Top 9 Best Places Asia-Pacific Travel Destinations

You've seen photographs of the Maldives before: picture-perfect private homes hanging above startling blue seas, pristine white sand beaches and magnificent sunsets lowering towards the horizon. The breathtaking magnificence of the Maldives is something to witness, something you can't truly appreciate unless you're there in person.

The island country of the Maldives is popular with honeymooners wanting for privacy and adventurers eager to explore the depths of the sea on a scuba diving and snorkeling expedition. Travelers seeking leisure may repose at one of the island spas and all tourists should undoubtedly spend a day seeing the Maldivian capital of Malé. The hotels in this area are likewise stunning, ranging from underwater hotels to overwater bungalows to really magnificent resorts. However, getting to and living in this tropical paradise demands patience (there are no direct flights from the United States) and enough cash. Located between the Arabian and Laccadive seas, some 500 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives is about as secluded as you can get - and that's just another one of its numerous allures.

flawless, efficient Singapore is a breathtaking sight, especially for those who are accustomed with contemporary Asian metropolises. The city retains a unique blend of open space and skyscrapers, as well as significant ethnic enclaves such as Little India and Chinatown. This eclectic mix of cultures has created something unique to this erstwhile British colony: a shared mentality. Singaporeans are determined and patriotic; they are proud of their achievements (just look at Marina Bay and you might get jealous).

Singaporeans, however, have not lost their history or the value of their natural environs, even as their skyline acquires massive peaks and troughs. Museums are lofty structures that invite amateur historians to explore their enormous interiors. Furthermore, massive wetland areas silently repose on an island (also known as "Singapore") in sharp contrast to Singapore's contemporary accomplishments. This little country, with its big metropolis, exemplifies cosmopolitanism in a way that few others can. So leave your chewing gum at home (it's forbidden to import or sell it) and book a trip to Singapore.

Visitors to Thailand's southern island of Phuket will find pure white dunes, azure lakes, and limestone cliffs. This island, surrounded by the Andaman Sea and roughly an hour by air from Bangkok, is a small bit of heaven with comparatively affordable prices for everything from hotels to spa treatments and boat cruises. Along with its tropical charm, Phuket entices visitors with its tasty food (think: lemongrass, lime leaves, and chillies) and rich culture, which is highly inspired by its ruling religion: Buddhism.

And, although the island's beaches and tourist operators have recovered from the 2004 tsunami, which devastated its western coast and cruelly cost hundreds of lives, it recalls the past with monuments and a stronger warning system in case the region is threatened again.

Heaven is identical with Shangri-La, Elysium, Arcadia, Utopia, and Bali. The only difference is that you can really go to Bali. Many visitors have never visited this Indonesian island. Nonetheless, the term "Bali" brings up images of a fantasy landscape: towering volcanoes surrounded by a deep green canopy, sandy shoreline that dissolve into turquoise seas, and curving coastlines capped with staggered pagodas. And, believe it or not, Bali almost never disappoints.

You'll be surprised at how many various kinds of tourists enjoy this sanctuary. The average visitor merely stays at the opulent beachside resort and indulges in exquisite spa treatments, delicious meals, and lazing in the sun. The historian, on the other hand, will find joy in the island's various temples, while the explorer will uncover fresh ways up Kintamani, an active volcano. Furthermore, Kuta has additional raucous joys for individuals who like late evenings. Bali is a dream come true, so get up and book your flight now.

Dubai is an excellent introduction to the Arabian world, known for its Arabian, Emirati, and Islamic cultural history, as well as its culture of richness and excess. The city is the headquarters of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates, and is home to the world's tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa.

Dubai is an excellent starting place for further study of the Middle East and Asia in general, with cultural activities ranging from lunch at a Bedouin tent in the desert to afternoon tea at an Arabian tea shop in the city's old center, as well as market, mosque, and museum visits.

Wandering the souks, or marketplaces, of Dubai is a popular way to spend a morning and will provide the intrepid tourist with a glimpse into the region's handicraft and culinary culture. The city's souks are specialized, concentrating on items such as extravagant gold jewelry, handicrafts, textiles, and spices.

Surprisingly, Dubai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Middle East, with considerable populations of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis, as well as smaller expatriate groups of Filipinos, Somalis, and even Britons. According to a Reuters story, foreigners outnumbered indigenous Emiratis in the city by more than five to one in 2013.

With Expo 2020 scheduled to take place in the city next year, there has never been a better time to fly to the 'City of Gold.'

The blue and red yin and yang embroidered on South Korea's flag signify balance — an ideal that was knocked off-kilter during the Korean War. But following the 1953 armistice, a modern Seoul emerged afresh. Today, the city is distinguished by gorgeous architecture, lively culture and a booming economy - all testaments to Seoul's endurance.

Seoul may appear like is blazing into the future, but South Koreans nonetheless cling loyal to their rich tradition. Tucked amid large commercial areas and busy nightlife zones are remains of Seoul's past, glimpses into an earlier Seoul before the skyscrapers of concrete and steel. Gyeongbok Palace - the oldest and biggest of five Joseon Dynasty palaces in the city – lies on groomed gardens only minutes from downtown. Nearby, Bukchon Village's wooden, one-story cottages sit in strong contrast to the neighboring high-rises. Miraculously, Seoul's history and present do not conflict; rather, they play off one another. This beautiful combination of old and contemporary is the secret to Seoul's attractiveness and a vital element of the city's character.

Most travelers to Vietnam arrive in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or go straight to Halong Bay and the beach—but the finest spot to visit in Vietnam is a well hidden secret.

The historic city of Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Asia's oldest commercial ports. Hoi An, an important commercial stop for trade ships since the 15th century, has kept much of its traditional architecture, including wood frame houses, colorful French-colonial shutters, and Chinese tiled roofs. Religious structures, courtyards, and shophouses coexist on tiny passageways throughout Ancient Town, Hoi An's historical core.

Hoi An holds the Lantern Festival every full moon cycle to commemorate ancestors with light. All of the lights in the Ancient Town are turned out the night before the full moon, and colorful lanterns and candles are put on windows, inside buildings, and on boats drifting along the river.

During the rest of the month, visitors may stroll around Hoi An to see the Museum of History and Culture (previously a pagoda devoted to the Goddess of Compassion, Guan Yin); the 17th-century covered Japanese bridge; and the Old Residence of Tan Ky, a restored 18th-century merchant's house.

To foreigners, Hong Kong might generate a lot of questions: "Is it part of China or not?" "Is it one island or two?" "Do they speak English or Mandarin? Or both?" And foreigners have a solid cause to ask them. This area, composed of numerous islands, reverted to China's ownership in 1997 after more than a hundred years of British rule. Upon its reunification with China, Hong Kong incorporated several restrictions that guarantee a unique degree of autonomy. For instance, the official currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD); English and Chinese are the official languages; and the small country maintains an autonomous legal system. In summary, China and Hong Kong maintain a "one nation, two systems" approach that might leave many outsiders scratching their heads. But don't question it. Just embrace it and appreciate all this region has to offer.

Hong Kong separates itself from its Chinese sisters like Shanghai and Beijing with its dynamic, diversified culture and gorgeous cityscape. This British-Chinese mix astounds tourists with its startling combination of towering buildings and verdant surroundings. From sandy beaches to rugby grounds, there's more fresh air than most tourists believe. And, of course, being a world-class city, Hong Kong provides several urban diversions, such as gastronomic hot places and museums. After visiting Hong Kong, the only thing you could be thinking is: "Why didn't I come here sooner?"