Gabriel, a 20-year-old Frenchman, could not speak Vietnamese when he joined strangers singing karaoke on a Ho Chi Minh City street. An hour later, he had made friends and memories that would bring him back.
Phu Quoc, voted Asia's best island by Condé Nast Traveler readers this year, attracted rising interest from Indonesian and Malaysian travelers in the third quarter, according to the quarterly Traveloka SEA Index.
Malaysia, Southeast Asia's third richest country by GDP per capita, has channeled RM935 million (US$229 million) into tourism and culture in 2027 to boost international connectivity, improve tourism infrastructure and support major events as the Visit Malaysia campaign is extended into next year.
Southeast Asia has five of the world's 50 Best Bars in 2026, according to one ranking.
Gabriel, a 20-year-old Frenchman, could not speak Vietnamese when he joined strangers singing karaoke on a Ho Chi Minh City street. An hour later, he had made friends and memories that would bring him back.
A Hanoi chicken pho eatery featured in the 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand list is packed from morning till night with customers.
Japan was named the world's second most favorite country after Greece in British magazine Condé Nast Traveller's list of the world's 20 best countries, amid tourism declines and visa fee changes.
