Countries in Asia that you must visit

1. Thailand
Thailand has become one of South East Asia’s biggest tourist destinations. The country itself is enchanting, with its elephant-rich highlands, miles of pristine shoreline, and jewel-like tropical islands. Equally welcoming are the Thai people. Easygoing and quick to return a smile, the Thais have enjoyed centuries of relatively peaceful self-rule, and you can sense it. The local cuisine ranks among the best on the planet.

2. India

India’s rich life philosophies and religious traditions make it a destination for true believers, know-it-alls, and skeptics alike. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians, to name but a few, live alongside one other in this all-encompassing place. You'll feel that your eyes can't open wide enough to take in all the beautiful colors, sights, and people. Do not expect to see India in two weeks; indeed, plan to spend months here if you can.

3. Singapore

It would be easy to think that Singapore has one thing on its mind: money, and how to make more of it. You don’t get a booming economy, towering skyscrapers, and a thriving electronics and manufacturing industry by taking your eye off the dime. But visitors who take the time to walk around street markets or drop into the Raffles Hotel for afternoon tea will see that this highly regulated city-state has more than that to offer, with more to come.

4. China

Today, the People's Republic is officially open for business, and its cultural treasures are easier to reach than ever. In Shanghai, stroll down the old riverfront and see how colonial architecture contrasts with the garish lights of Pudong. If ancient history is more your thing, go to Beijing, where you can walk the squares of the Forbidden City, visit the Temple of Heaven, and take a day trip to the Great Wall. Xi’an is a lively city, but most people go only for its stunning hall of terracotta warriors.

5. Vietnam

Bamboo-pole skinny and a thousand miles long, energized Vietnam packs so much into its mountainous, slithery shape that repeat visitors still find things to shake their heads at. Now buddies with the USA, Vietnam is feasting over 21st-century business, and its book-end cities – Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – change by the hour. Most itineraries start at one and finish with the other: Hanoi’s prettier, with more cultural history and closer to the mountains, but old Saigon’s food is better and its all-night energy unparalleled.

6. Japan

Cherry blossoms drift on an ocean breeze and fall without a splash into hot spring pools at the base of snow-capped Mt. Fuji. A hundred miles away, fashion-crazed hipsters sweat and pose and grind under the disco lights of a slick Roppongi nightclub. Japan is a contrast of tradition and modernity, with stereotypes and preconceptions confirmed and shattered at every turn. The one constant of travel in Japan is the overwhelming kindness and generosity of the Japanese people. The great challenge for the traveler is not to navigate a foreign land, but to find ways to express gratitude for the hospitality one is bound to receive.

7. Indonesia

Not everyone has the privilege of calling a massive expanse of as many as 18,000 islands stretched along the equator "home," but for Indonesians, the world's largest archipelago is a mysterious backyard spread out along the equator containing a tropical snow-capped mountain, komodo dragons, and even a 12-inch miniature deer. As a practical matter, it's really the five largest islands, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Papua and thirty smaller archipelagoes that see the most action. The country's beaches top the lists of dream locations for surfers and divers around the world. But landlubbers won't feel left out, as there are enough active volcanoes to occupy a lifetime's worth of trekking.

8. Malaysia

If there were ever an award for the easiest nation to visit in Southeast Asia, Malaysia would be very much in the running. Its geography, which offers forested countryside, mountains, and beautiful beaches on its west and east coasts, and its location, south of Thailand and north of Singapore and Indonesia, make it an ideal place to travel to and a wonderful jumping-off spot. And its trains, planes, and car rental services or, if you prefer, chauffeur-driven, make getting around pretty straightforward.

9. Maldives

In the turquoise expanses of the Indian Ocean, the emerald Republic of Maldives, along with its natural atolls astride the equator, has over a thousand islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. The country, reachable by air from all major international cities, offers unspoilt white sand beaches, coral reefs, top-notch diving sites, and rich marine life. The crystal clear water and warm climate make diving easy and enjoyable. The finest surf breaks in the North and South Malé Atolls can be explored from April to October. Catamaran sailing, surfing, and snorkeling are popular here. Visits to vibrant local markets, artificial beaches, and the presidential palace in the capital, Malé, are an experience by itself.

10. Philippines

Ask any random person about the Philippines, and you are likely to hear something like, “Isn’t that an island? I think my pants were made there.” Therein lies the allure of this tiny island nation: unlike neighboring countries such as the backpacking holy trinity of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, it is completely off the radar. With over 7,000 islands to explore, you can escape the hordes of tourists (and the locals who cater to them) and still have every kind of adventure imaginable. Few places on earth offer as much ecological diversity in such a small area. Whether you want to hike up a volcano or dive among pristine coral reefs, the Philippines has all of this and more.