13 - Go mural spotting in Penguin Village
Wander the brightly painted backstreets near Gwangju.
History and quirky art mixed with fabulous countryside
If you hate the concept of “off the beaten track” but love the idea of a destination that just feels truly itself, Gwangju is for you. On our last visit, we didn’t see another tourist. Instead you feel as if you’ve been invited into a real slice of Korea, just to see how life ticks by.
Find the curiously named Penguin Village, a district transformed from near abandonment into a muraled art area in the 70s and 80s which is full of locally created curiosities. Explore the quirky street art at Yangnim history & culture village with its intricate Korean architecture and café culture.
Gwangju is also the gateway to Korea’s rural south-west, where the landscape is awash with rolling tea plantations - at their green peak at this time of year. We recommend the vast and picturesque Boseong tea plantation.
The spectacular towering bamboo forest of Juknokwon bamboo groves and nearby traditional Soswaewon Garden also make for a great day out that captures all of Korea’s wonderful diversity.
For the full picture of Gwangju’s history, don’t miss a visit to the memorial sites for the May 18th student democratic uprising.
"InsideAsia arranged a perfectly balanced itinerary for us to experience the highlights of Korea, both guided and independently."
Chris R - InsideAsia customer, South Korea 2023
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Jeonju
Love Korean food? Then you’ll most likely love Jeonju too – Koreans themselves call this charming city their culinary capital. And if filling your belly’s not enough, its central district of traditional wooden hanok buildings might just be the most attractive neighbourhood in the country.
Mokpo This once-hidden treasure is now served by the high-speed KTX train, making it easily accessible from the capital. Mokpo boasts a bounty of natural attractions and is the gateway to Dadohaehaesan National Park, a whole host of islands (about 1,700!) that stretches into the distance off the coast.
Can't do May?
Korea has four distinct seasons: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), autumn (September-November) and winter (December-February). Most people visit in spring or autumn, when temperatures are great. Summer is very hot and humid, while winter is very, very cold - although if you love snow, illuminations and winter festivals, it's brilliant.
Where in the world is Gwangju?
14 – Dive into Saigon's craft beer scene via Vespa
Explore Vietnam's breweries from the back of the country's favourite mode of transport.
The city of two names: home to 9 million people and 8 million motorbikes
The yin to Hanoi’s yang, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon to its friends) offers a more internationally minded counterpoint to that northern bastion of tradition — not to mention an exciting base from which to explore Vietnam’s most interesting war sites.
What might not immediately spring to mind, though, is that HCMC also fronts a burgeoning craft beer scene - with Vietnam's breweries showing they're about more than just Bia Hanoi.
Tucked in among the city's main sights, you'll find local brewers showing they can do something different - and distinctly Vietnamese. Dragon fruit goses, coffee porters, and jasmine IPAs are just some of the varieties you might find, and hopping on the back of a Vespa to join a guided tasting tour is one of the best ways to find out what's hot and what's not.
In between stops, immerse yourself in the spirit of the city (remember to hold on), watching local life whizzing by as you weave through the streets, taking in some spectacular sights and cultural curiosities.
You'll find HCMC proudly retains a distinct sense of its own character and history, jostling its complex past with a desire to modernise. Whether you're at a rooftop bar taking in the sublime skyline or sipping a beer on the corner of the historic Post Office, you'll feel the unmistakable personality that's entirely its own.
"There really is nowhere in the world quite like Saigon. Whizzing through the streets on the back of a Vespa is one of the best ways to experience it like the locals do."
Beth - InsideAsia team
Where in the world is Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
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Mekong Delta Buzzing with longtail taxi boats and crowded with barges piled with mangoes, pineapples and fresh fish, a trip to the Mekong Delta is all about getting to know the rhythms of life on the water.
Read more Con Dao A short flight south from Ho Chi Minh City brings you to the remote and spectacular Con Dao Archipelago, a chain of 16 islands ringed with white sand beaches, coral reefs and sparkling azure seas.
Can't do May?
South Vietnam sees very little variation in temperature throughout the year, with average daily highs sticking to a narrow range of about 30-35°C / 86-95°F all year round.
- The hottest months are usually March and April, and the coolest around December when rainfall is almost non-existent.
- The rainy season is May until October, dropping off in November. Downpours are usually short and heavy.
15 - Explore a Darwinian island paradise
Ogle deep-sea wonders as you glide through underwater history.
Tioman is more than just a pretty face
There’s a good reason Time Magazine named Tioman the most beautiful island in the world in 1970 – and it hasn’t lost any of its charm for us. But this is an island paradise with a history.
For a thousand years, Tioman was a stop for Chinese, European and Arabic trading ships en route between East and South Asia. During WWII, it hosted both the British and Japanese navies, and the wrecks of their warships have been transformed into coral-encrusted habitats for turtles, reef sharks, rays and whale sharks.
Today, Tioman is a protected marine reserve (along with eight other nearby islands), and a real Darwinian paradise – both above and below the waves. In its clear waters find huge barrel sponges, soft corals, sea fans and giant clams attracting crowds of alien-looking nudibranchs, pufferfish and clownfish. On land, hike into thick rainforests in search of binturong bearcats, macaques, giant flying squirrels, and 138 different species of tropical bird.
In between wildlife-spotting, you'll have endless opportunities to relax on the beaches, island-hop by boat, and eat glorious Malaysian cuisine at one of the islands restaurants. As far as we’re concerned, Tioman is a bona fide paradise.
Japamala Resort - our recommended stay on Tioman Island
Where in the world is Tioman?
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Perhentian Islands
Not just a desert-island idyll (though they’re that too), their exceptionally calm, clear and shallow waters make the Perhentian Islands the ideal place to snorkel or dive amongst damselfish, neon-bright anemones and stingrays.
Can't do May?
While Tioman has a tropical climate year-round with an average temperature of 30°C, May to September is considered the best mix of sunshine and comfortable humidity. It's busiest in June and July, with the monsoon starting after September.