Top Reasons to Go to Bangkok

The Canals: They don't call it "Venice of the East" for nothing. Sure, boat tours are touristy, but the sights, from Khmer wats to bizarre riverside dwellings, are truly unique.

Street Food: Bangkok may have the best street food in the world. Don't be afraid to try the weird stuff—it's often fresher and better than the food you'd get at a hotel restaurant.

Shopping Bargains: Forget Hong Kong and Singapore: Bangkok has the same range of high-end designer goods at much lower prices.

Sky-High Sipping: "Bar with a view" is taken to the extreme when you sip martinis in open-air spaces that are 70 stories high.

Temple-Gazing: From the venerable Wat Po to the little wats that don't make it into the guidebooks, Bangkok's collection of temples is hard to top.