7 Best Beach Resorts in Southeast Asia This Fall

Ancient ruins, frenetic concrete jungles, and sleepy rice paddy towns blanket the 11 countries that make up Southeast Asia. But for millions of humid-happy, sun-seeking travelers, a visit to this part of the world is all about the beaches.

“Southeast Asia is for travelers looking for beaches with a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere,” says Jaclyn Sienna India, founder and CEO of Sienna Charles. “I personally spend a month in Vietnam each year around Christmas time, staying off the coast. It’s been five years, and I keep coming back for that atmosphere, service, and people.”

There are scores of rustic bungalows and mod villas dotting the fringes of each country’s sugar-white sands. From Cambodia to Singapore, these are the best go-to and brand-new places to post up for a luxuriously lazy beach vacation.

Pass on the barrage of wellness resorts and overcrowded beach clubs of Bali and head to Indonesia’s more unblemished alternative. Nihi Sumba, famed for its herd of beach galloping horses, has slowly transformed its namesake island into a low-key tourist destination. Cap Karoso is Sumba’s latest addition, opening last year on the island’s western shore. Its 64 rooms and suites range from a Studio to a 3-Bedroom Beachfront Ghan’nu, each with a sleek but homey design, clean lines, and green roofs. The resort’s organic farm was carefully curated to accompany the Michelin-star-chef-created menus, which encompass everything from classical French fare to local Sumba recipes. Rates start at $414 per night.

Off the coast of Cambodia, intrepid travelers can opt for a more rustic overwater getaway than the glitz and glam of the Maldives. But guests on these 27-villa twin private islands are by no means “roughing it.” Expansive overwater, beach, and hilltop villas have thatched roofs, glass bottoms, plush four-poster beds, private pools, and stylish driftwood furniture. Built with sustainability in mind and a B-Corp certification to prove it, it sits on its own private marine reserve to ward off fishermen and allow the coral to thrive. And when you’re not swimming in emerald-green waters, lay face down in one of the seaside spa areas to listen to the waves as you’re wrapped in seaweed. Rates start at $1,024 per night, all-inclusive.

Making headlines as the latest locale for the Emmy-award-winning show The White Lotus, this island resort designed by the famous Bill Bensley has long been a go-to for jet setters and paparazzi princesses. Set on a pristine bay overlooking the Gulf of Siam, there are eight villa and residence categories ranging from Serenity Pool Villa to Residence Villas with private pools. Guests can partake in Muay Thai classes, a White Lotus screening in the private cinema, and southern Thai specialties like larb tuna and Wagyu beef cheek in a cardamom curry. Rates start at $1,250 per night.

Although Desaru Coast hasn’t joined the Southeast Asian lexicon of go-to vacation spots yet, Malaysia is certainly trying to change that. With a swath of plush resorts, a new ferry, a convention center, and golf courses galore, it’s becoming the country’s premier beach destination. One&Only is arguably the area’s poshest brand, after opening on a stretch of white sand in 2020. Secluded on 128 acres, its 45 wood-clad suites, designed by the late Kerry Hill, play with light and soft tones to add to its calming feel. There’s a heavy focus on Asia’s first One&Only spa, featuring a green caviar body exfoliation and an Augustinus Bader facial celebs swear by.  Rates start at $616 per night.

Palawan’s craggy limestone cliffs and sparkling emerald waters shine like gemstones in what is arguably the prettiest part of the Philippines. Set away from the outrigger boats and tourist cafés is this private island escape, one of Robb Report’s 50 Greatest Luxury Hotels on Earth, located inside a protected marine reserve. Exceptionally private and wildly peaceful, it has just six contemporary villas spread over 15 acres. For such a small island, there are a surprising amount of ways to spend your day, from playing nine holes on the golf course and spotting indigenous birds on a guided nature walk to scuba diving on the colorful house reef. Rates start at $2,650 per night, all-inclusive.

Named Heaven, Sky, Earth, and Sea, this resort spans levels on Monkey Mountain near Da Nang. Its 189 accommodations, ranging from rooms to residences, were designed by Bill Bensley, a fact shared by many five-star resorts throughout the region. His signature whimsical style is evident with the glamorous black-and-white color scheme sprinkled with temple windows, hanging lanterns, and playful monkey motifs channeling the ones you may find playing near your private infinity pool. Each level is reachable via a funicular, taking guests from the signature all-day restaurant Citron (which has dining pods suspended over the restaurant’s edge) to its white sand beach—one of the finest in the country. Rates start at $480 per night.

Singapore’s answer to Disney World, Sentosa is a southern island just minutes from the CBD. But the new Raffles Sentosa promises to be a regenerative wellness retreat away from the playground paradise when it opens later this year. The 62-villa resort designed by Yabu Pushelberg is a sophisticated modern offshoot of the city’s grande dame, just 20 minutes north. Situated on 1.8 mile-long Tanjong Beach, the resort leans into Singapore’s green thumb, with nearly 25 acres of lush gardens, plus a private pool for each villa when the tropical humidity hits. Rates are TBD.