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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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My vote is Kyrzgyzstan, a central Asian Republic and former Soviet SSR. Most people have not even heard of this mostly mountainous state, let alone know anything about it. Apparently it's actually a bit more accessible than the other 'stans.'
The other stans would also rate: Uzbekistan, Tajikstan, Kazakhstan (although Borat kind of publicized them it was mostly all false), as well as Azberbaijan, Bhutan, Laos.
A couple of decades ago, it would have been Cambodia and Oman, which were nearly impossible to get a visa to enter for regular tourism/travel. But both are now extremely easy. Timor Leste would be one of the least known now. Brueni is easy to go to, but I don't think many people go there. Maldives, they won't even let you off the plane unless you can afford their $200 a night hotels. Everybody goes to Bhutan, but it has to be on a package tour. Mongolia and Bangladesh are no problem to enter and travel in, but not included in the itinerary of many travelers. People who go to Myanmar love it, and word is getting around. Same for Iran.
Kyrgyzstan is the most beautiful, too--very mountainous.
Good list, Tri. I would add: Russia. European Russia is well-known, but Asian Russia isn't. Notice all the people asking where to visit in Asia, or talking about Asia in general, and they always leave out North Asia (Siberia & Russ Far East), as if there's just a giant blank on the map between China/Mongolia and the Arctic Ocean.
Kyrgyzstan is the most beautiful, too--very mountainous.
Good list, Tri. I would add: Russia. European Russia is well-known, but Asian Russia isn't. Notice all the people asking where to visit in Asia, or talking about Asia in general, and they always leave out North Asia (Siberia & Russ Far East), as if there's just a giant blank on the map between China/Mongolia and the Arctic Ocean.
I also agree re: Brunei, and add Borneo.
Borneo is an island, not a country, on which Brunei and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia are located.
I would say Singapore. It's world famous as a city, but everyone confuses it for Hong Kong, thinking Singapore is in China because it's mostly Chinese. Then, some people think Hong Kong is a country. So Singapore is not well-known to be a country.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,029,399 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haowen Wong
Borneo is an island, not a country, on which Brunei and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia are located.
I would say Singapore. It's world famous as a city, but everyone confuses it for Hong Kong, thinking Singapore is in China because it's mostly Chinese. Then, some people think Hong Kong is a country. So Singapore is not well-known to be a country.
Maybe in America, but nobody I've met has confused it for being in China. It's also annoying when people speak as if it might as well be China, it feels totally different and has its own culture.
The least known countries would have to be the STANS.
Malaysia, while pretty familiar to the Brits and Aussies, seems to be an unfamiliar country for many Americans. Many do not know where it is. I'd say it is pretty under-rated for a travel destination, as everyone coming to SE Asia would normally stop in Singapore or Thailand, followed by Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,029,399 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyh
The least known countries would have to be the STANS.
Malaysia, while pretty familiar to the Brits and Aussies, seems to be an unfamiliar country for many Americans. Many do not know where it is. I'd say it is pretty under-rated for a travel destination, as everyone coming to SE Asia would normally stop in Singapore or Thailand, followed by Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Funny thing is that going by stats Malaysia actually gets the most foreign visitors out of any SE Asian country, more than Thailand. A lot are from Singapore, yes, but it gets more from UK, Australia, Europe vs N. America. It's definitely still ahead of Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam, though, although they are emerging markets. It does seem like Thailand hogs a lot of the attention for some reason.
Malaysia receives more tourists mostly due to the AirAsia (the region's largest lowcost carrier for the uninitiated) hub being located here. Many come for transit. Thailand is still the most popular destination for tourists, esp Westerners.
Malaysia receives more tourists mostly due to the AirAsia (the region's largest lowcost carrier for the uninitiated) hub being located here. Many come for transit. Thailand is still the most popular destination for tourists, esp Westerners.
The same goes for Singapore as well, a lot of the "tourists" who go there are just people using the country as a layover to go somewhere else.
As for little known Asian Countries maybe look west? Armenina and Bahrain are two that spring to my mind, they are both Geographically in Asia.
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