A mere 5 minutes from the city centre, Fannie Bay is a suburb of Darwin with a ton of activities to offer. There is a small but lovely beach with barbecue facilities and playgrounds, an artificial lake safe for swimming all year, bike trails and a walking path through the mangrove, and the interesting Fannie Bay Gaol Museum.

Dive deep into the emerald waters of Tat Sae waterfalls only 18 km southeast of Luang Prabang. Unlike Kuang Si waterfalls, the spot is less famous among tourists, which makes it less crowded and a favourite with locals. Note that locals bathe fully clothed, sometimes even in jeans. To avoid getting stares and blend in better, women are recommended to bring a sarong and men a shirt to cover up, as going around in a bikini is not culturally accepted. Tat Sae waterfalls offer outdoor activities such as zip-lining and kayaking. The waterfalls are at their best during the rainy season (June to September).

The 11th-century wooden shrine, revered for its fertility and healing properties, was burnt by the French in the 1950s and is now replaced by a concrete one and is still a popular destination. To honour the symbol of purity in Buddhism, the pagoda is built to look like a lotus blossom.

The night cruise on the rivers and the four lakes Banyan Lake, Wooden Dragon Lake, Gui Lake and Shahu Lake in Guilin is spectacular. Due to the innovative use of lighting in the gardens and buildings along the lakes, the bridges, buildings and pagodas are beautifully illuminated. Singers and dancers along the shoreline complement this fantastic experience.