Itinerary for Major Asian Capitals

Hi there,

We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Asia this fall to visit some of the major capitals on this vast continent. We’d like to get a (very rough) sense of just how fast Asia is moving compared to what we see in the West (we’re from Quebec). For now, our very preliminary list includes Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore. There are obviously plenty of other options—Seoul, Shanghai, etc.

What do you think? Thanks in advance!

Hello,

We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Asia this fall to visit some of the continent’s major capitals. Just get a rough sense of how fast Asia is moving compared to what we see in the West (we’re from Quebec). For example, we’re considering Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore—though there are plenty of other options like Seoul, Shanghai, etc.

What do you think? Thanks in advance.

A pretty original travel plan... At least the theme is solid!

One small note, though: aside from Singapore, you seem to be totally skipping Southeast Asia—and there are some *must-see* capitals that’ll give you a whole different vibe from the ones you mentioned: Bangkok, Hanoi, Manila...

Great comment. Thanks.

We’ve already been to Thailand, including 10 days in Bangkok—a truly extraordinary city, indeed.

Hi, Asia also includes India, Pakistan, Iran, the Central Asian countries, and the Arabian Peninsula. There are quite a few interesting major capitals in these countries.

Hi Jean-Guy,

What a fun and original plan!

Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore are safe bets. If you haven’t been, you could add Beijing with its legendary Great Wall and Forbidden City... Since I’m particularly fond of South Korea, Seoul is obviously worth a visit. I was in Taiwan recently and was pleasantly surprised by Taipei.

Having traveled to many countries in the region, the only places that didn’t leave a lasting impression for me were Manila and Kuala Lumpur. But that’s just my personal take—it’s all subjective!

A bit against the grain compared to other contributors, but a forum is also for this: you really have to love wasting time in airports to embark on such a "trip"... The project itself is great, but over 3 years, not 3 months. You’ve got to know how to take your time!

Very true, thanks for the comment. That said, you have to make choices, given the limited time.

Very true as well. We’ve spent a month in a big city without getting bored at all. But this time, our time is limited, and we know it’ll just be a quick overview.

Thanks for the comment.

Hi there, In Hong Kong, not everywhere—far from it—is there "blazing-fast development." Check out the Kowloon district, and remember the recent fire in the residential towers of working-class neighborhoods. Having stayed there (3 of us in 32 m², no heating in winter), I can assure you France is a paradise! In Tokyo too, some neighborhoods are quite modest. Let’s not sell ourselves short!

Hi,

Singapore isn’t great for tourism. Plus, there’s a slowdown in the Southeast Asia region too... I think you could add Hanoi, Beijing, or Kuala Lumpur, which seem more interesting to me. How about secondary cities? Interested?

Have a great trip.

I’d add Phnom Penh to the list—it’s a capital that’s evolving fast but still keeps its charm and has plenty of sights to see.

Good point. Thanks for the tip.

You're absolutely right. It's actually one of the amazing things about being able to appreciate an old city alongside rapidly developing and modern districts. It's definitely not about judging negatively what our countries have to offer in terms of architecture, landscapes, quality of life, and so on.

Thanks for your participation.

Thanks for the comment. Following your suggestion, I’ll broaden my scope while still focusing on major capitals. The options are already overwhelming! Still, feel free to suggest a few secondary cities—I’d love to check them out and learn more.

Thanks again.

So, if you're hitting KL and Singapore, why not take the bus between the two cities and stop in Melaka, for example? It's pretty nice to visit for a day. I can suggest Kuching in Sarawak for a few days, with the nearby parks. There are quite a few flights from KL to Kuching at a reasonable price.

After that, do you want to do a bit of nature or just cities?

Safe travels.

Thanks again for these suggestions. But our original goal remains: 3 weeks, 3 major cities. 😉

Asian capitals will have less charm than those in Scandinavia! Going to Japan and only seeing Tokyo—what a shame!

Singapore is definitely worth the detour, but isn’t it a bit far from the starting point given the planned trip duration? Hong Kong seems like a must, even if it’s not technically a capital (same for Shanghai). A couple of high-speed trains could get you to Beijing, where there’s plenty to do and see. Seoul is interesting, and why not include Busan (a quick train ride away) to enjoy the contrast. As for other Asian capitals, in my opinion, only Hanoi is worth lingering in—but it might not fit the original theme of this trip.

Of course, only visiting capitals means missing out on many more beautiful and interesting places, especially in Asia—but to each their own!

Hello,

I’m amused by your idea of reducing the concept of a capital to just the administrative capital, and I’m trying to guess what you’d think of Canberra or Ankara 🙂.

To me and in my memories, Shanghai is still something entirely different from Beijing.

Michel

Thanks again for the suggestions. But our initial goal remains: 3 weeks, 3 major cities. 😉

It’s a shame to miss out on some things—it feels a bit limiting. Especially since the capitals of Southeast Asia aren’t exactly tourist-friendly or even that pleasant to visit.

Ankara has changed a lot in 15 years (my first visit was in 2008, I think). There’s a small downtown area that’s not too bad, but beyond two days, you’ll quickly run out of things to do.

Good luck with your planning, anyway.

Thanks to all of you. We passed through Ankara back in 2009. It was interesting, especially to experience the rhythm of eastern Turkey—very religious, and so on. But that’s not what we’re looking for at this stage.

Hi,

Ankara, the Kemalist city, is less religious than Istanbul in my opinion, but it doesn’t seem like a good fit for your itinerary at all. If anything, though, Astana is a very modern city that’s representative of this "capitals of Asia" theme.

Michel

It's hard to say which city is more religious than the other because I think it really depends on the neighborhoods you're in. Especially in Istanbul.

Astana is a good idea, but a whole week there might feel long. A combo of Astana and Almaty could be a great alternative.