Filipino tourist criticized for saying English is ‘useless’ in Thailand
A Filipino tourist has drawn public backlash after she complained about the lack of English proficiency in Thailand in a video that has gone viral.
Vietnam deputy PM calls for streamlined e-visa and entry-exit procedures to boost tourism
Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on Tuesday called on relevant authorities to streamline e-visa issuance and entry-exit procedures in an effort to meet the target of serving 25 million international visitors this year.
AirAsia to launch Bali – Da Nang route
Low-cost carrier AirAsia Indonesia is set to open a new international route connecting Denpasar (Bali) with Da Nang (Vietnam) from March 20, marking the airline’s seventh international service from the resort island of Bali.
Southeast Asia’s 2nd most powerful passport jumps one place in 2026 Henley ranking
The Malaysian passport has climbed one place to rank 9th in the latest index by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180 destinations worldwide.
Singapore’s Scoot named world’s third safest low-cost airline
Scoot, a low-cost subsidiary of national carrier Singapore Airlines, ranked third in a ranking of the world’s safest low-cost airlines for 2026 by AirlineRatings.com, the world’s only airline safety and product rating website.
Vietnam’s passport jumps four places to 86th in 2026 ranking
Vietnam’s passport has climbed up four places from last month to 86th in the Henley Passport Index’s 2026 ranking, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 49 out of 227 destinations.
Singapore restaurant Halia to shut down after 25 years
The Halia Restaurant at the Singapore Botanic Gardens will close in mid-March after 25 years of operation, adding to a growing list of food and beverage outlets that have shut down in the city-state in recent years.
Southeast Asia’s most visited country targets 4.6 million Indonesian tourists in 2026
Malaysia expects to attract 4.6 million Indonesia tourists this year as part of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign after recording positive results last year.
Hanoi street vendor questioned for trying to gouge foreign tourists
A street vendor in Hanoi’s Old Quarter has been questioned by the police for allegedly charging two foreign tourists nearly four times the normal price of a conical hat.
Pink spring in Vietnam’s north-central highlands
High in the border mountains in Nghe An Province, a primary school becomes a springtime destination with cherry blossoms that color the area in pink.
