Visa-free Asia: 9 countries where Russians are loved and expected

Abandoned monasteries and temples in Angkor, national parks in Sumatra, dozens of beaches in Phuket, amusement parks in Singapore and much, much more can be seen without thinking about obtaining a visa. To cross most of the countries of Southeast Asia, you only need a passport with a couple of blank pages. We tell you which countries Russian travelers can break into at any time.

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Source: redigo.ru

1. Philippines

It is not immediately clear which part of the world these islands belong to. Geographically, it seems to be to Southeast Asia with all its exoticism and bright colors, palm trees and beaches. But in terms of lifestyle, it is more like Latin America with a love of songs, dances and fleeting love relationships, and also with thousands of Catholic cathedrals, religious fanaticism and solemn processions with the removal of statues of saints. In the colonial towns abandoned by the Spaniards, the Philippines looks like Europe, and in the capital - more like the United States, with an inexplicable love for fast food, shopping malls, skyscrapers and giant billboards.

Visa: not needed if the trip is for tourism purposes and does not exceed 30 days. At the border, they ask for a passport (its validity should not be less than six months from the date of entry) and return tickets.

Don't miss: Old Manila, Cordillera Rice Terraces, White Beach on Boracay Island.

2. Maldives

From the Maldives, you need to bring peace of mind and T-shirts with the saying “No news, no shoes”. Shoes are not really needed here. Snow-white sand, soft and gentle, hugs all 1200 islands of the archipelago in a wide strip. To get around any of them, you need only some 20-40 minutes of a leisurely step. News, especially from TV, does not get along at all under the thatched roofs of local bungalows. Therefore, it is easy to find peace in these parts. The main thing is to follow a simple daily routine: alternate sunblock with aromatic oils in the spa, cocktails on the shore with candlelit dinners, floundering in the warm ocean with walks on uninhabited islands.

Visa: it is issued at the border: upon arrival at Male airport, you need to show a passport, return tickets with a specified date of departure and travel agency vouchers or hotel reservations. The validity of a visa in the Maldives is 30 days.

Don't miss: Addu Atoll with a freshwater lake and rare birds, Haa Alif Atoll with flocks of turtles, rays and reef sharks, the Grand Mosque in Male.

3. South Korea

Among the places where you can already look into the near future of the planet, South Korea is one of the most preferred options. Judging by the main Korean cities, the 22nd century has long been here. Futuristic subway trains fly underground, megacities are covered with ubiquitous free Wi-Fi, and toilets even in the cheapest cafes are equipped with control panels.

Visa: Since January 1, 2014, a visa-free regime has been in effect for Russians.

Don't miss: Jeju Island, known as "Asian Hawaii", Seoul's Lotte World, and Busan's Jagalchi Fish Market.

4. Singapore

Even the famous draconian bans, according to which the importation of chewing gum and throwing garbage past the bins are punishable by huge fines, do not affect the huge flow of tourists coming to Singapore. Why is understandable. Every foreigner wants to personally look at the future, to which, say, Europe will live another 100 years at least. And in this microstate, the 22nd century is already a reality.

Visa: not needed if you are arriving in Singapore in transit (no more than 96 hours).

Don't miss: the giant Singapore Flyer, Disneyland's local take on the Universal Studio amusement park, Suntec City, a complex of buildings that is considered the most striking feng shui architectural project.

5. Malaysia

Noisy Chinatowns and bright Hindu temples, glittering skyscrapers made of glass and concrete and decrepit mosques leaning from below, faces of all possible skin tones and eye cuts on city streets - this is the Kingdom of Malaysia. It consists of two parts separated by the sea - West Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. In fact, these parts are two different countries, united only by formal state borders. Different history, different languages, different cultures. Even nature is different.

Visa: not needed if the period of stay in the country does not exceed one month.

Don't miss: Sipadan Island - one of the best scuba diving spots in the world, the beaches of Langkawi Island, restaurants in Penang.

6. Cambodia

Thanks to Angelina Jolie, in the 2000s, the word "Cambodia" was recognized by millions of people who had previously been unaware of the existence of a small kingdom with that name in Southeast Asia. In the local jungle, one of the most spectacular episodes of the action movie about Lara Croft, performed by a plump star, was filmed - a battle with multi-armed monsters. Meanwhile, Russians (more precisely, residents of the former Soviet Union) have known Cambodia well since the 1980s. Then the Union actively helped her to build socialism, supplying all kinds of specialists and consumer goods. The memory of the times of "great friendship" has remained to this day: "Russian market", "Russian restaurant", "Russian street" and even the whole "Russian city" Sihanoukville. If you are in Cambodia, don't miss it. A great occasion to experience a sense of pride in the homeland.

Visa: for up to 30 days, it is issued as simply as a Turkish one - upon arrival.

Do not miss: Ta Prohm Monastery - an abandoned city from "Mowgli", Sihanoukville - the main resort of Cambodia, the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat.

7. Vietnam

From the point of view of the Russians, Vietnam has a lot of undeniable advantages. They speak Russian quite well here, and the Vietnamese summer lasts all year round, you don’t need a visa here, and the local beaches are considered one of the best in Southeast Asia. And in general, a lot of things here seem long familiar and even family. For example, red flags on city streets or flip flops, the most fashionable beach shoes in the Soviet Union.

Visa: Russian citizens who wish to visit this country for up to 15 days do not need a visa, no matter what it should be - tourist, business or guest.

Don't miss: one of the longest cable cars in the world, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi and Halong Bay, where the Bond film with Pierce Brosnan was filmed.

8. Thailand

Elephants-footballers and elephants-artists, flower markets with orchids at the price of Russian bagels, representatives of the “third sex” working as stewardesses (or stewards?), beaches with sand as white as flour and water clear as a tear - all this is Thailand, the former Siam. This magical and sometimes shocking kingdom is a paradise for both sedate family vacations and lovers of sex tourism, as well as divers, surfers, rafters, backpackers, downshifters, gays, ecotourists, ethnographers, kickboxers, writers and just idlers. You just need to know which part of paradise to go to.

Visa: not needed if the trip is tourist and does not exceed 30 days. At the border, they ask for a migrant card filled out by hand, and a passport - valid at the time of the intended departure from the country, containing at least one blank page and not too shabby - border guards can refuse a visa if the tourist's passport is crumpled, wet and heavily greasy.

Don't miss: the cinematic islands of Phi Phi, the canals of Bangkok and a dozen beaches in Phuket.

9. Indonesia

“Unity in diversity” – this slogan could be used by any multinational country in the world, but for some reason it stuck with Indonesia. This country, like a mosaic, is assembled from 18 thousand islands, of which only one is often known to foreigners - Bali. But the rest of the islands are no less interesting: you can go to Java with its ancient monuments, sail to the carnivorous "dragons" of Komodo, watch the funeral rites in Sulawesi, hug an orangutan in Sumatra, chat with the natives of Kalimantan and Irian Jai.

Visa: starting from January 2015, Russians will be able to visit Indonesia without issuing visas (previously, they had to process documents upon arrival at the country's airports).

Don't miss: the beaches of countless resorts in Bali, the Kerinci Seblat National Park in Sumatra, the Buddhist complex of Borobudur and volcanoes in Java.