Each year, hundreds of places scramble to be placed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), knowing that a listing will bring with it international recognition as well as a platform to build local awareness and pride in a historic or natural site.

In July 2008, three new sites in ASEAN made it to the list: the historic cities of Malacca and Georgetown, both shaped by the 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West; and the Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border built over six centuries of Khmer rule.

In all, 27 sites made it to this year's listing which now totals 878 sites in 145 countries.

What does such a listing mean for the sites? As defined by UNESCO, "Once a country signs the Convention, and has sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, the resulting prestige often helps raise awareness among citizens and governments for heritage preservation. Greater awareness leads to a general rise in the level of the protection and conservation given to heritage properties. A country may also receive financial assistance and expert advice from the World Heritage Committee to support activities for the preservation of its sites."

It also means a new list of places for travellers to aspire to visit.

ASEAN's 29 World Heritage Sites

Singapore offers travellers an ideal gateway to exploring ASEAN's 29 World Heritage Sites as it is positioned at the heart of ASEAN and has excellent air connectivity with 57 country links and over 180 city links.

ASEAN's World Heritage Sites offer travellers a good mix of cultural and natural sites:

Cambodia

1. Angkor (1992)
2. Temple of Preah Vihear (2008)

Indonesia

1. Borobudur Temple Compounds (1991)
2. Komodo National Park (1991)
3. Prambanan Temple Compounds (1991)
4. Ujung Kulon National Park (1991)
5. Sangiran Early Man Site (1996)
6. Lorentz National Park (1999)
7. Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (2004)

Laos

1. Town of Luang Prabang (1995)
2. Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape (2001)

Malaysia

1. Gunung Mulu National Park (2000)
2. Kinabalu Park (2000)
3. Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca (2008)

The Philippines

1. Baroque Churches of the Philippines (1993)
2. Tubbataha Reef Marine Park (1993)
3. Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (1995)
3. Historic Town of Vigan (1999)
4. Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (1999)

Thailand

1. Historic City of Ayutthaya (1991)
2. Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (1991)
3. Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (1991)
4. Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (1992)
5. Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (2005)

Vietnam

1. Complex of Hué Monuments (1993)
2. Ha Long Bay (1994, 2000)
3. Hoi An Ancient Town (1999)
4. My Son Sanctuary (1999)
5. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (2003)