What can you see of South East Asia within a two hour flight?
Bangkok is known to be a bit of a travel hub in South East Asia. This fact alone has made it popular amongst the expatriate community who want to enjoy the great weekend getaways it can provide.
Cheap flights operate from Bangkok with a choice of no frills airlines. The rise in the number of these has meant that Bangkok’s older airport, Don Mueang, is fully operational despite the original plan to close it once the newer airport, Suvarnabhumi opened.
If you are looking to travel further afield than the beaches of Phuket and Samui, then take your pick of one of these destinations for some culture which can be reached within two hours.
1. Penang.
In under two hours you will land in the Malaysian island of Penang. Situated by the Strait of Malacca, Penang’s capital city is George Town. This is the place to enjoy the combination of old and new Malaysia with lots of beautiful colonial architecture that has been lovingly restored to its former glory. Make sure you get stuck into some local street food which rivals that of Bangkok.
2. Mandalay.
Just shy of a two hour flight from Bangkok and you have landed in the magical land of Myanmar. At times you may feel a million miles from Bangkok in this fascinating country filled with welcoming locals and delicious food. This city is a great place to get an insight into the Burmese way of life but is also used as the stepping stone to the beautiful ruins of Bagan reached via a relaxing river cruise down the Irrawaddy.
3. Hanoi.
Hanoi may not be the capital of Vietnam, but this city’s culture is making its mark as a place to visit and to live. A visit to the Old Quarter is a must to embrace the mix of French and Chinese cultures with huge influences all around especially with the architecture. This is the place to sample the infamous Vietnamese coffee and tasty French baguettes are sold on many street corners too! From Hanoi you can visit the beautiful hill country of Sa Pa with rice paddies as far as the eye can see, and also the staggering limestone karsts of Halong Bay.
4. Luang Prabang.
In just over an hour by air you will land in the stunning Luang Prabang in Laos. This laid back place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its calm persona will instantly rub off on you. Wander around the town taking in the pretty temples, venture into the countryside to explore the caves and go shopping at what could be described as one of the most sophisticated night markets the region has to offer. You will find that you will not want to leave this little gem in a hurry.
5. Siem Reap.
Famed for Angkor Wat, Siem Reap in Cambodia has become a mecca for those wanting to immerse themselves in some temple hopping. However over the years, Siem Reap has welcomed a range of hotels, has a thriving market and a happening night scene providing an escape for those feel templed out. From Siem Reap you can take a trip to Tonlé Sap, a huge freshwater lake, to see how many Cambodians live life on this staggering expanse of water.
