American magazine ranks this island in Vietnam as the most beautiful in the region.

Any Southeast Asian adventure, whether a short trip or a cross-country journey, will likely include a visit to some of the region’s more than 25,000 islands. No matter where you go, you’ll find countless coral-sand coves, beach bars, and swaying coconut palms, but there’s more to explore than just the beaches. Here are eight of the best island destinations to explore in Southeast Asia, according to National Geographic .

Koh Chang, Thailand

Best - beach

Wanting to avoid crowded Phuket and Koh Samui, visitors should consider quieter Koh Chang, which has beaches to suit all tastes. The best is White Sand Beach, dotted with backpacker bars and seafood restaurants. Klong Prao Beach is more spread out, with larger resorts. Lonely Beach has a vibrant nightlife with DJ sets at TingTong and Himmel...

Lonely Beach, beach on Koh Chang island

PHOTO: TRIP ADVISOR

Penang, Malaysia

Ideal - cuisine

When it comes to Southeast Asian culinary adventures, it’s hard to find a better place than Penang, which is connected by two bridges to the west coast of Malaysia. The culinary hub is George Town, a former British East India Company port that attracted Chinese and Indian traders. Both communities left their mark on the cuisine, and today you’ll find cheap street food and Michelin-starred fine dining.

Cuisine on Penang Island is highly appreciated

PHOTO: LIVING NOMAD

Cat Ba, Vietnam

Best suited - adventure

At around 260 square kilometres, Cat Ba is the largest island in Ha Long Bay. While many people stop here for a day trip on their way to smaller islands, thrill-seekers often linger. The karst limestone cliffs are a rock-climber’s playground; the Butterfly Valley, rippled with caves and rocky outcrops, is a popular spot for solo climbing (climbing without ropes in deep water). A safer but no less spectacular alternative is to hike to Ngu Lam Peak, or kayak past bioluminescent plankton.

Cat Ba archipelago consists of 367 large and small islands.

PHOTO: GIANG LINH

Komodo, Indonesia

Best - wildlife

The islands of the UNESCO-listed Komodo National Park – Rinca, Komodo and Padar – are the only places where you can see the creatures commonly known as Komodo dragons in the wild. These ferocious monitor lizards are the world's largest lizards, averaging between 1.8 and 3 metres in length. Other species to look out for include crab-eating macaques, small sulphur-crested cockatoos and Timorese pythons.

The famous Komodo dragon in Indonesia

PHOTO: CORDIER SYLVAIN

Panay, Philippines

The best - festival

Visitors to the Western Visayas region of the Philippines often only consider Panay as a stopover en route to the famous white-sand beaches of Boracay. But a stay on Boracay’s much larger sister island offers a glimpse into both the past and future of Philippine festival traditions. Kalibo, on the north coast, is the birthplace of Ati-Atihan, known as the “mother of festivals.” The festival, a parade of tribal dances, feathered headdresses and Catholic rituals that dates back to the 13th century, takes place on the third Sunday of January.

Ati-Atihan Festival

PHOTO: BORACAY INFO

Isla Verde, Philippines

Best - scuba diving

You won’t spend much time on land at Isla Verde – except for a post-dive chicken adobo lunch. The waters here are some of the most biodiverse in the world, home to 1,700 species of fish and 300 species of coral. Dive deep and you’ll be surrounded by the likes of yellow grouper, green sea turtles and yellow-striped Moorish idols; photographers can spot 800 species of nudibranchs in a myriad of colours.

PHOTO: PHISTARS

Java, Indonesia

Best for - temples

Indonesia’s most populous island is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can visit two in a day, but it’s best to spend more time exploring. Borobudur Temple, built in the eighth century, is the world’s largest and grandest Buddhist monument. Nearby are the 240 Hindu temples that make up the Prambanan Archaeological Park.

Borobudur Temple was built in the eighth century.

PHOTO: GETTY

Don Khong, Laos

Best - cycling

This inland island is the largest of Laos’ Si Phan Don archipelago, an archipelago on the Mekong River. While its name means “4,000 islands,” the exact number can vary, with quicksands emerging and receding with the seasons. Don Khong is the largest, a tranquil green landscape dotted with Buddhist temples, pagodas, and bamboo stilt houses. Many guesthouses rent bicycles, and a paved road runs right around the island. While the circuit can be completed in a day, enjoy the slow pace of life here and see where the road takes you.