Vietnam

Epitomised by its panoramas, the northern territory’s beauty not only lies in its landscapes but in its cultures. This is where local life is put on full display from the winding streets of Hanoi to the rice paddy villages of Sapa. Although stepping away to cruise the beauty of Halong Bay isn’t to be put on hold.

Look one way and there’s the Imperial Palace, look another and you’re pulled into the Royal Cuisine scene. Here is for the history buffs and foodie fanatics who want to revel in the ancient times of the Nguyen Dynasty, and savour the flavours of the country with a local chef.

Combining the best of all worlds, Vietnam’s south seems to have it all. There’s essential learning in Ho Chi Minh to be done, a laid-back riverside life to be experienced cruising along the Mekong Delta, and the ultimate detox experience to be had on the mystic Con Dao islands.

Cambodia exudes a mysticism that’s hard to emulate, the not-so-secret ingredients of which come in the form of its extraordinary jungle ruins, Khmer villages, buttery beaches and cities of old-meets-new.

Going way beyond its famed cuisine, Hong Kong serves up a feast for the senses; from the fascinating skyline and lively street markets to a surprising amount of green spaces.

If there’s a satiating ingredient to inspire a zest for life, India’s got the whole recipe. But let the chaos quickly subside and even one of the oldest cities of all time might reveal its vivacious energy starts with a little something called community.

Where rice paddies trip down hills and a gateway to wellness is opened to all; the secrets of sacred peace are whispered throughout the land in Indonesia.

Step back to a time of oxen-pulled ploughs and sleepy market towns within the pretty panoramas of Asia’s best kept secret.

With a fusion of Asian cultures, rainforests that mingle with beaches and two skyscrapers standing watch over the capital city, the answer to where to find it all is surely Malaysia.

In the time that it takes to utter its name, Singapore’s probably transcended your idea of the future; but what makes it all so special is its consistent attention to tending the roots that it came from.  

Bringing everything from timeless temples and caramel-scented tea fields to its very own Big 5 favourite, this admirably humble teardrop country is making much more of a splash in the ocean.

Its popularity has risen like the tallest temple tower and images of its Buddha-flanked streets, corrugated rice paddies and otherworldly beaches are bountiful. So it could be argued that, nowadays, Thailand is in no need of an introduction… perhaps.