The Vietnamese people are proud of their independence, yet warm and friendly to westerners, including Americans. It was like visiting an era in the past, simple but charming, and I was quite moved by the whole experience. In the center of the country, near the south coast, is Bangkok. Bangkok draws the best and the most ambitious of Thailand's youth, as well as others from upcountry who come seeking jobs and a better way of life. However, life in Bangkok can be very intense, with the heat and the noise and the traffic and the smells and all those people.
Many travelers dislike Bangkok and avoid it except when they have to make an international flight.
Malaysia is a former British colony which has a strong Muslim influence. I haven't been to Singapore yet, but when I go I'll be sure to leave my chewing gum at home. Beyond Malaysia lies Indonesia, which is spread over several huge islands. On the way down to Malaysia, going down the southern peninsula of Thailand, you will encounter reminders of the mixing of Thai, Chinese, and Muslim culture, in the marketplaces, the food, the buildings, the people and the way they dress. In the countryside, you will see beautiful rock formations amid rich layers of trees, and you will never be far from the sea, so beautiful and clear and blue-green that you can see the bottom.