This emerald isle off Thailand's southeast coast, ringed by lovely beaches and gorgeous bays, enjoys both the fun-loving nature of the Thai people, and the peaceful serenity of Buddhism. Visit the beautiful waterfalls at Hin Lut and Na Muang, marvel at the enormous Buddha statue on Fan Isle, or just listen to the breeze whisper in the leaves of a coconut plantation.

A fascinating city devoted to tradition and driven toward modernity, Bangkok has long been a traveler's paradise with its heavenly weather, welcoming hospitality, and mouth-watering cuisine - the vibrant city is world-renowned for its street food and an impressive roster of Michelin-starred restaurants. Home to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the ornate Grand Palace, and the soaring Wat Arun temple, it's also an hour away from Ayutthaya, the 14th-century ruins of the Kingdom of Siam.

A fascinating city devoted to tradition and driven toward modernity, Bangkok has long been a traveler's paradise with its heavenly weather, welcoming hospitality, and mouth-watering cuisine - the vibrant city is world-renowned for its street food and an impressive roster of Michelin-starred restaurants. Home to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the ornate Grand Palace, and the soaring Wat Arun temple, it's also an hour away from Ayutthaya, the 14th-century ruins of the Kingdom of Siam.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is Vietnam's bustling economic heart, where culture and commerce collide. Get a sense of the city's eventful past – from its beginnings as a Khmer fishing village to its French colonial rule, its role as a military stronghold during the Vietnam War, and its post-war legacy – by visiting historic landmarks like the Saigon Opera House, the Reunification Palace, and the War Remnants Museum. Ho Chi Minh City's strong street food culture means you're never far from your next feast: sample local delights like com t?m (broken rice) and bánh xèo (savory fried pancakes) at one of the city's many open-air kitchens or the sprawling B?n Thành Market.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is Vietnam's bustling economic heart, where culture and commerce collide. Get a sense of the city's eventful past – from its beginnings as a Khmer fishing village to its French colonial rule, its role as a military stronghold during the Vietnam War, and its post-war legacy – by visiting historic landmarks like the Saigon Opera House, the Reunification Palace, and the War Remnants Museum. Ho Chi Minh City's strong street food culture means you're never far from your next feast: sample local delights like com t?m (broken rice) and bánh xèo (savory fried pancakes) at one of the city's many open-air kitchens or the sprawling B?n Thành Market.

It's said the legendary sea explorer Jacques Cousteau discovered his passion for diving off these shores, so you must be on to a good thing. With about 25 dive sites in the area, this is the scuba capital of Vietnam – and anyone from total novices to experienced old hands can take the plunge. Nha Trang is also known for its buzzing beach life and island-hopping excursions, but it's worth wandering away from the coast. Join local devotees at the mosaic-tiled Long Son Pagoda, with its dazzling-white giant Buddha, and the 7th-century Cham towers glowing golden on a hillside.

Beyond the majestic Marble Mountains, caves and pagoda of Da Nang itself, this fascinating city also leads you to the UNESCO-listed imperial city of Hue and its Royal Citadel near the Perfume River. The city's bamboo-framed houses, water buffalo-powered produce carts and busy rice fields portray an ongoing spirit of tradition.

It's impossible to be bored in Hong Kong, a glittering metropolis of dizzyingly high skyscrapers, thrumming street markets, and world-class malls flush with high-end designer stores. The city's relentless energy is as addictive as its famous dim sum. But venture just beyond the tightly packed streets to encounter awe-inspiring nature, from the unique coastal formations of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark to the shaded forests of Dragon's Back Trail and the golden sands of Cheung Sha Beach – perfect for lounging upon when your feet weary from shopping.

It's impossible to be bored in Hong Kong, a glittering metropolis of dizzyingly high skyscrapers, thrumming street markets, and world-class malls flush with high-end designer stores. The city's relentless energy is as addictive as its famous dim sum. But venture just beyond the tightly packed streets to encounter awe-inspiring nature, from the unique coastal formations of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark to the shaded forests of Dragon's Back Trail and the golden sands of Cheung Sha Beach – perfect for lounging upon when your feet weary from shopping.

Shanghai, located just inside the mouth of the great Yangtze River, marks the point where Asia's longest and most important river completes its 3,400-mile journey to the Pacific. The city's unique location is the source of its existence and has determined what it is today. Until 1842, Shanghai was merely a tiny fishing village. Following the first Opium War, Shanghai became a treaty port, which opened the city to foreign influence and resulted in the development of numerous British, French and American colonial settlements within the city and along the Yangtze River. Today, Shanghai is the center of China's economic resurgence and its skyline attests to this development in the form of towering skyscrapers, brightly lit commercial high-rises and the unsettling Oriental Pearl Tower. A testimony to Shanghai's colonial era, stately European buildings in art deco style line the Bund, the city's spacious waterfront promenade. An endless flotilla of sampans edge the Huangpu River, dividing old and new Shanghai. Beyond the rush of the city, serene ponds and gardens offer a gentle respite. Must-see sights include the Jade Buddha Temple and tranquil Yu Garden, impressive monuments to China's history and style. Inland lies Suzhou, with its majestic Grand Canal and classical gardens, as well as equally significant Hangzhou, terminus of the Grand Canal and the center of China's legendary tea industry.

Shanghai, located just inside the mouth of the great Yangtze River, marks the point where Asia's longest and most important river completes its 3,400-mile journey to the Pacific. The city's unique location is the source of its existence and has determined what it is today. Until 1842, Shanghai was merely a tiny fishing village. Following the first Opium War, Shanghai became a treaty port, which opened the city to foreign influence and resulted in the development of numerous British, French and American colonial settlements within the city and along the Yangtze River. Today, Shanghai is the center of China's economic resurgence and its skyline attests to this development in the form of towering skyscrapers, brightly lit commercial high-rises and the unsettling Oriental Pearl Tower. A testimony to Shanghai's colonial era, stately European buildings in art deco style line the Bund, the city's spacious waterfront promenade. An endless flotilla of sampans edge the Huangpu River, dividing old and new Shanghai. Beyond the rush of the city, serene ponds and gardens offer a gentle respite. Must-see sights include the Jade Buddha Temple and tranquil Yu Garden, impressive monuments to China's history and style. Inland lies Suzhou, with its majestic Grand Canal and classical gardens, as well as equally significant Hangzhou, terminus of the Grand Canal and the center of China's legendary tea industry.

The charming city of Kumamoto offers a glimpse of historic Kyushu. At its heart stands the distinctive Kumamoto Castle, first built in the 1600s and since restored. Explore its striking grounds and learn about the castle's fascinating history before visiting the peaceful 17th-century Suizenji Jojuen Garden, with its koi ponds, historic teahouse, and miniature Mount Fuji. At the foot of Kumamoto Castle, you'll find Sakuranokoji, a shopping hub of traditional crafts and local delicacies. Be sure to sample Kumamoto ramen, a regional take on tonkotsu ramen with a rich garlic aroma.

Kagoshima lies cradled within the protective arms of a large inlet on the island's extreme southern tip. It is Japan's southernmost city and combines slow-paced charm with thriving commercial activity. World-renowned Mount Sukurajima stands less than three miles away. This rare example of a busy metropolitan area coexisting with a volcano has led to comparisons between Kagoshima and the Italian city of Naples. Stroll picture-perfect Japanese gardens, explore an abundance of historical sites or shop for traditional pottery.

Views of the sea, high-rises, parks and temples, Kochi has it all. The town is particulary famous for its famous dish, katsuo tataki, a culinary delight of flavorfully seasoned, seared tuna, which draws food fans from all over the world. Once you have had your fill of the delicious local dish, any cravings you have for a taste of Japanese culture are sure to be satisfied during your visit. Meander through the Makino Botanical Garden, explore the Museum of Art, stroll along the nearby beach, barter at the Obiyamachi shopping arcade, visit the aquarium, or simply gaze at the city's most celebrated sight, Kochi Castle. Which remains largely intact atop Otakasaka Hill, and at the top of most traveler's must-see lists.

Sitting pretty on the sandy coastline between Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan's fourth-largest city is home to a thriving harbor district that is a lively destination in its own right. Part of the Garden Pier entertainment area, the country's busiest port is set around leafy landscaped grounds, home to an amusement park, shopping mall and aquarium. Wonder at the centuries-old wooden vessels that mapped the seas during the Age of Discoveries, displayed in intricate models at the port's Maritime Museum, and discover museum-ship Fuji, an icebreaker that explored Antarctica in the 1960s and 1970s. Further afield, a pair of golden shachihoko sea monsters crown Nagoya's imposing five-storey 17th-century castle. A symbol of this city's prosperity during the Tokugawa dynasty, the castle dates from Japan's Edo period and its powerful shoguns. Nearby, step back in time to that era on the streets of the Shikemichi preservation district, lined with white-walled merchants' houses now transformed into cafés and craft boutiques.

The setting is superbly pretty: Shimizu sits on Suruga Bay in the shadow of Mount Fuji, whose peak is spectacularly snow-capped for some five months of the year. The small city about 120 miles south of Tokyo has much quiet charm and is a good place for relaxing walks and gentle exploration. Visit Kashi-No-Ichi fish market by the port and sample some of the choices of tuna sushi at one of the cafés here – deep Suruga Bay is a prime area for this highly prized fish. Head to the observation terrace at Nihondaira Hill to take in magnificent views of Mount Fuji. Catch a water bus to Miho island just beyond the port and enjoy its views and its renowned pine groves, complete with an enormous 650-year-old black pine. Appealing attractions near Shimizu include the Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum, showing some of Utagawa Hiroshige's finest woodblock landscape prints, and the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha shrine, founded about 1000 years ago for protection from volcanic eruptions.