The Best Small Towns and Villages

Pai Not your typical tiny mountain-valley farming village, Pai is a favorite for budget travelers who want to put their feet up and relax. The scenery is gorgeous, bungalows are cheap, food is good -- and the nightlife is surprisingly fun. You will want to stay longer than you planned.

Mae Sot A charming little border town -- you can jump over to Burma on a day pass, or stay and shop for Burmese trinkets in the market on the Thailand side of the river. Small and friendly, this town is very accessible to foreigners.

Nong Khai (Isan): A busy bordertown perched on the edge of the Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos, Nong Khai has a sprawling central market and supports some quiet little neighborhoods where budget guesthouses kind of suck you in. Day trips by bicycle to the unique sculpture gardens near town or, much further afield by car or bus to an ancient archeological oddity will keep you busy, but you may not want to be; a good place to put your feet up and reflect while watching the mighty Mekong flow past.

• Australia
• China
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Thailand