Since you’ll be using Bangkok as a base, spend some time exploring the Thai capital. Though it can be gritty, Bangkok is home to amazing sights, food, shopping, and nightlife. Start with a tour of the Grand Palace, an 18th-century royal residence and home to the sacred Emerald Buddha, and the adjacent Wat Pho, an ancient temple complex featuring a massive reclining Buddha. Take a taxi 45 minutes east of the city to embark on a boat ride through canals to the Tha Kha floating market. Serious shoppers should head to the legendary Chatuchak market for silk, baskets, bronzeware, and more. Try some of Bangkok’s amazing street food in the popular night markets. For a smart splurge hotel, head to the riverside Peninsula (from $360/night; www.peninsula.com), with its modern Thai decor and impeccable service. For great value, try the riverfront Shangri-La Bangkok (from $134/night; www.shangri-la.com) or all-suite lebua at State Tower (from $180/night; www.lebua.com).

Phang Nga Bay, 530 miles south of Bangkok, is bordered on the west by Phuket island and on the north and east by mainland Thailand’s peninsular tail. The region, with its limestone karst towers and islets (formed by erosion) and white sand beaches, is Southeast Asia’s premier beach destination. Fly from Bangkok to Phuket, or to Krabi for mainland resorts. Pamper yourself at Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi (from $450/night; www.sixsenses.com). On Phuket, indulge at Trisara (from $570/night; www.trisara.com), a hillside beach resort and spa. On the same stretch of Phuket’s northwest coast is a great value design hotel, Indigo Pearl (from $170/night; www.indigo-pearl.com). 

Though it’s rapidly modernizing, Hanoi is a magical place to visit, with colonial villas, wide shady streets, lakes, pagodas, and an Old Quarter consisting of 36 narrow lanes named for the guilds (silk, paper, silver) that once traded on them. A wealth of museums, art galleries, and boutiques add to the appeal. Meanwhile, traditional Vietnamese dishes like pho or cha ca reflect the influence of French cuisine (try bánh mì, baguette sandwiches made with pâté). Air France and Vietnam Airlines offer nonstop service and the best rates from Bangkok. The city’s grande dame, the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi (from $235/night; www.sofitel.com) grants a luxurious step back into the French colonial era. Or try the new Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake (from $205/night; www.ichotels group.com), a 10-minute taxi ride from downtown.