(that proves it’s more than just a rest stop between Hanoi and Hoi An)
Ah, Huế. The name alone sounds like a sigh of relief after too many bowls of phở. Wedged right in the belly of Vietnam, this former imperial capital is where emperors once strutted around in silks, poets scribbled moody verses about rivers, and regular folk learned the art of sweating through 40-degree heat with at least a little dignity.
These days, Huế is a curious blend of old-world grandeur and modern Vietnamese hustle – think citadels and tombs next to karaoke bars and motorbikes balancing entire wardrobes.
If you’re the kind of traveller who gets weak at the knees for history, culture, food, and a good Insta shot (don’t lie, we all are), Huế is your kind of place. We’ve put together six of the absolute best things to do in Huế, with enough variety to keep both your inner history nerd and your caffeine-addicted soul happy.
1. Play dress-up in an áo dài and walk around the Imperial City
Let’s start with the obvious. You cannot (and I mean cannot) come to Huế and skip the Imperial City. Built in the early 1800s by the Nguyễn Dynasty, this sprawling citadel is Vietnam’s answer to Beijing’s Forbidden City, except with more humidity and fewer selfie sticks.
Now, walking around the Imperial City is great on its own, but why stop there when you can fully commit and slip into an áo dài, Vietnam’s traditional long tunic? Rental shops nearby will happily deck you out in silky splendour for just a few bucks. Suddenly, instead of a sweaty tourist with a guidebook, you’re a regal courtier wandering through history, commanding respect from the ghosts of emperors’ past.
Sure, you’ll look slightly ridiculous if you trip on the tunic hem while climbing a staircase. And yes, locals may giggle at your awkward regal poses in front of golden gates. But nothing makes those UNESCO World Heritage shots pop like flowing silk in the breeze.
Just go in the early morning before the sun turns the citadel into an oven. Trust me when I say you don’t want to be wearing any more clothing than is strictly appropriate when the heat comes out to play.
If cemeteries make you squeamish, relax – Huế’s imperial tombs are less about spooks and more about stunning architecture and lakeside pavilions.
Minh Mạng, the second emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty, clearly had taste. His tomb, located about 30 minutes outside Huế, is a masterpiece of symmetry. Picture manicured gardens, lotus ponds, ornate temples, and stairways that lead to terraces where you can look over the grounds, pretending to be Minh Mạng himself.
It’s peaceful, beautiful, and just a tad eerie. You could easily spend hours wandering around, admiring dragon motifs and perfectly framed views of the surrounding hills.
Now, if Minh Mạng’s tomb was subtle and poetic, Emperor Khải Định clearly went for: “make it shiny enough to blind my haters.” His tomb is the exact opposite of minimalist design. Imagine what would happen if a French palace, a Gothic cathedral, and a Vietnamese pagoda had a baby. Then imagine that baby rolled around in crushed glass, porcelain shards, and gold leaf. Voilà; it’s Khải Định’s tomb.
Climb the steep staircase and you’ll find a grand, over-the-top monument. Inside, the ceiling murals are so elaborate you’ll need a stiff neck massage afterwards. There are dragons, sunbursts, and enough detail to keep your eyes entertained for hours (if you can stand the humidity for that long).
Some say it’s gaudy; others call it genius. Either way, you’ll definitely mutter “wow” at least six times. And if you squint just right, it’s basically Vietnam’s Versailles but with fewer tourists elbowing you in the ribs.
I recommend visiting both Minh Mạng and Khải Định to really appreciate the contrast between understated elegance and full-blown imperial flex.
Forget Uber. Forget Grab. Forget your two functioning legs. The only way to properly see Huế’s city centre is in a cyclo, the Vietnamese answer to a rickshaw, where you sit up front like royalty while a wiry man pedals you around with superhero calf strength.
Is it slightly awkward at first? Absolutely. You’re sitting in a giant seat while someone sweats profusely to get you across intersections teeming with motorbikes. But once you get over the mild guilt, it’s actually the best way to soak in Huế’s vibe.
You’ll glide past markets overflowing with dragon fruit, women selling steaming bowls of bún bò Huế (the city’s legendary noodle soup), and incense-scented pagodas that seem to pop up out of nowhere. The drivers often double as unofficial tour guides, shouting snippets of history in between expert traffic manoeuvres.
It’s chaotic. It’s authentic. And it’s far more fun than dodging scooters on foot.
If emperors loved one thing, it was a boat that looked like a mythical creature. On the Perfume River, you’ll find exactly that: colourful dragon boats ready to ferry you into the sunset.
Board one of these beauties and you’ll be treated to riverside views of pagodas and city life, but you can also organise a traditional Vietnamese music performance to enjoy while you float. Think zithers, flutes, and vocals that echo across the water, reminding you that Spotify playlists sometimes don’t cut it.
One moment you’re reflecting on the poetic name “Perfume River” (spoiler: it doesn’t actually smell like Chanel No. 5), the next you’re clapping along awkwardly as musicians hand you porcelain cups to smack together.
Hopping aboard one of these boats in the evening is magical, not just because the air will be cooler, but because the twinkling city lights will be mirrored on the water.
You thought Vietnam’s caffeine game peaked with iced coffee dripping slowly into condensed milk? Think again. Huế has a beverage so unique you’ll question everything you thought you knew about coffee culture: cà phê muối, or salt coffee.
Yes, you read that right. Salt. In coffee. Somewhere out there, an Italian barista is clutching his chest in horror. But trust me, it works.
The trick is that the salt is mixed into the creamy foam that tops the coffee, balancing the bitterness with a subtle savoury kick. The result is a flavour explosion that’ll have you reaching for more.
And where better to try it than in Huế, the city that invented it? Pull up a low plastic stool at a street-side cafe, order a glass, and feel the sensation as your taste buds dance the cha-cha of confusion and delight.
But don’t sip it too fast. This is a slow-burn kind of beverage, best enjoyed while people-watching.
Whether you’re dressing up in an áo dài, floating down the Perfume River, or slurping down a salty coffee that’ll defy your tastebuds, Huế proves again and again that it’s not just a pit stop, it’s a destination that deserves its own spotlight.
Most wellness retreats ask you to light incense and hum yourself into a mild coma. But on a wind-swept clifftop in Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, one luxury resort is swapping scented candles for sai weapons and replacing om with hiyaaa!
Welcome to HOSHINOYA Okinawa, a place where you don’t just find yourself… you fight yourself. Literally.
This isn’t your average Zen-and-tonka-bean-smoothie type escape. The Ryukyu Karate Stay is a two-night, three-day wellness program that trades passive pampering for purposeful punches. Think of it as a spiritual cleanse. A cultural immersion, physical reckoning, and damn good food, all served with the salty sting of sea air and sore muscles.
Forget what you know about karate from bad ’80s movies and underwhelming gym classes. Okinawa is where it all began. The ancient martial art of “Te” collided with Chinese influences and became “Toudi,” the philosophical ancestor of modern karate. Here, karate wasn’t about breaking bricks or impressing a Tinder date, it was about confronting your own chaos and sculpting it into calm.
At HOSHINOYA’s coastal dojo and on the sand (yes, barefoot beach sparring is a thing), you’ll train in both Ryukyu Karate and the lesser-known but seriously badass Ryukyu Kobudō, which uses tools like the sai (think: deadly metal fork) and the eeku (a weaponized oar, because… island life).
Once your soul is centred and your limbs are rubber, it’s time to heal like a warrior. A post-training ritual of oil therapy, acupuncture, and shiatsu awaits, administered by licensed experts who can coax knots out of muscles you didn’t know existed.
This isn’t just a massage. It’s a full-body exhale.
EAT LIKE THE OKINAWANS (Which Might Be Why They Live Forever)
In Okinawa, food isn’t just fuel. It’s medicine. And at HOSHINOYA, meals are crafted under the ancient philosophy of Ishoku Dōgen, the idea that what you eat can heal what ails you.
Forget the quinoa. This is vitamin-loaded local greens, mysterious island herbs, and melt-in-your-mouth Okinawan pork that makes your B vitamins do backflips. Every dish is beautifully balanced to restore what the modern world has taken from you. Yes, it’s delicious. And yes, you’ll probably post it before you eat it.
• Program: Ryukyu Karate Stay
• Duration: 2 nights, 3 days
• Cost: ¥160,000 per person (excl. accommodation)
• Includes: Karate + Kobudō sessions, all meals, spa treatments, a spiritual sucker-punch to your routine
• Group Size: Just you and a plus one (max 2)
• Bookings: Minimum two weeks in advance Link here
The Setting: HOSHINOYA Okinawa
Perched on the edge of Japan and reality, this 100-room fortress-inspired resort combines contemporary luxury with Ryukyu soul. Expect dramatic ocean views, traditional design, and enough cultural gravitas to make you feel like you’ve time-travelled—if samurai were into soft linens and world-class dining.
So if you’re tired of downward-dogging your way to peace, maybe it’s time to throw a few (metaphorical) punches instead. Okinawa’s waiting, with a black belt, a bowl of pork belly, and a killer ocean view.
Move over, party hotels – Bali’s got a new kid on the block, and she’s swapping bottle service for breathwork. Opening August 22, Noema is the freshest face in Pererenan (just a coconut’s roll from Canggu), and she’s got curves in all the right places: rooftop rituals, climbable art, spa scrubs, and cocktails with a view.
Yes, this place is a beach resort, but it’s also a mindfully designed, art-infused playground for surfers, families, nomads and dreamers who prefer their holidays with a side of soul. Think Korean rooftop spa scrubs, mythical kraken-inspired play towers, and restaurants that could win awards and win over your stomach.
Noema’s got 157 airy rooms (including a penthouse), two stellar restaurants – Mamaloma and Paparempa – and even a wellness centre that believes exfoliation is a spiritual experience.
At its core, Noema is built on one lovely little idea: that you can come to Bali and actually relax. *Gasp*. So, whether you’re here for the seafood sambal, the Saturday brunch, or to chase your inner calm around a vertical playground, Noema’s ready to welcome you barefoot and blissed out.
Oh, and don’t miss the three-day launch fest from August 22–24. There’ll be culture, cuisine, connection, and maybe even a kraken or two.
Want to see the real Nepal? Ditch the crowds and head to someone’s living room.
If your idea of an authentic travel experience involves actually meeting people (rather than just waving at them from a tour bus), then say namaste to Nepal’s Community Homestay Network.
Fresh off the back of being named one of TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025’ – no biggie – they’ve just launched three new trips that put communities, culture, and seriously good cooking front and centre.
Forget cookie-cutter itineraries. This is travel with heart (and homemade wine). The new adventures include everything from momo-making marathons and waterfall hikes in Narchyang to crafting with artisans in Bungamati and sipping tea in Indigenous Aathpahariya homestays in Eastern Nepal (yes, it’s as cool as it sounds).
The idea behind these new trips is to let travellers experience Nepal through the eyes (and kitchens) of the locals, all while boosting rural economies, preserving cultural traditions, and ensuring tourism doesn’t bulldoze the very things we travel to see.
Founder Shiva Dhakal calls it “building bridges between cultures”, but honestly, it just sounds like the best way to actually get Nepal without just Googling it.
Each of the three new trips runs for eight days and includes a delightful combo of cooking, hiking, heritage, and human connection.
Our advice? Bring an open mind, an empty stomach, and a spare bag for all those handmade souvenirs.
Just when you thought Uluwatu couldn’t get any more jaw-droppingly beautiful, along comes Umi, a five-star stunner that’s about to take Bali’s luxury game up several notches and then add a couple more for good measure.
Set to open in May 2026, Umi is perched just 200 metres from Uluwatu Beach, which means your morning swim could come with a side of sea breeze and surf envy.
Australian-owned and oozing understated glamour, Umi will feature seven private villas and 92 designer suites, each one showing off pool views and nestled among 1.5 kilometres of lush, garden-wrapped serenity. It’s probably like living inside a very tasteful jungle. With room types ranging from sleek Deluxe Suites to sprawling Family Suites, there’s plenty of space for everyone from solo sunset-seekers to barefoot little explorers.
And the design? Let’s just say if Mother Nature and a world-class architect had a love child, this would be it. Inspired by the sea caves of nearby Suluban Beach, Umi’s U-shaped layout opens dramatically to cascading infinity pools that ripple down the land’s natural contour. Think cliffside cool meets sculptural serenity, all wrapped in leafy planter boxes.
Dreamed up by co-founder Danil Flehan and the creative minds at Immersive Architecture and Vojtek Morsztyn Studio, Umi is all about luxury with a conscience. Expect barefoot elegance, eco-friendly flair, and a lot of guests “accidentally” extending their stay.
If your idea of “wellness” is a green juice and an occasional yoga stretch while doomscrolling, Amanpuri’s about to gently (and glamorously) blow your mind.
Nestled in a ridiculously lush corner of Thailand, Aman’s OG resort has levelled up its already swanky wellness game with a new medical-meets-mystical experience that’s basically a total reboot for your body, mind, and very possibly your soul.
At the Holistic Wellness Centre – Aman’s first of its kind – you won’t just get a massage and a mint tea. No, no. We’re talking full-spectrum healing with diagnostic wizardry that checks your hormones, immune function, and cardiovascular health before you’ve even unpacked your kaftan. Then it’s IV drips of NAD+, Resveratrol, Vitamin C, and other things that sound like high-grade spaceship fuel but are really just your fast pass to feeling fresh.
But wait, there’s more. You can dip into MSC therapy, cryotherapy, hydro-colon cleanses (don’t ask), and sneaky aesthetic upgrades like HIFU facials and ThermiVa, all while being gently coaxed into balance with acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and Chi Nei Tsang massage. It’s modern science meets ancient wisdom meets “how are they making me look this glowy?”
Forget bootcamp-style wellness where someone yells at you while you juice fast (and subsequently pass out after the 9th burpee). At Amanpuri, the vibe is serene, deeply personalised, and borderline magical.
Come for the transformation, stay for the coconut trees and the discreet age-reversal sorcery. Your future self just sent you a thank-you note.
Surf, sun and one hell of a surf coach; this July, Soneva Fushi is dialling things all the way up with a wave-chasing residency hosted by none other than Luke Stedman. Yep, that Luke Stedman – former World Championship Tour shredder, Rookie of the Year, and proud possessor of a surname that’s basically surf royalty. (Fun fact: his dad claims to have invented the UGG boot, but we digress).
From July 15 to 28, Luke will be swapping comps for coaching, running a series of surf experiences on Soneva Fushi’s pristine shores. We’re talking modular sessions for grommets and grownups alike, communal surf trips to Maldivian breaks so clear they look photoshopped, and – for those who take their board riding as seriously as their beachside smoothies – a five-day performance surf camp complete with breathwork, video analysis, drills, and daily surf safaris.
And the setting is no biggie, it’s just a UNESCO-protected slice of paradise where the villas are so fancy they have their own waterslides, and the desserts live in a dedicated chocolate room. Between sessions, you can snorkel with manta rays, catch a flick under the stars, or simply marvel at how salty your hair can really get.
Whether you’re a total beginner or a closet pro in need of a tune-up, this is your chance to ride the best waves of your life with a legit surf legend showing you the ropes.
For years, gaining entry to Turkmenistan was as easy as joining an exclusive cult: secretive, bureaucratic, and requiring a special invitation. But that’s changing fast. The notoriously closed Central Asian nation just hit the big ol’ refresh button on its tourism strategy, launching a brand-new e-visa system for travellers from over 50 countries.
No more government-vetted invitations, just a few clicks, and you’re on your way to the land of marble cities and flaming craters.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is rolling out the welcome mat (firmly supervised, of course), eager to show off jewels like the ancient Silk Road city of Merv and the infamous Door to Hell, a blazing gas crater that’s completely mind-blowing.
In a country known for golden statues and tightly controlled narratives, this digital visa shift signals something deeper: a tentative embrace of the outside world. Turkmenistan’s partnering with regional allies and development banks to upgrade roads, hotels, and *gasp* English-speaking tour guides.
Still, don’t expect a backpacker free-for-all just yet. The government insists it will balance openness with “cultural and security safeguards”, which sounds like code for “we’re watching, but nicely.”
According to tourism analysts, this could be the start of a broader economic reboot if Turkmenistan can manage the balancing act of inviting tourists in without losing control of the storyline. For now, the gates are ajar, the fire pit’s burning, and Turkmenistan is finally ready for its global close-up. Sort of.
Do you like your sunsets shaken, not stirred, and preferably with a view of the Indian Ocean? If your answer was yes, then Beach House in Canggu is your new spiritual home. Freshly flung open within Regent Bali’s ritzy beachfront resort, this bar/beachfront love affair is wrapped in coastal cuisine, craft cocktails, and a serious tan line.
Quick, get out your iPhone because the vibe is totally worth a couple of Insta stories or two; think Bondi meets barefoot luxury with an infinity pool that practically dares you to jump into it. The menu’s no slouch either; lobster rolls that flirt back, spicy shrimp with attitude, and a Wagyu striploin that might be your new soulmate. Vegetarians don’t worry: the zero-waste roasted cauliflower is here to flex.
And chances are you’ll be thirsty. The cocktail game is strong; “The Waves” tastes like Bali in a glass, and “Surf Garden” is what happens when gin takes a tropical holiday. Bonus points for the Cocktail Cabana experience, which is basically adult daycare, but with champagne.
And for those who prefer their leisure activities to involve balancing on water while being yelled at by a cheerful surf coach, Beach House has teamed up with Rip Curl for private lessons and curated multi-day packages that make wiping out look fun as all hell.
Whether you’re here for the grilled snapper, the surf break, or just to stare dramatically into the sea with a cocktail in hand, Beach House Bali is serving main character energy. Psst, no shoes required.
If your idea of a holiday involves sipping cocktails on a sunlounger, look away now. But if you’ve ever thought, “What if I could paddle my way through tropical islands, snack constantly, sleep in hidden beach camps, and possibly befriend a sea turtle?” then Kayakasia Philippines has your name written all over it (probably on a dry bag).
This adventure company offers multi-day, muscle-powered odysseys through some of the most untouched corners of the Philippines; think limestone cliffs, secret lagoons, beach bonfires, and zero crowds (unless you count the occasional curious fish). You’ll paddle between islands, feast like a castaway with a personal chef, and fall asleep under a trillion stars.
Worried you’re not Bear Grylls? Don’t stress. You don’t need abs of steel or Olympic stamina, just a sense of adventure and a healthy obsession with snacks. The Kayakasia crew sorts the logistics, hauls the gear, and keeps the vibe equal parts safe and silly.
Tours range from chill two-night trips to full-on five-day expeditions, with routes around El Nido, the Linapacan Islands, and Coron. Translation: postcard views, every damn day.
That means ditch the resort wristband and grab a paddle. These tours are for anyone who wants to explore paradise the slow, splashy, unforgettable way. And yes, your arms will get a little sore. But your soul? Very, very happy.
(
