NEW YEARS IN ASIA | THAILAND & VIETNAM ESCAPE

Singapore is small in size but big on excitement. Discover the multicultural medley of this city-state through its neighbourhoods: Check out the statue-adorned temples of Little India and the colourful pagodas of Chinatown. Cruise to Singapore and explore the city’s Malay section on the Kampong Glam Heritage Trail, which will take you past Arabic-influenced mansions and the gold-dome-topped Masjid Sultan mosque. Experience the contrast between the lush rainforest flora of the Singapore Botanic Garden and the high-tech ‘supertrees’ and biodomes of Gardens by the Bay. Complete your Singapore adventure with a panorama from the rooftop of the Marina Bay Sands or a Singapore Sling cocktail at the historical Raffles Hotel.

Vũng Tàu is a port city and the capital of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province, on a peninsula in southern Vietnam. Once a French colonial town, it’s now a popular seaside resort that draws many visitors from Ho Chi Minh City, who arrive by hydrofoil. Its long, busy stretch of sandy coast, including Front Beach and Pineapple Beach, has the verdant Small Mountain and Big Mountain as backdrop

In Bangkok, the old meets the new: Skyscrapers contrast ornate Thai temples, high-end cocktail bars lie around the corner from bustling stalls of street-food vendors, and tuk tuk rickshaws pedal beside cars on the busy streets. Cruise to Bangkok to explore the city’s green space at Lumpini Park, where you can take a stroll alongside the early-morning tai chi practitioners. Encounter the culture’s deep roots at the Bangkok National Museum, home to the country’s largest collection of Thai artifacts, including Khon masks and traditional armaments. Then, head to Wat Pho to see the 15-meter-tall, 46-meter-long, gold-leaf-covered statue of the Reclining Buddha. Or behold the towering spires and porcelain flower patterns of 19th-century Wat Arun, or Temple of the Dawn.

In Bangkok, the old meets the new: Skyscrapers contrast ornate Thai temples, high-end cocktail bars lie around the corner from bustling stalls of street-food vendors, and tuk tuk rickshaws pedal beside cars on the busy streets. Cruise to Bangkok to explore the city’s green space at Lumpini Park, where you can take a stroll alongside the early-morning tai chi practitioners. Encounter the culture’s deep roots at the Bangkok National Museum, home to the country’s largest collection of Thai artifacts, including Khon masks and traditional armaments. Then, head to Wat Pho to see the 15-meter-tall, 46-meter-long, gold-leaf-covered statue of the Reclining Buddha. Or behold the towering spires and porcelain flower patterns of 19th-century Wat Arun, or Temple of the Dawn.

Langkawi is the jewel of Malaysias Andaman Sea, a paradise island that feels far-removed but is easy to reach. Cruise to Langkawi and take the popular cable car ride up Mount Mat Chinchang, the islands second-tallest mountain — enjoy ocean vistas from the viewpoint halfway up, then take the remainder of the trip to the summit and walk the SkyBridge, a 400-foot-long viewing platform suspended 2,300 feet in the air between two forested peaks. Continue the thrills with a jet ski tour of the nearby islands, where you can descend into Gua Kelawar bat cave and hike through rainforests filled with exotic birds.

Singapore is small in size but big on excitement. Discover the multicultural medley of this city-state through its neighbourhoods: Check out the statue-adorned temples of Little India and the colourful pagodas of Chinatown. Cruise to Singapore and explore the city’s Malay section on the Kampong Glam Heritage Trail, which will take you past Arabic-influenced mansions and the gold-dome-topped Masjid Sultan mosque. Experience the contrast between the lush rainforest flora of the Singapore Botanic Garden and the high-tech ‘supertrees’ and biodomes of Gardens by the Bay. Complete your Singapore adventure with a panorama from the rooftop of the Marina Bay Sands or a Singapore Sling cocktail at the historical Raffles Hotel.