Destinations Around Asia

Beyond Bangkok and Thailand an entire region is waiting to be explored. A region with heritage sites, spectacular scenery and a fascinating cultural legacy. Bangkok as the main transport hub for south-east Asia, provides easy access to the treasures of  Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. See our sister sites at http://www.visit-mekong.com for more info on packages and holidays in Indochina.

Unique and special, landlocked Laos has a rich history stretching back 10,000 years. It's a land of untamed natural beauty, genuine faith and generous hospitality. Where Buddhism permeates every aspect of life and which should be visited with an open mind and an open heart.

Change comes slowly to Laos, which is why Luang Prabang, a World Heritage Site, is such a treasure. Surrounded by mists and mountains and remote temples it has an ambiance and mystique that's not easily forgotten. And Vientiene, Laos' sleepy capital city, is where to discover the slow hypnotising rhythms and French colonial architecture of old Indochina.

Click here to find out about travelling in Laos - its sights, tours and hotels

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An incredible heritage, a brutal past, warm friendly people and one of the most inspiring historical sites in Asia. Cambodia offers a cultural, affecting experience like no other. The beautiful 12th century temple ruins at Angkor, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, represent the marvellous architectural achievements of the Khmer civilization and one of the most spectacular places in Asia.

The Killing Field's and other horrific legacies of the Khmer Rouge genocide reveal the tragedies of the recent past, searing impressions on the heart, staining lessons about humanity in the mind. And the wild north east offers adventure seekers stunning scenery, alternative hill tribe cultures and wildlife. Cambodia is more than just a leisure holiday, it's an experience.

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When Vietnam opened its doors to the outside world, its long and intriguing history revealed fascinating cities and undiscovered sites. Among them Hoi An, a charming 17th century trading town; the old Imperial capital of Hue, several ancient Cham sites like Danang; and the battleground of Dien Bien Phu, a theatre of war during the last gasps of French Indochina. All survived the biggest scrape in the country's tempestuous history - the Vietnam War - which itself has spawned myriad sights well worth seeing.

Far from just foraging through the past, visitors can also live the moment. The deafening buzz of the thriving cities of Hanoi and Saigon, the spellbinding bustle of the Mekong River Delta, the sharp sensory hit of a steaming bowl of pho. Trace a coastline concealing pristine beaches and natural attractions like spectacular Halong Bay, where sharp-angled mountains jut from the sea. Or seek out impressive highlands and ethnic hill tribes. And be sure to mingle with Vietnam's proud people, from who a passion for beauty pours like a stream into poetry and paintings, palaces and pagodas. You can leave Vietnam, but it never leaves you.

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Malaysia has so much to offer: from the idyllic island beaches of Langkawi and Malacca to the futuristic city of Kuala Lumpur, the tea plantations and British style country houses of the Cameron Highlands to the rainforests of Sarawak and Sabah states, Malaysia has something for everyone. Composed of two distinct land areas - the Malaysian Peninsula and East Malaysia - divided by the South China Sea, it's a melting pot of cultures and people. A landscape that blends soaring mountain ranges, ancient jungles, rice fields and fast flowing rivers with white sand beaches and island archipelagos.

Malaysia's location on the old east - west trading route allowed the country to absorb many cultural influences from Europe, India and China, creating a modern day multicultural society of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Europeans and Tamils. In the more remote areas, indigenous hill tribes still remain. Originally Hindu-Buddhist, Malaysia is now predominantly Muslim with other religions and ethnic groups peacefully co-existing.

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Founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, Singapore is a city, an island, and a country. An economic lion among Asian tigers, it's a prosperous, dynamic destination rich in contrast and colours. It's welcoming, worldly people have brought to pass a harmonious metropolis, a globalised city-state filled with multi-national business, culture, cuisine, shopping arts and architecture. While smooth and orderly around the edges, Singapore brims with unbridled energy, history, shopping malls, and, more recently, an artistic creativity that verges towards the edgy. Truly, this little Southeast Asian dynamo embodies the finest of East and West.

Stylistically it exhibits blends of colonial and Asian. At first glance it seems all gleaming skyskyscrapers and landscaped green areas. A closer look however reveals diverse British, Chinese, Malay and Indian influences. Enclaves like Little India abound in colourful fragrant shops seemingly lifted straight from the subcontinent, while Gelang exhibits the finest traits of Malayasian architecture. Most of Singapore's tourist attractions are centred near the main shopping street of Orchard Rd (shopping), Chinatown and Little India. And for natural relief the city has a keen fondness for public parks and the coastal retreat of Sentosa island.

Click here for all you need to know for a trip to Singapore: sights, hotels and tours

There are always some great hotel deals to be found on smartstays.com

One of Asia's most electrifying cities, Hong Kong demands a visit. It's a melting wok in which age-old cultures and traditions coexist alongside forward-looking commerce, dilapidated shophouses huddle beside polished skyscrapers, high-flying business executives strut to work beside careworn street vendors. While its cosmopolitan character and role as a regional economic powerhouse was forged during British rule, the fast-paced metropolis has steadfastly retained its identity, and some semblance of independence, since handover.

It's still a gleaming hub of global commerce, still a meeting point of ocean-spanning cultures and histories, and - with its frenzied shopping, diverse attractions and explosive nightlife - still a never less than thrilling place to visit. Take a trip around the harbour, open your eyes to a stunning futuristic skyline, take tea in one of its many upmarket hotels, or indulge one of the endless other ways to fritter away time here. You won't be disappointed.

Click here to access our dedicated Hong Kong site, to learn all about it and book a place to stay.