Once in a blue moon, you’d be one of the lucky few to find love on the road. Or if you already found it, then it’s time to bring your loved one to hit the road. Travelling as a couple has always been believed to strengthen your relationship. It also makes those postcard-worthy scenes way more memorable and meaningful. While solo travel has its perks, experiencing life’s grand adventures is best shared with someone dear to you.
Where else should you take your partner for this special trip? Southeast Asia’s honeymoon destinations come to mind with its promise of swaying palm trees while you frolic by the white sand beaches of Bali, reminisce your own legendary stories under a starry night while cruising Ha Long Bay, and letting the tranquility of Inle Lake serve as a backdrop for that eventual proposal. If you have already tied the knot, this region will make you get down on your knees again! Pack your bags with couple shirts and maybe secretly slip in a Harry Winston rock (just in case!) because we just found the best places in Southeast Asia to enjoy a romantic getaway with your favorite travel buddy.
Cruise down the memory lane in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Probably the most luxurious yet affordable choice in our list will be cruising through the scenic natural towers of Ha Long Bay. This UNESCO heritage site has definitely casted a spell on lovers and would-be-lovers with its mystic charm and serene emerald waters. Soak in Asian culture while walking through the traditional streets of Hanoi where you will hop on your shuttle and whisk you away to the renowned Ha Long Bay honeymoon experience.
Romantic Halong Bay
Upon arrival, give yourself and your partner a good amount of time to take in all the beauty and history that the bay proudly shows off before boarding your boat. Treat yourselves to spectacular views of the famed limestone karsts and floating villages. Head on to an adventure-filled afternoon as you paddle your way through awe-inspiring caves and dazzling lagoons. Kayaking with your significant other will always be a fun way to practice your teamwork while witnessing nature’s marvels. Retreat to your cabins and maybe indulge in a couple’s massage to restore calm and balance to your body after an intense afternoon.
You don’t have to pinch yourself thinking it is unreal to be in a floating hotel in the middle of one of the world’s natural wonders. All the comfort and bliss of a five-star resort are being offered in this cruise. You don’t even need to worry about dining. Savor traditional Vietnamese food meticulously prepared by chefs on board while admiring the stillness of the ocean in the evening. Cap off the night with champagnes on the boat’s deck under Vietnam’s version of a Van Gogh painting. Only this one’s better, since it is real and you are admiring it with someone special. If you’re feeling extra fancy, spoil yourselves with an uninterrupted private cruise and let Ha Long Bay stand as witness to your romance.
Create more stories to tell in Bali, Indonesia
Strapped for cash but want to impress your partner with a couple’s retreat? Bali’s myriad of resorts and its warm, tropical climate make for the best choice if you are on a budget. You can find homestays, guest houses, and even properties listed in AirBnB with lavish gardens and private pools for only a fraction of a cost. Aside from affordable accommodations, dining in restaurants serving local and Western cuisine mean $15 to $25 date nights for you and your partner to delight in.
Bali Beach
This is also the best time for both of you to learn a new skill popularly offered in the island, surfing. Surfing in Bali is regarded as one of the most affordable in the Asia with just $10 an hour for your own teacher and board rental. If surfing is not your cup of tea, you still have other alternatives such as snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, and the list goes on. That’s the thing about Bali, it gives you so many options with the best value for money!
Go on a culture trip in Chiang Mai, Thailand
If the sound of waves crashing by the shore does not excite you both and prefer to be surrounded by glorious mountains, getting lost in temples, and escape the traffic-choked urban jungle of Bangkok; then these duo are the best places to go to. Chiang Mai is a treasure nestled in the Northern part of Thailand. This mountainous region has drawn people who are looking for a more laid-back vibe with unbeatable sceneries.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Photo credit: Lonely Planet
Recently awarded as one of the 180 UNESCO Creative Cities; Chiang Mai’s creativity lies in its history, tradition, ethnic groups, crafts, and folk arts. For culture junky couples, this place is a playground for both mind and soul. Learn from pros on how to safely contort people’s bodies with Thai massages and add a skill you can practice on each other. If the possibility of breaking your partner’s bones terrifies you, why not try to find a way to their hearts instead? They say the best way to do this is through their stomachs. Improve your culinary prowess with a handful of cooking schools to enroll at. Visit organic farms before starting your private lessons. This hands-on experience will surely excite your partner’s senses and palate. Or maybe just go on a gastronomic trip with the smorgasbord of street food available in the city.
No matter what religion you practice, or if none at all, it still is worth to give the temples around Chiang Mai a chance to be visited. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep sits atop the Doi Suthep Mountain, trekking the park and temple together is already a spiritual experience. Who knows you may even come across a monk and give you a blessing? If you want to take your relationship to the next level and do a bit of self-discovery, you may also join in one of the donation-based silent meditation retreats nearby. You may not be able to talk or see your partner for a couple of days but the experience of sharing your introspections after might help you understand your roles in the relationship in a different light. Could this trip get even more divine?
Channel your inner poets in Inle Lake, Myanmar
Satisfy your love for literature and all things beautiful by exploring the magnificence of Myanmar. Discover what inspired Rudyard Kipling to pen “The Road to Mandalay” despite just stopping by Burma for three days. The country offers a plethora of opportunities to seduce and please the senses with its well-preserved history, exciting hot air balloon rides over Bagan, or gliding through the picturesque Inle Lake.
Inle Lake
While Bagan seems to be on top of everybody’s list, Inle Lake’s allure lies in its esoteric status. No road leads to Inle Lake because people only get to reach this enigmatic place by wooden boats. Excite you partner with the prospect of staying in over-the-water bungalows and marveling at stupas so high their shadows serve as shades while cruising along the area. Get to know the locals as you people watch (we do encourage talking more though!) in Alodaw Pauk Pagoda. This gem-encrusted golden shrine is considered to be the oldest pagoda on the lake. You may also buy yourselves textiles from weavers at Inn Paw Khon, said to be the center and the only place that make Lotus fabric in Southeast Asia. These people’s living community is entirely based on the water. Should you feel the need to walk on land, going for wine tasting is the perfect excuse. Just nearby the locality is a vineyard where you and your significant other can savor locally grown and produced wines while admiring their stunning sunset.
Catch some fun under the sun in Con Dao Archipelago, Vietnam
If Ha Long Bay is Vietnam’s emerald crown jewel, Con Dao is its topaz promise ring. Located southeast of the country, 230 km from Saigon, its separation from the mainland has helped preserve the island in pristine condition. A perfect romantic getaway for couples starts off with staying in the luxurious Six Senses resort. Take cue from former couple ‘Brangelina’ who stayed in the resort last 2011, and book more than an overnight stay here. Should you find this experience beyond your budget, Con Dao has more to offer than just luxury resort.
Con Dao Archipelago
French architecture and influence is quite evident in the island, so finding cafes by the sea promenade is no surprise. The quaint setting of the island with its palm trees, photo perfect beaches, and warm weather does not mean that the place has no significant history. Quite the contrary, you and your partner may tour around this former prison island and delve deeper into its role from the late 1800s to mid-1900s. You may also opt to skip this storytelling and just head to the beaches and bays that dot around this archipelago. The remoteness of the island means you get to enjoy swimming and feeling the sand on your toes semi-privately. You can also go snorkeling, scuba diving, or learn to ride a motorbike and admire the sensational views from its coastal roads. As the sun lits the sky on fire before retreating for the night, make a toast with your beloved and promise each other to have a happier ending than Brangelina has. Jean Beliveau Jersey Derek Watt Jersey
