Vietnam i did not like one bit, malaysia is great but you have to head to borneo, in indo check out raja ampat area which is in the indo papua side. Cambodiais also a great value.
Philippines is a big country, i would say it's Thailand in the 80s underrated, i don't know where your friends were staying but a city like cebu has everything you'd need and more.
Inferior player? Lol bonucci might be going through a rough patch but he's a couple of classes above benatia, who is just if not more clumsy than bonbon but without the flair