dfggdr5

This city on the central Vietnamese coast is one of the coolest towns in Southeast Asia, with its center a national heritage zone, which means no motorized vehicles are allowed. Stroll the cobblestone streets lined with charming shops and cafés, lit with lanterns and loaded with history. Once a month, during the full moon, the town trades its electric lights for traditional colored lanterns, while performers and musicians fill the streets with song. Hoi An is also the home of some of the best tailors in the entire country – bring a photograph of something you like and they’ll whip it up for you in a matter of hours, at almost unbelievably cheap prices too.

Nepal’s capital is surrounded by a valley filled with practically an endless number of historic attractions  – in fact, there are seven UNESCO world heritage sites here, including the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath, the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka, Patan and Bhaktapur, as well as the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan. Visitors can enjoy mingling with locals and animals among the monuments of Durbar Square or join mountain trekkers in the Thamel District and shop for cashmere, pashmina and wool scarfs, carpets and paper prints, created by local artisans. Don’t miss sampling the mouth-watering Nepalese dumplings while you’re here.

Terelj National Park in Nalaikh is less than 40 miles from Mongolia’s capital city and offers a glimpse into nomadic Mongolian life without having to journey for days over rough, unpaved road. While you can take a day trip, one of the best ways to experience it is by staying with a local family and sleeping in a traditional yurt dwelling known as a ger. From there, this vast, largely uninhabited region can be explored on horseback or on foot. Just a few minutes away, you can watch Mongolian cowboys herd their sheep and break wild horses.

The tranquility of the village of Ubud is a mecca for those who are looking to immerse themselves in nature and culture, with its unspoiled beauty and some of the best spas in all of Asia. Enjoy a famed Balinese massage, aromatherapy, acupressure or reflexology, and take in Ubud’s vibrant arts scene, with a number of fantastic museums and galleries. At nearby nature reserve Monkey Forest Park, you’ll find hundreds of mischievous long-tailed macaques.

Singapore, with a cityscape that looks as if it was ripped right out of the pages of a sci-fi book, has become an economic powerhouse over the past half century, with a high standard of living and numerous reasons to visit. It’s considered a shopper’s paradise with its numerous malls, though it also offers magnificent architecture, culture and amazing public art along with a slice of horticultural heaven with its Gardens by the Bay and Singapore Botanic Gardens. Many visitors come for the incredible food, with the melding of cultures, cuisine and natural beauty evident in every area of the city. Feast on nasi lemak, a Malaysian dish of coconut rise, anchovies, cucumber and chili paste; bak kut the, a clear Chinese soup cooked with pork ribs and five spices and even delectable British crumpets for tea.

Filled with contrasts, in Taipei you’ll find peaceful parks encircled by hectic streets and traditional markets right next to some of the trendiest boutiques. It’s old enough to have a fascinating history, yet modern enough to get Wi-Fi coverage everywhere you go.Food lovers will be in heaven, as not only can you eat well, but you can eat very cheaply. Even in eateries that don’t exactly look sophisticated, you’ll find the quality of the food is superior and there are almost an overwhelming number of options. In addition to local Taiwanese dishes, you’ll find regional cuisines from across China along with outstanding Japanese, Indian and even Italian fare.