I've traveled solo across Southeast Asia for 15 years. These are 3 cities I always recommend

• After traveling the world solo, Andre Neveling realized that nowhere compares to Southeast Asia. • Phuket, Luang Prabang, and Ho Chi Minh City are his favorite cities for traveling on his own. • On a recent trip to Kuala Lumpur, he found it boring — a surprise after how lively the city used to feel.

My first trip to Southeast Asia in 2010 was a revelation. As a young South African, my global travels were just beginning, but the vibrant cultures of Thailand and Malaysia left a lasting impression.

That journey sparked a desire to see the world, and 15 years and 38 countries later, I've come to a simple conclusion: Nowhere else offers the same exotic, compelling diversity as Southeast Asia. I returned to this part of the world again and again, often on my own, and eventually, last yea