According to the 2022 Global Travel Trends Report of American Express Travel, people have higher demands for traveling after the Covi-19 pandemic. It shows consumers tend to want to immerse themselves in the local culture, travel with family, and experience in-person entertainment events. In fact, a Southeast Asia tour can meet all of these expectations for your next trip.

1. Immerse in the local culture

The report shows that 81% of respondents want to visit destinations where they can immerse themselves in the local culture. Besides, they want the money they spend while traveling to go back to the local community. Here is the top experience to immerse in the local culture in Southeast Asia.

Experience homestay with the local

If you like understanding the local culture more deeply, meeting, interacting, and living with locals, you can a homestay in Southeast Asia. Random conversation and the sharing of life stories are always a memorable part of travels. Moreover, living with locals can be a wonderful extension of this. Importantly, homestays can support the local economies you are visiting.

Visit ancient temples

You’ll find Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monuments throughout Southeast Asia. This is one of the most unique features in the region. When visiting there, you can talk with monks and wish the best things for you and your beloved people.

Take part in traditional festivals

Festivals in Southeast Asia are like nothing that you’ve ever seen before.  There are from the planet’s biggest water fight in Thailand (Songkran) to the gruesome piercings and self-mutilations of the Hindu festival, Thaipusam in Malaysia.  Furthermore, the Tet holiday in Vietnam is a cultural experience like no other.

Festival in Indonesia

2. Travel with Family

There are 79%of respondents agree they are most looking forward to traveling with their family in 2022. Coming out of the pandemic, spending time with loved ones is at the top of the list. Therefore, there are more demands for experiences that are educational and entertaining for all ages as families look to make new memories together. You’ll find locals across Southeast Asia are naturally friendly and children are the focus of life and well-loved.

Phuket, Thailand

Phuket Island is extremely family-friendly, whatever the weather and there’s plenty to do, natural and man-made to keep everyone entertained while relaxing on holiday. Phuket Island boasts more than 30-plus glorious beaches. However, there are not all suitable for children and family holidays. Those include Bangtao, Kamala, Karon, Kata, and Patong.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Everyone loves visiting Hoi An, especially families! It is one of Southeast Asia’s oldest, most alluring towns and one of Vietnam’s favorite destinations. Hoi An is an ancient town and World Heritage Site. It consists of a few narrow streets alongside picturesque Thu Bon River, centuries-old Chinese pagodas and shophouses, cultural treasures, and quaint French colonial-era buildings housing cafés and craft shops. Therefore, they are all easily walkable.

The ancient town of Hoian, Vietnam 

Sanur, Bali, Indonesia

Sanur offers a stretch of golden sands is lined the entire way with a shaded wooden promenade, along with beachfront low-key resorts and restaurants. That is perfect for an early morning or late afternoon stroll with the family. Sanur’s beach also boasts sandy-bottomed, shallow calm waters, ideal for safe swimming, snorkeling to the outlying coral reefs, and the multitude of family water sports available. Activities include kite-flying and Bali Seawalker, exploring the bottom of the Indian Ocean, and being immersed in tropical fish.

3. Experience in-person entertainment events

There are 43% of respondents of the report who state they are interested in traveling for entertainment events. As music festivals, sports, and cultural events return, we’re seeing an uptick in customers booking trips for specific events or experiences. Here are the best events in Southeast Asia to join.

Thaipusam, Malaysia

Being one of the largest and most extravagant Hindu Festivals in Asia, Thaipusam takes place in honor of Lord Murugan every January. Starting at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur, this eight-hour procession ends after a flight of 272 steps to the stunning temple at Batu Caves. Usually, the Tamil community celebrates the festival on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). Thaipusam is a true spectacle to witness as participants offer thanks to the Lord for good fortune.

Songkran, Thailand

Songkran festival is a joy ride including water balloons, Super Soakers, and hoses. Every year in April, people come together for the main festivities in areas like Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket to drench each other. The festival origins from a Buddhist purification ritual. That is done to wash away evil spirits before the Thai New Year by throwing water. For three whole days, people, young and old, take to the streets armed with water pistols, super soakers, buckets of ice-cold water, and even industrial hoses!

Mid-Autumn Festival, Vietnam

Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam takes place in the middle of the eighth lunar month and traditionally focuses on children. The celebration marks the end of the rice harvest and is believed to have originated from an old folktale about parents working so hard to get ready for harvest that they forgot about their children. Therefore, the festival holiday was a chance to spend time with them. This Instagrammable cultural celebration should not be missed as it includes a huge array of technicolor star-shaped lanterns; a lion dance parade, dragon boat races, and lantern fairs, adding luster to the festival.

To help customers plan a Southeast Asia tour that is more exciting and convenient, Lux Travel DMC would like to suggest some of our designed tours here.

Alternatively, you can feel free to contact us at [email protected]. It is our pleasure to consult you about beautiful travel destinations in the region.