#southeast-asia-travel

#southeast-asia-travel

Choosing a honeymoon destination felt far harder than any assignment. This wasn't just another trip. As a queer woman, the list of potential destinations narrowed quickly.

Hoi An's charm lies in its timeworn architecture and vibrant culture, with lantern-lit boats drifting along the Thu Bon River at night, creating a magical atmosphere.

"It's not exactly a dream vacation to come and be harassed by mosquitoes," says Hervé Bossin, director of the medical entomology laboratory at Tahiti's Institut Louis Malardé.

Pho Ngoon's version of bún chả bursts with the aroma of lemongrass and includes fatty cuts of pork, served with a dipping sauce that is equal parts sweet, tangy, and briny.

"I think Phnom Penh has become far more confident in its own voice. A few years ago, much of the retail and lifestyle scene felt either NGO-adjacent or heavily expat-driven. Now there's a noticeable shift toward Cambodian-led creative businesses that are designing for a more discerning local audience."

Portland's reputation as a national Thai food destination has been truly cemented, with a scene that is not only prolific but varied, showcasing hyper-regional and dish-specific offerings.

In 2027, Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend, providing two substitute bank holidays on December 27 and 28, leading to an extended holiday opportunity.

I've lived in Malaysia most of my life, and the sense of safety here quietly shapes daily life. It's not about alarms or locked gates-it's about how neighbors smile as you pass, how laughter floats from late-night food stalls, and how people look out for one another.

The Leica Vibrant mode was in its element here, pulling stunning color out of these flamboyant buildings that surrounded the central canal. The telephoto camera has excellent image quality, and while the 3.2x-4.3x optical zoom range did seem limited, a quick punch to the 8x mode produced exceptionally usable results.

Forget Phuket's reputation as a backpacker's paradise. There's a whole lot more to Thailand's largest island than its nightlife scene, with a clutch of white sand beaches fringing azure waters, a scattering of historic temples, a cheerful town center lined with colorful 19th-century shophouses, and markets slinging everything from street food to spices and knick-knacks for your suitcase. Whatever you seek from an island getaway, you're sure to find it here.

Island escapes have long been associated with tranquillity, crystalline waters lapping powder-soft sands on which palm trees rustle and hammocks sway in the breeze. Brits feel particularly drawn to island adventures, as the many thousands of votes in Condé Nast Traveller's Readers' Choice Awards display. 2025's frontrunners included the Isles of Scilly in the UK, the Greek island of Naxos, and the Brazilian Fernando de Noronha, while the Turks and Caicos claimed the title of the best islands in the Caribbean and the Atlantic.

A sprawling tale of two Singapores, the short documentary Sandcastles draws connections between Singapore, Michigan - a 19th-century ghost town swallowed by sand following widespread deforestation - and the island country of Singapore, where rapid development and land reclamation has, for decades, been enabled by the importation of sand. More poetic exploration than call to action, the work surveys waterways, cycles of development and the transient nature of sand - deceptively sturdy over short timescales but, over decades, quite volatile.

The upgrade places the EU on the same diplomatic footing as the United States, China and Russia and was announced during a visit to Hanoi by European Council President António Costa. "At a moment when the international rules-based order is under threat from multiple sides, we need to stand side by side as reliable and predictable partners," Costa said, adding that the partnership is about "developing spheres of shared prosperity."

As an American who's traveled to 44 countries over the last 30 years, I've seen my fair share of unforgettable places. But if I had to choose one place to visit again and again, it would be Bali, an island and province in Indonesia that combines vibrant culture, natural beauty, and a pace of life that feels both energizing and restorative. After spending a month on the island in 2023, I fell in love. Here's what made my trip to Bali so special.

I wish people would realize how much easier it really is. I think some people get scared because they have it in their heads that if they don't speak the language and they're in another country, that it can't be good care. Honestly, my experience is the exact opposite.

Deserted white sandy beaches, a 15-seat chef's table serving a farm-to-table Michelin-starred tasting menu, silence broken only by crashing waves, and not a cocktail bucket in sight. Oh yes, this is Phuket, but not as you might know it. For those willing to go against the grain and head north over the bridge, it's just 20 minutes to Iniala Beach House, but a world away from the island you think you know.

My move to Phuket was about choosing a fabulous place to live while continuing my freelance career. I feel like I've been part of the island's community for years. I'd visit annually for a couple of weeks at a time, maintain friendships, and get to know local business owners. Every trip had me dreaming about potential jobs and interesting opportunities.

My late 30s were hard. Living alone in Cape Town, South Africa, I was holding out for a partner and children while my friends moved through weddings and baby showers without me. My parents and sisters (including my twin) lived in another province, freelance writing work was drying up, and as 40 approached, I felt stuck - single, lonely, and unsure what came next.

When Mandarin Oriental Qianmen opened its doors in late 2024, the property shone the spotlight on a different side of Beijing. Rather than a sleek, multistory modern building, guests can now immerse themselves in the historic side of the Chinese capital by staying in a hutong, or one of the ancient alleyway networks that have been a hub of local life for centuries-all with Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City (The Palace Museum), and the National Museum of China within walking distance.

Tucked away in the Wat Ket area, a quiet pocket of Chiang Mai well clear of the chaos of the Old Town, at 137 Pillars House you're close enough to dip in when you want to, but far enough out that the noise never follows you back. It's the kind of neighbourhood where mornings start slowly, perhaps with a quick trip to the nearby Lung Khajohn Wat Ket, one of the city's best rice roll spots, or a plate of Neng's Clay Pot Roast Pork (insanely delish!), before retreating back to the calm of the hotel gardens.