The waters off Koh Kong province, gateway to Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains and the Gulf of Thailand coast. Few travellers make it this far – which is precisely the point. Photo: Visit to Cambodia Around the Region Regular visitors to this region will understand that Southeast Asia’s natural environment is under more pressure than ever, yet
Southeast Asia’s forests are fighting back – from Laos’s mass reforestation drive to Borneo’s ancient jungle. Around the Region For those of us in Bangkok who found ourselves knee-deep in flood water this week, this is merely a sign of things to come. Briefly, messily, typically a storm can see the water table in Thailand’s
Your insider guide to Southeast Asia asiaunmasked.com Around The Region Bangkok in May has a quieter quality to it. The crowds have thinned, the streets feel like they belong to the city again, and the afternoon downpours have become part of the daily rhythm. It is, for those of us who live here, one of
Your insider guide to Southeast Asia asiaunmasked.com Your Week in Southeast Asia This week, in what is possibly the region’s most progressive country, Vietnam’s northern highlands, the world’s largest bamboo resort has just opened inside a national heritage landscape – offering us a reminder that luxury and environmental responsibility don’t need to pull in opposite
Issue No. 4 | Thursday 16 April 2026 | asiaunmasked.com Your insider guide to Southeast Asia Vietnam’s national tourism masterplan places eco-tourism and community-based experiences at its core. Demand at the country’s largest travel fair this month confirmed that visitors are catching up. Your Week in Southeast Asia This week, Southeast Asia made several decisions
Issue No. 3 | 9 April 2026 Your insider guide to Southeast Asia | asiaunmasked.com Editor’s Note The world has seemingly lost its marbles this week. Flight chaos, Middle East tensions, markets more jittery than a Sihanoukville casino gambler. Yet none of this chaos has managed to cancel Songkran. In five days’ time, the streets
This week: Borneo’s first eco-certified resort opens bookings, Thailand’s tourist fee edges closer, flying to Southeast Asia just got more expensive, and a record pangolin bust in Jakarta. Plus what’s on across the region through April.
Discover pristine islands, ancient cultures, and world-class diving beyond the crowds Bali welcomed a staggering 6.3 million international visitors in 2024—nearly double its local population of 4.2 million. The BBC’s recent investigation revealed the stark consequences: beaches littered with plastic waste, traffic gridlock, and tourists posting “expectations vs reality” disappointments on social media. The tragic
The road less travelled leads to Bali’s most extraordinary secret I’ll confess something that might surprise you: after years of exploring Southeast Asia, I’d almost written off Bali entirely. The Instagram hordes descending on Tegallalang Rice Terraces, the traffic chaos choking Canggu’s once-pristine beach roads, the yoga retreats charging £200 ($250) a night for what
How Indonesia’s most beloved island is quietly revolutionising responsible tourism without sacrificing an ounce of indulgence The Bali I encountered on my latest visit bears little resemblance to the island I first explored thirty years ago, when a dog-eared copy of Lonely Planet’s “South East Asia on a Shoestring” was the backpacker’s bible. Yet surprisingly,
Vietnam’s Best Michelin Restaurants in 2026: The Practical Guide for Conscious Travellers
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