Thailand is now considered the main gateway for Australians wanting to visit Southeast Asia. Award-winning travel writer and author John Borthwick introduces us to some of Southeast Asia's hidden gems – lesser-known cities with fascinating history and culture, all just a stone's throw from Bangkok.

George Town, Penang, Malaysia

In the streets of George Town on the island of Penang, distant dialects still echo, as do the riches that early traders – Chinese, Malays, Indians, Armenians, Arabs and Britons – amassed with tin, rubber and spices.

The UNESCO World Heritage city, now home to three-quarters of a million inhabitants, is thoroughly modern and offers Wi-Fi, good restaurants, and boutique hotels. Its streets, with their colonnades and Chinese and Indian shops, invite exploration.

Ranong, Thailand

Here's a glimpse into the authentic, non-touristy side of Thailand. Ranong, a port on the Andaman Sea, nestled between the southern tip of Myanmar and the Kra isthmus in Thailand, lives mainly from fishing and trade.

Most travelers visit Ranong's free, open-air hot springs – and they really are hot – and then enjoy the friendly town of 25,000 inhabitants, which thankfully doesn't exhibit the stark contrast between luxury and poverty often found elsewhere. Off the coast lies a group of pristine national park islands, perfect for day trips, as well as the two tranquil resort islands of Koh Phayam and tiny Koh Chang.

Bagan, Myanmar

With its 2,500 temples, pagodas, and monasteries spread across 40 square kilometers, Bagan could be described as the Buddhist equivalent of Varanasi, Rome, and Mecca all in one. During the heyday of this royal city—from the 11th to the 13th centuries—more than 10,000 shrines and religious sites covered the plain. Shwe Sandaw, one of the most magnificent structures, has stood like an Egyptian pyramid overlooking this plain for 900 years.

Hoi An, Vietnam

The French left behind Peugeots, berets, bakeries, and good coffee. The Americans left behind airplane wrecks, old Dodges, and rock 'n' roll. The Russians—nothing anyone could use. But long before these immigrants, Hoi An, south of Da Nang, had welcomed merchant ships from China, Japan, and Europe for some 500 years.

As one of Vietnam's most beautiful coastal cities (and quite rightly designated a World Heritage Site), its Old Town preserves a heritage of merchant houses, temples, and warehouses. A unique 19th-century covered bridge still spans the stream that once separated the old Japanese and Chinese quarters.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia

The sunny seaside resort of Sihanoukville is losing more and more syllables: travelers are shortening it first to "Snookyville" and then simply to "Snooky." Located on the Gulf of Thailand, 190 kilometers southwest of the capital Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville offers white sandy beaches, quaint backpacker bars, casinos for losers, and bargain prices for food, drinks, and accommodation – a true pastime for every taste.

Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

For over a century, Kuching was the capital of Borneo's famous "White Rajas." What they left behind is one of Southeast Asia's friendliest and most livable provincial capitals, not to mention a wealth of romantic, if eccentric, buildings.

This riverside city (with truly magnificent sunsets) is perfect for strolling, so put on comfortable shoes and wander through the wonders of the White Rajah era, such as the Pavilion (1907), a three-story, Italianate puzzle that now houses the excellent Textile Museum.

Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang is located on a peninsula in the Mekong River, is rich in temples and old French villas, and has fundamentally reinvented itself since being included on the World Heritage List in 1995.

Located about 300 km north of Vientiane and far removed from any hustle and bustle, this former residence of the Laotian kings is a true tourist magnet. Economic growth has ensured the preservation of the colonial streetscape and the 32 important Buddhist temples (wats), while simultaneously allowing the population to grow to 50,000 inhabitants, making it the second largest city in Laos.

Chiang Rai, Thailand

The northern Thai city of Chiang Rai is a hidden gem in Thai tourism (30 million visitors annually, and rising). And that's a good thing. Founded in 1262 and one of Thailand's oldest settlements, it preserves a distinctive Lanna culture in its temples, museums, and music.

Chiang Rai, home to 80,000 people, has long been a starting point for travelers exploring the hill tribe regions of the north, the banks of the Mekong River, and the Laotian hinterland.

This article was first published in the newspaper The West Australian.