Best destinations to visit in Thailand

From beaches and mountains to wildlife-rich national parks, energetic cities, and cute towns, Thailand offers something for everyone. Here are some of the best places around the Land of Smiles to add to your Thailand bucket list.

Bangkok

The frenetic Thai capital is a must-see destination, with a dazzling array of things to see and do to suit almost any taste. There are cultural and historic sights aplenty, combined with soaring skyscrapers and modern architecture, fabulous art galleries, and fascinating museums. The shopping scene offers bustling markets, unusual floating markets, and mega malls, and the dining scene is equally diverse with everything from fancy gourmet restaurants to abundant street food. Nighttimes offer just as much fun as the day, with pulsating nightclubs, live music, swanky cocktail bars, incredible rooftop bars, exciting shows, and thrilling Muay Thai fights. Getting around the city is easy, thanks to the BTS sky train, MRT subway, numerous buses, taxis, and tuk tuks, and there is accommodation to suit any preference and budget.

Chiang Mai

Often referred to as the northern capital, Chiang Mai offers an intoxicating blend of culture and nature. With over 500 temples to choose from, it’s impossible for culture vultures to feel bored! Chiang Mai Night Zoo enchants children and adults alike, and activities range from hiking in lush jungles to rafting along raging rivers. Head to Thailand’s highest point at Doi Inthanon, meet ethnic hill tribes, tour numerous stunning waterfalls, and interact with magnificent elephants at an ethical sanctuary. Nightlife is low key, especially when compared with Bangkok, but that certainly doesn’t mean you need to stay indoors as soon as it goes dark. There are plenty of bars to unwind in, and the night bazaar is a top place for shopaholics to browse and buy an array of traditional Thai wares.

Phuket

Thailand’s largest island and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, Phuket has many faces. Many first-timers head to the thronging sands of Patong, an area known for its hedonistic nightlife and many water sports, but there are beaches to suit everyone. Catch a boat to the scenic Freedom Beach, chill on Karon Beach, enjoy the views from Kathu Beach, and more. Promthep Cape provides amazing sunset vistas. Entertainment-wise, Phuket promises world-class shows, exhilarating Muay Thai fights, global cuisine in a range of eateries, and bars and clubs of every type. Hiking, go karting, ethical elephant interactions, fishing, snorkelling, and jet skiing are just a few activities to try, and Wat Chalong and the Big Buddha are two of the island’s most popular cultural sites. Don’t bypass Phuket Town — the old buildings are beautiful. For fun and giggles, Baan Teelanka (the Upside Down House) and Phuket Trickeye Museum are tough to beat.

Ayutthaya

One of Thailand’s ancient cities, the UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya is a must for fans of history. Easy to reach from Bangkok, the evocative ruins take you on a journey back in time to Siam’s golden age. Wat Yai Chai Mongkorn is particularly photogenic, with tall stupas that you can climb, surrounded by rows of saffron-clad Buddha statues. Other highlights include Wat Mahatat, with the famous stone head encased in a tree, Wat Ratchaburana, and Wat Si Samphet. The old Dutch and Portuguese areas are well worth a visit and the floating market is a great place to pick up souvenirs. Renting a bicycle or, if you’re an experienced rider, a scooter is the ideal way to appreciate Ayutthaya, though there are also plentiful tuk tuks around each corner.

Krabi

One of Southern Thailand’s most popular provinces, Krabi offers a wealth of terrific experiences both on the mainland and on its islands. Koh Phi Phi is often said to be one of Thailand’s most picturesque islands; check out Maya Bay and Phi Phi Viewpoint to see why. Koh Lanta is a more laid-back island, with long, sandy beaches, chilled-out beach bars, mangroves, and a Moken (sea gypsy) community. Animal lovers can spend time volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare for a feel-good factor and to help make a difference. Koh Jum and Koh Rok are just a couple of the province’s smaller and lesser-visited island gems. On the mainland, Railay is a rock climber’s paradise, Ao Nang is a bustling beach resort, and Krabi Town has a local vibe.

Koh Phangan

Known for its wild parties and hedonistic nightlife, especially around the time of the full moon, many visitors are surprised to find that Koh Phangan is also a nature lover’s dream. For fun and partying, Haad Rin is the place to be. Escape the crowds and discover relatively calm beaches, pristine waterfalls, and lush forests, and you’ll see that there’s much more to the infamous party island than just cocktail buckets and neon body paint. The night market is a great place to fill up on tasty Thai food for cheap and there are many cooking schools where you can learn how to replicate your favourite dishes. Uncover Koh Phangan’s spiritual heart and you’ll find meditation and yoga centres, new-age communities, retreats, workshops, and other ways to find inner balance and peace.

Koh Samui

A popular island in the Thai Gulf, Koh Samui appeals to everyone from families and honeymooners to backpackers and solo adventurers. Beautiful beaches, like Chaweng, Lamai, and Mae Nam, surround the island, and you can visit the old fishing village at Bophut. There are several places to shop, as well as plentiful places to eat, drink, and sleep. One of the island’s more unusual spots include a temple with a mummified monk and neighbouring rock formations that look like male and female genitalia! Koh Samui boasts many high-class spas and excellent golf courses too.

Chiang Rai

Often overshadowed by its more popular neighbor of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is in North Thailand and it shares borders with Myanmar and Laos. Indeed, you can visit the Golden Triangle, the point where the three countries meet. The province offers excellent hiking and trekking plus what some would say more authentic encounters with local hill tribe ethnic groups. Waterfalls and hot springs are other natural features to enjoy. Brave the stretching suspension bridge at Mae Fah Luang Garden before enjoying the lush gardens. Chiang Rai is home to one of Thailand’s most distinctive temples too — the gleaming White Temple, officially called Wat Rong Khun. Visit the nation’s largest statue of Guan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy for sweeping views, and wander through a collection of traditional Thai buildings at Baan Dam, or the Black House.

See more: A day trip in Chiang Rai, Thailand

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Top must-visit attractions in Nha Trang, Vietnam

Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province. Located on the south-central coast of Vietnam It makes its home on the beautiful Nha Trang Bay, including a total of 19 islets and islands. Fast becoming one of the top destinations in Vietnam, Nha Trang has it all. Empty sandy beaches that stretch for miles, cool waterfalls, ranges of untouched mountains, an interesting history, and a unique culture.

Dam Market

Dam market is the most popular market in Nha Trang and is a huge imposing four-story concrete structure. Inside you will find everything Vietnamese, from clothes and accessories to electronics and household items, spread around various colorful stalls. Head in here in the morning and have some breakfast in the food court to start your day.

Tran Phu Beach

Tran Phu Street running down the coast of Nha Trang is the most popular street in the city, with high-end resorts like Intercontinental and The Sheraton on one side, and a lively beach on the other. There are plenty of beach-side cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs for you to choose from that have their own little bit of beach with reclining chairs and parasols, so find one to suit your tastes and spend an evening lazing about.

See more: Nha Trang, paradise on earth

Po Nagar

These are some of the best-preserved pieces of Cham architecture in Vietnam, similar to the My Son Temples in Da Nang. Built between the 7th to the 12th centuries, this temple is dedicated to the goddess of the country, Po Nagar, and is still used for worship by the remaining descendants of the Cham culture that once flourished throughout the country.

Nha Trang Cathedral

Nha Trang Cathedral is another still functioning religious monument that also serves as a tourist attraction. Despite being constructed using simple blocks of cement, the cathedral looks surprisingly elegant. Mass is held multiple times a day, and it is a great way to witness differences in religious routines compared to those back home.

National Oceanographic Museum

The National Oceanographic Museum opened in 1922 and is housed in an old French colonial building. Since inception it has allowed visitors to explore the marine life of the region through artifacts, fossils and displays, spread out over two floors. Makes for a great excursion if you have kids.

Source Internet

Tips to have safe trip in South Korea

Traveling on a holiday to a country for the very first time can be very exciting. You have a whole new adventure waiting for you, but the idea of planning and being in a foreign land can be a bit distressing. You have completely no idea what is awaiting you, the kind of people, the culture and the laws governing the country you are visiting.

The Korean Alphabet is easy as A-B-C

Hangul (which translates to “great script”) is the official alphabet of the Korean language. Unlike Chinese, it is phonetic, meaning it is made up of letters that can be sounded out rather than characters that have to be memorized. At first sight, the script may come across as incomprehensible, but the alphabet itself is actually quite easy to learn. For some, it can be mastered in just a day. Knowing the alphabet will make traveling in Korea much easier, even if you do not speak Korean, as you will be able to recognize food names on menus and destinations on street signs.

Public transport

Trains arrive on time and on a frequent basis. If you purchase the Korea T-money card, which is our ez-link card equivalent, each ride would mostly cost KRW1, 250 (~SGD1.50) unless you go slightly further, then it will add another KRW100-300. You have to tap in and out of the gantries when you board the train.

Public toilets and hygiene

There are quite a number of public toilets wherever we go, and to my pleasant surprise they are generally clean. You can also often find toilet paper in public toilets. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to find dustbins around so you may have to carry your trash for quite a distance before you find one bin.

Korea, a land of wi-fi

Not only does Korean possess the fastest Internet connection in the world, at 28.6 Mbit/s to be exact, it is also the dreamy land for social network lovers, as there is wi-fi almost everywhere. There is wi-fi coverage relatively everywhere you go in Korea, in shops or even on the metro system. Most of the time, it is free. However, there are places that charge for internet access via wi-fi.

Shoes off

If you ever have the chance to visit a Korean house, then you will probably be intrigued by the no-shoes-indoor policy. As a matter of fact, upon entering the threshold, you will have to take off your outside footwear and put on a pair of slippers. The same goes for hotels. Most of which will have a pair waiting for you in every room. Some families even have specific slippers for specific sections of the house.

How to tip in Korea

In fact, you do not have to tip in South Korea. With many unspoken but widely agreed upon rates of tipping, around 18-20% for an exceptionally good service, many visitors are taken aback by this practice. As opposed to North America, where tipping is expected, you do not have leave a tip in Korean nor do servers expect you to. With this knowledge, you will be able to have a much more affordable trip to Korea.

Read more: Explore the city of art Changwon in South Korea

Travel and Korea metro apps

For first time travelers, travel apps are really useful. The train maps might look daunting because it is so complicated, and it surely doesn’t help when there are Korean words on it, making it look even scarier. You will be glad to know that train line map apps like Seoul Metro and Busan Metro Map will save your life here in Korea. For more travelling and food tips, they also have a Visit Korea app that is pretty useful too.

Source Internet