Ancient ruins

While today the borders of Southeast Asia are relatively clear-cut, historically they were somewhat more flowing, as power shifted from one empire to another.
These shifts can be explored by incorporating visits to some of the stunning historical monuments that dot the region while on your trip—serious history lovers sometimes plan their entire trips around attractions like Bagan, Angkor Wat, Borobudur and Wat Phu, among others.

Cambodia

The maritime trading empire of Funan was dominant in this region for around the first six centuries CE, with trading links to China and India. Funan was located in southeastern Cambodia and the Mekong Delta with its main port corresponding to the present-day ruins at Oc Eo in Vietnam's An Giang province. The capital Vyadhapura is considered by most archeologists to have been at Angkor Borei near Takeo in Cambodia. By the mid-sixth century, Funan had merged with or fell under the control of the inland Kingdom of Chenla, which had its capital at Sambor Prei Kuk (near Kompong Thom) from the mid-sixth to late seventh centuries.

A period of internal strife saw ancient Chenla re-emerge as the Khmer Empire by the late eighth century. Thought to have been founded by Jayavarman II in 802, the empire grew to become Southeast Asia’s greatest, leaving monuments sprinkled across the region, including the most prestigious of them all, Angkor Wat. The remains of Jayarvarman II's earliest cities can still be seen on Phnom Kulen and at Rolous near Siem Reap. It wasn’t till 1431 that the Siamese well and truly sacked Angkor, but at its height, the empire had extended as far west as today's Kanchanaburi and Lopburi, north to Phimai (all in Thailand) and also north to Wat Phu (in southern Laos).

While today the greatest concentration of monuments is centred around Angkor Wat near Siem Reap, ruins from this empire can be seen across the region, including Muang Singh, Phanom Rung, Phimai, Preah Vihear
 

Laos

Arguably the preeminent archaeological site in Southeast Asia, the enigmatic Plain of Jars, near Phonsavan, has been dated to the Iron Age. Scattered across grassy hills and valleys, the jars are thought to be funerary, but really nobody is sure.

At the other end of the spectrum (and country), spectacular World Heritage-listed Wat Phu formed a part of the Khmer and pre-Angkor Chenla empires from the fourth century onward, though it is believed structures existed on the location far earlier. Most of what you can see here today was built in the 11th century.
 

Vietnam

Vietnam’s rich archaeological history reaches back into the Iron Age with the Dong Son culture, whose brass drums have been found as far afield as Alor and Bali in Indonesia. No physical evidence of this culture remains standing in Vietnam today, though artefacts feature in museums.

The Hindu Champa kingdom, which stretched across much of the coastal strip of Vietnam from the second century onwards, was responsible for most of the ancient monuments you’ll see in Vietnam today. These are namely My Son, near Hoi An, along with a scattering of temples that can be seen near Qui Nhon, Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Phan Rang That Cham.
 

Burma

The earliest kingdoms in Burma were those created by the Pyu, more or less in the middle of the country, and the Mon further south. Comprising a series of walled cities that shifted over time, the grandest (and last) of the former was Sri Ksetra (near Pyay), which was sacked by a Bagan king in the 11th century. Modern Thaton is thought to have been the early capital of the latter, before it shifted to Bago around the 13th century.

While the origins of the Bagan empire existed contemporaneously with those of Pyu, upon the sacking of Sri Ksetra, Bagan went from strength to strength until the late 13th century, when it collapsed at the hands of Mongol invaders.

Before the fall, historians believe that more than 10,000 religious monuments were constructed on the plains of Bagan. Many of these (though not all!) can be visited today. It is a highlight for many who visit Burma.