Historic and picturesque Asian cities off the beaten track promise rich rewards for tourists
While tourists flock to Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, SouthEast Asia has many overlooked cities that thrill with their historic sites, picturesque settings and distinctive cultures.
From the former Malay centre of an Islamic dynasty to the Catholic pilgrimage site that became a Filipino beach haven, here are five of the region’s lesser-known yet greatly appealing cities.
Malacca, Malaysia
In the 1300s, Malacca was a tranquil fishing village. But a century later it had morphed into the hub of a mighty Islamic sultanate that gave birth to the Malaysian political system and many elements of what are now considered Malay culture, cuisine and architecture.
These days, the small city on Malaysia’s south-western coast has inadvertently become a perfect destination for the social media age. In recent years, many tourists have started to choose travel spots with eye-catching backdrops.
Malacca fits the bill in two ways. Firstly, its streets are traversed by one of the world’s most unmistakable forms of public transport, trishaws – blindingly colourful, bicycle-led carriages that blare party music from speakers.
Secondly, Malacca has one of Asia’s most photogenic old towns. While Europe is famous for well-preserved ancient precincts within its cities, they are comparatively rare in Asia. Malacca’s historic heart is embellished with a beautiful, unique blend of architectural styles, from Malay and Chinese to English, Dutch and Portuguese. Wandering around the churches, mosques and temples of this neighbourhood is among the finest tourist experiences Malaysia offers.
Hue, Vietnam
Blessed with a serene riverside setting, Hue is one of Vietnam’s calmest and most traditional cities. In contrast to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or nearby Danang, which are dotted with skyscrapers, Hue is a low-rise metropolis where historic sites take precedence.
Those other Vietnamese cities sprawl out from modern centres. whereas Hue, the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945, remains anchored by one of Asia’s most impressive citadels – the Imperial City.
In the 1800s, such huge, walled compounds were common across the continent. Many were later erased by violent conflicts, but tourists can still savour a few surviving gems, including Galle Fort in Sri Lanka, Intramuros in Manila, Amber Fort in Jaipur and Hue’s enormous Imperial City, where they’re free to explore
dozens of splendid palaces, temples and pagodas.
The former royal compound is now more accessible than ever. This year, Hue authorities unveiled a new walkway on top of the citadel’s walls. Serving as the first elevated viewing point from which tourists can peer down into the Imperial City, it provides a unique platform for photos and offers a clearer sense of the vastness of the ancient complex.
Hue’s other outstanding attraction is its group of imperial tombs. Amid the forest, in the city’s south-west, are more than a dozen ancient mausoleums. Especially impressive is the colossal, 19th-century mausoleum of emperor Tu Duc. With its vast array of temples, halls, pavilions and bridges, it looks like a palace. But it is in fact the plush resting place of one of the most influential men in the country’s history, who served as emperor of Vietnam for more than 30 years.
Cebu, Philippines
Part tropical resort, part time capsule, the intriguing city has become renowned for its picturesque beaches, where 500 years
ago Europeans tried to conquer the Philippines, leaving behind many fascinating sites. Few visitors may be aware of it, but Cebu and Malacca share a 500-year-old link. Both cities were greatly shaped in the early 1500s by Portuguese conqueror Ferdinand Magellan.
In 1511, Magellan helped the Portuguese seize Malacca. A decade later he brought Catholicism to the Philippines, which is now Asia’s most populous Christian nation. Soon after, Magellan met his demise in Cebu, where he and the invading Spanish troops he commanded were defeated by local soldiers, led by a man who’s one of this city’s greatest heroes, chieftain Lapu-Lapu.
The battle took place on Mactan Island, which fringes Cebu’s city centre and is now a picturesque, upmarket beach destination lined with five-star hotels. Statues of Magellan and Lapu-Lapu are prominently placed in central Cebu.
Near by are two impressively well-maintained buildings erected by the colonising Spanish in the 1500s, which are now key tourist attractions: Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and Fort San Pedro.
Medan, Indonesia
An ancient Islamic city, Medan has been heavily influenced by the Chinese, Indians and Dutch, resulting in a pleasingly eclectic nature. Yet it could hardly be further removed from the tourist trail. Although Indonesia receives millions of foreign visitors every year, most are drawn to Bali, in the far east of this archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.
Medan, meanwhile, is isolated 2,200km west of Bali, in the lesser-known province of North Sumatra. It acts as a gateway to the lush interior of Sumatra, particularly the graceful highlands and crystalline lakes in the Toba area. Yet there are plentiful reasons to pause in Medan, which has grown to become one of Indonesia’s largest cities, home to two million people, who are primarily a mix of Javanese, Malay, Indian and Chinese.
Its most famous tourist site, the majestic Maimun Palace, is a landmark of Medan’s Dutch colonial era. A melange of Islamic, European and Malay architecture, Maimun was built in the late 1800s and remains in superb condition, with a small museum featuring cultural relics.
Equally spectacular is the nearby Great Mosque of Medan. Perhaps the finest Islamic building in all of Indonesia, it has an ornate interior dappled by colourful light that filters through its intricate stained glass windows.
Lampang, Thailand
The de facto capital of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a powerful lure for tourists and digital nomads, who adore its enormous street markets, hip nightlife, world-class food scene and nigh-on endless historic temples. Yet, centuries before this city became prominent, nearby Lampang was a powerhouse.
Located 70km south-east of Chiang Mai, Lampang makes for an easy day trip destination. The drive alone makes it worthwhile as you weave through dramatic jungle-clad mountains. Up to 1,300 years ago, when nomads crossed the peaks they would have peered down on a sophisticated settlement – early Lampang.
Situated in a beautiful old wooden mansion, Museum Lampang unravels this deep history. Through artefacts, displays and videos, it tells the tale of how Lampang was a cultural and religious hub of northern Thailand. It was such an influential city that, in the 1400s, Lampang was home to the most precious artefact in Thai history, the priceless Emerald Buddha, which is now protected inside Bangkok’s Grand Palace.
Visitors can follow sections of Lampang’s ancient city walls and walk the grounds of the Emerald Buddha’s former residence, the gilded Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao. They can cross the famed white bridge, Ratchadaphisek, and photograph the century-old railway station or simply wander the waterfront absorbing the peace, pausing to buy food from street sellers.