Where to go in SE Asia
 

Hi!
I will be in Japan on August and want to go to SE Asia (Hong Kong, or Bangkok or Singapore, or other place except communist China) for 3-4 days.
What is the most interesting place to go?
Please advice.
Thank you very much.

For 3-4 days, you want somewhere easy to get to where there are lots of things to do and see. Bangkok is my favorite citiy, but Hong Kong is also a fascinating city. All will have hot, humid weather in August. I always enjoy my time in Singapore, but it's a very modern city and is less "exotic" than Hong Kong or Bangkok. The most expensive of these three cities is Hong Kong (lodging is very high), and the least expensive is Bangkok.

Depends what you're looking for.

If you want more of a cultural, international flavor- by all means either Hong Kong or Bangkok.

Singapore is an amazing place, there is not one piece of litter on the ground (I think it's the cleanest country in the world.. or at least up there) and also it's nice to have everyone speaking English but being in a different country. That might be nice coming from Japan and being the foreigner. If you're looking for culture, though, Singapore probably isn't the best place. Great shopping though, Starbucks on every corner, upscale hotels. It's gorgeous!

No matter where you go, they're all great choices- but if you're not on any sort of budget I HIGHLY recommend Singapore Airlines! Hands down, most amazing airline out there. Same goes with the airport.

Good luck with your search!

Hong Kong is part of "communist" China. But China is no longer communist, even if its ruling clique has kept the name. China is now a land of unbridled capitalism, a place to gladden the heart of any free market economist.

Hmmm, last time I checked the PRC still does not recognize private ownership of land, everything is still owned by the state...and certain market sectors are still very much planned... and the currency is not freely traded...and they have basically no effective legal system to enforce contracts or judgemetns....let's not get ahead of ourselves here in believing in the hype. Yes, getting rich is glorious, but I would not say they are "caitalist. They actually described themselves as socialist and not communist anyway.

Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia if you want to be more adventurous.

Cicerone, I understand that profit-making enterprises comprise the bulk of China's industry and commerce, the state provides hardly any protection for exploited (i.e. the bulk of) workers, there's no social security system worth the name, and the rich can buy superior education and health care denied the poor (in fact, can even buy themselves out of the one-child policy). They can call it what they like, it doesn't add up to my idea of socialism.

I agree with Neil. Karl Marx has been turning in his grave for a while now. Doesn't everybody know?

I guess it depends on how much of a contrast with Tokyo you want. Hong Kong and Singapore are city destinations. Bangkok is also a capital city, but beaches are not that far away. It's gonna be hot and humid anywhere you go in Asia in August and a dip into the cool ocean/pool should be nice.

Also, Bangkok is the cheapest of all three places.

Don't forget it will take almost an entire day to go from Japan to Hong Kong, Bangkok or Singapore.

If you only have three days, the closest place to go is probably South Korea. Hong Kong is OK but the weather is horrible in August.

Alternatively, go to Okinawa to just enjoy the nice beaches. Then, you won't need to deal with any airport immigration and customs, which, as mentioned by Foldees, can take away a lot of your precious time.

Okinawa is very different from major cities like Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Seoul.