720 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/shutterstock_248941720-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Andrei Armiagov
Crystal clear waters and budget-friendly bungalows make this a haven for divers and snorkelers who count fish before falling asleep.
10. Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 10 pexels balazs simon 7532172 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-balazs-simon-7532172-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / Balazs Simon
Where limestone formations and long-tail boats provide the backdrop for every type of traveler, from the hammock enthusiast to the rock-climbing fanatic.
11. Langkawi, Malaysia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 11 shutterstock 1126000106 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/shutterstock_1126000106-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / H-AB Photography
An archipelago that blends natural beauty with man-made luxury, proving you can enjoy the rainforest and a spa in the same day.
12. Gili Islands, Indonesia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 12 shutterstock 89462782](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/shutterstock_89462782.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Luciano Mortula – LGM
No cars, no motorbikes, just bicycles and horse-drawn carriages. It’s like stepping back in time, but with Wi-Fi.
13. El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 13 shutterstock 2165732365](https://passingthru.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shutterstock_2165732365.jpg.webp)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / travelwild
Where the term “island hopping” is a way of life, and the views are so breathtaking, they might just cure your existential dread.
14. Pantai Cenang, Langkawi, Malaysia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 14 shutterstock 562778629 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/shutterstock_562778629-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nataliia Sokolovska
Buzzing with activity, this beach is for those who believe that vacation calories don’t count and that sunsets are best enjoyed with a cold drink in hand.
15. Koh Rong, Cambodia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 15 pexels allphoto bangkok 12001665 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-allphoto-bangkok-12001665-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / allPhoto Bangkok
Imagine a place where the bioluminescent plankton turn the sea into a starry night. Now stop imagining and book a ticket.
16. Seminyak Beach, Bali, Indonesia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 16 shutterstock 1558819244 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/shutterstock_1558819244-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Setiono Joko Purwanto
For the cosmopolitan beachgoer who likes their sands designer-branded and their sunsets accompanied by a DJ set.
17. Phra Nang Beach, Krabi, Thailand
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 17 pexels erik karits 3732494 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-erik-karits-3732494-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / Erik Karits
A picturesque beach where legends of a princess spirit and climbers coexist, blending folklore with sheer adventure.
18. Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 18 shutterstock 1978655663](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_1978655663.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Peera_stockfoto
Laid-back, relatively undiscovered, and perfect for those whose idea of a good time is a good book and a hammock.
19. Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 19 pexels pixabay 413958 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-pixabay-413958-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / Pixabay
Love it or hate it, Kuta’s legendary for its surf, parties, and the unique ability to be all things to all people, from dawn patrols to night owls.
20. Koh Tao, Thailand
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 20 shutterstock 132259766](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/shutterstock_132259766.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / SERG60
A diver’s paradise where the coral is colorful, the water warm, and the nightlife as vibrant as the marine life.
21. Sunset Beach, Koh Lipe, Thailand
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 21 shutterstock 1426900994 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_1426900994-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / NAS CREATIVES
True to its name, this beach offers sunsets that look like they’ve been Photoshopped by the gods themselves.
22. Puka Shell Beach, Boracay, Philippines
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 22 pexels jess loiterton 4612303 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-jess-loiterton-4612303-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / Jess Loiterton
A quieter alternative to White Beach, it’s a reminder that beauty often lies in simplicity, and that yes, puka shells are still a thing here.
Paradise for Every Taste
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 23 shutterstock 595687658 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_595687658-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / stockce
From the backpacker to the jet-setter, Southeast Asia’s beaches offer something for every taste, budget, and Instagram aesthetic. Whether you’re there for the tan, the temples, or the tequila sunrises, one thing’s for certain: you’ll leave with more memories than your camera can hold and a serious case of beach withdrawal.
Unveiling the 21 Places Single Women Should Avoid at All Costs
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 24 shutterstock 2346225623 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/shutterstock_2346225623-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Carles Iturbe
Ghost Roads of America: 12 Haunted Highways with Tales of Terror and Creepy Rest Stops
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 25 shutterstock 144997492 1 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_144997492-1-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / donvictorio
18 High-Crime Cities in the US You Should Avoid
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 26 pexels adrian newell 14177239 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pexels-adrian-newell-14177239-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Pexels / Adrian Newell
20 Things That Americans Tolerate That Canadians Would Never Accept
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 27 shutterstock 2270504427 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_2270504427-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nicoleta Ionescu
22 of America’s Most Charming Towns
![Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can't Miss 28 shutterstock 284980904 1](https://thegreenvoyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shutterstock_284980904-1.jpg)
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nejdet Duzen
The post Skip Hawaii: 20 Southeast Asian Beaches You Can’t Miss republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / saiko3p.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
Tips for Trip Success
Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using Kayak, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.
Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to Expedia.
You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.Find the Perfect Insurance Plan for Your Trip
PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To view PassingThru’s privacy policy, click here.