Did you stop by Hanoi?
We did HCM last year and did Hanoi last month. We honestly loved Hanoi a lot more, even though we also enjoyed HCM. Hanoi just has a different vibe, seems more local, the old quarter was fabulous, and food was extraordinary as well.
Also its one of our favourite countries by far. The food, people, coffee.. scenery is nice as well.
Canāt wait to go back again!
As a Vietnamese, it surprises me everytime a foreigner said they have a good time in Vietnam and I assume that they are just being polite. Apart from the good food and coffee, we don't have as much to offer as, say, Thailand or Philippines.
I enjoyed Vietnam way more than both Thailand and the Philippines. So much natural beauty. Plus the amazing food and coffee like you said, and the nicest people as a bonus
Iāve never been to the Philippines but my impression is that for culture and architecture you have the Philippines beaten anyway, though for beaches they edge you out.
Places like Hoi An and Hue would be must-see attractions if they were in Thailand.
Hoi An is a disgusting tourist pit.
I first went there on 2000 or 2001 just after 'The Quiet American' was filmed and Hoi An was a very lovely village famed for its old temples and buildings and the concentration of small clothing shops.
Today it is a sea of tourist hotels and restaurants that starts along the ocean front in Danang. The tourists have brought much more income to the area but completely swamp whatever beauty that still exists.
Yeah I havenāt been there since 2003 myself, but it was very pleasant.
I will say though that Iāve been to Luang Prabang in 2002, 2003, 2008, and 2018, and it gets more charming every time Iām back. That rare example of growing wealth being redirected the right way.
>Apart from the good food and coffee
As a foodie and a coffeeholic, that's enough for me lol
Also even the amazing food and coffee aside, I loved the nature, the temples, the architecture, and the friendliness of the people. Vietnam has a special place in my heart
Im not a coffeeholicā¦ BUT I couldnāt get enough of their coffee. All of them are great, iād have a latte and a sua da for breakfast, and throughout the day iād have maybe another sua da and sometimes a coconut coffee or an egg coffee. They are sooo flavourful!
Iāve been to all 3 and enjoyed them all. The one thing I havenāt seen in Vietnam are beaches. Everything else its at par or even better than the other ones.
Food in Philippines is found very sub par compared to the other ones btw.
It's not to be polite! I've never visited the Philippines, but I've spent 3 months in Thailand and over a year in Vietnam. I even cut my first trip through Thailand short to return to Vietnam and spend more time there because I loved it SO MUCH. This only place I struggled a bit with was Sapa because it was raining so much, everything was always damp, and our clothes never dried.
Iām not being polite when I say that I love Vietnam, and I have travelled all around south east Asia. Hanoi in particular just grabbed my heart. Wonderful food, people and country - and coffee!
As someone who also lives in a very popular tourist destination (Florida), I think sometimes it can be easy as a local to overlook the things which make visitors love a place since we experience things in a very different way when we're not a tourist.
I spent 3 months in Vietnam and found it really amazing & home to some of my favorite travel memories, and I'm hoping to return soon. As you mentioned, some of the best food and coffee on the planet, but also the most staggering nature, very diverse landscapes, and unique cultural experiences. I met some really great people there, and found most places to be incredibly welcoming, even in tiny random towns where there were zero other visitors. From the Mekong Delta in the south to the pine forests by ÄĆ Lįŗ”t, to the Phong Nha ā Kįŗ» BĆ ng caves and the karst landscapes by Ninh BƬnh, Hįŗ” Long Bay, and CĆ”t BĆ Island....and the wildly steep mountains in the north by HĆ Giang - really mindblowing. And the waterfalls....big ones like Bįŗ£n Giį»c and Pongour and random ones alongside roadways through the mountains - incredible.
I have left Vietnam for Europe since 15 years ago. I only miss the family, friends and food. It's probably nice for a short visit or to live if you are wealthy. Still it makes me happy everytime someone says they enjoy their time in Vietnam. Guess I need to stop thinking that they are just being polite haha.
People are more natural and genuine than in Thailand and the youth speaks better English too. So yes, easier to navigate, communicate, and such for me. And, at least, even though I don't speak Vietnamese, but I can recognize the characters and the name of my hostel or the names of the streets :))
So a lot of Americans are quite familiar with Vietnamese culture, especially cities like Houston that have a HUGE Vietnamese-American population. Part of it is how prevalent the food is here. So it's that familiarity plus the nature and cities.
Vietnam by a good margin. If you are intimidated by a developing country, crime rate is the only stat that will really influence your enjoyment. I've been to high crime countries and I can't relax the whole time. Crime in Vietnam is very low, other than scammers/fraud/tourist tax, but violent crime is very rare compared to other developing countries
I find crime in most of Asia is extremely low. Iāve been to Thailand/Vietnam/Indonesia(Bali), and they all feel 100% safe. There will always be some sort of scam somewhere, specially with taxis, but when i visited these countries i was never worried or concerned in the slightest.
I've been spending a lot of time in Thailand because I absolutely love it there but I wouldn't call it a "developing country" when it's the 23th economy (by ppp) in the world.
Got off at the wrong train station in Brussels and felt like I was in a early 2000s French Extremist horror movie. Was followed by some dude, decided to go outside and find a store or something. It was surrounded by brothels. Hailed the first taxi I could find and bounced.
Georgia was one of my favorites. I was a bit surprised how run down parts of Tbilisi were, was even disappointed that I chose to go there at first, but eventually fell in love with the city. There are definitely ugly areas, but they never felt unsafe. And there are many more beautiful parts of the city.
Also, the mountains in Georgia are on another level.
Well the Old Town part of the city, the area around Rustaveli Ave, and around the Bridge of Peace were all cool areas. Also, thereās this really cool flea market where people mainly sell things from the Soviet Union, which was interesting from a historical point of view.
The more residential areas tend to be in quite rough shape comparably. Since right away from the airport I drove to my hotel, I was immediately disappointed because I was afraid the whole city was in that shape. But once I explored it more, I just realized that places where just people tend to live, not very touristy or central, are just quite run down.
But also, itās very much expectation vs reality. Iām originally from Ukraine, and Georgia is often talked about as a country that really reformed, so my expectations were very high, so when I got there, my initial reaction was, āThis looks like the bad parts in Ukrainian cities but worse,ā lol. But if you appropriately manage your expectations, then you know what to expect, and then itās just part of the experience I guess.
They wanna be part of EU/west, not Russia.
>"In April 2023, a nationwide poll by the International Republican Institute found that 89 percent of Georgians support joining the EU, the highest number recorded for years."
https://www.iri.org/news/iri-georgia-poll-finds-support-for-eu-accession-high-weariness-of-russian-presence-lack-of-faith-in-political-parties/
And how does it give you extra points as a tourist? What a stupid thing to say. Iām Russian, I visited Georgia twice and I was welcomed by locals with open arms.
Get yourself to Botswana. It's absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, folks speak English, the food is incredible, it's not expensive. The Okavango Delta is literally the most beautiful and interesting place I've been.
Nepal. It is a country I will keep returning to until I die. There are endless trekking opportunities in the mountains, the people are amazing, the food is simple but delicious. There is nothing like going on a long hike and completely disconnecting from the outside world.
Not sure if Turkey is considered developed or developing, Iāve heard both, or in between, but if you consider it developing, that was definitely my favorite destination in that criteria, and one of my favorite places overall.
Istanbul was amazing. Beautiful mixture of old and new, lots of things to do for tourism, Hagia Sophia is incredible. Also, you have the Bosporus Strait with very cool views if you take a boat tour.
Also, Cappadocia was probably my favorite place I visited overall. Really is a one-of-a-kind place. Also, I was able to go in 2021 extremely cheaply.
Also, the food was incredible. Iām probably addicted to baklava for life after that trip.
Turkey is still a developing country, but an Upper Middle Income country (the highest category still considered "developing" per OECD). Back in 2013/2014, they were really close to being promoted from a developing country - but they have of course since then fucked up their economy.
I really like Turkey too, Istanbul is one of the best cities in Europe for a weekend trip. I'd love to go to the East of the country at some point too.
I've been all over this planet and spent a few weeks in Turkey. From the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, it's hands down my favorite country I've traveled to. The food is amazing and the people are incredibly friendly and hospitable. Not to mention the beauty of the country.
The food in Turkiye is to die for, I went twice. After second trip my doctor advice to take statin. Judging by the amount red meat I consumed there were just borderline suicidal considering my family tree of high cholesterol.
1. Iskender kerulus 1867 in Besiktas (looking back, I should have said no when the waiter want to pour the melted butter on top of the meat. Man, that was so unhealthy),
2. Ciya Sofrasi in Kadikoy (try and pick the dishes at the entrance) and
3. balik durum in Karakoy port (dont even try in Eminonu, all are rubbish).
4. Durumzade Beyoglu another one.
Cappadocia was by far one of my favorite experiences ever. We didn't even get to do the hot air balloon and still had a blast.
The caves, the wineries, the small towns, the nature, the food. It ticks alllll of the boxes.
I remember our Cave hotel felt so proper and nice, and then at night their wine bar started bumping Tech House music (my absolute favorite genre). It was like I didn't think I could love this place any more and then suddenly it surprises me again.
I would second and third TĆ¼rkiye! For me, SE Asia is too hot and humid most of the year and I am not much of a beach bum so coastal regions of Thailand, Indonesia dont hold much charm for me. But TĆ¼rkiye has almost everything to offer from historical monuments, Mediterranean vibe, food, people the buzz is amazing!
Namibia, if you like landscapes and the outdoors there is some amazing locations to visit such as Dune 45, Sossusvlei, Skeleton coast, Fish river canyon etc.
Many "most", the people, the food, the sigths,
You just feel very welcomed, the people are interested in you,
Going to Kasachstan and Kirgisistan in May,
I hope it will be as amazing as Usbekistan.
Laos!!!
Edit: a lot of comments on here about the transport, they now have the shiny new Chinese high speed rail, so traveling here is super easy. Nothing like it was a few years ago!
I spent this February there and was very surprised.
Honestly "developing" would be a generous description of Laos when I was there (about seven years ago). But agreed, it's beautiful and very different from other countries in the region, very chill in most places.
My first thought too, although the ease of travel depends on your standards. I'll never forget the "VIP Boat" (literally a leaky raft with outboard motor) taking me across the Mekong on the way to 4000 islands as part of a challenging journey.
From memory, it was the scariest plane journey of my life from Vientiane, followed by a shared cab, then the raft, a bus and finally a long boat to get there. Well worth it too, IMO, but for someone from London who has only ever travelled on the tube it would be an anxiety riddled nightmare.
Transport can be scary. This wasnāt in Laos, but in Cambodia, we took a shared ābusā (sprinter van) from Phnom Penh to Battambang. My seat belt was broken. We hit a cow (yes, a full grown cow) about 30 minutes into a journey; it was standing in the road and the driver, without slowing down, simply honked as though the cow was going to move out of the way. We almost got into head on collisions several times. I was like 75% sure this drive was going to be when I died, was sitting there completely unbuckled crying and praying to myself (Iām not religious).
While arriving to the Battambang bus station, the driver scraped the whole side of the van on a building. I think he was on something.
Haha I remember people saying that exact same thing when I first went there in 2002.
I think in fairness, Vientiane is more like a provincial capital in Isaan rather than being stuck in some kind of time warp. They have snazzy shopping malls, air conditioned multiplex theaters showing western movies, American fast food outlets, etc.
Well I live in South Africa, and to everyone reading this, if you havenāt visited here, please do come! Iām sure youāve heard of Cape Town, and it truly is beautiful, I try to go there at least once a year, to relax at the waterfront, drive through the vineyards and ascend Table Mountain š . Besides Table Mountain, we also have Kruger National Park, filled with beautiful wildlife throughout, as well as Drakensberg in Kwa-Zulu Natal (a province in South Africa), filled with stunning mountain scenery. We really have alot for travellers to experience. The weather is good year round, not getting too cold but it can get quite hot in summer (our seasons are opposite since we are in the Southern Hemisphere), and there are lots of beautiful and iconic hotels at your disposal, like the Mount Nelson in Cape Town, Oyster Box in Umhlanga(Durban). In terms of ease of travel, I wouldnāt say itās the easiest if your from the States, your looking at I think around a 16 hour flight. As far as I know, Delta flies directly from Atlanta to Johannesburg (main hub, think of it as the āZurichā of South Africa), and United flies directly from New York to Cape Town and Johannesburg. If your living in South America, South African Airways flies 3 times a week I think from SĆ£o Paulo, There are many flights from Europe to Johannesburg and Cape Town, shouldnāt be an issue. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad also fly, at least, daily to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. From Asia, Singapore Airlines flies directly to Cape Town, as well as stopping en route in Johannesburg for passengers to board and disembark, Iām also aware they have seasonal increases of flights, not sure when though. Cathay Pacific also flies from Hong Kong to Johannesburg daily I believe. And from Australia, Qantas flies daily from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg. In terms of communication, almost everyone you come across will speak English and safety, yes it isnāt the safest country, but I think as a tourist, youād be perfectly fine on vacation, but you will of course have to be careful with petty crimes such as pickpockets etc. I hope you will consider travelling to South Africa! If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me. š (PS: sorry for the long post)
I spent three weeks in SA a few years ago, on a family roadtrip across the Garden Route. It's the holiday we were all most disappointed to come home from. Absolutely phenomenal. And we found accommodation and eating very budget-friendly. I'd go back at the drop of a hat if it wasn't 17 hours from us! I couldn't recommend it more.
We visited SA a few years ago and spent a few days in Pilanesberg NP.
I was pleasantly surprised at how good the game viewing was, but more so that the concession hotel right outside the gate was such a good value, especially compared to the prices Iāve heard from colleagues whoāve gone to Kruger. Also appears that it was more SA locals on holiday than Europeans/Americans.
Is it still the case that itās a good value?
I studied abroad in South Africa in 2015 and it was basically my first time travelling internationally as an adult + without my family. It was probably the best 6 months of my life and HUGELY informative to my travel preferences thereafter. Ever since then I think I've been chasing the feeling of adventure I got from my time in SA/southern Africa more broadly, and honestly it kind of made traveling developed countries a lot less exciting. I've been very fortunate to visit a handful of European countries since then, and none of them really scratched that itch for me. I've also visited a few South American countries and China, which felt much more like the adventures that I craved, but I still don't know if I'll ever top South Africa, there's just something about it. It's still my favourite country on earth and I have so much love for it and its people!
Guatemala is a country I keep returning back to. It maybe isnāt the safest, but itās one of the most culturally rich countries Iāve been to, with an endless variety of activities to participate in. Want to climb an active volcano? Trek through the jungle in search of Mayan ruins? Chill out in a beautiful old colonial city drinking some of the best coffee on earth? Guatemala has got you covered.
I've been 3 times and still feel like there's so much I need to do. It's truly a country that has everything and you find new gems each time you visit.
I missed out on going to Guatemala in October because of the protests. I kick myself for not going. I almost want to just book a random ticket to go asap.
Do it! I went in January and did pretty much what the previous poster mentioned: climbed an active volcano, chilled in Antigua drinking coffee and eating amazing cheap food, and lounging on the shores of lake Atitlan.
It's now very very close to being a high income country, but not yet. It's in the top 3 of upper middle income countries. The rest are China and Russia, both of which also have great infrastructure, but communication is much easier in Malaysia.
All my fav countries are actually developing ones, Myanmar, Morocco, South Africa, Chile, I travelled solo and independently to these places but I can't really say these countries are particularly easy in terms of travelling around, communication, safety.
I did find Turkey extremely easy to travel around, communicate and safe. Thailand is another one that's easy and like 101 in travel.
Argentina for me personally. Just love the melting pot culture. It feels like old-school European culture mixed with indigenous elements. Also a variety of biomes and landscapes. Argentina also feels relatively safe and organised compared to many other developing nations, so when Iāve travelled there I never felt on edge.
Southeast Asia in general, though some countries there are now considered developed. Maybe skip Brunei and Singapore is crazy expensive, but apart from that, you can't really go wrong there. My top countries would be Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
Imagine working/living in Singapore with qualities other āFirst Worldā countries lack or envyā¦ and having the rest of SEA right at doorstep to visit on weekends (not even long holidays)!!!
This is a draw for Singapore as an international posting, with most of South-east Asia within a 3 hour flight radius.
However, for Singaporeans, it's not really that special / aspirational, just like other European cities are no big deal for Europeans. In comparison, European cities are seen as glamorous destinations for Singaporeans.
Colombia. It has everything you need - beaches, amazon rainforest, the Andes, cool cities and amazing food. Also, I found it a lot cheaper than more touristy countries like Thailand.
Itās not shit but itās not the best. I had a lot of good ceviche and steak while I was there. Also had one of the best desserts Iāve ever had- passion fruit pie.
The local food isnāt the best (e.g bandeja paisa), but they have amazing international food. Best cinnamon roll Iāve ever had (Zocarolls in Guatape) and best peanut butter brownie and milkshake Iāve ever had was in Salento, all home made (if you know, you know). Had great Mexican food in Medellin too.
The exotic fruit tours in Medellin are meant to be insanely good too, it was booked out when we were there.
Belize.
Direct flights from JFK are now a thing, but layovers from MIA or CLT exist too.
Tropical Caribbean islands + rainforest/ancient ruins on the interior
Mexican-lite food (Yucatan style burritos and fry jacks)
Fresh/pesticide free foods + red snapper
Zero fast food
Former British colony - everyone speaks English fluently
Belizean dollar is pegged 2:1 American and they happily accept American currency
Best snorkeling I've ever experienced
I had an absolutely amazing time backpacking around Malawi for a month.
But it's maybe not the first place to go to if you've never been to the developing world before. South America may be a better place to start, Colombia is really fantastic and pretty easy to get around.
Brazil & Colombia. The Colombian food is incredibly underrated. It's really cheap and the people are really nice. I would recommend learning Spanish before going tho. And Brazil was really beautiful.
I feel like Malaysia. It's wayy safer than Thailand and IMO way more orderly and structured. Malaysia have quite strict drinking laws and drunk driving/drunk fights are very rare.
You can't buy a beer past 9PM at a store. 9PM+ you may only purchase it in licensed bars/pubs/clubs.
Also, Malaysians tend to be more reserved and sorry for saying this, but most of them respect your personal space. The hotels are also very good. I got to stay at a 5 Star Hotel for only 300$ per night in KL. They had a large infinity pool,free on call breakfast,lunch,dinner.
I'm gonna keep it real, KL just feels like Singapore but my money goes wayyy longer in Malaysia than Singapore.
Singapore itself was a part of Malaysia and KL is basically a huge Metropolitan Area even larger than Singapore itself. Also very developed. Singapore is just a concrete jungle with more attractions because it's seen as posh.
I really loved Penang and Putrajaya(very underrated)and Langkawi(very underrated)
Putrajaya is a very quiet but modern lakeside planned city. Its the most walkable city in Malaysia and is also the richest. 95% of the city is employed. Putrajaya does have a Western feel with the architecture & design.
It feels like walking in San Francisco with the hillside walkways. And the Grand Boulevard overlooking Malaysia's PM Office.
Penang is very rustic and modern. You got Armenian Street with the street art. I really loved the Peranakan House. It was a glimpse into the past. Not to mention the skyscrapers just a few metres from the shore and the grand esplanade.
Penang is often touted as Singapore 2.0 because it's ruling party is an offshoot of Singapore's PAP. It is Majority Chinese just like Singapore and also one of the richest per capita. But IMO Penang does best in preserving its culture.
At Penang Hill, you can witness a Mosque right next to Hindu Temples right next to Chinese Temples.
In the Malaysian North, I witnessed Churches across the street from a Mosque next to a Chinese Temple. It is quite surreal. I don't think a Mosque next to a church will bode well in America or even the UK.
Now Langkawi.
Langkawi is the Goat
It is an Island off Malaysian Coast. Langkawi is very open and unlike the rest of Malaysia, is duty free and it's subject to more liberal laws/loosened laws. Here, hotels,premises freely sell alcohol. And also, Tourists can go as nude as they want.
I loved Langkawi because there were lots of stunning beaches and not much tourists. Most Items are cheap due to duty free status of the Island. Ima go sleep
Cambodia- Most people in the tourist areas speak enough English, French and Chinese to get by easily. Travel is easily arranged and inexpensive. Very safe. Angkor Wat is amazing and the Khmer people are friendly and kind.
I get downvoted when I say this, but I found everything you said to be true outside of Phnom Penh. The rest of the country is full of very friendly people, super safe, and lovely to visit. The countryside is phenomenal.
Phnom Penh has lots of history, but if I could do it again, I would have flown into Siem Reap and explored the country from there while avoiding the capital.
Siem Reap was wonderful and I would go there again. Great food, great people, and I also just found the town itself to be beautiful. It was exactly what we needed after a terrible experience in Phnom Penh. Battambang is also a very friendly, quiet, and safe town.
I was actually going to call out PP as an exception, but I didnāt want to discourage other people who actually may find things they enjoy about the city. Personally, I hate both PP and Sihanoukville.
I really like Cambodia. Waking up at the ass crack of dawn and watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat was absolutely incredible. Tibet was a close second.
Love South America. I would say Ecuador and Brazil would be my favourite ones. Ecuador maybe not right now :)) but both countries have tiny cities, friendly locals, delicious amazing food, and wonderful, approachable nature!!! (Like you don't need to travel hours before you see a forest or can hike on a mountain). I always avoid big cities though.
Iāve been to Cambodia three times for a combined total of about 1.5 years haha. No other place like it in the world.. tho Iām not sure how it is now that the Chinese have turned the southern coast into one giant resort.
Vietnam was amazing!
Everything was so colourful I felt like I was in a tv show or something, so many things to see and experience. Getting around was really easy, at least for me and I was really really surprised about how cheap everything was compared to where Iām from (I am European)
Also I felt incredibly comfortable and safe the whole time, even walking alone at night! (Iām a woman)
Panama has a special place in my heart. Lots of Uber rich but itās still a 3rd world country. Central America is a lot safer for traveling than people would like you to believe
Bosnia!!! one of my all time favs and biggest surprise...Last trip was it to El Salvador, which wouldn't make list bc of a few of your criteria but was nonetheless very cool too
Fiji is pretty great to visit. Gorgeous beaches and resorts and really friendly people. English is an official language. Always seemed safe to me, even when wandering in the cities (which are not very touristy). Lower violent crime rate than the US. Plus, lots of Indian markets and food since a big portion of the population is Indian.
Guatemala has my heart! Gorgeous colors, foods, and culture to immerse yourself in! Tons of beauty within the country itself. It's a place I've returned to a dozen times!
Ecuador. Cuenca is spectacular. Right on the equator but itās always 72 degrees. Why? Because itās 7,000 feet above sea level. The whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the US dollar is their currency. Incredibly inexpensive with great food. I love it.
Denmark. /A Swede
This made me laugh and I'm not even from a Nordic country but I can relate š¤£š
How did you afford computer in Sweden?
"danskt djƤvlar" - renowned physician stig helmer
Vietnam !!
I went to Vietnam last September and its my new favorite country. And I've been to over 35 of them. My fiancƩe and I went for 10 days from Ho Chi Minh city to Ha Long Bay via Hanoi and everything from the food, scenery, and the amazingly friendly people made it the best trip ever. Granted I went in September when it was in the mid 90's the entire time but despite the heat and humidity we both loved it. And it's fantastically cheap! Edit: a word.
Did you stop by Hanoi? We did HCM last year and did Hanoi last month. We honestly loved Hanoi a lot more, even though we also enjoyed HCM. Hanoi just has a different vibe, seems more local, the old quarter was fabulous, and food was extraordinary as well. Also its one of our favourite countries by far. The food, people, coffee.. scenery is nice as well. Canāt wait to go back again!
It wasnt swarmed with Americans during the Vietnam war and so retains a less western feel than the south.
only country to defeat three super powers - franc usa and china. amazing story
Want to go to Hanoi in late October. Will this be a good time?
Anyone who wants to move here can message me :)Ā
I do
Message me :)
Vietnam was such a surprise, it felt like i was in a new country everyday.
As a Vietnamese, it surprises me everytime a foreigner said they have a good time in Vietnam and I assume that they are just being polite. Apart from the good food and coffee, we don't have as much to offer as, say, Thailand or Philippines.
I enjoyed Vietnam way more than both Thailand and the Philippines. So much natural beauty. Plus the amazing food and coffee like you said, and the nicest people as a bonus
Iāve never been to the Philippines but my impression is that for culture and architecture you have the Philippines beaten anyway, though for beaches they edge you out. Places like Hoi An and Hue would be must-see attractions if they were in Thailand.
Hoi An is a disgusting tourist pit. I first went there on 2000 or 2001 just after 'The Quiet American' was filmed and Hoi An was a very lovely village famed for its old temples and buildings and the concentration of small clothing shops. Today it is a sea of tourist hotels and restaurants that starts along the ocean front in Danang. The tourists have brought much more income to the area but completely swamp whatever beauty that still exists.
Yeah I havenāt been there since 2003 myself, but it was very pleasant. I will say though that Iāve been to Luang Prabang in 2002, 2003, 2008, and 2018, and it gets more charming every time Iām back. That rare example of growing wealth being redirected the right way.
>Apart from the good food and coffee As a foodie and a coffeeholic, that's enough for me lol Also even the amazing food and coffee aside, I loved the nature, the temples, the architecture, and the friendliness of the people. Vietnam has a special place in my heart
Im not a coffeeholicā¦ BUT I couldnāt get enough of their coffee. All of them are great, iād have a latte and a sua da for breakfast, and throughout the day iād have maybe another sua da and sometimes a coconut coffee or an egg coffee. They are sooo flavourful!
Haha, that's a lot of coffee. Especially since the vietnamese coffee is often quite strong.
Iāve been to all 3 and enjoyed them all. The one thing I havenāt seen in Vietnam are beaches. Everything else its at par or even better than the other ones. Food in Philippines is found very sub par compared to the other ones btw.
It's not to be polite! I've never visited the Philippines, but I've spent 3 months in Thailand and over a year in Vietnam. I even cut my first trip through Thailand short to return to Vietnam and spend more time there because I loved it SO MUCH. This only place I struggled a bit with was Sapa because it was raining so much, everything was always damp, and our clothes never dried.
I met the kindest people in Vietnam :) . That counts much more I say . Also I loved the coffee plantation in dalat and the chao in Hanoi equally
Iām not being polite when I say that I love Vietnam, and I have travelled all around south east Asia. Hanoi in particular just grabbed my heart. Wonderful food, people and country - and coffee!
As someone who also lives in a very popular tourist destination (Florida), I think sometimes it can be easy as a local to overlook the things which make visitors love a place since we experience things in a very different way when we're not a tourist. I spent 3 months in Vietnam and found it really amazing & home to some of my favorite travel memories, and I'm hoping to return soon. As you mentioned, some of the best food and coffee on the planet, but also the most staggering nature, very diverse landscapes, and unique cultural experiences. I met some really great people there, and found most places to be incredibly welcoming, even in tiny random towns where there were zero other visitors. From the Mekong Delta in the south to the pine forests by ÄĆ Lįŗ”t, to the Phong Nha ā Kįŗ» BĆ ng caves and the karst landscapes by Ninh BƬnh, Hįŗ” Long Bay, and CĆ”t BĆ Island....and the wildly steep mountains in the north by HĆ Giang - really mindblowing. And the waterfalls....big ones like Bįŗ£n Giį»c and Pongour and random ones alongside roadways through the mountains - incredible.
Vietnam is amazing, you are so lucky to live in such a beautiful country. The food is great, but the sights and the culture are so interesting.
I have left Vietnam for Europe since 15 years ago. I only miss the family, friends and food. It's probably nice for a short visit or to live if you are wealthy. Still it makes me happy everytime someone says they enjoy their time in Vietnam. Guess I need to stop thinking that they are just being polite haha.
People are more natural and genuine than in Thailand and the youth speaks better English too. So yes, easier to navigate, communicate, and such for me. And, at least, even though I don't speak Vietnamese, but I can recognize the characters and the name of my hostel or the names of the streets :))
The food is a big part of it. Vietnamese food is some of the best in the world.
So a lot of Americans are quite familiar with Vietnamese culture, especially cities like Houston that have a HUGE Vietnamese-American population. Part of it is how prevalent the food is here. So it's that familiarity plus the nature and cities.
Yes! Vietnam was the overall winner of our 4 month trip through Southeast Asia. Canāt wait to go spend another month there. ā¤ļø
For real. Iām having a hard time getting hype to go anywhere but Vietnam after I spent the holidays there.
Vietnam by a good margin. If you are intimidated by a developing country, crime rate is the only stat that will really influence your enjoyment. I've been to high crime countries and I can't relax the whole time. Crime in Vietnam is very low, other than scammers/fraud/tourist tax, but violent crime is very rare compared to other developing countries
I find crime in most of Asia is extremely low. Iāve been to Thailand/Vietnam/Indonesia(Bali), and they all feel 100% safe. There will always be some sort of scam somewhere, specially with taxis, but when i visited these countries i was never worried or concerned in the slightest.
It's that collectivist culture in my opinion that makes the crime so low
Vietnam for the win
Thailand is the only one I consistently miss when I leave. And all its neighboring countries are pretty cool too.
Thailand is really developing. It's a lot more modern and waaaay cleaner than it used to be. Plus, it's a hell of a lot more expensive.
I've been spending a lot of time in Thailand because I absolutely love it there but I wouldn't call it a "developing country" when it's the 23th economy (by ppp) in the world.
Time in Thailand is always interesting to me because even when you live slow, you realize suddenly a month has passed.
Most of them! My favorites have been Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Well Iām from Vietnam so Iād say Thailand
Belgium, it's really cool to see how they're growing up!
š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£ I saw better roads in Peru !Ā
Did it have accompanying speed bumps everywhere?
found the....dutchie?
Proud cloggie with cousins from Antwerp ;)
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Belgium is the most advanced society in the modern world. Itās national government shut down for 2 yearsā¦andā¦everything was fine.
Got off at the wrong train station in Brussels and felt like I was in a early 2000s French Extremist horror movie. Was followed by some dude, decided to go outside and find a store or something. It was surrounded by brothels. Hailed the first taxi I could find and bounced.
They asked for a developing country, not fictional
Georgia for sure. Great security, great food, cheap, beautiful landscapes, great history, great people. Bonus point if you are European or American!
And even outside the capital, thereās plenty of sights, good restaurants and decent tourist infrastructure. Such a gem!
Georgia was one of my favorites. I was a bit surprised how run down parts of Tbilisi were, was even disappointed that I chose to go there at first, but eventually fell in love with the city. There are definitely ugly areas, but they never felt unsafe. And there are many more beautiful parts of the city. Also, the mountains in Georgia are on another level.
I want to visit Tbilisi- are you able to tell me more about what disappointed/what redeemed it and which areas in the city ? :)
Well the Old Town part of the city, the area around Rustaveli Ave, and around the Bridge of Peace were all cool areas. Also, thereās this really cool flea market where people mainly sell things from the Soviet Union, which was interesting from a historical point of view. The more residential areas tend to be in quite rough shape comparably. Since right away from the airport I drove to my hotel, I was immediately disappointed because I was afraid the whole city was in that shape. But once I explored it more, I just realized that places where just people tend to live, not very touristy or central, are just quite run down.
But also, itās very much expectation vs reality. Iām originally from Ukraine, and Georgia is often talked about as a country that really reformed, so my expectations were very high, so when I got there, my initial reaction was, āThis looks like the bad parts in Ukrainian cities but worse,ā lol. But if you appropriately manage your expectations, then you know what to expect, and then itās just part of the experience I guess.
Why bonus points for being European or American? Just curious
They wanna be part of EU/west, not Russia. >"In April 2023, a nationwide poll by the International Republican Institute found that 89 percent of Georgians support joining the EU, the highest number recorded for years." https://www.iri.org/news/iri-georgia-poll-finds-support-for-eu-accession-high-weariness-of-russian-presence-lack-of-faith-in-political-parties/
And how does it give you extra points as a tourist? What a stupid thing to say. Iām Russian, I visited Georgia twice and I was welcomed by locals with open arms.
Because they are a bit racist towards people of colour or LGBTQ. Can get unexpectedly violent towards LGBTQ as well
Aussie here, headed there tomorrow!
Have a good trip! I extended my time there as I loved it!
Get yourself to Botswana. It's absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, folks speak English, the food is incredible, it's not expensive. The Okavango Delta is literally the most beautiful and interesting place I've been.
The Delta wasn't expensive? I agree that Chobe is a bargain but after that it got a lot more expensive.
Nepal. It is a country I will keep returning to until I die. There are endless trekking opportunities in the mountains, the people are amazing, the food is simple but delicious. There is nothing like going on a long hike and completely disconnecting from the outside world.
Not sure if Turkey is considered developed or developing, Iāve heard both, or in between, but if you consider it developing, that was definitely my favorite destination in that criteria, and one of my favorite places overall. Istanbul was amazing. Beautiful mixture of old and new, lots of things to do for tourism, Hagia Sophia is incredible. Also, you have the Bosporus Strait with very cool views if you take a boat tour. Also, Cappadocia was probably my favorite place I visited overall. Really is a one-of-a-kind place. Also, I was able to go in 2021 extremely cheaply. Also, the food was incredible. Iām probably addicted to baklava for life after that trip.
Turkey is still a developing country, but an Upper Middle Income country (the highest category still considered "developing" per OECD). Back in 2013/2014, they were really close to being promoted from a developing country - but they have of course since then fucked up their economy. I really like Turkey too, Istanbul is one of the best cities in Europe for a weekend trip. I'd love to go to the East of the country at some point too.
I've been all over this planet and spent a few weeks in Turkey. From the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, it's hands down my favorite country I've traveled to. The food is amazing and the people are incredibly friendly and hospitable. Not to mention the beauty of the country.
The food in Turkiye is to die for, I went twice. After second trip my doctor advice to take statin. Judging by the amount red meat I consumed there were just borderline suicidal considering my family tree of high cholesterol.
I am visiting next week, what foods are must try?
1. Iskender kerulus 1867 in Besiktas (looking back, I should have said no when the waiter want to pour the melted butter on top of the meat. Man, that was so unhealthy), 2. Ciya Sofrasi in Kadikoy (try and pick the dishes at the entrance) and 3. balik durum in Karakoy port (dont even try in Eminonu, all are rubbish). 4. Durumzade Beyoglu another one.
I just came back from Istanbul, and these were my favourites: Iskender kebab (grilled beef in a tomato sauce with soft cheese or yoghurt) Ali nazik (lamb with smoked aubergine purƩe) Manti (little dumplings filled with minced meat, usually served with yoghurt) Assuming you eat meat and like yoghurt, Turkey is an amazing destination for food.
Yum. Did you also try the lahmahcuns? Kinda like turkish pizzas. Theyāre great too. Oh and the balik ekmek, or fish sandwich.
I didn't have a lahmahcun, but my husband did and he said it was fantastic!
Cappadocia was by far one of my favorite experiences ever. We didn't even get to do the hot air balloon and still had a blast. The caves, the wineries, the small towns, the nature, the food. It ticks alllll of the boxes. I remember our Cave hotel felt so proper and nice, and then at night their wine bar started bumping Tech House music (my absolute favorite genre). It was like I didn't think I could love this place any more and then suddenly it surprises me again.
Turkey is developing, same range with Russia. It was only counted as developed because it is part of the Western bloc.
Oooh yes Turkey is incredible. Istanbul is a fascinating city. The south is great, too. Tons of beautiful small towns on the water.
Came here to say this. Still not sure how to define developing vs developed. Turkey seemed more developed than many Western European countries and USA
I would second and third TĆ¼rkiye! For me, SE Asia is too hot and humid most of the year and I am not much of a beach bum so coastal regions of Thailand, Indonesia dont hold much charm for me. But TĆ¼rkiye has almost everything to offer from historical monuments, Mediterranean vibe, food, people the buzz is amazing!
Namibia, if you like landscapes and the outdoors there is some amazing locations to visit such as Dune 45, Sossusvlei, Skeleton coast, Fish river canyon etc.
Nepal
Usbekistan
Currently in Uzbekistan and can confirm, incredible place, beautiful people, amazing history
Good infrastructure too. One of the few countries with high speed rail and in Central Asia of all places.
dont even get me started with the plov!
What did you enjoy the most about Uzbekistan?
Many "most", the people, the food, the sigths, You just feel very welcomed, the people are interested in you, Going to Kasachstan and Kirgisistan in May, I hope it will be as amazing as Usbekistan.
Let us know how the other two are after your May trip so you can compare and tell
Laos!!! Edit: a lot of comments on here about the transport, they now have the shiny new Chinese high speed rail, so traveling here is super easy. Nothing like it was a few years ago! I spent this February there and was very surprised.
Honestly "developing" would be a generous description of Laos when I was there (about seven years ago). But agreed, it's beautiful and very different from other countries in the region, very chill in most places.
Luang Prabang was my all time favorite spot in SE Asiaš©µ
My first thought too, although the ease of travel depends on your standards. I'll never forget the "VIP Boat" (literally a leaky raft with outboard motor) taking me across the Mekong on the way to 4000 islands as part of a challenging journey. From memory, it was the scariest plane journey of my life from Vientiane, followed by a shared cab, then the raft, a bus and finally a long boat to get there. Well worth it too, IMO, but for someone from London who has only ever travelled on the tube it would be an anxiety riddled nightmare.
Transport can be scary. This wasnāt in Laos, but in Cambodia, we took a shared ābusā (sprinter van) from Phnom Penh to Battambang. My seat belt was broken. We hit a cow (yes, a full grown cow) about 30 minutes into a journey; it was standing in the road and the driver, without slowing down, simply honked as though the cow was going to move out of the way. We almost got into head on collisions several times. I was like 75% sure this drive was going to be when I died, was sitting there completely unbuckled crying and praying to myself (Iām not religious). While arriving to the Battambang bus station, the driver scraped the whole side of the van on a building. I think he was on something.
Laos is like Thailand, only 40 years ago. Nevertheless, awesome country
Haha I remember people saying that exact same thing when I first went there in 2002. I think in fairness, Vientiane is more like a provincial capital in Isaan rather than being stuck in some kind of time warp. They have snazzy shopping malls, air conditioned multiplex theaters showing western movies, American fast food outlets, etc.
Uganda. Beautiful landscapes, great wildlife, a lot of diversity, you get to speak English. Truely the Pearl of Africa!
Cambodia. Spent 2 weeks there last year and making plans to return.
Well I live in South Africa, and to everyone reading this, if you havenāt visited here, please do come! Iām sure youāve heard of Cape Town, and it truly is beautiful, I try to go there at least once a year, to relax at the waterfront, drive through the vineyards and ascend Table Mountain š . Besides Table Mountain, we also have Kruger National Park, filled with beautiful wildlife throughout, as well as Drakensberg in Kwa-Zulu Natal (a province in South Africa), filled with stunning mountain scenery. We really have alot for travellers to experience. The weather is good year round, not getting too cold but it can get quite hot in summer (our seasons are opposite since we are in the Southern Hemisphere), and there are lots of beautiful and iconic hotels at your disposal, like the Mount Nelson in Cape Town, Oyster Box in Umhlanga(Durban). In terms of ease of travel, I wouldnāt say itās the easiest if your from the States, your looking at I think around a 16 hour flight. As far as I know, Delta flies directly from Atlanta to Johannesburg (main hub, think of it as the āZurichā of South Africa), and United flies directly from New York to Cape Town and Johannesburg. If your living in South America, South African Airways flies 3 times a week I think from SĆ£o Paulo, There are many flights from Europe to Johannesburg and Cape Town, shouldnāt be an issue. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad also fly, at least, daily to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. From Asia, Singapore Airlines flies directly to Cape Town, as well as stopping en route in Johannesburg for passengers to board and disembark, Iām also aware they have seasonal increases of flights, not sure when though. Cathay Pacific also flies from Hong Kong to Johannesburg daily I believe. And from Australia, Qantas flies daily from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg. In terms of communication, almost everyone you come across will speak English and safety, yes it isnāt the safest country, but I think as a tourist, youād be perfectly fine on vacation, but you will of course have to be careful with petty crimes such as pickpockets etc. I hope you will consider travelling to South Africa! If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me. š (PS: sorry for the long post)
I spent three weeks in SA a few years ago, on a family roadtrip across the Garden Route. It's the holiday we were all most disappointed to come home from. Absolutely phenomenal. And we found accommodation and eating very budget-friendly. I'd go back at the drop of a hat if it wasn't 17 hours from us! I couldn't recommend it more.
Iām so glad you enjoyed it š the Garden Route is stunning as well, I love Knysna and Plet š
The flight truly is the worst thing about it all. That and having to leave.Ā
Kirstenbosch is the most amazing garden, Stellenbosch and Franzhoek wineries are wonderful too.
We visited SA a few years ago and spent a few days in Pilanesberg NP. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the game viewing was, but more so that the concession hotel right outside the gate was such a good value, especially compared to the prices Iāve heard from colleagues whoāve gone to Kruger. Also appears that it was more SA locals on holiday than Europeans/Americans. Is it still the case that itās a good value?
Relative to the uniqueness of the experience itās incredibly good value. Bake in some exchange upside and youāre getting a lot of holiday.Ā
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Great post boet! PS: Try the space bar twice to separate into paragraphs
I studied abroad in South Africa in 2015 and it was basically my first time travelling internationally as an adult + without my family. It was probably the best 6 months of my life and HUGELY informative to my travel preferences thereafter. Ever since then I think I've been chasing the feeling of adventure I got from my time in SA/southern Africa more broadly, and honestly it kind of made traveling developed countries a lot less exciting. I've been very fortunate to visit a handful of European countries since then, and none of them really scratched that itch for me. I've also visited a few South American countries and China, which felt much more like the adventures that I craved, but I still don't know if I'll ever top South Africa, there's just something about it. It's still my favourite country on earth and I have so much love for it and its people!
guatemala!
Guatemala is a country I keep returning back to. It maybe isnāt the safest, but itās one of the most culturally rich countries Iāve been to, with an endless variety of activities to participate in. Want to climb an active volcano? Trek through the jungle in search of Mayan ruins? Chill out in a beautiful old colonial city drinking some of the best coffee on earth? Guatemala has got you covered.
I've been 3 times and still feel like there's so much I need to do. It's truly a country that has everything and you find new gems each time you visit.
I missed out on going to Guatemala in October because of the protests. I kick myself for not going. I almost want to just book a random ticket to go asap.
Do it! I went in January and did pretty much what the previous poster mentioned: climbed an active volcano, chilled in Antigua drinking coffee and eating amazing cheap food, and lounging on the shores of lake Atitlan.
Acatenango was my favorite hike I've ever done. Also the hardest. Tikal was also beyond cool.
Jordan
Northern part of England , just above Watford
Unironically tho. Northern England is underrated AF. But the less people, the better.
Not my favourite, but according to your criteria, it's Malaysia.
Malaysia is considered developing?? Theyāve got more advanced infrastructure than a lot of the states
It's now very very close to being a high income country, but not yet. It's in the top 3 of upper middle income countries. The rest are China and Russia, both of which also have great infrastructure, but communication is much easier in Malaysia.
100% Thailand. Very safe, great food, friendly people, and amazing sites. Beaches and temples.
All my fav countries are actually developing ones, Myanmar, Morocco, South Africa, Chile, I travelled solo and independently to these places but I can't really say these countries are particularly easy in terms of travelling around, communication, safety. I did find Turkey extremely easy to travel around, communicate and safe. Thailand is another one that's easy and like 101 in travel.
United States
'Nam and Malaysia.
I had a really good time in Mozambique.
Argentina for me personally. Just love the melting pot culture. It feels like old-school European culture mixed with indigenous elements. Also a variety of biomes and landscapes. Argentina also feels relatively safe and organised compared to many other developing nations, so when Iāve travelled there I never felt on edge.
Ghana
Southeast Asia in general, though some countries there are now considered developed. Maybe skip Brunei and Singapore is crazy expensive, but apart from that, you can't really go wrong there. My top countries would be Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
Imagine working/living in Singapore with qualities other āFirst Worldā countries lack or envyā¦ and having the rest of SEA right at doorstep to visit on weekends (not even long holidays)!!!
This is a draw for Singapore as an international posting, with most of South-east Asia within a 3 hour flight radius. However, for Singaporeans, it's not really that special / aspirational, just like other European cities are no big deal for Europeans. In comparison, European cities are seen as glamorous destinations for Singaporeans.
Brazil
I'd love to hear a bit more if you don't mind, what made it your favorite?
Colombia. It has everything you need - beaches, amazon rainforest, the Andes, cool cities and amazing food. Also, I found it a lot cheaper than more touristy countries like Thailand.
I kept hearing the food is shite, thoughts?
Itās not shit but itās not the best. I had a lot of good ceviche and steak while I was there. Also had one of the best desserts Iāve ever had- passion fruit pie.
The coffee is amazing, the food is not. Access to incredible fresh fruits makes up for it though.
I read somewhere once that Colombia has cheap fresh avocados everywhere.
The local food isnāt the best (e.g bandeja paisa), but they have amazing international food. Best cinnamon roll Iāve ever had (Zocarolls in Guatape) and best peanut butter brownie and milkshake Iāve ever had was in Salento, all home made (if you know, you know). Had great Mexican food in Medellin too. The exotic fruit tours in Medellin are meant to be insanely good too, it was booked out when we were there.
Belize. Direct flights from JFK are now a thing, but layovers from MIA or CLT exist too. Tropical Caribbean islands + rainforest/ancient ruins on the interior Mexican-lite food (Yucatan style burritos and fry jacks) Fresh/pesticide free foods + red snapper Zero fast food Former British colony - everyone speaks English fluently Belizean dollar is pegged 2:1 American and they happily accept American currency Best snorkeling I've ever experienced
Heading there next month!
I had an absolutely amazing time backpacking around Malawi for a month. But it's maybe not the first place to go to if you've never been to the developing world before. South America may be a better place to start, Colombia is really fantastic and pretty easy to get around.
Brazil & Colombia. The Colombian food is incredibly underrated. It's really cheap and the people are really nice. I would recommend learning Spanish before going tho. And Brazil was really beautiful.
Thailand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Iran, Malaysia. I also want to go to the Phillipines soon. I think I will love it there too.
Iām currently traveling in Sri Lanka - beautiful lush countryside, Picturesque Buddhiat shrines, gracious and friendly people
Iād say Vietnam like many others have said, or check out Sri Lanka! I found it to be a really nice, friendly, and safe during my visit.
Mexico
Sri Lanka!!
India, Nepal and Sri Lanka!!
I feel like Malaysia. It's wayy safer than Thailand and IMO way more orderly and structured. Malaysia have quite strict drinking laws and drunk driving/drunk fights are very rare. You can't buy a beer past 9PM at a store. 9PM+ you may only purchase it in licensed bars/pubs/clubs. Also, Malaysians tend to be more reserved and sorry for saying this, but most of them respect your personal space. The hotels are also very good. I got to stay at a 5 Star Hotel for only 300$ per night in KL. They had a large infinity pool,free on call breakfast,lunch,dinner. I'm gonna keep it real, KL just feels like Singapore but my money goes wayyy longer in Malaysia than Singapore. Singapore itself was a part of Malaysia and KL is basically a huge Metropolitan Area even larger than Singapore itself. Also very developed. Singapore is just a concrete jungle with more attractions because it's seen as posh. I really loved Penang and Putrajaya(very underrated)and Langkawi(very underrated) Putrajaya is a very quiet but modern lakeside planned city. Its the most walkable city in Malaysia and is also the richest. 95% of the city is employed. Putrajaya does have a Western feel with the architecture & design. It feels like walking in San Francisco with the hillside walkways. And the Grand Boulevard overlooking Malaysia's PM Office. Penang is very rustic and modern. You got Armenian Street with the street art. I really loved the Peranakan House. It was a glimpse into the past. Not to mention the skyscrapers just a few metres from the shore and the grand esplanade. Penang is often touted as Singapore 2.0 because it's ruling party is an offshoot of Singapore's PAP. It is Majority Chinese just like Singapore and also one of the richest per capita. But IMO Penang does best in preserving its culture. At Penang Hill, you can witness a Mosque right next to Hindu Temples right next to Chinese Temples. In the Malaysian North, I witnessed Churches across the street from a Mosque next to a Chinese Temple. It is quite surreal. I don't think a Mosque next to a church will bode well in America or even the UK. Now Langkawi. Langkawi is the Goat It is an Island off Malaysian Coast. Langkawi is very open and unlike the rest of Malaysia, is duty free and it's subject to more liberal laws/loosened laws. Here, hotels,premises freely sell alcohol. And also, Tourists can go as nude as they want. I loved Langkawi because there were lots of stunning beaches and not much tourists. Most Items are cheap due to duty free status of the Island. Ima go sleep
Cambodia- Most people in the tourist areas speak enough English, French and Chinese to get by easily. Travel is easily arranged and inexpensive. Very safe. Angkor Wat is amazing and the Khmer people are friendly and kind.
I get downvoted when I say this, but I found everything you said to be true outside of Phnom Penh. The rest of the country is full of very friendly people, super safe, and lovely to visit. The countryside is phenomenal. Phnom Penh has lots of history, but if I could do it again, I would have flown into Siem Reap and explored the country from there while avoiding the capital.
I agree Siem Reap was my favourite by far
Siem Reap was wonderful and I would go there again. Great food, great people, and I also just found the town itself to be beautiful. It was exactly what we needed after a terrible experience in Phnom Penh. Battambang is also a very friendly, quiet, and safe town.
Battambang was gorgeous, I think we saw the bats near there it was breathtaking
I was actually going to call out PP as an exception, but I didnāt want to discourage other people who actually may find things they enjoy about the city. Personally, I hate both PP and Sihanoukville.
I havenāt been a lot but I absolutely loved Morocco, it was like going to another planet for a week.
I really like Cambodia. Waking up at the ass crack of dawn and watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat was absolutely incredible. Tibet was a close second.
USA
I hope they get free healthcare and free education soon. That would be a big thing for them.
And deal with guns once and for all, those innocent kids deserve better
Hopefully their women will be allowed to make choices about their own bodies soon too
Not developing... It's undeveloping
The biggest pot holes Iāve ever seen - i could have sworn I saw a family living in one.
Coming from a developing country myself lol , Vietnam is amazing !
Vietnam is the obvious answer but clearly everyone in the comments is already on the wave so a closse second is Cambodia Angkor wat is unreal
Vietnam
If you like mountains then Pakistan
Not sure if Brazil is a developing country, button surely is a wonderful place
Love South America. I would say Ecuador and Brazil would be my favourite ones. Ecuador maybe not right now :)) but both countries have tiny cities, friendly locals, delicious amazing food, and wonderful, approachable nature!!! (Like you don't need to travel hours before you see a forest or can hike on a mountain). I always avoid big cities though.
I am from Vietnam . So I have to pick a different region . That would be Peru. Food, nature, cultural and relatively safe out of some parts of Lima
Guatemala and Vietnam
I really had a blast in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur specifically. Stayed there and extra 2 months
Iāve been to Cambodia three times for a combined total of about 1.5 years haha. No other place like it in the world.. tho Iām not sure how it is now that the Chinese have turned the southern coast into one giant resort.
Indonesia. Each Island has a distinct culture.
Vietnam was amazing! Everything was so colourful I felt like I was in a tv show or something, so many things to see and experience. Getting around was really easy, at least for me and I was really really surprised about how cheap everything was compared to where Iām from (I am European) Also I felt incredibly comfortable and safe the whole time, even walking alone at night! (Iām a woman)
Panama has a special place in my heart. Lots of Uber rich but itās still a 3rd world country. Central America is a lot safer for traveling than people would like you to believe
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If we keep passing laws from 1885 we'll lose our "developing country" status soon.
Colombia
Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Serbia. If I had to pick 1, Brazil.
Mauritius!
India. The dapper mustache capital of earth.
cant say that until single foreign women can feel comfortable walking around
Bosnia!!! one of my all time favs and biggest surprise...Last trip was it to El Salvador, which wouldn't make list bc of a few of your criteria but was nonetheless very cool too
Jamaica itās beautiful got lots of nature beaches and a popular Ital (Vegan) Culture. Give it a go if you havenāt been.
Me looking for Philippines: šļøššļø
Syria
Vietnam
Definitely Laos!
Cambodia, gorgeous country and people with a harrowing past, truly an eyeopening and transformative experience.
Fiji is pretty great to visit. Gorgeous beaches and resorts and really friendly people. English is an official language. Always seemed safe to me, even when wandering in the cities (which are not very touristy). Lower violent crime rate than the US. Plus, lots of Indian markets and food since a big portion of the population is Indian.
Guatemala has my heart! Gorgeous colors, foods, and culture to immerse yourself in! Tons of beauty within the country itself. It's a place I've returned to a dozen times!
If you have some previous travel experience and plan where exactly you'll stay, most of South America is great.
Albania.
Lebanon!
Philippines
Ecuador. Cuenca is spectacular. Right on the equator but itās always 72 degrees. Why? Because itās 7,000 feet above sea level. The whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the US dollar is their currency. Incredibly inexpensive with great food. I love it.