Along with natural beauty and vibrant food, Southeast Asia is particularly well known throughout the world for its shopping malls and sprawling markets.
Here are five of the best, most exciting markets in the region.
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1. Chatuchak Market
Bangkok's enormous Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the city's biggest draws and attracts a crowd of both locals and tourists.
The market consists of around 15,000 individual sellers ranging from permanent stalls and stores to roaming carts.
Though nicely organized and set up with section names and stall numbers, it can still be a challenge to navigate the narrow shopping alleys without getting lost a few times.
As an open-air market in Bangkok, you can be assured no matter what weekend day you choose to visit, Chatuchak will be hot.
Be sure to drink lots of water and get a refreshing and healthy bottle of pennywort juice known as nam bai bua bok.
2. Long Bien Market
Vietnam is one of the most energetic countries in the entire world - busyness is an understatement.
Hanoi's biggest central food distribution market is known as Long Bien Market.
Every day in the early morning hours, the market is alive and booming with customers, transportation, and delivery vehicles.
The considerable quantity of fresh produce, giant piles of herbs, tons of vegetables, and tropical fruit cover the market and sprawl onto the adjacent streets.
I had an incredible time standing out-of-the-way on the side near the entrance of the market while gazing at the ridiculous amount of motorcycles and double basket porters scurrying back and forth.
3. Luang Prabang Night Market
Laos, on the whole, is probably the most laid back, quiet, and relaxing country in all of Southeast Asia.
With a much smaller population than neighboring countries like Vietnam and Thailand, Laos remains less affected by industrialization and generally more rural.
The Luang Prabang Night Market, which sets up each evening at about 5 pm, brings together a crowd of vendors, many of whom are from the surrounding countryside.
The market is not exactly exciting busy like the other markets on this list, but more exciting for the cool selection of crafts, traditional clothing, and art. Some of the most popular items to purchase are the colorful Laos style shoulder bags and purses.
Also, the Hmong Food Market, located on the far side of the night market, is a great place to grab an authentic Laos meal.
4. Tomohon Market in Sulawesi
Indonesia's Tomohon Market, on the island of Sulawesi, is one of the most interesting markets in Southeast Asia.
If you can handle the exotic animals on display, you'll discover some truly unique things and probably gasp at a few things too.
Local Sulawesi are known throughout Indonesia as being rather adventurous when it comes to delicacies.
Rats, monkeys, dogs, snakes, sloths, and bats are a frequent sight when at Tomohon. Keep an open mind and enjoy the excitement!
5. Singapore Kreta Ayer Wet Market
Rated as one of the top fresh food markets in the world, Singapore's Kreta Ayer Wet Market is the place to go if you want to see where the food you're eating comes from.
Every ingredient you need to cook local Singaporean specialties is available somewhere in the market, including a selection of exotic and imported goods as well.
Though vast and packed with food, Kreta Ayer is well maintained and quite a bit cleaner than some of the other food markets in Southeast Asia.
When you're tired of browsing fresh ingredients, head upstairs to grab a bite at the hawker food court.
In Southeast Asia everywhere you go or look you'll find markets along the street, hidden in the alleys, or sprawling indoors.
Since markets are where life happens, they are not only great places to shop but also great places to browse and observe the local culture.
