With Valentine’s day around the corner, it’s still enough time left to book your ticket and plan your next romantic getaway. No matter what type of romantic destination you and your loved one have in mind – Southeast Asia’s got it all covered! The region boasts some of the most beautiful spots on earth, no matter if you are a beach-, chill-, or adventure-loving couple. Share some great time together and explore Southeast Asia’s most romantic destinations together. We put together a list of places we thought might be the most romantic destinations for couples to explore in the region – hand-picked and visited by ourselves!
1. Palawan, Philippines – for the beach-loving couple
The tranquility and beauty of Palawan truly is unique in all of Southeast Asia. The island’s beaches have been repeatedly rewarded as the most beautiful around the world. Palawan offers a great deal of white-sand beaches, secret lagoons, dive and snorkel spots and caves. It is also known as the ultimate island for honeymoon getaways. Especially the picture-perfect beach locations of Palawan are something to die for.
El Nido, Puerto Princesa and many other places on the island offer a great variety of different activities for couples – whether you are kayaking into hidden caves and lagoons, going on a private boat ride to secret beaches or enjoying an intimate sunset dinner by the beach. The island and its stunning, natural surrounding make it a perfect romantic destination.
2. Bagan, Myanmar – for the scenery- & temple-loving couple
Probably one of the most stunning temples sites across Southeast Asia, Bagan – located in the Mandalay region of Myanmar, is a truly captivating site. The scenery and views across the thousands of different temple constructions is a magnificent and romantic site. A romantic trip must always be accompanied by a beautiful surrounding and this truly is the case in Bagan.
Bagan is also renowned for its beautiful sunset views and relaxing Irrawaddy river cruises. Also, you can take a bike or e-scooter and drive across the plains and discover the views from the temples. Enjoy the ultimate romantic experience by taking a hot-air balloon ride over the temples at sunrise and experience the amazing atmosphere from above.
3. Koh Lanta, Thailand – for the chill-out-loving couple
If your idea of a romantic getaway is more relaxed – beach & chilled vibes – then we probably found the perfect spot for you! Located in the southern Andaman Sea in Thailand, the island of Koh Lanta has just about the right mix to make you feel totally relaxed. Definitely more tranquil than some of its neighboring islands, Koh Lanta is an incredibly romantic place and a truly magical island.
Enjoy the island’s great white-sand beaches and extremely chilled-out bars and restaurants. Particularly amazing on this island are the sunsets which have an amazing color that we did not find in many other spots. Enjoy some great sundown-cocktails along the beach, listen to some reggae music and go with the flow – the perfect romantic destination for a chilled couple!
4. Angkor Wat, Cambodia – for the adventure-loving couple
Adjacent to the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat lies the city of Siem Reap. The city’s French colonial atmosphere is largely preserved and offers a great choice of shops to buy some gifts for your loved one or to spend some great time enjoying a candle-lit dinner in one of the many restaurants along Sivutha Street and the Old Market area.
Alternatively, you can get out the explorer inside you and discover the ancient temple complexes in and around Angkor Wat. For many couples, watching the sun rise from one of the many temples serves as the highlight of the trip. You can also bring your significant other to ride the balloon that provides you with a birds’-eye-view of the great temples of Angkor Thom and other ancient structures spread across the area. Hire a bike and tour the closer temple areas and enjoy an adventurous time together!
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand – for the old city & street-food-loving couple
So discovering town-life and enjoying some good street food is your idea of a romantic destination? Look no further, the northern Thai town of Chiang Mai might just about be the best place for you and your loved one. Being a cultural and religious center of the country, with its vast amount of Buddhist temples and beautiful natural surroundings, its numerous food markets and old city area, Chiang Mai is destined to be a great romantic destination for city and food lovers.
We truly enjoyed the beautiful sights of Chiang Mai and loved the laid-back atmosphere of this picturesque town. It offers many tours and places to visit in and around the city and has an exceptional offering of delicious Thai street-food markets. A great romantic destination for those looking for some beautiful, old-city atmosphere and love to indulge in local cuisine.
6. Hoi-An, Vietnam – for the riverside-strolling-loving couple
Probably the most picturesque town in all of Vietnam, Hoi An is the most classic setting for a romantic getaway. With its well-preserved ancient town, its small canals passing and its lantern shops, the city is one of the country’s most beautiful attractions. A mix of Chinese shops and colonial French buildings makes Hoi An a great destination for couples who love to enjoy a nice stroll around a beautiful town and indulge in local culture.
7. Luang Prabang, Laos – for the culture-loving couple
The cultural & spiritual hot-spot of Laos lies in the northern city of Luang Prabang. Beautifully nestled along the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, the city offers a great variety of Buddhist temples, Wats and markets. It is a very atmospheric and charming town and great location for couples who love to explore the culture of a country.
Enjoy a stunning sunset view from the mountain temple of Mount Phou Si and walk along the riverside to explore the numerous, French-colonial inspired restaurants and cafes. A great romantic destination for any couple looking for a good mix of culture, food and great sunset views. Get inspired by this charming town and have a look at our Luang Prabang photo story to get a better picture of it and make Luang Prabang one of your romantic destinations.
Some excellent looking choices here, and this seem to verify the theory that South East Asia is the ideal romantic destination 🙂 Me, I’m definitely the adventurous sort, but my other half is a bit more of a chilled out vibe sort of person. So I guess Palawan might be the ideal compromise as far as that goes – it’s certainly a place that everyone was recommending to me left, right and centre when I was in the Philippines last year 🙂
Thanks, Joe. SEA truly is ideal for some romantic getaways. Palawan is an amazing island, you should definitely go!
Interesting perspective – so many think of European cities as the romantic places – but I’m sure with your adventure buddy around SE Asia could be equally as thrilling to experience together.
Definitely is, Shane. There are so many great spots in a relatively small region, providing a different sort of romantic atmosphere than Europe.
While all of these look amazing, we are definitely a couple that would love a combo of #1, 6 and 7 — beach for me, and mostly the street food for both of us. Foodie vacations are our new norm 🙂 Thanks for all these awesome suggestions!
Nice choice! We love street food as well – another foodie hotspots would be Bangkok. Maybe not as romantic as the islands or Chiang Mai but surely a city with LOADS of street food options 🙂
What a great list! I’ve only been to Palawan for my honeymoon and loved it there!
Thanks, Palawan is a true slice of heaven and a perfect honeymoon retreat – good idea! Glad you enjoyed it.
Oh how could I choose between Bagan and Angkor? My husband and I would love to explore both of these places. I have been to Hoi An (on my own) and its lanterns and beautiful Old Town are definitely romantic. Some great ideas which cater towards people’s different interests. South East Asia really does have something for everyone.
Tough decision, but I would first go to Bagan as its still less visited compared to Angkor. SEA is a region full of different spots, great that you have been in Hoi An, loved that place 🙂
Looks like there are some great romantic getaways in SE Asia. I could totally go for an exotic relaxing beach getaway, but tell me, is it always hot and humid in SE Asia? Maybe we could do some boating or snorkeling, too!
Yes, Tami, loads of nice places to visit. SE Asia is mostly hot and humid, Dec-Feb is usually a great time. Visit the Philippines, best place for boating and snorkeling 🙂
So many choices!! I’d love to explore more of Vietnam, but Myanmar looks pretty awesome too!
Try Myanmar, Tara! It’s a beautiful country, you should definitely check it out.
Wow there are so many beautiful places in Asia to visit! Just gorgeous!
Very true, Katie! Countless places, these are just a few of them 🙂
I’m intrigued by Luang Prabang – I’ve been to most of the other places. Luang Prabang seems quieter compared to the others.
Luang Prabang is a very beautiful town but also full of tourists, nevertheless absolutely worth a visit!
Angkor is on my list with or with out valentine! Loved your list of suggestions and your lovely photos. Which love there are no wrong destinations.