Rice fields along the Mekong
Photo: Rice fields along the Mekong / iStock.com / longthieugia

7. Prepare for natural beauty.

From the Mekong River Delta's rice paddies, to the stunning marine life for snorkelers and divers in eastern Indonesia's Raja Ampat archipelago, to the craggy limestone formations in both Halong Bay, Vietnam and off Thailand's western coast, Asia features an abundance of natural wonders that are often overlooked in favor of cultural offerings — but shouldn't be.