10 Healing Places in ASEAN — Moments of Calm Across Ten Nations

One of the great gifts of travel is the way unforgettable landscapes and places can bring joy and comfort to the traveler’s heart. From national parks that shelter rare flora and fauna to infinity pools with modern skylines stretching beyond, here are memorable places in ten ASEAN countries that offer moments of healing.

Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre
The ASEAN-Korea Centre is an international organization established to expand exchange and cooperation between Korea and the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Officially launched in 2009, it carries out a wide range of activities spanning trade expansion, investment promotion, and tourism development. Through programs that share the cultural diversity of its member states and introduce sustainable travel, it offers the public a richer perspective on ASEAN. The Centre’s member states number eleven in total: Korea, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. In November, the ASEAN-Korea Centre launched a new ASEAN-Korea travel webpage (www.aseankorea.org/kor/travel/).

Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei
Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei

Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei is known as the “lungs of Asia.” Spread across roughly 500 square kilometers within the Batu Apoi Forest Reserve, it is a treasure trove for research on flora and fauna and for ecotourism. It was designated a national park in 1994 and opened to visitors in 1996. Visitors can take a jungle trek of about one hour, climbing 1,226 wooden steps to reach a suspension bridge that feels like walking among the treetops, along with five towers. From the 50-meter-high tower, the lush rainforest unfolds in a single sweeping view.

Kep Beach, Cambodia
Kep Beach, Cambodia

This beach lies about four hours southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. It made its name in 1908, when French colonial authorities developed it as a resort for the upper classes. In the mid-1950s, after Cambodia gained independence, former King Sihanouk built a summer palace here, and as one modern building after another went up, the beach became a favorite among locals. After a long quiet spell, Kep Beach has drawn renewed attention as a resort in recent years, with boutique resorts and bars opening amid its peaceful natural surroundings.

Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

Labuan Bajo is a port town at the western tip of Flores Island and the gateway to world-famous destinations such as Komodo Island in East Nusa Tenggara. Travelers can stay here and charter a boat to dive and snorkel around nearby islands, or simply lie back and sunbathe on the beach. They can also continue exploring places that preserve rare natural environments, such as Loh Buaya on Rinca Island, and Loh Liang and Pink Beach on Komodo Island.

Nam Kan National Park, Lao PDR
Nam Kan National Park, Lao PDR

Nam Kan National Park is about two and a half hours by car from Ban Houayxay in Laos. Here, tree houses let you stay for several days cut off from the outside world. Built 30 meters up in an eco-friendly way, they are one of the best ways to experience the inner heart of Lao nature. You can cross the jungle by trekking and zip line, stay in eight different tree houses, or watch moving sunrises and sunsets alongside monkeys.

Rasa Ria Reserve, Malaysia
Rasa Ria Reserve, Malaysia

Watch the sunrise over the highest peak of Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from the lookout at Rasa Ria Reserve. Reached after passing through 260,000 square meters of protected forest, the Rasa Ria lookout offers a spectacular view in which Mount Kinabalu, the South China Sea, and the jungles of Sabah on the island of Borneo come together. During the 30-minute walk to the lookout, visitors can stroll a canopy walkway and encounter Borneo’s wildlife and plants in a one-of-a-kind experience.

Inle Lake, Myanmar
Inle Lake, Myanmar

Designated an ASEAN Heritage Park and wildlife sanctuary, Inle Lake holds an ecosystem in which many plants and animals coexist, including some 35 endemic species. Here, travelers can spot birds that live in woodlands and wetlands, a variety of aquatic life, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and rare orchids. The majestic mountain ranges and broad farmland surrounding the lake are also well worth a visit. While exploring the lake’s distinctive stilt houses, be sure to watch the fascinating process of spinning thread from lotus stems at a traditional workshop.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines

The Underground River in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is the longest navigable underground river in the world, and it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The river flows 8.2 kilometers beneath St. Paul Mountain, northwest of Puerto Princesa, before emptying into the South China Sea. The area around it is home to a wide range of species and boasts stunning scenery of limestone rocks and cliffs. Take a boat tour along the underground river and admire the mysteriously shaped stalactites and stalagmites.

Ho Kham Luang, Thailand
Ho Kham Luang, Thailand

Known in Thai as Ho Kham Luang, the Royal Pavilion is the most impressive structure at Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, which opened for the 2006 International Horticultural Expo. Built in the palace style of the ancient Lanna Kingdom of northern Thailand, it is praised for exquisitely capturing the grandeur and elegance of Lanna architecture handed down through generations. Inside the pavilion, you can also see artworks painted by the late King Bhumibol of Thailand.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Marina Bay Sands is widely regarded as a landmark that took Singapore’s urban landscape to a new level. Its rooftop infinity pool, in particular, stretches 150 meters, making it the largest rooftop pool of its kind in the world. It is a spectacular observation deck in its own right, and together with its cafés, bars and other amenities, it serves as a perfect retreat in the heart of the city. Swimming in the infinity pool 57 stories up, with Singapore’s breathtaking skyline spread out before you, is a sight you won’t soon forget.

Golden Bridge
Viet Nam

Built in 2018 at Bana Hills, a popular resort in Da Nang, this bridge is 12.8 meters wide and 150 meters long, linking the cable car station with the gardens of Bana Hills. It owes its fame to its unusual design, in which a pair of giant stone hands appears to hold the bridge aloft, and to the sweeping views of the Truong Son Mountains beyond. Offering the feeling of walking in the sky, it has become a hugely popular photo spot for visitors from around the world.