HCMC, Kuala Lumpur, Bali among Asia's best destinations for 2025

Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, and Pererenan village on Bali Island have been named among Asia’s nine best places to visit in 2025, according to U.S. magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

“HCMC, the southern Vietnamese metropolis, has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism powerhouses, surpassing pre-pandemic records by a significant margin, and there’s no better time to visit than in 2025,” the magazine wrote.

Next year, HCMC will host a variety of exciting activities, including grand events and exhibitions marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s national reunification.

The magazine also highlighted Kuala Lumpur, where numerous cultural festivals are scheduled for 2025.

The Festival of Asia, set to launch next year, aims to showcase Kuala Lumpur as a creative hub in the region.

Pererenan Village, located on Bali’s western coast, is surrounded by rice paddies and offers a quieter alternative to the island’s busier spots.

Known for its scenic blend of lush green rice fields, excellent surf spots, and black sand beaches, the village is becoming an emerging destination and is worth a visit next year.

According to the magazine, a wave of new restaurants and visiting chefs from around the globe has contributed to “an up-and-coming culinary scene away from Bali’s crowds.”

Other Asian destinations on the list are Aseer Province in Saudi Arabia, Hangzhou City in China, Karakol in Kyrgyzstan, Muscat in Oman, Osaka in Japan, and Prayagraj in India.

The list was curated based on recommendations from the magazine’s contributing writers across the continent.