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Grantourismo Travels

The website of globetrotting professional travel writing and photography team Lara Dunston and Terence Carter

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia. Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia You Can’t Miss

UNESCO World Heritage sites in Southeast Asia you can’t miss include everything from the near perfectly preserved historic centres of Luang Prabang in Laos and Hoi An in Vietnam to the spectacular sprawling temple sites of Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia, Sukhothai Historical Park in Thailand, and Bagan Archaeological Zone in Myanmar.

Southeast Asia is home to 41 of the planet’s 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage listed sites in nine of the region’s 11 countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Cambodia, for instance, has just three UNESCO listings despite having scores of archaeological sites, as well as exquisite Khmer Empire temples in Thailand’s Northeastern Isaan region.

While Southeast Asia’s 41 UNESCO World Heritage sites aren’t all that much compared to the rest of the world’s 1,080 site, unless you have all the time in the world, what UNESCO sites should take priority on a Southeast Asia trip?

While I am very much anti ‘bucket list’ and the idea of rushing through places just to tick off sights, instead advocating for slower travel, lingering longer, settling in, and digging deeper, I have to confess that on our early travels through Europe and the Middle East, I made sure we saw as many UNESCO World Heritage listed sights as we could.

On our first trip to Syria in 1999, we explored all the country’s UNESCO sites: the old cities of Damascus, Aleppo and Bosra, Crac des Chevaliers castle, the magnificent ruins of Palmyra, and the ancient villages of Northern Syria, now sadly on UNESCO’s Heritage in Danger List. That same year, over a summer’s month in Greece, we got to many of its UNESCO sites, the rest some years later as guidebook authors for Lonely Planet, updating the Greece guide. So why should I have expected our Southeast Asia travels to be any different?

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia You Can’t Miss

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) established the World Heritage List in 1972 to preserve and protect places of universal value to humanity – places that are so special, the world would be heartbroken if they were damaged or disappeared. Those places have to meet one of 10 criteria covering cultural or natural heritage, or a combination of both. Some sites have met many criteria.

The first UNESCO World Heritage listed sites in Southeast Asia were inscribed in 1991 at the 15th session of the World Heritage Committee in 1991, while the most recent were added in July 2019 at the 43rd session, when Bagan Archaeological Zone in Myanmar and the Plain of Jars in Laos were inscribed.

While some sites are endangered due to surrounding development, that’s not necessarily a requirement for listing and once on the UNESCO World Heritage list, sites don’t necessarily stay there. Sites can be de-listed for various reasons, such as over-development and unsustainable tourism.

UNESCO World Heritage listed sites are a magnet for travellers. In fact, there are travellers whose main goal is to tick off as many UNESCO listed sites as they can. They call themselves ‘World Heritage Travellers’ and there are websites where they can register, count the sites they’ve visited, and leave reviews of heritage sites.

World Heritage sites become bucket list destinations that draw people to places they might never have dreamt of going. Syria, in peace time, is a great example. In many cases, visiting a UNESCO heritage site is the very reason that travellers venture to a place and it can often be the only sight that they see there.

That’s especially the case with our base of Siem Reap, which for many travellers is the only place they’ll go in Cambodia. For those same travellers it’s little more than a launching pad for excursions to UNESCO listed Angkor Archaeological Park, home to Angkor Wat, despite boasting an abundance of things to do, from cooking classes and street food tours to museum- and gallery-hopping.

Sukhothai and Ayutthaya in Thailand, both home to significant archaeological sites; the Borobudur and Prambanan temple complexes near Yogyakarta in Indonesia; and Bagan archaeological zone in Myanmar are a few more examples of places that people go specifically for their UNESCO World Heritage sites.

UNESCO heritage status can be credited with raising awareness of a sight and indeed going as far as to make the location of a site a tourism destination, but it can also be partly blamed for over-tourism of that place. Hoi An in Central Vietnam is a prime example.

Although outside the peak late afternoon-early evening period, when the day-trippers have left, it’s possible to experience Hoi An’s historic port town without the crowds – just as it’s possible to see Angkor without hoards of tourists if you go outside high season.

While you can certainly try to see all 41 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Southeast Asia, not everyone has that luxury of time or money, so we’ve narrowed them down to the very best UNESCO World Heritage sites in Southeast Asia that you have to visit. I you have more time, I’ve added suggestions for UNESCO sites nearby.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia

Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia

Angkor Archaeological Park tops my list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia you can’t miss, as it’s my favourite type of heritage sight – a sprawling archaeological site. Just fifteen minutes by tuk tuk from the riverside city of Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, Angkor is not only one of Southeast Asia’s most significant archaeological sites, it’s also the largest, spread over approximately 400 square kilometres of forest, fields and savannah. The area contains the stately ruins of various Khmer Empire capitals, dating from the 9th to the 15th century, including two of the most magnificent walled cities, surrounded by wide moats, Angkor Wat and neighbouring Angkor Thom, home to the rather surreal Bayon temple with its enormous carved smiling face towers. In addition to the scores of intricately carved temples, towers and shrines, also of outstanding value are the impressive hydraulic structures, including canals, reservoirs and dykes, which you’ll spot as you trundle through the countryside. Allow a minimum of three days and make an effort to get out of the Park to see more off the beaten track ruins, such as Banteay Chhmar, an ancient garrison city with walls covered in bas-reliefs and a lotus-filled moat near the Thai border. See our guide to lesser visited temples for more inspiration, along with this archaeologist’s guide to Angkor Archaeological Park and more Angkor tips from a local archaeologist for getting the most out of the temples. Allow at least three days for exploring Angkor Archaeological Park and a few more days for visiting more remote temples.

How to Get to Angkor Archaeological Park

There are flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, and other Southeast Asian cities to Siem Reap, the departure point for excursions to Angkor Archaeological Park. For more, see these posts on how to get to Siem Reap, our ultimate Guide to Angkor Archaeological Park (which covers how to get from Siem Reap to Angkor), and exploring Angkor Wat and other temples. There are more tips in this post answering Angkor FAQs.

Where to Stay Near Angkor Archaeological Park

The nearest town to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park is Siem Reap, where you’ll find a mindboggling array of hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses, and backpacker hotels. We love stylish, intimate boutique hotels with swimming pools and superlative service, such as Sala Lodges, Viroth’s, Maison Polanka, and Templation. Peruse our guides to Siem Reap’s best boutique hotels and luxury for less in Siem Reap for more recommendations.

Things to Do In Siem Reap

See our comprehensive guide to things to do in Siem Reap, which includes temple touring, spending a night at the fantastic Phare Cambodian Circus (no animals, just talented performers), watching the enchanting Sacred Dancers, shopping for beautiful gifts and handcrafts, grazing on delicious street food, dining at Siem Reap’s best Cambodian restaurants, and doing Cambodian cooking classes. See our itineraries for one day in Siem Reap and a weekend in Siem Reap.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cambodia

Explore UNESCO World Heritage listed Sambor Prei Kuk, the Pre-Angkorian site of ancient Ishanapura, which was inscribed last year, and Preah Vihear, perched on the edge of the Dangrek Mountains. Not on the list yet, but worth exploring is the so-called ‘lost city’ of Mahendrapavarta on Mount Kulen. Stay overnight at Preah Vihear Boutique Hotel to experience Preah Vihear and Mahendrapavarta over two days. More here on remote archaeological sites, how to visit them, and the new archaeological discoveries of recent years.

Luang Prabang, Laos

Beautiful Luang Prabang in Laos is next on my list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia you can’t miss because it’s another of my favourite kind of UNESCO World Heritage listing – a whole town – and an exceptionally well preserved town at that. Visiting Luang Prabang is like stepping back in time, such is the near-perfect state of the preservation of its buildings, which explains why UNESCO inscribed it for outstanding universal value, the reason most of the sights on my list are on UNESCO’s list. Located in northern Laos on a leafy peninsula formed by the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River and surrounded by lush forested mountains, Luang Prabang is a lovely low-rise town that is a delight to stroll. The sleepy streets are lined with exquisitely decorated pagodas, traditional Lao wooden houses and handsome French colonial architecture. From the 14th to the 16th century, Luang Prabang was the capital of Lane Xang, ‘Kingdom of a Million Elephants’, and an important centre of Buddhism, which explains the abundance of glittering, mosaic-covered pagodas that dot the historic core. Allow at least a few days in Luang Prabang, more time if you have it.

How to Get to Luang Prabang

There are direct flights to Luang Prabang from Hanoi, Siem Reap, Bangkok, and other Southeast Asian destinations. You can also travel to Luang Prabang by boat from Thailand along the Mekong River. There is a fast boat and a slow boat and we recommend the latter. We loved our few sultry days cruising down the Mekong on the Luang Say boat.

Where to Stay in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang has an abundance of atmospheric lodgings that ooze history, including splendid colonial-era residences of late kings, a former royal summer house, and lodgings located in the old French Governor’s residence, including the 3 Nagas, Maison Souvannaphoum, Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, and Satri House. For more, see our guide to Luang Prabang’s best boutique hotels. Luang Prabang is also home to luxury hotels such as Amantaka and Luang Say Residence.

Things to Do In Luang Prabang

Do a guided tour of the temples, visit the Ock Pop Tok weaving centre, learn about Lao cuisine on a market walk and a Lao cooking class at Tamarind, and hike up Phousi Hill in the late afternoon for sweeping vistas of Luang Prabang, the Mekong River and surrounding mountains. Most visitors want to participate in the early morning alms giving to the monks; we recommend doing it with the locals or observing from a respectful distance.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Laos

Venture south to discover UNESCO listed Vat Phou and associated ancient settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape, not far from the Cambodian border.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is another of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia you can’t miss because, like Luang Prabang, the whole old town has been inscribed on UNESCO’s list. Located near the mouth of the Thu Bon River in Quang Nam province in Central Vietnam, Hoi An’s ancient town is considered to be an exceptional example of a small Southeast Asian trading port with beautifully preserved buildings dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Although Hoi An is in fact much older: the earliest settlement of Hoi An on the outskirts of the current city, was established by the Sa Huynh peoples, whose culture dates back to 1,000 BC. While Hoi An still functions as a bustling little commercial centre – its shopping is outstanding – it has its decline as a major port in the late 19th century to thank for its remarkably preserved town plan and buildings, which reflect a fusion of local and foreign architectural styles, including Chinese, Japanese and French. There are 1,107 charming wooden and brick houses, pagodas and temples lining the narrow pedestrian streets and a lovely wooden Japanese bridge housing a tiny pagoda dating to the 18th century. The first time we visited, we went to Hoi An for a few weeks and stayed a few months, so we could be biased, but do allow at least a few days in Hoi An.

How to Get to Hoi An

The nearest airport to Hoi An is at Danang, a 30-minute drive away. There are direct flights to Danang from many Southeast Asian destinations, such as Siem Reap, as well as regular flights from Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Try airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Air Asia, and Cambodian Angkor Air.

Where to Stay in Hoi An

To really soak up all that history, you need to stay in the ancient town, and there are only a few options: book one of the front rooms at the Vinh Hung Heritage Hotel in a centuries-old timber merchant’s house in the heart of the ancient quarter. If you need a swimming pool reserve a riverside room at the colonial-style Anantara Hoi An on the edge of the historic centre, and just a fifteen-minute stroll to the Japanese Bridge and Hoi An’s other heritage sights.

Things to Do In Hoi An

You could easily spend a week seeing Hoi An’s centuries-old pagodas, temples and wooden merchants’ houses, many now doubling as museums. Punctuate these visits with bowls of Hoi An’s legendary noodles and other local specialties, cooking classes and food tours, fantastic shopping, breaks to linger in charming cafes and tea houses, sundowners on balconies at bars and craft beer pubs, and meals at Hoi An’s best restaurants. See our itineraries for one perfect day in Hoi An and two days in Hoi An.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites Near Hoi An

You can easily visit nearby UNESCO listed Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary, established by the Champa dynasty, which ruled Central Vietnam from the 4th to the 12th centuries. (Battles between Khmer and Cham soldiers are depicted in bas reliefs on various Angkor temples, above). Plenty of travel companies offer half-day My Son tours from Hoi An and Danang.

Borobudur Temple, Java, Indonesia

Located in the lush Kedu Valley on Indonesia’s island of Java and considered to be one of the world’s greatest Buddhist monuments, the stupendous temple of Borobudur in southern Central Java was built during the 8th to 9th centuries under the reign of the Syailendra Dynasty. Boasting a pyramidal base, three tiers with circular platforms and terraces, and a monumental stupa on top, Borobudur would be impressive enough for its size, but it is also ornately decorated. The temple’s walls and balustrades feature elaborate bas reliefs that cover a massive surface area of some 2,500 square metres, while there are 72 stupas, each with a statue of Buddha, on the circular platforms. The three levels represent the universe in Buddhist cosmology, which is believed to be divided into three spheres of desire, kamadhatu, rupadhatu, and arupadhatu. Borobudur is the most outstanding monument of the Syailendra Dynasty, which ruled Java for some five centuries, but there are also two smaller temples to the east, Mendut and Pawon, that are worth visiting. Together, the three monuments, representing phases in the attainment of Nirvana, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia you can’t miss. Begin with sunrise at Borobudur, then visit the smaller temples, take a break for lunch, and in the afternoon visit Prambanan, below.

How to Get to Borobudur

Fly from Jakarta or Denpasar to Yogyakarta on Java with Garuda or Indonesia Air Asia or travel over land and sea from Bali, which makes for a memorable adventure. More information here on how to get to Yogyakarta from Bali. From Yogyakarta, we recommend hiring a driver and car or doing a private tour to Borobudur.

Where to Stay in Yogyakarta

Most travellers to Borobudur stay in the nearest city, Yogyakarta, where there’s everything from luxury resorts with pools and hip boutique hotels in the city’s heart to atmospheric heritage hotels in the leafy suburbs and nearby villages, such as beautiful D’omah Yogya Hotel, 15 minutes away, and Rumah Mertua, a 25-minute drive, both decorated with Javanese furnishings and handicrafts. See our guide to where to stay in Yogyakarta for more recommendations.

Things to Do in Yogyakarta

Visit the old city’s fascinating sights and museums, devour Yogyakarta’s delicious food (don’t miss the turmeric-laden soto ayam noodle soup), shop the markets for spices and basketware and the batik stores for Java’s beloved textile, where you can watch it being made and get batik lessons. Read more here about why we love Yogyakarta.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites Near Yogyakarta

While Borobudur is special, World Heritage listed Prambanan is also a must. On the outskirts of Yogyakarta, the Prambanan Temple Compounds came as a complete surprise to us and were in some ways more impressive for their size and the intricate detail of the carvings. You can easily experience both in one long hot day.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Another confession: the reason I first wanted to experience Halong Bay in northeast Vietnam wasn’t because it was one of those UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia you can’t miss. It was because of a movie: the 1992 French film Indochine, starring the beautiful French actress Catherine Deneuve, in which Halong Bay stole the spotlight. A beguiling landscape of lush islands, limestone karsts and schist outcrops rising out of deep green waters, Halong Bay has been immortalised in legends, folk tales and poetry, as well as on the cinematic screen. It is one of those enchanting destinations that captures the imagination and never lets go. It’s because of Halong Bay’s outstanding scenic beauty, as well as its great geological interest, that it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. Ha Long Bay, as it’s more correctly written, sprawls some 120 kilometres along Vietnam’s coastline from China in the north to the Gulf of Tonkin southeast and Cát Bà island in the southwest. There are some 1,600 islands and islets, most of which are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. It’s this multitude of drowned limestone karst forms, sculptured by nature in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and their spectacular pillars, arches and caves, that make Halong Bay a place of outstanding value and sublime beauty. (By the way, I include Halong Bay on our Vietnam Cuisine and Culture Tours).

How to Get to Halong Bay

Luxury Halong Bay cruises include transport from Hanoi to Halong Bay. Other cruises charge an additional fee for transfers from Hanoi to Halong Bay. If you’re travelling on a budget, you could take a bus from Hanoi to Haiphong, where you could catch a ferry to Cat Ba Island.

Where to Stay on Halong Bay

Choose from red-sailed wooden Chinese junks to sleek white cruise ships, but whatever boat you choose make sure you stay at least two nights to fully experience Halong Bay. See our guides to the best Halong Bay cruise boats (I’ve tested out seven boats so far) and how to choose the right Halong Bay cruise for you.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites Near Halong Bay

If you loved Halong Bay, you can’t miss the magnificent Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province, in the Red River Delta region. There are plenty of tour companies in Hanoi offer day trips.

Bagan Archaeological Zone, Myanmar

Boasting a mind-boggling 3,595 Theravada Buddhist monuments, dating from the 11th–13th centuries, spread across eight sites – including monumental temples, splendid pagodas, monasteries, stupas, and shrines, as well as sculptures, inscriptions, bas-reliefs, murals, and cloth paintings – Bagan Archaeological Zone is undoubtedly another one of those UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia you can’t miss. Located in the dry centre of Myanmar, on a bend of the majestic Ayeyarwady River, Bagan, like Angkor, is not just an archaeological sight, but a complex, layered, cultural and sacred landscape, incorporating living communities that continue to practice Buddhist activities such as merit-making and worship, as well as other cultural traditions. UNESCO inscribed the site not only for its impressive collection of architecture and art, which reflects the strength of this early Buddhist empire, but also for the level of artistry and quality of craftsmanship. Allow at least a few days to discover the vast site of Bagan, best explored on a private temple tour with a qualified archaeological guide. There are myriad transport options, including on two wheels on a bike tour, by horse and cart, and by boat on a sunset cruise.

How to Get to Bagan

There are flights to Yangon from Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and a whole host of other cities with Thai Airways, Air Asia and Nok Air, among others. From Yangon, a handful of domestic airlines will get you to Bagan, as well as buses, trains, luxury Irrawaddy River cruises and more basic ferries, such as this cruise from Royal Mandalay to Ancient Bagan.

Where to Stay in Bagan

The Hotel at Tharabar Gate has a swimming pool set amidst manicured lawns, and you can dine alfresco overlooking an illuminated stupa. Mid-range Villa Bagan is one of the more understated and tastefully decorated Bagan hotels with traditional textiles on the beds, a pool, and more stupa views. Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort has a stunning riverside pool and alfresco dining overlooking the pool and river. Bagan Lodge has glamping-style suites and a large swimming pool. Close to the airport and surrounded by ancient temples, Aureum Palace Hotel and Resort is opulent, with an enormous pool and lotus-filled lake.

Things to Do in Bagan

After exploring the temples on the ground, take to the air in a hot air balloon ride, one of the most popular things to do in Bagan. You could go shopping – lacquerware is the best thing to buy in Bagan, best purchased from the artisanal family-owned workshops in the Myinkaba area, while Mani-Sithu Market is a terrific one-stop shop for beautiful handicrafts, textiles, and longyis. Or simply find a spot to down cold beers as you watch the sun go down.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Myanmar

You could also see the UNESCO World Heritage listed Pyu Ancient Cities, the archaeological sites of three walled and moated cities, Halin, Beikthano and Sri Ksetra. Also located in Myanmar’s dry Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River basin, they date to between 200 BC and AD 900, and while they are only partly excavated, you are able to see remains of stupas, walls, and burial grounds.

Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns, Thailand

Thailand is blessed with two of the most beguiling UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia you can’t miss, which are comparable to Angkor and Bagan for their beauty. They are Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns and the Historic City of Ayutthaya, but I’m going to recommend you give priority to Sukhothai and here’s why: Sukhothai was an outpost of the Khmer Empire before it rebelled against Angkor and went on to became the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam (Thailand) in the 13th and 14th centuries. While you’ll recognise Khmer influences in the architecture and art if you’ve been to Angkor, Sukhothai is also home to some stupendous monuments that you won’t see elsewhere, including massive Buddha images, such as the colossal seated Buddha statue at Wat Si Chum or the Temple of the Bodhi Tree in the northern part of the Sukhothai park. While Sukhothai became the political and administrative capital of Siam, nearby Si Satchanalai was the spiritual centre and is the location of more Buddhist temples and monasteries (it was also a hub for Siam’s significant ceramic production), while Kamphaeng Phet, on the southern frontier, was a military town that served to protecting Siam from foreign invaders. Allow at least two to three days to discover Sukhothai, preferably with an archaeological guide.

How to Get to Sukhothai

You can fly direct to Thailand‘s capital Bangkok from most major capitals in the world, then take a flight from Bangkok to Sukhothai Airport (around one hour and 15 minutes). From the new city of Sukhothai it’s around 20kms to Sukhothai Historical Park. Get a taxi there and then hire bicycles, which is the best means by which to get around Sukhothai.

Where to Stay In Sukhothai

The better resorts are located closest to Sukhothai, such as the stunning Legendha Sukhothai Hotel, near Wat Chang Lom, with a gorgeous swimming pool and activities that include Buddha amulet making, weaving, almsgiving, and a Thai cooking class, and lovely Tharaburi Resort, which has an eclectic sense of style and interiors filled with a combination of vintage and contemporary pieces. In New Sukhothai, Ruean Thai Hotel is a traditional timber style mid-range hotel with a swimming pool in its centre courtyard, while Nakorn De Sukhothai Hip Hotel is more contemporary and in a lively part of town.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites Near Sukhothai

Ayutthaya is closer to Sukhothai, and if you have another day, should be your next priority. But if you have more time, while they’re not yet on UNESCO’s list, the captivating Khmer Empire temples in Thailand’s Isaan region, which we’ve explored while road-tripping through the northeast, are worth visiting for their enchanting settings, symmetry of form, and intricacy of their detailed carvings. We adore Prasat Phanom Rung, Prasat Muang Tam and Prasat Hin Phimai. See our Northeastern Thailand itinerary, a 2-week road trip through the Isaan region, for how to visit them.

Click through for the full UNESCO World Heritage list.

What do you think are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia that can’t be missed? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

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About Lara Dunston

A travel and food writer who has experienced over 70 countries and written for The Guardian, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Feast, Delicious, National Geographic Traveller, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, DestinAsian, TIME, CNN, The Independent, The Telegraph, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, AFAR, Wanderlust, International Traveller, Get Lost, Four Seasons Magazine, Fah Thai, Sawasdee, and more, as well as authored more than 40 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, DK, Footprint, Rough Guides, Fodors, Thomas Cook, and AA Guides.

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Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check o Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check out our seafood recipe collection, especially if you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with a fish focused meal in the Southern Italian tradition, transformed by Italian-Americans into the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or like Australians, who celebrate Christmas in the sweltering summer, feast on seafood for Christmas Day lunch, we’ve got lots of easy seafood recipes for you.

Our recipes include a classic prawn cocktail, blini with smoked salmon, a ceviche-style appetiser, and devilled eggs with caviar. We’ve also got recipes for fish soup, seafood pies and pastas, salmon tray bake, and crispy salmon with creamy mashed potatoes.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/seafood-recipes-for-christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-menus/
(Link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating!! 

#christmas #christmasfood #seafood #fish #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #grantourismo #grantourismotravels #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you’re still looking for food inspo for Chris If you’re still looking for food inspo for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meals, my smoked salmon ‘carpaccio’ recipe is one of dozens of recipes in this compilation of our best Christmas recipes (link below). 

The Christmas recipe compilation includes collections of our best Christmas breakfast recipes, best Christmas brunch recipes, best Christmas starter recipes, best Christmas cocktails, best Christmas dessert recipes, and homemade edible Christmas gifts and more.

My smoked salmon carpaccio recipe makes an easy elegant appetiser that’s made in minutes. If you’re having guests over, you can make the dish ahead by assembling the salmon, capers and pickled onions, and refrigerate it, then pour on the dressing just before serving. 

Provide toasted baguette slices and bowls of additional capers, pickles and dressing, so guests can customise their carpaccio. And open the bubbly!

You’ll find that recipe and many more Christmas recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/best-christmas-recipes/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas!! X

#christmas #christmasfood #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #salmon #smokedsalmon #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels 
#xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I sh If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I shared a collection of recipes for homemade edible Christmas gifts — for condiments, hot sauces, chilli oils, a whole array of pickles, spice blends, chilli salt, furakake seasoning, and spicy snacks, such as our Cambodian and Vietnamese roasted peanuts. 

I love giving homemade edibles as gifts as much as I love receiving them. Who wouldn’t appreciate jars filled with their favourite chilli oils, hot sauces, piquant pickles, and spicy peanuts that loved-ones have taken the time to make? 

Aside from the gesture and affordability of gifting homemade edibles, you’re minimising waste. You can use recycled jars or if buying new mason jars or clip-top Kilner jars, you know they’ll get repurposed.

No need for wrapping, just attach some Christmas baubles or tinsel to the lid. I used squares of Cambodian kramas (cotton scarves), which can be repurposed as napkins or drink coasters, and tied a ribbon or two around the lids, and attached last year’s Christmas tree decorations to some.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/homemade-edible-christmas-gifts/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Yes, that’s Pepper... every time there’s a camera around... 

#christmasgiftideas #ediblegifts ##christmasfoodgifts #foodgifts #giftideas #homemadegifts #christmasfood #ediblegiftideas #hotsauce #chillisauce #sriracha #pickles #homemadepickles #recipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood 
#blackcat #blackcatsofinstagram #picoftheday 
#christmas #christmastree #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas #cambodia #siemreap
This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’ This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’s perfect if you’re just back from the fish markets armed with luxurious fresh crab meat. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and very, very moreish.

Our crab omelette recipe was one of our 22 most popular egg recipes of 2022 on our website Grantourismo and it’s no surprise. It’s appeared more times than any other egg recipes on our annual round-ups of most popular recipes since Terence launched Weekend Eggs when we launched Grantourismo in 2010.

If you’re an eggs lover, do check out the recipe collection. It includes egg recipes from right around the world, from recipes for classic kopitiam eggs from Singapore and Malaysia and egg curries from India and Myanmar to all kinds of egg recipes from Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, USA, Australia, UK, and Ireland.

And do browse our Weekend Eggs archives for further eggspiration (sorry). We have hundreds of egg recipes from the 13 year-old series of recipes for quintessential egg dishes from around the world, which we started on our 2010 year-long global grand tour focused on slow, local and experiential travel. 

We’re hoping 2023 will be the year we can finally publish the Weekend Eggs cookbook we’ve talked about for years based on that series. After we can find a publisher for the Cambodia cookbook of course... :( 

Recipe collection here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio):
https://grantourismotravels.com/22-most-popular-egg-recipes-of-2022-from-weekend-eggs/

If you cook the recipe and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either in the comments at the end of the recipe or share a pic with us here.

#recipe #recipes #eggs #eggslover #breakfasteggs #WeekendEggs #egg #breakfast #brunch #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #lookingforapublisher #writingacookbook  #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angko I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angkor Archaeological Park, home to stupendous Angkor Wat, pictured, celebrated 30 years of its UNESCO World Heritage listing. 

That’s as good an excuse as any to put this magnificent, sprawling archaeological site on your travel list this year.

While riverside Siem Reap, your base for exploring Angkor is bustling once more, there are still nowhere near the visitors of the last busy high season months of December-January 2018-2019 when there were 290,000 visitors. 

Last month there were just 55,000 visitors and December feels a little quieter. A tour guide friend said there were about 150 people at Angkor Wat for sunrise a few days ago.

If you’re looking for tips to visiting Angkor, Siem Reap and Cambodia, just ask us a question in the comments below or check Grantourismo as we’ve got loads of info on our site. Click through to the link in the bio and explore our Cambodia guide or search for ‘Angkor’. 

And please do let us know if you’re coming to Siem Reap. We’d love to see you here x

#siemreap #cambodia #asia #travel #instatravel #traveldeeper #slowtravel #localtravel #experientialtravel #exploremore #neverstopexploring #goexplore #igtravel #angkorwat #angkor #temple #temples #angkorwithoutcrowds #unesco #unescoworldheritagesite #unescoworldheritage #archaeology #archaeologicalsite #traveladdict #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #travelgram #wanderlust #picoftheday📷 #grantourismotravels.
Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky, flavourful and succulent chicken thighs that are fantastic with steamed rice, Chinese greens or a salad, such as a Southeast Asian slaw. 

The chicken can be marinated for up to 24 hours before cooking, which ensures it’s packed with flavour, then it can be cooked on a barbecue or in a pan.

Terence’s soy ginger chicken recipe is one of our favourite recipes for a quick and easy meal. I love the sound of the sizzling thighs in the pan, and the warming aromas wafting through the apartment. 

It’s amazing how such flavourful juicy chicken thighs come from such a quick and easy recipe.

Recipe here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio): https://grantourismotravels.com/soy-ginger-chicken-recipe/

If you cook it and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either here or in the comments at the end of the recipe on the site or share a pic with us x 

#recipe #recipes #chicken #soygingerchicken #asianfood #southeastasianfood #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #cookingtime #recipe #recipes #comfortfood #foodblog #food #foodstagram #healthyfood #instafood #healthy #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re mak Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re making with my market haul from Psar Samaki in Siem Reap — all for a whopping 10,000 riel (US$2.50)?! 

Birds-eye chillies thrown in for free! They were on my list but the seller I spent most at (5,000 riel!) scooped up a handful and slipped them into my bag. She was my last stop and knew what I was making.

My Khmer is poor, even after all our years in Cambodia, as I don’t learn languages with the ease I did in my 20s, plus I’m mentally exhausted after researching and writing all day. I have a better vocabulary of Old and Middle Khmer than modern Khmer from studying the ancient inscriptions for the Cambodian culinary history component of our cookbook I’m writing.

So when one seller totalled my purchases I thought she said 5,000 riel but she handed back 4,500 riel! The sum total of two huge bunches of herbs and kaffir lime leaves was 500 riel.

Tip: if visiting Siem Reap, use Khmer riel for local shopping. We’ve mainly used riel since the pandemic started— rarely use US$ now as market sellers quote prices in riels, as do local shops and bakeries, and I tip tuk tuk drivers in riels. I find prices quoted in riels are lower.

Psar Samaki is cheaper than Psar Leu, which is cheaper than Psar Chas, as it’s a wholesale market, which means the produce is fresher. I see veggies arriving, piled high in the back of vehicles, with dirt still on them — as I did on this trip. 

The scent of a mountain of incredibly aromatic pineapples offloaded from the back of a dusty ute was so heady they smelt like they’d just been cut. More exotic European style veggies arrive by big trucks in boxes labelled in Vietnamese (from Dalat) and Mandarin (from China), such as beautiful snow-white cauliflower I spotted.

Note: the freshest produce is sold on the dirt road at the back of the market.

#cambodia #siemreap #foodwriter #foodblogger #foodphotography #igfood #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #instadaily #picoftheday #market #siemreapmarket #psarsamaki #marketfresh #vegetables #healthyfood #marketshopping #traveltips #foodtravel #culinarytravel #localtravel #cooking #cookingtime #curry #homemade #currypaste #grantourismotravels
My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recip My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recipe makes tender meatballs doused in a delightfully tangy-sweet sauce, sprinkled with crispy fried shallots, with carrot-daikon, crunchy cucumber and fragrant herbs. 

The dish is inspired by bún chả, a Hanoi specialty, but it’s not bún chả. No matter what Google or food bloggers tell you. Names are important, especially when cooking and writing about cuisines not our own.

This is an authentic bún chả recipe:  https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-bun-cha-recipe/ You’ll need to get the outdoor BBQ/grill going to do proper smoky bún chả meat patties (not meatballs).

My meatball noodle bowl is perhaps more closely related to dishes such as a Central Vietnam cousin bún thịt nướng (pork skewers on rice noodles in a bowl) and a Southern relation bún bò Nam Bộ (beef atop rice noodles, sprinkled with fried shallots (Nam Bộ=Southern Vietnam) though neither include meatballs. 

Xíu mại= meatballs although they’re different in flavour to mine, which taste more like bún chả patties. Xíu mại remind me of Southern Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.

In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, home to millions of Khmer, there’s bánh tằm xíu mại. Bánh tằm=silk worm noodles. They’re topped with meatballs, cucumber, daikon, carrot, fresh herbs, crispy fried onions. Difference: cold noodles doused in a sauce of coconut cream and fish sauce. 

Remove the meatballs, add chopped fried spring rolls and it’s Cambodia’s banh sung, which is a rice noodle salad similar to Vietnam’s bún chả giò :) 

Recipe here: (link in bio) https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-meatballs-and-rice-noodles-recipe/

For more on these culinary connections you’ll have to wait for our Cambodian cookbook and culinary history. In a hurry to know? Come support the project on Patreon. (link in bio)

#recipe #recipes #vietnamesefood #cambodianfood #asianfood #southeastasianfood #ricenoodles #rice #noodlebowl #meatballs #igfood #igfoodie #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #writingacookbook #writingacambodiancookbook #patreon #patreoncreator #grantourismo
It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour matches the furnishings of our rented apartment. So, no, I did not colour-coordinate the interiors to match our cat’s eyes. 

I keep getting DMs from pet clothing brands wanting to “partner” with Pepper and send her free cat clothes and cat accessories. Although she did wear a kerchief for a few years in her more adventurous fashion-forward teenage years, I cannot see this cat in clothes now, can you? 

#pepper #blackcat #blackcats #blackcatsofinstagram #blackcatsrule #blackcatsmatter #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #catlover #catlovers #catlove #catoftheday #catphoto #catpic #catpics #cambodiancat #cambodiancatsofinstagram #catlife #catloversclub #catoftheday #catgram #catstagram #cats_of_instagram #catphotography #catsofig #catsoftheworld #catsofinsta #cats🐱 #siemreap #cambodia

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