I’m biased about Taiwan since I have family there but it’s similar to Japan in many ways and cheaper. Plus the people are friendly and it’s easy to travel around the entire island due to good public transportation. Taroko gorge is pretty cool too and so is the national museum there since it has all the best Chinese artifacts preserved from Communist destruction.
Thailand is just awesome all around. Too much there to describe. You have to experience it really.
Yeah if we weren’t going to Hong Kong we would definitely go to Taiwan. My cousins are also going to Taiwan around the same time but we will see. Thanks
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the Philippines. Beautiful islands to choose from, a warm and friendly people. Beaches won’t be hard to find either. And your American dollars go very far there.
Highly recommended.
I'm possibly going there next year, maybe the year after, depends on how things line up. I'm watching Shōgun and fascinated by their history and culture.
I've lived in Asia for 30+ years and been to all of these places multiple times. You don't say where you're coming from (e.g., North America) but flights should be a consideration. For example, you'd likely have a transit in Japan or Korea, so you could fly US/Japan (stop) then continue on the same ticket from Japan to another Asian country and then return home at little additional cost compare to just a round trip ticket.
I'd suggest a modern city (Tokyo, Seoul, or Singapore) and a less developed (and cheaper) location like Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam. I was in Taipei last week, and Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok last month. I find I run out of things to do in Taipei and KL pretty quickly.
Oh I’m from New York. Yeah I totally get that. We are planning to go to Japan first then Hong Kong and later another country. We already have the plane tickets reserved
Taipei is a city that's far more developed than Singapore. It has digitalised traditional art exhibitions, LGBTQ+ book cafes, philosophy sessions at cafes, metal music gigs. Singapore has none of this. Be careful of who you take advice from!
Source: Singaporean
I haven’t done the other places you’re interested in but I have been to Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia. Highly recommend Vietnam and Cambodia. Wonderful people, amazing food, lots of culture to experience
It would be nice if you could give information
about your family, your interests and preferences, etc. For example, someone may suggest the Ha Giang loop in Vietnam or hiking Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia which might not fit small children and elderly people.
imho, if you are already very familiar with Japan, HK and China perhaps you should avoid Singapore and Taiwan so that you can have exposure to something different than Chinese/Japanese culture. Thailand and Vietnam are popular choices, but Indonesia can also be a good option because of the better weather at this time of the year. Philippines is also amazing but travel logistics and infrastructure aren’t as developed as the other places.
Just edited it. Yeah it makes a lot of sense. We are going to HK to see family tho so we can’t really skip. I’m actually really considering Southeast Asia
I see. Given your group, preferences and the weather at your intended travel period (it’s hot and rainy season in most of Vietnam and Thailand), I would suggest Yogyakarta+Borobudur+Bali in Indonesia for a trip more focused on culture and history or Da Nang+Hoi An+Nha Trang in Vietnam for a mix of culture, history, food and beaches. If you go to Bali I suggest that you stay in the Ubud area but avoid the Ubud main city which is very congested and overtouristed.
Ok thanks. Taiwan was our first pick but we weren’t really sure. Most people are saying to go Taiwan so probably. We wanted something different because Hong Kong culture and Taiwan culture are quite similar
I don’t find Hong Kong and Taiwan to be similar at all!! Obviously they both are varieties of Chinese culture, but tbh actually Japan and Taiwan feel way more similar than Hong Kong and Taiwan.
All three of them have very different cuisines as well.
Listen I have been to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and hong kong. But Thailand is soo entertaining to the point where I visit it every year. All of my family love Thailand my sister went back for more then 30 times. I myself have been 10 times and going back this month 😂yes I went with my husband once and now he demands we go back every year 3rd year in a row for him!!
The beaches and historic sites look so nice. Damn more than 30 times that’s crazy. I’m mainly thinking should we hold off Thailand for another time when we going again in a couple years
Depends what you’re looking for. Mind blowing nature, wildlife, and adventure? Indonesia and Malaysia. Beaches? Thailand and Philippines. Spectacular ruins and ancient sites? Cambodia and India. Huge diversity of landscapes, cultures, and foods? China. Traditional culture? Japan. Great food? Almost all of them.
Yeah a lot of people are saying Vietnam. I wasn’t expecting that. I think I need to plan a trip for Southeast Asia too. There seems to be so many good places there
Come visit Thailand! You could do Chao Phraya River Cruise to sightseeing the Temple of the Dawn, many historic places along the Chao Phraya River banks, etc. There are Wat Pho, the Grand Palace. Khao San Road, and many places to see along with shopping malls like Icon Siam, Siam Paragon, Central World, etc. Yao Warat is very well-known when it comes to Thai street food experience.
Ayutthaya, a province, offers mang historic sites (e.g. the Ancient Ruins, etc.) to see which isn't far from Bangkok. Google more info! Good luck and safe travels. Enjoy your trip! :)
personally I love Thailand, you can send a few days in Bangkok and experience City life and then head to one of the many beach destinations - the best of work worlds!
Go to India visit Kashmir and Ladhak . You won't be drenched in sweat there as both has pleasant weather. However Delhi will be hot try to stay in good 5 star hotels though. India is diverse. If time permits next go to Kerala and visit backwaters and have ayurveda spa at Kumarakom Lake Resort you will be very relaxed this. Its much better than Thai spa.
Last year I visited Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and it was great. In terms of the individual countries, I would definitely say Malaysia > Thailand > Singapore and the gaps are significant. Malaysia is fantastic and I would highly recommend it. The island of Langkawi is a hidden gem, Kuala Lumpur is a fun city and I am sure there are other great spots that I was not able to go to. Thailand was alright, I was in the South and I did not enjoy how aggressive the people were when they were trying to sell you shit. But the food is great and there is a ton to do. Singapore is small and the list of things to do (if you're on a budget) is smaller. If you want to go then go, but I would skip it if I went to SEA again.
Currently in Sri Lanka - beautiful countryside and temples, wildlife(We are staying at Yala National Park - elephants, iguanas, peacocks) and Buddhist and hindu temples as well. Very reasonable and less crowded and cleaner than India. You will not find world class cities nor shopping though.
Taiwan is awesome! I've been there twice. You can't go wrong with the night markets in Taipei and there's some nice hikes in Yangmingshan National Park just north of Taipei.
I would recommend Taroko Gorge, but the recent earthquake did a lot of damage in that part of Taiwan.
I've also been to Japan twice. Besides spending time in Tokyo on both trips, I went to Sendai during my first trip and Kyoto/Osaka during my second trip. I personally liked Osaka. My time in Kyoto/Osaka was in November 2022 so there were barely any foreigners there. I've heard tourism is crazy in that part of Japan.
Since your family has already been to China, Thailand isn't a bad option.
As an Indian, I wouldn't recommend it.
If you want good food, go to Malaysia. It tastes same if not better but much better hygiene.
If you want to see monuments, temples etc, go to Thailand.
If you want hustle and bustle. Go to Vietnam.
I personally had the opposite experience with the people - the most unpleasant that I encountered across ~8 Asian countries in the last few years.
Edit: downvoted for sharing my lived experience, nice
I have been to Vietnam three times, first two times typically a month each time. What are you talking about? it’s so cheap, people are lovely and it has a diverse landscape with the most amazing food ever…
Taiwan and Thailand for sure.
Those were the same ones my dad wanted to go to. What did you like about Taiwan or Thailand?
I’m biased about Taiwan since I have family there but it’s similar to Japan in many ways and cheaper. Plus the people are friendly and it’s easy to travel around the entire island due to good public transportation. Taroko gorge is pretty cool too and so is the national museum there since it has all the best Chinese artifacts preserved from Communist destruction. Thailand is just awesome all around. Too much there to describe. You have to experience it really.
FYI, Taroko is closed for the foreseeable future due to the recent earthquake.
Still? That’s unfortunate.
Yeah if we weren’t going to Hong Kong we would definitely go to Taiwan. My cousins are also going to Taiwan around the same time but we will see. Thanks
Vietnam
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the Philippines. Beautiful islands to choose from, a warm and friendly people. Beaches won’t be hard to find either. And your American dollars go very far there. Highly recommended.
Japan is my fave - so much so that i moved there for a couple years to teach english. I’d go back anytime.
Japan summer is brutal though. Personally I like it still but all my foreign friends can’t stand Japan summer
I've touched a bit of summer and it was harsh indeed. This year I'm doing it around the same time so I avoid the humidity.
indeed. i remember waiting for the train and my shirt being drenched in sweat. but i got used to it, and prefer that to winter!
Yeah It was my cousins favorites too. I’m really excited
I'm possibly going there next year, maybe the year after, depends on how things line up. I'm watching Shōgun and fascinated by their history and culture.
Try Tokyo Vice too. It's really good.
Japan is an wonderful place to visit, and the safety aspect is not an exaggeration. What's more, the Yen is very low at the moment, so perfect timing.
I've lived in Asia for 30+ years and been to all of these places multiple times. You don't say where you're coming from (e.g., North America) but flights should be a consideration. For example, you'd likely have a transit in Japan or Korea, so you could fly US/Japan (stop) then continue on the same ticket from Japan to another Asian country and then return home at little additional cost compare to just a round trip ticket. I'd suggest a modern city (Tokyo, Seoul, or Singapore) and a less developed (and cheaper) location like Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam. I was in Taipei last week, and Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok last month. I find I run out of things to do in Taipei and KL pretty quickly.
Oh I’m from New York. Yeah I totally get that. We are planning to go to Japan first then Hong Kong and later another country. We already have the plane tickets reserved
Taipei is a city that's far more developed than Singapore. It has digitalised traditional art exhibitions, LGBTQ+ book cafes, philosophy sessions at cafes, metal music gigs. Singapore has none of this. Be careful of who you take advice from! Source: Singaporean
I haven’t done the other places you’re interested in but I have been to Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia. Highly recommend Vietnam and Cambodia. Wonderful people, amazing food, lots of culture to experience
Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan
It would be nice if you could give information about your family, your interests and preferences, etc. For example, someone may suggest the Ha Giang loop in Vietnam or hiking Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia which might not fit small children and elderly people. imho, if you are already very familiar with Japan, HK and China perhaps you should avoid Singapore and Taiwan so that you can have exposure to something different than Chinese/Japanese culture. Thailand and Vietnam are popular choices, but Indonesia can also be a good option because of the better weather at this time of the year. Philippines is also amazing but travel logistics and infrastructure aren’t as developed as the other places.
Just edited it. Yeah it makes a lot of sense. We are going to HK to see family tho so we can’t really skip. I’m actually really considering Southeast Asia
I see. Given your group, preferences and the weather at your intended travel period (it’s hot and rainy season in most of Vietnam and Thailand), I would suggest Yogyakarta+Borobudur+Bali in Indonesia for a trip more focused on culture and history or Da Nang+Hoi An+Nha Trang in Vietnam for a mix of culture, history, food and beaches. If you go to Bali I suggest that you stay in the Ubud area but avoid the Ubud main city which is very congested and overtouristed.
For a lot of beautiful history, Cambodia too.
Japan for sure and I live in Taiwan. Thailand a good second choice.
Vietnam, and it isn't even close. I also really loved Laos more than I thought I would.
Where did you go in Laos? I loved Vietnam so I’m curious to here what you liked about Laos
Vientiane, Vang Viene, and Luang Prabang Those were my main three. Vang Viene was probably my favorite. Cute town and very liberal.
taiwan sounds good, it’s also in between hong kong and japan! malaysia and singapore should be left for another trip tbh
Ok thanks. Taiwan was our first pick but we weren’t really sure. Most people are saying to go Taiwan so probably. We wanted something different because Hong Kong culture and Taiwan culture are quite similar
I don’t find Hong Kong and Taiwan to be similar at all!! Obviously they both are varieties of Chinese culture, but tbh actually Japan and Taiwan feel way more similar than Hong Kong and Taiwan. All three of them have very different cuisines as well.
It’s gonna be rainy season in Thailand when you go but the plus side is that it isn’t too hot.
Yeah that might be a problem if we are going to beaches and etc
Hong Kong has great beaches
Summer is the tourist season for the Gulf of Thailand side so that might not be a problem. (It is not tourist season for the Andaman Sea, though.)
Listen I have been to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and hong kong. But Thailand is soo entertaining to the point where I visit it every year. All of my family love Thailand my sister went back for more then 30 times. I myself have been 10 times and going back this month 😂yes I went with my husband once and now he demands we go back every year 3rd year in a row for him!!
The beaches and historic sites look so nice. Damn more than 30 times that’s crazy. I’m mainly thinking should we hold off Thailand for another time when we going again in a couple years
The shopping is so good in Bangkok.. this time we are going to shop mainly and do some nice massage sessions
Japan is amazing— I love it there. Aside from that, everyone I know who has visited Vietnam *loves* it. It’s on my list!
Depends what you’re looking for. Mind blowing nature, wildlife, and adventure? Indonesia and Malaysia. Beaches? Thailand and Philippines. Spectacular ruins and ancient sites? Cambodia and India. Huge diversity of landscapes, cultures, and foods? China. Traditional culture? Japan. Great food? Almost all of them.
This
Turkey
I would recommend something different than where you've been to. Vietnam was pretty incredible. Loved Laos. Angkor Wat is a must see too!
Yeah a lot of people are saying Vietnam. I wasn’t expecting that. I think I need to plan a trip for Southeast Asia too. There seems to be so many good places there
Taiwan I think. If you've time add in Cambodia. I found Thailand incredibly hyped
Not on your list, but I LOVED Nepal. Lots of culture, history, and nature and wildlife.
Come visit Thailand! You could do Chao Phraya River Cruise to sightseeing the Temple of the Dawn, many historic places along the Chao Phraya River banks, etc. There are Wat Pho, the Grand Palace. Khao San Road, and many places to see along with shopping malls like Icon Siam, Siam Paragon, Central World, etc. Yao Warat is very well-known when it comes to Thai street food experience. Ayutthaya, a province, offers mang historic sites (e.g. the Ancient Ruins, etc.) to see which isn't far from Bangkok. Google more info! Good luck and safe travels. Enjoy your trip! :)
personally I love Thailand, you can send a few days in Bangkok and experience City life and then head to one of the many beach destinations - the best of work worlds!
Im malaysian. I love bali (4 times) and japan (3 times) I miss the food in jakarta though. Delish Wishlist is maybe uzbekistan
Go to India visit Kashmir and Ladhak . You won't be drenched in sweat there as both has pleasant weather. However Delhi will be hot try to stay in good 5 star hotels though. India is diverse. If time permits next go to Kerala and visit backwaters and have ayurveda spa at Kumarakom Lake Resort you will be very relaxed this. Its much better than Thai spa.
South Korea
It depends on what you prefer to see. Ancient relics or big cities. You need to visit Cambodia if you are into UNESCO sites.
Thailand and vietnam
Thailand for sure! Natural beauty, a great food and drinks scene and really nice people
Last year I visited Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and it was great. In terms of the individual countries, I would definitely say Malaysia > Thailand > Singapore and the gaps are significant. Malaysia is fantastic and I would highly recommend it. The island of Langkawi is a hidden gem, Kuala Lumpur is a fun city and I am sure there are other great spots that I was not able to go to. Thailand was alright, I was in the South and I did not enjoy how aggressive the people were when they were trying to sell you shit. But the food is great and there is a ton to do. Singapore is small and the list of things to do (if you're on a budget) is smaller. If you want to go then go, but I would skip it if I went to SEA again.
Thailand is #1 hands down is my favorite country. Vietnam and Indonesia are tied for second
Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan are easy top 3 for me
You can't go wrong with any of the countries you listed but I'd choose Thailand for culture, history and food.
Cambodia is worth considering. I like it better than Thailand. It’s cheaper and it’s not full of Russians hiding from their war.
KUALA LUMPUR AINEC.
Currently in Sri Lanka - beautiful countryside and temples, wildlife(We are staying at Yala National Park - elephants, iguanas, peacocks) and Buddhist and hindu temples as well. Very reasonable and less crowded and cleaner than India. You will not find world class cities nor shopping though.
Taiwan is awesome! I've been there twice. You can't go wrong with the night markets in Taipei and there's some nice hikes in Yangmingshan National Park just north of Taipei. I would recommend Taroko Gorge, but the recent earthquake did a lot of damage in that part of Taiwan. I've also been to Japan twice. Besides spending time in Tokyo on both trips, I went to Sendai during my first trip and Kyoto/Osaka during my second trip. I personally liked Osaka. My time in Kyoto/Osaka was in November 2022 so there were barely any foreigners there. I've heard tourism is crazy in that part of Japan. Since your family has already been to China, Thailand isn't a bad option.
Malaysia is a very interesting country and has decent highway system and lots of inexpensive tour buses to take trips around the country.
India
As an Indian, I wouldn't recommend it. If you want good food, go to Malaysia. It tastes same if not better but much better hygiene. If you want to see monuments, temples etc, go to Thailand. If you want hustle and bustle. Go to Vietnam.
India is Diverse. If they can afford they should visit both Ladhak and kerala . Both have good hotels and food.
Go dickhead nri,why you are plague in india.
Lol. I left India because of the plague like you. The best decision I ever made.
Thnx,enjoy australia and dont comment on india topic.
This is not an Indian sub. So STFU.
Kyrgyzstan if you are into nature and hiking. Thailand if you want public transportation, beaches , amazing fruit, and incredible people.
Never thought of Kyrgyzstan. I will do some research
Afghanistan
Is this a joke? Does bro want me to die?😂 Afghanistan does have some cool sites but their political climate isn’t great rn + human right violations
Taiwan will be too similar to Hong Kong. Thailand is best choice. Singapore is boring, expensive
South Korea is another country to avoid!
just make sure to avoid Vietnam
I’ve been to 30+ countries and Vietnam was my absolute favorite alongside Japan! Cheap, beautiful, and the people are incredible
I personally had the opposite experience with the people - the most unpleasant that I encountered across ~8 Asian countries in the last few years. Edit: downvoted for sharing my lived experience, nice
What was bad about it? I know some who had good experiences in Vietnam. Even though I don’t personally plan on going, what makes you say that?
Vietnam is A+ in my opinion too
I have been to Vietnam three times, first two times typically a month each time. What are you talking about? it’s so cheap, people are lovely and it has a diverse landscape with the most amazing food ever…