Festivals Of Light

Thailand's sprawling capital is an assault on the senses, an invigorating blend of tradition and modernity. Soaring skyscrapers, air-conditioned shopping malls and an efficient public transport system combine with shimmering golden temples, ancient palaces, floating markets and at times gridlocked rush hour traffic. Bangkok is also a real culinary treat; perching at a street food stall tucking into a bowl of noodles by the roadside is a great way to take the pulse of the city, and you'll find regional cuisines from all over Thailand. The nightlife here is also legendary, though is perhaps not for the faint-hearted!

Saigon, as it was known then, was the capital of the South during the Vietnam War, and American-style capitalism has been embraced more enthusiastically here than in the North, with a clutch of shining skyscrapers standing as testament to Vietnam’s surging economic growth.

Hue’s crumbling Imperial Citadel is one of the highlights of central Vietnam, and merits its UNESCO World Heritage status in spite of the damage sustained during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Further along the Perfume River you’ll also find the octagonal Thien Mu pagoda, another important symbol of the city.

China is not usually associated with beach holidays, but the island of Hainan, billed as ‘China’s Hawaii’, aims to challenge those preconceptions. It’s fair to say that there’s still a fair way to go, but the beaches around Sanya are pleasant enough, and the rapidly developing skyline is a sight in itself.

Wander along the perfumed streets of Hanoi’s atmospheric Old Quarter and you could almost forgive yourself for thinking you’d travelled back in time, were it not for the beeping, buzzing morass of motorcycles zipping past.

Hong Kong is a striking mix of ancient and modern, Chinese and British, and there is a lot more to the city than just skyscrapers and high finance. It's also a fantastic destination for foodies, a melting pot of culinary influences from around Asia and beyond.