Summer is upon us and for many, that means a vacation is coming soon. One of the perks of living in abroad is the access to other parts of the world for a fraction of what it would cost from your home country. Fear not, for this article isn’t just for those living abroad. If you’re planning a holiday in Asia, it’s worthwhile to consider hitting up another country or two while you’re there. You never know if you’ll return to that part of the world again so why not save a little extra and maximize your experience?

Maps are fun! Myself and Sarah investigate Haesingdang Park in Gangwon province.
Courtesy of Jon Collins.

After some research I’ve come up with a list of top 5 places you can get to from Korea that won’t break the bank. To whittle down my list I kept the qualifying countries under 2,000 kilometres from Korea and under $500 (CAD) for a round-trip ticket starting from Incheon airport in Seoul. The months used for research were August and January as a little bit of off-season travel adds up to money saved.

In alphabetical order, here are the top 5 cheapest places to visit with Seoul as your launching pad:

CHINA

China is a huge country so I kept the search to cities near the coast such as Shanghai, Hong Kong and a little further in; Beijing. During summer or winter you can get to either of these cities for under $300 from Korea. China overall is known for its rich history, temples and landmarks. Hong Kong is famous for shopping and Shanghai for its architectural beauty from its heyday in the early 1900s on the Bund and surrounding areas. 

“The Bund” in Shanghai, China 2014.

Busy streets of Shanghai, China 2014.

For more on my trip to Shanghai, click here for the Bund and here for the possible dangers of Shanghai.

JAPAN

Japan is another country with many destinations. I looked at northern, central and southern airports and all are doable in either season for roughly $400. Northern Japan is known for its lush forests and enchanted winters while central and southern Japan are known for their mix of traditional beauty and modern city life.

Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine in Kyoto, Japan 2013.

Dinner in Tokyo, Japan 2013.

For more on Japan, check out my previous articles here!

PHILIPPINES 

The Philippines are made up of over 7,000 small islands so most people fly to Manila, then take smaller flights to whichever island through a domestic airline. My research was just to Manila but most domestic flights can be obtained for less than $100 CAD. Two of the most popular islands I know of are Cebu and Boracay but there are many more!

El Nido in Palawan, Philippines.
Courtesy of thetravelen.com

Mount Mayon Volcano and the ruins of Cagsaua church in Albay, Philippines.
Courtesy of philippinetraveler.com

TAIWAN

Taiwan is much cheaper in the summer since it’s pretty hot there and less desirable to travel to but you can still make it in winter for just under $500. Taiwan has some beautiful temples and a rich culture everyone can enjoy. I was in Taipei 10 years ago and have never forgotten the mouth-watering street food that was out of this world. I ate like a queen every day and only sat down to eat a meal in a restaurant once. Buddhism is widely practiced in Taiwan so for vegetarians, you’ll eat well I promise.

Longshan Temple, rooster display for lunar new year, 2005.

Taroko National Park, Taiwan.
Courtesy of flickr.com.

VIETNAM

Vietnam in August or January can be obtained for just under the $500 mark. In my experience it was cheaper to fly in and out of the northern region of Hanoi than the southern city of Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon). Vietnam is another country that covers a lot of ground and each region is very different from the next. Many fly into the north or south, then take small domestic flights to get around within the country for roughly $40-$60 a flight. You can take a bus or train for cheaper but it takes 8-12 hours to travel and to me, that’s wasting precious vacation time for the sake of saving $30.

My Son hindu temple ruins in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Outside of Sung Sot Cave on Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.

For a recap on my adventures in Vietnam, click here!

Whether you’re living in Asia or just planning a holiday, it’s worth it to take a look at some neighbouring nations in your travels. Considering it costs around a thousand dollars (CAD) to get to South Korea from most places in North America, you may want more bang for your buck!

Dusk on Halong Bay, Vietnam.

Until next time Dear Readers; be well, stay hydrated and remember – somebody out there loves you.