With beaches that can rival the best that Australia and the South Pacific have to offer, historical sites on par with those found in India, and cities every bit as vibrant and mesmerizing as the urban giants of East Asia, it’s tempting to think of Southeast Asia as a “greatest hits” of sorts of the vast Asia-Oceania region. After all, the French called this Indochine, relying on the fact that it’s located roughly between India and China. But that label feels like a disservice to the culturally rich and fiercely distinct nature of the nations that comprise Southeast Asia. Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Indonesia shine all with a light of their own, reflective of their native traditions and colonial experiences.