The Dutch first reached Bali in 1597 while scouting new ground for conquest and profit. They left without drawing blood but they didn’t leave without a decision. Bali had been marked. For the next two centuries, the island remained untouched, not because the Dutch had lost interest, but because they were waiting for the moment it would be worth the slaughter. It wasn’t peace. It was a pause before an extermination. When they returned, the rivers would turn red.

The Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi is more than a museum, it is a shrine to revolution, memory and sacrifice, standing as one of Vietnam’s most important monuments. It honours the man known as “Uncle Ho” while also serving as a vast archive of the struggles that shaped modern Vietnam, a place where personal biography and national trauma merge into a single, powerful narrative.

Overlooking the vast and turbulent Indian Ocean on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, Uluwatu Temple (or Pura Luhur Uluwatu) perches 70 metres above the waves, a landmark of both awe and solemnity. Archaeological evidence shows its origins date back to the 9th century, based on an ancient split gateway bearing a chronogram marking 886 .AD, confirming its megalithic roots as one of the island’s oldest sacred sites

Born from the legend of Resi Markandeya’s vision of angelic dancers over the Ayung River, Taman Dedari blends myth and appetite in equal measure. Here, guests savour Balinese flavours in a riverside setting guarded by monumental stone Dedari, the celestial maidens of old.

In the heart of Batuan village stands one of Bali’s oldest and most spiritually charged temples: Pura Puseh Desa Batuan. Founded in 1020 AD, it’s recorded in Balinese historical texts that stretch back over a millennium. Its structure is not only physically resilient but symbolically rooted in something far older, believed to have been built atop a megalithic worship site once used for ancestral rites.

Keramas Beach, located on Bali’s less developed eastern coastline in Gianyar, is known for its striking black volcanic sand and powerful surf breaks. Unlike the bustling beaches of Kuta or Seminyak, Keramas maintains a more secluded atmosphere, drawing a niche crowd of surfers rather than general tourists.

Rising from the flatlands of western Japan, Hiroshima Castle was a powerful nerve centre built by Mōri Terumoto during an age of shifting allegiances and ruthless ambition. With its broad moat and imposing stone walls, the castle was less about isolation and more about control, a symbol of calculated authority in a time of near constant war.

Tucked into the misty hills near Hangzhou’s famous West Lake, Meijiawu is more than just a tea village, it’s a living testament to China’s centuries old relationship with tea. The name "Meijiawu" translates to "The Village of the Mei Family," pointing to a 600-year lineage of hand cultivating tea that began with the Mei clan and continues to thrive today. Over time, this small village grew into a national symbol, with its identity and prosperity deeply intertwined with tea cu

Apsaras, the celestial nymphs of Hindu and Buddhist mythology, are revered for their unparalleled beauty, graceful movements and mastery of dance and music. Adorned with golden skin, fragrant hair and flowing garments, they appear throughout ancient texts as divine attendants in the heavenly courts of gods like Indra, where they serve as entertainers and symbols of spiritual and aesthetic refinement.

Rising like a gleaming spine along the raw sandstone cliffs of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China’s Hunan Province, the Bailong Elevator, also known as the "Hundred Dragons Elevator" is both a marvel of modern engineering and a looming monolith that stirs ancient fears. Piercing 326 metres into the sky, it is the tallest outdoor elevator in the world.

Nestled in Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake offers a serene escape from the city's chaos. This natural freshwater lake, stretching 700 metres across 12 hectares, has been a cultural and historical anchor for centuries, its origins possibly predating Hanoi itself by over a thousand years.

Tucked deep within Guangxi’s dramatic karst terrain, Yangshuo's landscape is far more than a picturesque backdrop, it is steeped in spiritual and supernatural significance. For centuries, locals have believed the towering limestone peaks to be the resting places of ancient spirits, with many formations given mythological names and stories. One of the most iconic is Moon Hill, named for its crescent shaped cave, which legend says was created by a celestial blade slicing throug

Nestled high in the Dong Van Karst Plateau of Ha Giang Province, Đồng Văn Ancient Town carries within its narrow stone-paved streets a haunting blend of history, war and legend. This remote outpost near the Chinese border has long served as a cultural and military crossroads. The town itself is over a century old, with well-preserved architecture reflecting a fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese and French colonial influences.

Moana Café is one of Sapa’s most visually striking and unconventional destinations, located just a short walk from the town centre. Perched on a gentle hillside overlooking the Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range, the café offers more than just coffee, it’s a curated outdoor experience designed to immerse visitors in panoramic views and imaginative, art-inspired spaces. This makes it especially popular among local tourists and Instagram-savvy travellers.

Known for its striking stone architecture and deeply rooted cultural traditions, Khuổi Ky’s origins trace back over 400 years and was established by the ancient Tay ethnic tribe, after 2,000 years of hardship and migration from the southern regions of China and Cambodia. The Tay people, one of Vietnam’s oldest and most culturally rich ethnic groups, are believed to have journeyed across generations, seeking fertile land and spiritual sanctuary.

In a city celebrated for its canals, silk and scholars, Suzhou’s Lingering Garden represents a pinnacle of classical Chinese garden design. Often referred to as one of the “Four Great Classical Gardens of China,” it embodies centuries of artistic refinement and philosophical thought. Built in 1593 during the Ming dynasty by Xu Taishi, a high-ranking official who sought retirement and tranquility, the garden stands as a personal reflection of his scholarly ideals.

Often bound in heavy fog, Cổng Trời Ô Quy Hồ or Heavens Gate, is a lesser known temple complex and viewpoint, situated atop the Ô Quy Hồ Pass, one of Vietnam's most majestic mountain passes. Located approximately 18 km's from Sapa town, this pass connects the provinces of Lào Cai and Lai Châu. Perched at an elevation of 2035 metres, it offers visitors panoramic vistas of the Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range, including glimpses of Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina. 

Seven Star Park, located on the eastern side of Guilin, Guangxi, derives its name from the formation of seven limestone peaks arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper constellation. This celestial reference is not only a poetic nod to the stars but also deeply symbolic in Chinese cosmology, where the Big Dipper is associated with divine guidance, fate and protection.

Bạch Mã Temple, the oldest temple in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, traces its origins back to the year 1010, during the reign of Emperor Lý Thái Tổ. It is one of four sacred temples in the city, constructed to stand as a spiritual guardian for the eastern side of ancient Thang Long (modern-day Hanoi) and was carefully chosen according to the principles of geomancy and the cardinal points.

Located about 13km's down a winding alpine road from Sa Pa town, the majestic Silver Waterfall thunders 200 metres down the cliffs of the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains from the headwaters of the Lo Sui Tong peak. Known to locals as "Thác Bạc" the falls are fed by glacial runoff that originate near the summit of Fansipan, the highest peak and "Roof of Indochina"