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The best cities in Asia in 2025 are a study in the continent’s vastness and diversity. From the ancient gingko forests of China’s Zhejiang province to the bold cityscapes of Osaka in Japan, Asia’s diversity can be both exhilarating and bewildering. It’s home to cities that are evolving at breakneck speed, but also vast, untouched natural landscapes. You’ll find some of the best food on the planet, in some of the most unexpected places, and rich strands of history and an underlying sense of spirituality everywhere you go. Our list of the best places to go in Asia in 2025, informed by contributing authors spread across every region, celebrates all of the above. We think 2025 is the year to revisit some old favorites, like Vietnam ’s Ho Chi Minh City , which is celebrating 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; and Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, which is completing several cultural rejuvenation programs, with new exhibitions, workshops, street art installations and festivals coloring the city center. At the same time, improved infrastructure is making fascinating, lesser-known destinations more accessible. The imminent reopening of Karakol International Airport means that getting to this remote and rugged region of Kyrgyzstan, dubbed the adventure capital of Central Asia, will no longer require a grueling journey in a cramped marshrutka. And a handful of new hotels in Saudi Arabia’s Aseer province and Oman’s capital, Muscat, will make these Middle Eastern destinations more appealing than ever to visitors. Overall, there are plenty of reasons to head east in 2025.
Aseer Province, Saudi Arabia
While Saudi Arabia’s mammoth projects grab headlines for their scale and architectural ambition, the mountainous Aseer region in the far southwest of the country has long attracted visitors from across the kingdom for its centuries-old villages and palaces, spectacular natural scenery and cool, rainy summer climate, while the rest of the Arabian Peninsula is sweltering. Accommodation options for international visitors have been limited so far, but that’s set to change in 2025, with the opening of IHG’s 110-room Indigo Hotel in Abha in late 2025, and two Cloud 7 properties by Kerten Hospitality, which include a wellness hotel.
Situated above the regional capital of Abha in the Sarawat Mountains, Mount Soudah, nearly three kilometres high, is the country’s highest peak and a prime starting point for hiking, climbing, camping and paragliding. Often shrouded in mist and cloud, these mountains are home to strawberry farms, terraced fields that hug its steep contours and troops of baboons that crash and howl through juniper forests.
In the valley below lies the 900-year-old village of Rijal Alma’a, surrounded by multi-story stone buildings that resemble ancient skyscrapers. In the 1980s, villagers came together to restore the buildings, turning one into a museum in hopes of attracting visitors. Their hard work paid off, and in 2021, Rijal Alma’a was named one of the “World’s Best Tourist Villages” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
How to get there?
Fly to Abha and rent a car at the airport. Aseer is an ideal destination for road trips. Summer brings cool temperatures, misty mountains, and refreshing showers, a welcome relief when the rest of the Gulf sweats in scorching temperatures. Evenings at higher altitudes are cool, and sometimes cold, even in July and August. To see Abha’s jacaranda trees in full bloom, plan to visit between late April and mid-May.
Hangzhou, China
Hangzhou, China
You know a city is in good shape when Chanel decides to host a show there. In December 2018, the French fashion house unveiled its Métiers d’Art 2025 collection in Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province. It’s already one of the country’s most visited cities, with its snow-covered Broken Bridge, picturesque West Lake, spring willows along the Su Causeway, and Leifeng Pagoda set against spectacular sunsets.
In 2025, the city will showcase some of these natural attractions by hosting the Fifth UNESCO World Conference on Biosphere Reserves, which will address global concerns about environmental issues, sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. The Tianmu Mountain Nature Reserve in Lin’an, one of the first sites in China to be granted UNESCO biosphere reserve status, is home to the world’s largest old-growth Cryptomeria forest community, as well as the oldest natural ginkgo forest.
As nearly 2,000 delegates prepare to converge on the city, a host of new luxury hotels are springing up to welcome them. Taking inspiration from the landscapes of West Lake, Four Seasons has unveiled its second downtown property, while Mandarin Oriental and Rosewood are set to debut. Additionally, Hyatt’s lifestyle brand Andaz will open in Qianjiang Century City, designed by Dutch architecture firm UNStudio with a “modern urban village” concept.
How to get there?
There are many direct flights to Hangzhou, or visitors can take advantage of high-speed trains from Shanghai’s Hongqiao Railway Station, which take an hour to Hangzhou East Railway Station. March to May is the peak tourist season in Hangzhou, when vibrant flowers and misty rains paint its natural landscapes in vivid colors. Many new hotel options are emerging, but those looking for a more traditional stay should head to the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake.
Located in Sa Phin, this historic palace offers insight into the fascinating history of the H’mong and their past linked to the opium trade.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
This southern Vietnamese metropolis has become one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism powerhouses, breaking pre-pandemic records by far, and there’s no better time to visit than 2025. Exactly 50 years after the fall of Saigon that ended the Vietnam War in 1975, Ho Chi Minh City – still known locally as Saigon – is set to unveil a number of major events, exhibitions and celebrations commemorating half a century of national reunification.
Domestic travelers will be able to take advantage of Terminal 3 at Tan Son Nhat Airport, which is set to open on April 30. There’s also the Ho Chi Minh City Metro, which, despite numerous delays, is finally set to begin operating this year. Not to mention the ongoing renovation of the city’s iconic Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel and several others set to open soon, including IHG’s Hotel Indigo and the Kengo Kuma-designed Kempinski Saigon River.
Beyond its urban and tourist infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City shines above all as one of Southeast Asia’s cultural epicenters, a regional hub for commerce, dining, and fashion. On the shopping front, local brands like Fancì Club and Latui Atelier have in recent years won the patronage of K-pop stars and Hollywood A-listers. And in 2023, the first Michelin Guide to Vietnam awarded the city’s first star to new-school Vietnamese restaurant Anan Saigon , whose chef, Peter Cuong Franklin, also recently opened a noodle soup concept, Pot Au Pho . Yet for all its newness, the city, known in French colonial times as the “Pearl of the Orient,” retains much of its old-world charm, from bustling markets to rustic street vendors selling hu tieu noodle soup and banh mi sandwiches.
How to get there?
Travel between December and April to avoid the rainy season and ensure you can sit outside at local gastropubs grilling fresh seafood such as scallops topped with scallion oil and crushed peanuts. The Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel on the city’s famous Dong Khoi Street is one of the city’s most iconic places to stay, with spectacular views of the Saigon River.
In conclusion, Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam are number 1 of the top 3 cities in Asia in 2025
Writing by OCTourist, vietnamese travel agency
