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Asia travel

Tourists in Laos die from alcohol poisoning

22 Nov 2024 - 7:00PM

Japan’s Ginzan Onsen limits day trippers to tackle overtourism and safety concerns

22 Nov 2024 - 5:55PMvideocam

Fake views: Japan’s Fukuoka apologises for AI-generated tourist attractions

22 Nov 2024 - 4:08PM

6 winter wonderlands to visit this Christmas, from Budapest to Singapore

Magical festive markets and experiences such as reindeer sleigh rides, the northern lights and even a cold-resistance test await the intrepid traveller.

21 Nov 2024 - 7:40PM

A reindeer-sledge safari in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland. Photo: Shutterstock

Australian tourist dies after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos

The poisoning incident in Vang Vieng has left Bianca Jones, two Danes and an American traveller dead.

21 Nov 2024 - 2:05PM

Why Istanbul’s restored bathhouses are ‘not a luxury, but a need’

After becoming obsolete during the Ottoman Empire, some Istanbul bathhouses have reopened. To Turks, they’re more than just places to bathe.

20 Nov 2024 - 4:15PM

Can Kuala Lumpur unseat Singapore and Bangkok as Southeast Asia’s aviation hub?

Kuala Lumpur’s airport has been ranked second in global connectivity, with Malaysia vying to become the heart of Southeast Asia’s air travel.

20 Nov 2024 - 3:31PM

An AirAsia plane prepares to land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where the region’s ubiquitous budget airline is based. Photo: AFP

Tourists in Japan get their teeth into making food replicas

You’ve probably seen replicas of popular dishes in restaurant window displays. Tourists in Japan join workshops to learn how they’re made.

19 Nov 2024 - 12:45PM

Will Thailand be the next big LGBTQ wedding destination?

With its legalisation of gay marriage, there is growing interest in holding LGBTQ weddings in Thailand. Insiders expect a gradual increase.

19 Nov 2024 - 7:15AM

Japan eyes Chinese tram for Mount Fuji to cut costs and emissions

The Chinese-made Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit, which runs on rubber tyres and promises lower construction costs and reduced CO2 emissions.

18 Nov 2024 - 7:19PMvideocam

A view of cherry blossom trees with Mount Fuji in the background. Photo: Reuters

‘Should be deported’: foreign tourists’ misdeeds spark outrage, debate in Japan

Graffiti at historic shrines, car thefts and other incidents have raised concerns about Japan’s perception of foreigners.

18 Nov 2024 - 8:00AMvideocam

People walk past a torii gate at Meiji shrine in Tokyo. An American tourist was arrested for etching letters into a traditional wooden gate at a Tokyo shrine. Photo: AFP

Why do Seoul’s make-up studios draw so many K-beauty tourists?

They aren’t just heading to South Korea for the beauty products – they go to learn trends, get skincare tips and have makeovers, too.

17 Nov 2024 - 5:15PM

Discover Vietnam’s war-torn past in its culturally rich capital

A visit to Hanoi, from its museums to local-run tours, reveals a city that remembers its turbulent past but is focused on its bright future.

17 Nov 2024 - 8:15AM

‘Japan has become poor’: Tokyo emerges as Asia’s new sex tourism capital

In a grim mirror of Japan’s economic decline, the sex trade is drawing in foreign men and trapping local women in a cycle of desperation.

18 Nov 2024 - 8:37AM

An older man approaches a woman near Okubo Park in Tokyo’s notorious Kabukicho district. Photo: Eric Fior

Nepal trekking – without the crowds but with community spirit

An alternative to Nepal’s Poon Hill, Mohare Danda has comparable Himalayan views, a fraction of the crowds, and benefits local women and families

20 Nov 2024 - 3:34PM

Sunrise views from the 3,300-metre-high Mohare Danda viewpoint. Photo: Chan Kit Yeng

The unspoilt nature of Indonesia’s West Bali National Park

There’s only one place on the Indonesian holiday island to see ‘big five’ in their original habitat, amid landscapes of indigenous flora

15 Nov 2024 - 12:08PM

Airlines in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia cancel Bali flights due to volcano

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, an active volcano on nearby Flores island, spewed a tower of ash that reached 9km into the sky.

14 Nov 2024 - 11:58AMvideocam

South Korea slaps travel ban on American live-streamer for ‘causing a commotion’

A convenience store worker reported Johnny Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, to the police last month.

13 Nov 2024 - 11:57AM

A still from a TikTok video showing US live-streamer Johnny Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, harassing pedestrians on the street in South Korea. Photo: TikTok/JohnnySomali

Chef of Singapore’s 2-Michelin-star Jaan opens restaurant in Vietnam

At The Albion by Kirk Westaway in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, the team is aiming to elevate the standard of British comfort food.

17 Nov 2024 - 9:23AM

Uncovering Hanoi, Vietnam’s rich culture and cuisine

Locals recommend the Vietnamese capital’s best street food, creative spaces and historical sights.

13 Nov 2024 - 3:32AM

Can a flurry of winter tourism, sports help thaw China’s economy?

As northern temperatures start to plunge, China’s State Council issues guidelines for the enhanced cultivation of a ‘snow and ice economy’.

12 Nov 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

China’s Harbin Ice Festival attracts millions of tourists every year, boosting the local economy. Photo: Xinhua

‘It’s now a 2-player game’: India’s top airlines vie for each other’s customers

Market leader IndiGo is dipping its toe into business-class travel, as Air India completes its merger with Singapore Airlines-owned Vistara.

11 Nov 2024 - 9:20AMvideocam

An Air India plane passes the sun after take-off in Ahmedabad, India. Photo: Reuters

3 of the best places for solo female travel, including Hong Kong

Two solo women travel experts reveal their favourite destinations to explore, where safety is high and the culture is vibrant.

16 Nov 2024 - 1:52PM

Balinese hope construction freeze can tame tourism

While Bali’s residents acknowledge the importance of tourism, many worry the influx of travellers is damaging the resort island.

10 Nov 2024 - 12:15PM

‘Huge opportunity for us’: can Nepal cash in on China’s tourism campaign?

Nepal should introduce more incentives and use Chinese social media platforms to promote itself to bring in visitors, industry players say.

9 Nov 2024 - 3:40PM

A view of the Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: Bibek Bhandari

Editorial | China to feel benefit of more visa-free visitors

Beijing’s extension of scheme to 25 countries aims to create warmer relations and boost struggling economy.

8 Nov 2024 - 11:10PM

Tourists pose for a photo after practicing Tai Chi at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing. China is making up for its pandemic-related tourism losses by easing restrictions on foreign visitors. Photo: Xinhua

Think Japan isn’t friendly for tourists with disabilities? Think again

Japan has made big steps in accessible travel, one expert says, while bodies like Accessible Japan and TokudAw help those with special needs.

8 Nov 2024 - 1:15PM

How Japan’s innovative Nakagin Capsule Tower is finding new life

The Tokyo structure’s dismantling in 2022 saw a number of its capsules repurposed globally – even at Hong Kong’s M+ – fulfilling designer Kisho Kurokawa’s vision.

11 Nov 2024 - 2:29PM

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Asia travel

Survival guides, insider secrets, top things to do, eco-tours, independent hotel reviews, family-friendly itineraries: fire your imagination with the South China Morning Post’s travel guides and must-see lists for holiday destinations across China and the rest of Asia.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

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