Vietnam's up-and-coming luxury resort town used to be a military base

A couple of the 12 'cascading' swimming pools at Alma Resort. — Alma Resort

In the southern region of Vietnam lies a city that’s poised to join the country’s growing list of top tourist hot spots, though many Malaysians are not aware of the place. Cam Ranh, the second largest city in the Khanh Hoa Province, has a good balance of nature and culture to offer visitors and is only a two-and-a-half hour flight from Kuala Lumpur.

The airport is in Cam Ranh itself, so just before you land, you will see a long stretch of white-sand beach that’s dotted with large resorts and hotels, some of which are either still under construction or being redeveloped.