Editor picks – 20 destinations and luxury hotels in Asia that should be in your bucket list


14. Ho Chi Minh – Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh’s architecture and lifestyle is the reconciliation between American and Chinese influence, with many modernistic hints yet encompassing Vietnamese traits. Vietnam’s largest city blends history and modernity, while boasting charming French colonial architecture. The former Saigon features wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Chinese style pagodas and foods stalls along the street, create a dynamic urban area in very special sense. The War Remnants Museum shows the Vietnam War through Vietnamese eyes. Don’t miss the impressive Jade Emperor Pagoda. Go to the frenetic Ben Thanh Market for food, flowers or frogs. Take a tour through the Mekong Delta, past rice paddies and houseboats. Saigon is not a place where you will go easily hungry, regardless of your budget. A glut of foreign business people with expense accounts has created plenty of elegant, albeit overpriced restaurants. And of course, like any other city, food stalls dot the streets.

Where to stay – The brand new Park Hyatt Saigon is not only already by a long way the top hotel in town, but its classic colonial-style facade fits seamlessly into the city’s central Lam Son Square, as though it had always been there. Delivering subtly stylish modern-classic interiors, along with first-class facilities, and in-room amenities that are state of the art, Park Hyatt is a preferable accommodation for top businessmen and tourists.

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13. Jaipur – India
If you are one of those who can spend hours gazing at grand historic forts and palaces and appreciating its architecture, Jaipur is the place for you. Hidden away in the deserts of North India, this cultural gem is one of the most extraordinary cities in India. From the moment your flight descends into the “Pink City”, I promise you that you will be in awe of its cultural beauty. Affectionately referred to as the “Pink City”, a name given due to the pink walls and buildings prevailing in the old city, Jaipur lures visitors with remnants of its bygone era. Surrounded by the scenic Aravali Hills with expansive palaces and forts perched upon each hill, this city weaves culture with history into one extraordinary experience for each traveler. Sightseeing in Jaipur is like revisiting ancients period of the Mughal and Rajasthani rule. Each fort boasting unparalleled beauty, has its own signature style of architecture and detailed workmanship. So first on your itinerary should be the City Palace, a palace offering a seemless blend between Mughal and Rajasthani architecture. Around a half an hour drive from the city center, like something out of a fairy tale, Amber Fort is set on a hill top overlooking Maota Lake. Do not miss the city centre, the perfect place for traditional Rajashthani shopping.

Where to stay – A mere 25 minutes drive from the airport, lies one of Oberoi’s flagship properties, The Oberoi Rajvilas. This extravagant property boasts 54 rooms and 13 tents. Frequented by Heads of State and celebrities, the hotel has Jaipur’s rich heritage as a backdrop. With its perfectly manicured lawns and lip-smacking Rajashthani cuisines, I can bet you haven’t experienced a property like this.

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