If Saigon is the frenetic, commercial heartbeat of Vietnam, then verdant and historic Hanoi is the sedate, intellectual soul of the country. Its leafy boulevards, serene lakes, and sweeping white French colonial architecture set the scene as tourists and locals go about their business at a pleasingly civilised pace.

Ringed by mountains and crowned by a spectacular fortress, Spain’s sunniest city mixes shopping centres and tapas bars with a mediaeval old town of narrow streets and tranquil squares. Along the coast you can find fishing villages, popular resorts, secluded beaches and the wild landscape of the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park.

Shanghai is the shiniest gem in modern China’s jewel box. It’s a hip, contemporary city charging into the future with all the energy of its famous Maglev train. Yet, if you veer away from the sleek highways and glitzy shopping streets you can still stumble upon a more traditional Shanghai, with all its character and flavour. In the tiny back streets, wet-market vendors peddle their wares — buckets of bright green vegetables, fish flapping in shallow plastic bowls, and heaps of crayfish crawling over each other.

The butterfly-shaped islands of Guadeloupe are one of the Caribbean's best-kept secrets. Travelers in the know have caught on and begun visiting this mesmerizing archipelago and the city of Pointe-à-Pitre to enjoy the fascinating mix of French tradition and Creole culture, the overwhelming natural beauty found in these islands, and the relative scarcity of tourists. With a burgeoning hotel infrastructure and an important cruise port welcoming seafarers, there has never been a better time to visit.

Cluj-Napoca, often referred to as the unofficial capital of Transylvania, is a vibrant and lively city with a rich cultural history. Despite its ominous administrative status, the city is far from grim and has a well-deserved reputation as a party town. Named the European Youth Capital in 2015, Cluj-Napoca is home to an estimated 100,000 students, who make up about a fifth of the population. This youthful energy, combined with the city's cultural renaissance, makes Cluj-Napoca a must-visit destination for anyone interested in experiencing the vibrant arts and entertainment scene.