The Top Cities to Visit in Asia in 2024/2025

Our Asia Tours experts have compiled a collection of some of the top best cities to visit in Asia where you can choose to start your unforgettable holiday - From the bustling and vibrant nightlife - Hanoi city to the skyscrapers city - Kuala Lumpur, or from the city with countless ancient temples - Mandalay to the mountainous region Chiang Mai and more, Asia continent always has something to offer your wishes.

1. Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi, surrounded by two banks of the Red and Duong River, is one of the most historic capitals in Asia with many well-preserved French buildings (e.g., Hanoi Opera House, Presidential Palace and Hoa Lo Prison), traditional houses (ancient house at Ma May Street), age-old pagodas (Ngoc Son and Tran Quoc temples) and vibrant nightlife. Furthermore, Hanoi in Vietnam is also famous for its delicious street food such as Pho, Bun Cha or Dried Beef Salad. A special drink that you shouldn’t miss a chance to try is Egg Coffee which made from condensed milk, egg yolks and coffee.

• Best things to do: Street Food Tour, Hanoi City Tour (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison to name a few), Water Puppet Show, Cyclo Tour
• Best time to visit: August to November and February to mid-May – the weather is relatively pleasant with fewer rainfalls
• Insider’s tip: There are plenty of street food restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarter but you should always choose a restaurant that looks clean and hygiene. Since the roads inside Hanoi Old Quarter is rather complicated, you should carry a map with you
• Recommended duration: 2 - 3 days

2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon) is the financial & business hub of Vietnam. This city is also one of the most popular tourist destinations due to its charming culture, vibrant nightlife, French architecture (e.g., Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon, Saigon Central Post Office and Reunification Palace), impressive skyscrapers (e.g, Landmark 81 and Bitexco Financial Tower) and ornate pagodas (e.g., Jade Emperor Pagoda, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and Thien Hau Temple). Similar to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city is considered the paradise for foodie lovers. 

• Best things to do: Motorbike City Tour, Foodie Tour, Explore Cu Chi Tunnels and day trip in Mekong Delta
• Best time to visit: December to February when the city is full of enchanting festivals and the weather is relatively comfortable
• Insider’s tip:  It takes nearly 2 hours 30 minutes to explore Mekong Delta Regions. If you are a fan of culture, this place is worth a visit 
• Recommended duration: 3 - 4 days

3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The capital of Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur (also known as KL) is well-known for its gleaming skyscrapers (Petronas Twin Towers, Menara KL Tower), plenty of great sights and famous attractions (e.g., Chinatown, Batu Caves, Aquaria KLCC, Central Market and Perdana Botanical Gardens), modern shopping malls (e.g., Utama, BB Plaza and Pavilion KL), colonial architecture and various dining options. This is one of the best cities for a short trip or stopover to gain an insight into the culture of this amazing country.

• Best things to do: Shopping, Markets, Explore historic buildings and attractions
• Best time to visit: December to February and May to July when the weather is drier than the other months
• Insider’s tip:  Malaysian locals are very welcoming, so feel free to have a chat with those you meet and learn about the culture this country
• Recommended duration: 2 - 3 days

4. Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand – a large city with a population of nearly 10.35 million people in a total area of 1,568 square kilometres. This city itself is a paradise for tourists with numerous interesting attractions (e.g., Wat Pho, Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan and Wat Saket) and activities (e.g., visit colourful markets like Ban Mai Market, Khlong Suan Market and Nakhon Nuang Khet Market). Don’t forget to enjoy the delicious and traditional Thai food if you visit this destination.

• Best things to do: Explore colourful markets, Shopping and Enjoy the tasty Thai food
• Best time to visit: November to early April when the weather is dry and clear
• Insider’s tip:  Remember to carry a hotel card whenever you are out of your hotel for travelling. When you want to get back to your hotel, show this card to your driver and he will know where it is
• Recommended duration: 3 - 4 days

5. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is a mountainous region which is located in northern Thailand in a verdant valley along the banks of the Ping River. Firstly, coming to Chiang Mai, you do not need to worry about the weather since the average temperature of this place is just around 25 degree Celsius throughout the year. Besides, either you are food lovers or nature enthusiasts, Chiang Mai has something to offer every taste.

• Best things to do: Visit Doi Suthep, Explore Old City Temples and Chiang Mai Night Safari, Learn how to take care of Elephant, Visit Bo Sang Handicraft village and Discover Doi Inthanon National Park
• Best time to visit: October to February when the weather is comfortable
• Insider’s tip:  If you are in Chiang Mai over a weekend, spending time at the local Walking Street market on Sunday night is highly recommended
• Recommended duration: 2 - 3 days

6. Mandalay, Myanmar

Mandalay is the 2nd largest city in Myanmar which was established in 1857 and situated on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River. This city is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Myanmar due to its charming culture with amazing landscapes and incredible pagodas (e.g., Kuthodaw Pagoda, Sanda Muni Pagoda and Su Taung Pyae Pagoda). Some travellers just simply included this destination in their itinerary for a stopover before heading to Bagan but soon regretted it since they were all surprised by the most unique and unforgettable experience they got in Mandalay.

• Best things to do: Explore Mandalay Palace, Visit ancient temples and pagodas, Witness the outstanding sunset and sunrise at the longest and oldest teak footbridge U Bein Bridge
• Best time to visit: November to February when the weather has little rainfall and cool temperatures
• Insider’s tip:  You can take direct flights from either Bangkok or Chiang Mai to Mandalay. If you have a short time to discover Myanmar, the recommended advice is spending 2 days in Mandalay and another 2 days in Bagan
• Recommended duration: 2 - 3 days

Which cities do you consider the best destinations to visit in Asia?

Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh

Kuala Lumpur

Bangkok

Chiang Mai

Mandalay