Every country in Asia offers something different. Having travelled through Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China and South Korea, we've visited some of Asia's most popular destinations and found that each destination excels in its own way. Whether you're looking for amazing food, beautiful beaches, wildlife, or a budget-friendly adventure, these are the countries that we've been to that we think do it best.
The Best Countries in Asia for Every Type of Traveller
Best Asian Country for First Time Travellers
If you are a first time traveller, you are likely looking for somewhere that you can experience a new culture but still have the comforts of home and feel safe. For us, Japan takes this one.
Japan has become such a popular travel destination recently, and for good reason. We spent a month in Japan at the beginning of 2023 and it was one of our favourite months travelling.
The food is delicious, but is very safe for picky eaters, containing a lot of rice, meat and noodles.
For solo and female travellers, you will feel very safe as everything is lit up and well connected by the metro, and everyone very much keeps to themselves unless you approach them.
Besides Japan, other countries great for first time travellers would be South Korea and Singapore. The only downside, these will be some of the more pricey destinations in Asia, although still cheaper than Western countries.
Read our 24-hour Singapore itinerary here.
If you are a first time traveller looking to experience Asia for the first time, Japan should be at the top of your list.
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Get 10% Off Your Next eSIMBest Country in Asia for Food
Food when you’re on holiday can make or break your holiday, and knowing you’re going to enjoy it is so important. This is a very subjective topic depending on your taste, but we would confidently say that Vietnam is the food capital of Asia.
The food scene in Vietnam is incredible! The local food is fantastic, from banh mi and pho, to Com Tam and Bun Thit Nuong, you’ve got so many different ways to taste the flavours of this beautiful country.
What really separates Vietnam further from the rest is the variety of food if this isn’t to your taste. Some of the best Indian food, Thai food, burgers and international meals we’ve had in Asia have also been in Vietnam.
Thailand and Japan both have incredible food scenes, but Vietnam's combination of flavour, affordability and variety gives it the edge for us.
This also makes Vietnam a great trip if you have a picky eater or a more adventurous eater in your group.
Read our Vietnam travel guide and places we recommend visiting here.
Best Budget Holiday in Asia
Vietnam is easily the best budget destination in Asia. As a couple who live in Vietnam, we are constantly amazed by how affordable this country is for tourists.
Food, beer, local travel, clothes and everything else will all cost you a fraction of the price compared to back home.
The low cost of travelling in Vietnam also means you can stay longer, experience more and support local businesses throughout your trip.
If you're travelling on a budget, Vietnam and Cambodia offer some of the best value in Southeast Asia. For us, Malaysia was the sweet spot between affordability, comfort and experiences, while Singapore was by far the most expensive destination. Wherever you choose to visit, Southeast Asia remains one of the best-value travel regions in the world.
Read our complete Southeast Asia travel budget guide here.
The Best Beaches in Asia
The best beaches we have visited in Asia are definitely in Thailand. Some of our favourites were on Koh Tao and Koh Samui, where the water was crystal clear and perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Take this with a pinch of salt though, as we haven’t been to Indonesia or the Philippines yet.
Thai beaches have the combination of soft white sand and crystal clear blue water that just makes you feel like you’re on holiday. They will be busy, but it’s worth it for what you’re experiencing. Whether you want to snorkel, swim or just lie on the beach, Thailand has exactly what you want.
The best part about the beaches in Thailand is how set up the country is for you to be there. Restaurants, boats and bars all only a few metres away meaning you can spend your whole day relaxing without having to go far.
Best Nature and Wildlife in Asia
If you’re after nature and wildlife, Borneo is absolutely the place we would recommend. If you want sea life, you can go snorkelling and scuba diving in Sabah, or you can even go to turtle island!
However, the number one thing we recommend is doing a multi-day Kinabatangan River Cruise with Sukau Greenview to see the wonders of the jungle.
You will spend a few days in a lodge, with boat trips up and down the river trying to see animals such as Pygmy Elephants, Rhinoceros Hornbills, Orangutans and much more.
This is the best experience we have ever been a part of and we couldn’t recommend it more. Seeing wild orangutans and pygmy elephants in their natural habitat is something we will never forget.
Read our full Kinabatangan River Cruise review in Borneo here.
If you want to see our full experience, you can watch our Kinabatangan River vlog here.
Best Culture and History in Asia
Travelling anywhere in Asia promises an incredible cultural experience, but if you want the best, we recommend going to China. China has so many historical spots that it can be hard to see a lot of them on a short trip, so make sure you prioritise what you want to see.
On our trip we went to Beijing and Xi'an and saw the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and best of all, the Terracotta Warriors.
With all of this being only in 2 cities in the fourth largest country in the world, you can only imagine the abundance of wonders you can see in your time exploring China.
Best Country in Asia for a Long Trip
If you want to spend a long time exploring one country, you need to go to China. It seems obvious due to the size, but there is so much to this incredible country that you could spend forever there and still be left wanting.
We spent nearly two weeks in China, going to Beijing and the Great Wall of China before getting a train to Xi’an and seeing the Terracotta Warriors. This was an incredible trip for us, but has just left us wanting to go back and see more of China.
Even after visiting Beijing and Xi'an, we felt like we had barely scratched the surface. Cities such as Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Chengdu are all high on our list for future trips. Adding these together, and thanks to the great internal travel in China, you could easily stay for a few months to really experience the Chinese culture.
Watch our full Beijing vlog here:
Best Asian Destination for Couples
If you are a couple looking to travel together, it’s important you are on the same page about what you want from a trip. If you know what you want, you may have already found your answer in the sections above. Otherwise, Japan is a safe option.
In Japan, the variety of activities, food and experiences you can do mean you have a great balance on your trip to keep you both happy. More importantly, the hotels are very nice and you will be kept comfortable.
If you go in the winter, using some of the natural hot springs, or onsens, can make a fun day out together, even if you are split up into the separate male and female baths.
For summer, the beaches are beautiful if you want to get out of the city and relax a bit more.
We went to Disneyland and Universal Studios, but the best thing we did together was rent a car from Tokyo and drive to Mount Fuji for the day. This only cost us about 13,000 Yen and was one of our favourite days out. Just make sure you have your international driving licence!
Our Asia Rankings at a Glance
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| First-Time Travellers | Japan |
| Food | Vietnam |
| Budget Travel | Vietnam |
| Beaches | Thailand |
| Nature & Wildlife | Borneo |
| Culture & History | China |
| Long Trips | China |
| Couples | Japan |
Every Country in Asia Has Something to Offer
These rankings might help you pick between 2 or 3 countries, but don’t let it stop you from going to any. All of these places we have absolutely loved and would recommend travelling to as many as you can.
If you want to know more about them, you can have a look at our other blogs or our vlogs on YouTube to see the full picture of how we experienced these beautiful countries.
