VI
Pattaya, Thailand
Pattaya is a city in Thailand located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, approximately 165 km southeast of Bangkok, in Chon Buri province, eastern Thailand. It is one of Thailand's largest tourist centers. In Pattaya, visitors can visit Coral Island by speedboat, participate in various water sports such as parasailing, surfing, canoeing, underwater exploration, and visit the Khao Chee Chan Buddha statue, a golden Buddha carved with laser technology.
In the evening, visitors can enjoy the Alcazar Show (or Tiffany Show), unique to Thailand – a professional, modern art performance featuring transgender performers with influences from many countries. Guests are free to stroll through the vibrant Walking Street area, which stays lively until 3:00 AM.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Located in northwestern Cambodia, Siem Reap is a major tourist attraction due to its proximity to the Angkor temples. Most of the discovered temples, such as Angkor Wat (built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century), are popular tourist destinations. Recently, the city has expanded with numerous hotels, restaurants, and shops to cater to both domestic and international tourists. Besides visiting the Angkor temple complex in northern Siem Reap, visitors can also conquer Bakheng Hill and visit the Elephant Terrace. In the evening, visitors can enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance.
Penang, Malaysia
Penang is one of Asia's most famous tourist islands, located in western Malaysia. Besides its beautiful scenery, the island also harbors unique aspects of local traditional culture. The highlight is undoubtedly George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008. Visitors can rent bicycles or trishaws to navigate the narrow streets, admire the cityscapes, and marvel at the famous street art murals.
Cebu, Philippines
Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines and the island nation's first capital, but it is now politically independent from the provincial government. The Cebu metropolitan area is made up of seven contiguous cities.
Cebu boasts many unique attractions such as Magellan's Cross, Fort San Pedro, and traditional Chinese houses. Additionally, Cebu is home to the renowned Alegre guitar manufacturing brand, and for music lovers like myself, visiting the Alegre factory is a fascinating experience.
In the evening, visitors can enjoy a buffet at the Crown Regency building (one of the tallest buildings in Cebu) and try the Skywalk, a rather adventurous outdoor walk; you should try this and the zipline when visiting Cebu.
Bandung, Indonesia
Besides the paradise island of Bali or the bustling capital Jakarta, the city of Bandung on the island of Java, Indonesia, is also an ideal destination for nature lovers. Visitors from Vietnam can fly to Jakarta and then take a train or bus to Bandung. The journey from Jakarta to Bandung takes less than 3 hours. One of the most attractive experiences for foreign tourists in Bandung is the zipline ride on bicycles suspended in the air.
