Asia attractions

Siam Park City, a large theme park and water park located in the Khan Na Yao district of Bangkok, may seem a little old-fashioned to international visitors. However, some of its newer attractions are impressive, including the Vortex ride, which is one of just two of the world's largest suspended looping roller coasters.

Vientiane’s answer to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, Patuxai (Victory Gate) towers above this low-rise city in a spectacular mixture of architectural styles: part brutalist, part Napoleonic, part Lao. Besides the elaborate artworks in the monument itself and the views from the top of the structure, it’s home to a wealth of souvenir stalls.

Emerald Cave (Tham Morakot) takes its name from the water’s vivid green color and is one of the most popular attractions in Thailand’s Trang islands. At first blush the cave looks like only a hole in a limestone cliff—but once you venture inside the dark entrance, a paradisiacal, sunny white beach appears.

Running through the Korean Peninsula for more than 310 miles (500 kilometers), the Han River (Hangang) is one of the most important rivers in South Korea. As it flows through the heart of Seoul, the river has become a gathering place complete with recreational paths and riverside parks with playgrounds and cafés.

Join other Thai culture and architecture enthusiasts at Suan Pakkad Palace, a museum complex of renovated houses from all over Thailand. See artifacts and antique objects representing the arts, crafts, and traditions of Thailand in each house. The palace was formerly home to Prince and Princess Chumbhot, who made it a museum in 1952.

Often compared to Tokyo’s Shibuya or Harajuku, Ximending is a lively shopping and entertainment district in Taipei. Located in historic Wanhua, the area teems with shops selling clothing, accessories, electronics, and more, as well as myriad dining and entertainment venues. It’s a place to see and be seen for locals and visitors alike.

Established in 1964, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre rehabilitates baby orangutans that have been orphaned as a result of illegal logging and deforestation in Malaysia. Visit the center for an opportunity to see this endangered animal in its habitat at scheduled feeding times and in the rehabilitation nursery.

South Korea has experienced its fair share of conflict, well beyond the Korean War most visitors are familiar with. The War Memorial of Korea, housed in the former headquarters of the Korean infantry, documents this history with a focus on the country's relationships with North Korea, China, and Japan. .

From its elaborate royal costumes to its position within the Hue Citadel, the Royal Antiquities Museum is a portal to the Nguyen Dynasty—it’s even inside the exquisite Long An Palace, where Vietnamese royalty once lived. You’ll be impressed by the massive collection of ornaments, jewelry, ceramics, ancient coins, textiles, Champa sculptures, plus the splendor of the palace itself.

Located in the 18th-century Nahargarh Fort, the Jaipur Wax Museum is a family-friendly attraction with many different displays. In addition to seeing some of their favorite celebrities, visitors to the Jaipur Wax Museum can also learn about the history and culture of the Rajput maharajas and maharanis of Rajasthan.

Looking out over the Arabian Sea in an upscale Mumbai suburb, Juhu Beach is a 7-mile strip of golden sand that attracts locals and tourists alike with its pleasant weather and laid-back vibe. It's often used for Bollywood film shoots, and you may even spot one of the city's many movie stars who live in the area.

One of the Roluos Group, a cluster of temples surrounding an early capital of the Khmer empire, Preah Ko is a small brick-built temple with six sanctuaries. Indravarman I built it in the late ninth century and originally dedicated it to Shiva. Its name means “sacred ox,” and you can still see statues of Nandi, the bull that Shiva rides.

Asakusa Hanayashiki is a retro amusement park that appeals to families and nostalgia seekers alike. First opening its gates in 1853, it is home to one of the country’s oldest operating roller coasters, which dates from 1953. You can also find an array of classic rides, such as merry-go-rounds and a haunted house, plus a 3D theater. There’s something for visitors of all ages.

A 7-story tower that looks deceivingly taller, the Six Harmonies Pagoda (Liuhe Pagoda) was constructed in 970 to ward off evil spirits believed to be responsible for the Qiantang River’s tidal bore. The pagoda is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture and an enduring symbol of the city of Hangzhou.

Also known as Isar Lat, Swargasuli Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Jaipur. Built as a victory memorial in 1749, it stands 42 meters (140 feet) above ground. You can climb to the top of the octagonal structure for sweeping views of the Pink City, or marvel at the architecture from the ground below.

A branch of the museum that first opened in Pattaya, Art in Paradise Bangkok (aka the Trickeye Museum and the 3D Museum) offers similar interactive exhibits in the Thai capital. Full of optical illusions that travelers use as photo backdrops, the family-friendly museum is a fun place to spend a few hours out of the heat or rain.

Hakone’s Narukawa Art Museum is dedicated to the display of Japanese-style (Nihonga) painting, with over 4,000 pieces in its collection. Along with seeing these artistic treasures, it’s worth visiting to look out at Lake Ashinoko and the floating torii gate of Hakone Shrine on its shores. On a clear day, Mount Fuji rises into view.

Located in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, the Vietnam National Museum of History forms part of the Vietnam National Museum. With an extensive collection of over 200,000 objects, including numerous precious artifacts and antiquities, it traces the history of Vietnam from prehistoric times to the present.

Linking the Akashi Strait from Kobe to Awaji Island, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge opened in 1998 and is one of the world’s longest suspension bridges. The bridge's central span is 1,991 meters (6,532 feet) long, and while crossing the bridge, travelers come here to see the Bridge Exhibition Center and the Maiko Marine Promenade.

Surrounded by forests and mountain scenery, Lake Motosu is one of the deepest and most underdeveloped of the Fuji Five Lakes. Much quieter than nearby Lake Kawaguchi and famous for appearing on the back of Japan’s ¥1,000 note, it’s especially popular with campers, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re hiking, canoeing, or just taking in the scenery, the lakeside setting is a peaceful escape from the crowds that dominate busy towns around Mt. Fuji.

Located southwest of Koh Lanta within Koh Lanta National Park, Koh Haa (Koh Ha) is a group of six uninhabited islands (even though Koh Haa actually means five islands in Thai). The island’s real beauty is underwater, where good visibility and plentiful marine life offer a paradise for scuba divers, snorkelers, and free divers.

Probably Indonesia’s most spectacular live performance, the Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan takes place at an open-air theater or on an indoor stage near the Prambanan temples outside Yogyakarta. A cast of over 200 dancers and musicians perform episodes from the Hindu Ramayana epic with a traditional gamelan gong-and-drum orchestra.

Widely known as Jimbaran Fish Market, the market that locals call Pasar Ikan Tradisional Kedonganan (Kedonganan Traditional Fish Market), is an essential Balinese experience. Every morning, brightly colored traditional fishing boats—and larger commercial vessels—unload an impressive catch. Locals will grill your purchases for a small fee.

One of Hong Kong’s most popular dining, entertainment, and nightlife destinations, Lan Kwai Fong has the highest concentration of watering holes in the city: more than 100 restaurants, bars, and clubs are all crammed into just a few blocks. Conveniently located in Central, it’s where expats, locals, and visitors go to eat, drink, and be merry.

Founded in 1809, Gandantegchinlen Monastery (Gandan Monastery) is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia. Partially destroyed under Communism but fully restored in the 1990s, it contains one of the most famous Buddhist statues in the country, which is gilded, adorned with thousands of gems, and stands higher than many buildings.

There are few places in the world with a healthier population of young orangutans than the jungles surrounding the Semenggoh Nature Reserve. This thriving population owes its success to a 30-year rehabilitation program that reintroduced hundreds of primates into the surrounding forest. Today, you can observe free-roaming orangutans during feeding times.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site garden that once belonged to the ruling Shimazu clan, the Sengan-en Garden in Kagoshima includes the Shoko Shuseikan Museum and the Iso Residence, used as a summer villa by the Shimazu family. The Japanese-style strolling garden, which dates from the mid-17th century, features streams, ponds, and shrines.

With dozens of rides, LEGOLAND® Malaysia is the country’s first international theme park and one of Kuala Lumpur’s top destinations for families. Highlights include a water park with almost 20 slides, and Miniland, where more than 30 million LEGO® bricks were used to recreate Asian landmarks.

A charming escape from downtown Jakarta, the Bogor Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya) are some of southeast Asia’s oldest educational gardens, officially opening in 1817. More than 15,000 species of plants, including hundreds of palm species, deck 215 acres (87 hectares) of lush green grounds amid the cool, rainy highlands of West Java.

With a history that likely dates back to the third century AD, the 148-foot-high (45-meter-high) golden stupa of Pha That Luang is Laos’ most important religious monument. Locals believe it contains a hair and bone from Buddha, and it’s the site of the country’s most important festival, Boun That Luang.