Asakusa (浅草) is the center of Tokyo's shitamachi (literally "low city" ), one of Tokyo's districts, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives.
Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries.
Asakusa used to be Tokyo's leading entertainment district. During the Edo Period (1603-1867), when the district was still located outside the city limits, Asakusa was the site of kabuki theaters and a large red light district. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, modern types of entertainment, including movie theaters.
Large parts of Asakusa were destroyed in the air raids of 1945. And while the area around the rebuilt Sensoji has since regained its former popularity, the same cannot be said for Asakusa's entertainment district. The opening of the 634 meter tall ...
Thai long boat racing, known as reua yao, is one of the country’s oldest living traditions, with roots stretching back more than six centuries to the Ayutthaya Kingdom. In those days the long, narrow wooden craft served first as war canoes and later as a form of military training that built strength, coordination and courage among soldiers.
Over time the practice moved from the battlefield into the heart of community life. After the end of the Buddhist rains retreat, when rivers and canals ran high, villages would gather to race, make merit, honour the spirits of the water and celebrate the unity of their people.
The boats themselves were carved from single great logs of hardwood, treated with reverence and blessed through rituals that still open every major race today. What began as preparation for war and a religious festival evolved into a cherished national sport, now contested for royal trophies and watched by thousands along the banks of Thailand’s waterways.
This same spirit of tradition...
The ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, also known as the 2026 ASEAN Championship, features Thailand and Malaysia in a key Group B encounter on Saturday, August 1, at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, kicking off at 20:00 local time.
This matchup pits the seven-time champions Thailand, coached by Anthony Hudson, against a resurgent Malaysia side under interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe, who returns to the venue where his team earned a memorable 2-2 draw in the 2018 semi-finals that helped propel them to the final on away goals.
Entering the fixture, Malaysia sit atop Group B with a perfect record of two wins from two matches, having scored six goals and conceded just one for a +5 goal difference and six points. They opened with a 2-1 comeback victory over Myanmar, powered by a brace from captain Paulo Josué, before thrashing Laos 4-0, with Josué adding another goal alongside contributions from Endrick, an own goal, and Wan Kuzain.
Thailand, meanwhile, have played one fewer match and sit second with three points ...
The shopping district of Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a dense network of narrow historic streets centered around Hoan Kiem District, where trade has taken place for centuries. Many of these streets remain active into the evening, with shops, small stalls, and food vendors creating a lively nighttime atmosphere even outside of any temporary market setups. Visitors often stroll the area after dark to browse clothing, silk goods, jewelry, handicrafts, and everyday items while the streets fill with locals and travelers.
Hang Gai, long known as Silk Street, continues to draw people in the evening for its selection of fabrics, scarves, ready-made garments, and custom tailoring shops that stay open later. Nearby Hang Bac, or Silver Street, offers jewelry and silverwork in a more traditional setting.
Other lanes such as those around Hang Ma specialize in decorative and festival items, while clothing, bags, and accessory shops line several connecting streets.
Dong Xuan Market itself, the large covered ...
