Top countries to visit on a budget in Asia

While some of Asia’s nations, including Japan and Singapore, are known for being pretty expensive places to travel, there are those that offer terrific opportunities for budget travellers to explore for less. Here are some of the cheapest destinations around Asia where you’ll get more bang for your buck.

Bangladesh

If you’re looking for an affordable but offbeat place to explore that’s full of energy and intrigue, Bangladesh could be just the place you’re looking for. Bangladesh is home to the Sundarbans, the biggest mangrove forest in the world. It also boasts Cox’s Bazar, the longest stretch of unbroken sandy beach on Earth. Discover historic temples in Puthia, river life in Barisal, ancient ruins in Gaur, and much more. You can dine in a cheap restaurant for around 150 BDT (approximately 1.80 USD). A daily budget of 4,000 BDT (approximately 47.40 USD) will let you splurge and occasionally enjoy top-class hotel rooms and fancy restaurants throughout your trip, but it is also possible to get by in Bangladesh with around 1,500 BDT (approximately 17.80 USD) per day. An average backpacker should expect to spend in the region of 2,000 BDT (approximately 23.70 USD) each day.

Georgia

An often-overlooked country, Georgia sits alongside the Black Sea at the crossroads between Asia and Europe. The lush Caucasian Mountains are speckled with traditional villages and gorgeous views can be found around almost every twist in the road. The capital, Tbilisi, is a melting pot of cultural influences, but a traditional way of life still prevails. The nightlife is fun and cheap! Plus, in Georgia, you can spend the morning skiing and then hit the beach in the afternoon. Hostel beds start from as low as 13 GEL (approximately 5.30 USD) and you can travel long distances by local minivans (mashrutky) for around 20 GEL (approximately 8.10 USD). A backpacker’s daily budget of 60 GEL (approximately 24.40 USD) should be ample.

Nepal

Although sightseeing flights over Mount Everest and intense multi-day treks in the Himalayas can cause costs to skyrocket, the base costs of visiting Nepal are very affordable. As a benchmark, a meal in a budget restaurant will cost around 200 NPR (approximately 1.80 USD) and cheap double rooms in a Kathmandu guesthouse can be found for as little as 1,300 NPR (approximately 11.80 USD) per night. You can expect to pay around 3,300 NPR (approximately 30 USD) per day for an experienced trekking guide, though keep in mind that this cost will be split between the group; explore with new pals to make budgets more manageable. With a daily allowance of around 3,000 NPR (approximately 27 USD), visitors should be able to make the most of their time in this fascinating country.

Indonesia

Spread across thousands of islands, Indonesia offers lots of variety. Volcanic landscapes, idyllic beaches, gorgeous lakes, and nature galore contrast with historic highlights, such as Borobudur, and bustling cities. While the prices on different islands can vary immensely, Indonesia is, overall, one of the most budget-friendly countries in Southeast Asia. Costs can be kept down by spending time on just a few nearby islands rather than trying to cram in as many islands as possible. More popular islands, such as Bali, Lombok, and Sumatra, tend to yield better deals than more remote destinations. Limit alcohol consumption (prices tend to be higher here due to the Muslim majority population) and use local transportation and you’ll find that travelling around Indonesia can be really cheap. The average cost of a meal in a regular local restaurant is around 25,000 IDR (approximately 1.70 USD), and in some areas, you can find budget guest houses that start from just 30,500 IDR (approximately 2.10 USD) per night. Realistically, you should plan to spend around 435,000 IDR (approximately 30 USD) per day on a budget trip in Indonesia.

India

A huge and diverse country, India offers something for everyone. From beaches and mountains to world-famous architecture, delicious food, bustling markets, and spiritual experiences, India is a rich and attractive destination. Chill on the splendid beaches of Goa and wander around the myriad churches and other religious buildings. Bathe in the Ganges at Varanasi. Explore the tea plantations and enjoy the cool climate of Darjeeling. Absorb the energy of New Delhi. Discover a world of wonder in India! In a country where dorm beds can be scored for as low as 400 INR (approximately 5.80 USD), cheap street eats are abundant, and long-distance sleeper trains can costs as little as 600 INR (approximately 8.70 USD), travellers can live comfortably on a daily budget of around 2,500 INR (approximately 36 USD). Shoestring travellers can, however, cut costs even more.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s headline attractions and activities are somewhat known for their high costs. For example, climbing the impressive rock of Sigiriya will set you back 4,500 LKR (approximately 28 USD) and a half-day safari in Yala National Park costs around 6,000 LKR (approximately 37.50 USD) per person. Cheap accommodation, meals, and transportation go some way towards offsetting the higher travel costs. Cheap but filling and flavourful meals cost around 250 LKR (approximately 1.60 USD). Enjoying the beaches and roaming around cultural cities are free. Many travellers can enjoy Sri Lanka with a daily budget of around 6,000 LKR (approximately 37.50 USD).

Vietnam

Vietnam is a budget backpacker’s paradise, with some of the cheapest beer in the world (bia hoi), cheap dorm beds and private rooms, wallet-friendly and efficient long-distance transportation, and food that will barely make a dent in your bank account. Rather unusually, the capital city of Hanoi is one of the cheapest Vietnamese cities to explore, though other awesome destinations, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Sapa, Hoi An, and Hue, won’t cost a fortune either. A basic meal, such as a bowl of pho, costs around 40,000 VND (approximately 1.70 USD), and freshly baked breads and pastries make for a pocket-friendly breakfast. If you can stretch to 1,400,000 VND (approximately 60 USD) per day, you’ll be able to do a lot more on your vacation and enjoy meals in nice restaurants every so often, but budget backpackers can still have a great time with around 930,000 VND (approximately 40 USD) each day.

Malaysia

Malaysia is starting to really come into its own as a top vacation spot in Southeast Asia. Beautiful beaches, architectural gems, glorious national parks, and modern shopping malls attract different types of travellers and the overall travel costs are still lower than in its popular neighbour of Thailand. Keep in mind, however, that Peninsular Malaysia is generally cheaper and easier to get around than Malaysian Borneo. Top destinations on the peninsula include the capital of Kuala Lumpur, quaint Malacca, the lush Cameron Highlands, the lovely island of Langkawi, and the chilled-out Perhentian Islands. A private room in a guest house costs from 43 MYR (approximately 10.60 USD) for a night, while the average price of a meal in an inexpensive restaurant is 10 MYR (approximately 2.45 USD). People can enjoy Peninsular Malaysia with a daily budget of 165 MYR (approximately 40.50 USD). As with anywhere, though, increasing your travel budget slightly will allow for even more adventures and little treats.

China

A huge country with stark differences between its modern cities and rural villages, China’s headline attractions cannot fail to impress. From the Great Wall of China to The Bund in Shanghai, and from the Terracotta Warriors to the pandas in Chengdu, China is one of the most diverse nations on the planet. Sail along the Yangtze River, have a spiritual sensation in semi-autonomous Tibet, and wander through the gorgeous gardens of Suzhou. You can sleep for cheap in smaller cities, with dorm beds starting from around 30 CNY (approximately 4.40 USD). In larger cities, however, you’re looking at spending around 90 CNY (approximately 13.20 USD) per night. You can fill up on street food for around 10 CNY (approximately 1.50 USD), and a ten-hour long-distance bus journey will rarely set you back more than 200 CNY (approximately 30 USD). A reasonable daily budget to explore China is 300 CNY (approximately 44 USD).

Iran

Iran is a budget-friendly destination for people who can explore the colourful nation independently. Highlights include the dazzling Golestan Palace in Tehran, the stunning “Pink Mosque” of Shiraz, the ancient sites in Persepolis, and Varzaneh Desert. Note that citizens of some countries, including the USA and UK, can only visit Iran as part of a group tour. Also remember that Iran is not part of the global banking system and you must take enough cash with you to last for your entire trip; obtaining back-up funds is all but impossible! Bus rides are an affordable means of transportation. A meal in a budget restaurant costs around 200,000 IRR (approximately 4.80 USD) and hostels are becoming more common, with dorm beds starting from around 335,000 IRR (approximately 8 USD) for a night. A daily budget of a little over two million IRR (approximately 48 USD) is sufficient for budget explorers.

See more: Top cheap and free things to do in Singapore

Source: Internet

Experience the coffee season in Dak Lak

Speaking of gongs culture, coffee, pepper or elephants, everyone will think of Dak Lak, a province of Central Highlands of Vietnam. If you have spent almost your Vietnam vacation with beautiful beaches, mountains or scattered tourist attractions, you should take time to have a change of scenery with this marvelous land which bring you wonderful experiences as well as unforgettable memories.

Time to travel

Dak Lak divided into two distinct rainy and dry seasons. The dry season starts from November to April of the following year. The rainy season starts from May to October. The climate is relatively mild, the average annual temperature of 23-24 degrees C.

In order to comprehend the highlands, you should arrive at the two correct time. In particular, the December is when the blossoming yellow wild sunflowers paint the scene of the highlands and the time for the local to hold festivals. March is the season of coffee flowers to white the earth of the Highlands and fascinating elephant racing festival.

How to get there

Buon Ma Thuot city has an airport and straight routes to big cities such as Ha Noi, Vinh, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh. The airfare is cheaper than other routes to other cities in Central Highlands. You can hunt for even cheaper tickets on their discount campaigns on internet.

By coach, you can easily buy a ticket from big cities to Buon Ma Thuot from Giap Bat station, My Dinh station in Ha Noi and from major stations in Ho Chi Minh, Vung Tau, Ca Mau.

Where to go

In addition of enjoying the flavor of coffee, visitors should by these locations into their visiting map in order to save costs and be more perfect trip.

• Coffee Flower Forest: Coming to the Highlands, it is not difficult to find the vast forests of coffee, where the large area of the country is growing and is considered the “capital” of the plant. March is the time of the hills to be covered with white, creating poetic scenery, wonderful.

• Trung Nguyen Coffee Village: A place where you can enjoy coffee with many flavors and in different styles. Along with the special drinks, this place is considered a miniature museum detailed a Highland village. This is a good place to visit, enjoy a cup of coffee and study the museum artifacts before you see the real things.

• Tourist Center Don Village: Don Village (Ban Don) is an important landmark in the tourist map in the Highlands. Not only possessing the beautiful landscapes, from thick forest to the river or herds of elephants, this place also has special dishes such as grilled chicken, Ama Kong wine.

• Yok Don National Park: A beautiful ecotourism attraction for many domestic and foreign tourists located in Krong Na commune, Buon Don, 40 km from Buon Ma Thuot northwest.

Read more: Discover Buon Ma Thuot, the hidden gem in Central Highlands

Foods

• Khot Cake: some people think that the cake’s name came from the sound “khot khot” of the cake when oil starts boiling. Other opinion supports the idea that this name came from a Mandarin word “khot” in meaning of hardship or hard work because in the past, the local people were so poor that they did not have meat to eat so that came up with this cake which is made out of only flour. The main ingredient to make this dish is rice flour, being kept in water overnight then minced and made into round shapes. The cakes are fried with oil until they get brown and served with sauce.

• Grilled chicken of Don Village: the chickens must be young hill chickens. The whole chicken will be marinated with chilly salt, citronella juice, and honey. Use 2 bamboo sticks to clamp the chicken then grill on coal fire. Serve the dish with chilly salt or citronella salt.

• Lang fish: this tasteful fish can be found in Serepok river. Many dishes can be made with Lang fish.

• Grilled beef: the meat is sliced thin and marinated with spices, basked under sunlight for one day. When you want to eat, you just need to grill it on fire. Local people often eat beef with golden ant salt.

Note

You must not litter when you are in the primeval forest, do not hurt the elephants, dressed polite in the village, and respect the local culture of the people.

Source Internet

Places to visit in Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang is a coastal city bursting with stunning beaches, rolling mountains, and religious relics. Once considered a drop-off point for many of Vietnam’s smaller cities dotting the coast, Da Nang is now drawing in its own tourists to gawk at the natural beauty and historical remnants.

Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Da Nang. This fairytale-like hill station is modeled on an old European city complete with castles, cobblestone streets, and beautiful courtyards. The complex also features Buddhist statues and temples built for entertainment only, which makes for a quirky combination of old East and West. To get to the top, visitors must ride the world’s longest cable car lift which offers spectacular scenery of the valley below.

Son Tra Peninsula

Son Tra Peninsula is also known as Tien Sa Mountain. Its name is from a legend that Son Tra was called as a stop for fairies in the past. This peninsula is at the north end of Da Nang’s My Khe beach is nicknamed Monkey Mountain for the rare species of monkey that dwells inside the dense forests. Son Tra Peninsula was a former U.S. Army base for radar and communications, with some of the radar domes still visible today.

Tourists usually rent a scooter or hire a local to drive the steep, winding road to the peak to see the sprawling city and coastline in all its glory. Several local tour companies organize hikes up and around the mountain, where lucky tourists might catch a glimpse of some playful monkeys.

Marble Mountains

Marble Mountain or Non Nuoc is a well-known attraction among local and foreign tourists. This place is a cluster of five mountains named after the earth’s elements: Kim (metal), Thuy (water), Moc (wood), Hoa (fire) and Tho (earth). They look like bonsais emerging between a vast hillock. Every mountain has its particular beauty in shape, position, a material with many caves and temples inside. Marble Mountain is truly a heaven of all tourists.

There are several stunning pagodas and temples nestled in different areas of the mountain so it’s best to purchase a small map before embarking on the hike. The largest cave’s entrance is at the base of the mountain and is described as ‘hell’ by the locals; various creepy statues and engravings are hidden inside this deep cave depict an afterlife of suffering and torture.

My Khe Beach

My Khe Beach is voted by Forbes magazine as one of the most attractive beaches on the planet. With a coastline stretching to 90 meters, blue waters, fine white sandy beaches, and high-end hotels, My Khe is an ideal destination for those who are in love with beaches. Also, there is a great selection of water activities in Da Nang, which can help you to spend a day long in Da Nang beaches.

My Son Sanctuary

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the My Son Holy Site hosts the abandoned ruins of Vietnam’s ancient Champa civilization that once occupied southern Vietnam. My Son depicts intricate carvings of various Hindu gods and makes an informative, fascinating day trip. A tour with a knowledgeable guide is highly recommended so you get the most from the area. Only a few buildings remain as the majority were destroyed in a carpet-bombing campaign by the Americans during the war; there are large bomb craters still visible around the site. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about this ancient kingdom and explore the overgrown ruins surrounded by mountains.

Linh Ung Pagoda

Situated on an area of about 20 hectares on the side of a mountain, the pagoda is a magnificent artwork. The pagoda was built with a perfect harmony of modern and traditional features typical of a Vietnamese pagoda. The pagoda and the statue all come from the 18th century and have been recently restored. The surrounding gardens are really beautiful and you can admire the nearby bay from the main terrace.

See more: Places to visit on your first trip to Central Vietnam

Asia Park

Asia Park is one of the biggest and most modern amusement parks in South East Asia. Its Ferris wheel provides amazing views of the city and is a prominent feature of Da Nang’s night landscape. There are no crowds here at all and in some places, you can feel like you’re in an abandoned but still functioning amusement park.

There’s also a small train called Monorail, which will take you around the area and from which you can see the bridges of Da Nang such as Dragon Bridge, Golden Bridge, and so on.

Source Internet