Terraced rice fields tumbling down mountainsides, traditional stilt houses tucked into lush valleys and bamboo waterwheels turning beside clear streams: Pu Luong reveals a quieter side of northern Vietnam. Located in Thanh Hoa Province, around 160 kilometres southwest of Hanoi, Pu Luong Nature Reserve offers an enticing escape from the capital. Here, tropical forests meet…
Across Vietnam’s Central Highlands, the sound of gongs has echoed through villages for generations. More than music, these rhythms accompany ceremonies, celebrations and community gatherings, forming part of a living cultural tradition deeply connected to the people and landscapes of the region. This October, that heritage takes centre stage at the Central Highlands Gong Culture…
High above the plains of northern Thailand, a collection of brilliant white pagodas appears to balance almost impossibly on the peaks of a rugged limestone mountain. This is Wat Chaloem Phrakiat, one of Lampang Province’s most spectacular sights and a rewarding destination for travellers looking beyond northern Thailand’s better-known attractions. Located in Chae Hom district,…
Phuket may be best known for white-sand beaches and tropical islands, but every October, a very different side of the destination takes centre stage. For 9 extraordinary days, Phuket’s streets and Chinese shrines become the setting for one of Thailand’s most distinctive cultural and religious traditions: the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Taking place from 10–18 October…
Deep in northern Perak, close to Malaysia’s border with Thailand, lies a wilderness that has been evolving for an estimated 130 million years. Royal Belum State Park offers travellers a journey into one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests, where vast forests, secluded waterfalls and extraordinary wildlife surround the waters of Lake Temenggor. Covering around…
Every year, streets, homes and temples across Malaysia come alive with colour and light for one of the country’s most important cultural celebrations. Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights, will be celebrated on 8 November this year, offering visitors a wonderful opportunity to experience the traditions of Malaysia’s Indian community. Meaning “a row of lights”…
This October, the coastal city of Bitung comes alive with a celebration inspired by the sea. From 7–11 October 2026, Festival Pesona Selat Lembeh brings together maritime traditions, local culture, food, music and water sports in one of North Sulawesi’s most distinctive annual events. Held beside the famous Lembeh Strait, the festival celebrates the close…
In the highlands of East Java, the Ijen Plateau offers travellers one of Indonesia’s most stunning volcanic landscapes. With dramatic mountain scenery, cool highland air and the striking turquoise waters of Kawah Ijen, the region rewards adventurous travellers willing to venture beyond the country’s more familiar destinations. Part of a vast volcanic complex in eastern…
There’s plenty of good news coming out of Vietnam at the moment. Here are a few stories making the headlines: Vietnam approaches 16 million international arrivals as inbound growth accelerates Vietnam welcomed 15.9 million international visitors in the first 8 months of 2026, up 14.4% year-on-year. August was particularly strong, with nearly 2 million…
A selection of bitesize stories and positive developments making the news in the Land of Smiles recently: Thailand changes visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days Probably the most important practical update this month: from 15 September 2026, Thailand ended its 60-day visa-exemption scheme and introduced revised arrangements. Travellers from 60 countries and territories,…