A few places immediately come to mind when it comes to LGBTQ+ travel—whether it’s New York’s historic Greenwich Village or Buenos Aires’ bustling Palermo District, Berlin’s underground Schöneberg or London’s nightclub-packed Soho. But Asia is featuring more frequently on travel itineraries that engage with queer communities around the world, thanks to a rising global visibility of what’s at the forefront of queer entertainment and culture on the continent. From the electrifying drag scene in Manila to the societal recognition of trans identities in Kathmandu, these Asian cities give dimension to celebrating queerness in all its global forms.
Notably, after Pakistan’s historic codification of transgender rights in 2018, more and more countries in Asia have made steady progress in the realm of queer advocacy and legislation. In 2019, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage; earlier this year, South Korea’s top court issued a landmark ruling that grants same-sex couples the same health insurance benefits as heterosexual couples; and this summer, the proposal of same-sex marriage in Thailand gained approval with official passage into law slated for later this year. With the recent flurry of change, and the promise of more to come, there’s plenty of reasons to appreciate queer culture throughout the continent.
To gain wholistic insight on LGBTQ communities throughout Asia—and how travelers can visit—I spoke to a mix of queer travel experts, locals, and destination specialists to share their best tips and advice. This isn’t a “best” list or an all-encompassing one about LGBTQ destinations in the region, so much as a list meant to help discover what is best for travelers looking for different experiences around the queer world. And with 48 countries, 4.6 billion people and counting, and over 17 million square miles of land area, this only scratches the surface of Asia and its queer communities. In no particular order, here are seven cities that represent the flexible, fun, and openly loving experience of LGBTQ travel in Asia.
Bangkok, Thailand
The Pride party never sleeps in Bangkok, where lantern lights and neon signs line the streets. While the city’s official Pride celebrations take place every year in November, the city also hosts the White Party in December, a gay New Year’s festival that attracts over 25,000 partygoers annually. The celebration of the Thai New Year, Songkran, is another can’t-miss: Its crowning event is a citywide water fight where all are welcome. But Bangkok’s queer party scene isn’t exclusive to major holidays. Go out all-night-every-night in the neighborhoods Silom Soi 2 and Silom Soi 4, where there are plenty of bucket-list worthy clubs to dance through like DJ Station or Stranger Bar.
Regardless of any itinerary, Bangkok is the kind of city where you can feel the love everywhere and anytime, especially as Thailand is expected to legalize same-sex marriage later this year. Thai travel expert Areeya Taylor from SoRealGuide describes the queer scene in Bangkok as “a citywide embrace. You'll find queer locals and visitors mingling seamlessly in everyday life, from open air markets like Chatuchak to casual street food stalls at Ban Tad Thong.”
Taipei, Taiwan
From Nymphia Wind’s boba reveal on the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race to Lady Gaga’s word to the wise on where to get a spray tan in Taipei, there are footnotes all over queer culture leading to the Taiwanese capital. The Ximen neighborhood’s Red House has a long biography, having been a commercial building, a theater for Peking opera, and a tea shop, among many other past lives. Its evolution into one of the largest queer shopping districts in Asia seems like a natural step as the local symbol of change.
The majority of coffee shops, clothing stores, and vendors at the night market around the Red House are queer-owned, including Cafe Dalida where Nymphia first started performing. Barry Hoy, a gay Asian Canadian travel writer and blogger, visited the Taiwanese capital with his fiancé last year and recommends attending Locker Room’s themed nights, “including a ‘wet show’ shower show that often sees audience members pulled on stage and soaked.” But beyond any recommendation that can be googled, he advises that travelers embrace the island’s friendly locals who are happy to point to the Red House’s coolest holes-in-the-wall. The good vibes are apparent at first welcome—when visitors arrive at Ximen’s metro station, crosswalk number six into the neighborhood is Taipei’s Rainbow Road.
Kathmandu, Nepal
If you’re craving an escape from a tech-swamped day-to-day, then Kathmandu is an ideal destination where you can reconnect with the majesty of nature. Hugged by a ring of the Himalayan Mountains, the city is built along rolling green hills and dotted with bronze-roofed pagodas.
When asked about what makes Nepal a top queer destination in Asia, president of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA), John Tanzella, credits the country’s political progress as, “truly commendable, particularly [in] its recognition of LGBTQ+ rights and the establishment of a third gender category.” Nepal was one of the first countries in the world to recognize a third gender designation when it did so in 2007; the country also legalized same-sex marriage in April earlier this year.
Queer-owned travel groups Contes Asia Travel, RC Pride Travel, and WeTravel Inc. all offer opportunities for group travel experiences in Nepal led by gay, trans, and nonbinary guides. Prime trekking season begins towards the end of September and runs through June as monsoon season wanes and the skyline clears, though the spring months provide their own postcard-worthy views as the mountains turn green and the flowers come into full bloom.
During summer months, groups can climb to high-elevation areas such as Mustang and admire technicolor sunsets with gay Nepalese tour group Pink Mountain Treks. Tour the valley, summit the nearby mountains, admire how each season breathes new life into the countryside—the options for adventure and wellness alike are at your disposal in Kathmandu.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Mongolia made our list for the 24 Best Places to Go in 2024 for its recent approval of 34 nationalities for visa-free travel, first-ever direct flight from the US, and timeless sense of adventure. Greater access to Mongolia is highlighted and underlined with queer-friendly offers like He Travel’s gay tours which bring visitors close to the grandeur of the Central Asian steppes and the pristine dunes of the Gobi Desert.
For a taste of the LGBTQ+ social scene in Ulaanbaatar, Philip Sheldon, president of He Travel, and Zak Murray, travel director of Big Mongolia, say that there are many allies in the capital, including one queer-ally bar, Republik. It’s popular with locals as a live music venue and welcomes queer folks as a part of the fold.
There are also options to partake in major cultural events like the Golden Eagle Festival with Out Adventures. Its director of tour operations, Scott Marquardt, says the queer scene in Ulaanbaatar is finding its footing once again after the pandemic: “There is a new bar called HANZO railway opened by a local named Zorig. It’s extremely small and intimate”—perfect for travelers seeking a cozier and down-to-earth experience. All of our travel advisors for Mongolia advised visiting the country’s LGBT center for the most up-to-date information on the scene and upcoming opportunities for travelers.
Manila, Philippines
Drag herstory flows through Manila’s veins. Queer, nonbinary, and third gender identities have been part of the social fabric of the Philippine archipelago since its pre-colonial era, and LGBTQ+ Filipinos continue to proudly carry that torch today. The city’s metro area is brimming with nightlife institutions where some of the country’s most iconic drag queens first cut their teeth. O Bar and its illustrious alums Naia Black and Precious Paula Nicole are some prominent examples.
But if you’re more of an early bird than a nightowl, Butterboy Bakehouse in Quezon City is home to Manila’s original drag brunch. Butterboy co-owner Hilder Demeterio tells Condé Nast Traveler, “Nightlife activities in a bakery may seem strange to some but the addition of drag artists and DJs felt very natural for us. We were very queer from the start, so everything coming out day one shone from the reflection of the light of queer joy.”
Several cafés have since joined the drag brunch movement Butterboy ignited in 2022. Hilder recommends Magdamag Market Café, a family-run creative hub that hosts community pop-ups, and Papa Kape for their signature coffee, a Black Gulaman Americano, and refreshing seasonal offerings like a mango-sampalok (tamarind) iced tea. Whether you’re going out for coffee or a gin pom, you might just catch the next big names in drag while they’re rising in Manila.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is home to Agit and Goldfinger, two lesbian bars we've spotlighted as some of the best around the world. Both sit in Shinjuku, the heart of queer Tokyo, which is sure to have a corner fit for just about everyone—go to a classic gay bar, steam at a sauna, shop at one of many expansive department stores and broom-closet boutiques, and grab a quick bite at a yakitori.
“Shinjuku is a city within the city,” Andres Zuleta, founder of Boutique Japan, tells us. “Greater Shinjuku is one of Tokyo's largest and most hyperactive neighborhoods, filled with shops, bars, restaurants, municipal buildings, hotels, and (famously) an extraordinarily busy railway station.”
Boutique Japan operations specialist Gwynnie Vernon, who is queer and has spent years living in Tokyo, recommends Eagle Tokyo Blue for its signature ocean blue cocktails and karaoke nights and Campy! Bar for its unbeatable drag scene where patrons might be graced by owner and legendary drag mother Bourbonne. In Shinjuku, you pop in and out of pocket communities, and with the highest concentration of queer bars out of any neighborhood in the world, there are lifetimes of unforgettable nights in this condensed neighborhood.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
“For queer travelers, Vietnam is very open-minded and hospitable,” says Condé Nast Traveler contributor and culture writer Dan Q. Dao. “There's a Pride parade, several gay and lesbian bars, and several drag-based attractions that have become cultural staples—check out the Lo To Saigon show!”
And in Ho Chi Minh City, you can rest assured that after a long day of exploring all you can eat, drink, and explore, you have your pick of where to stay and rest. Park Hyatt Saigon in District 1 brings the full luxe experience as a mainstay of our Readers’ Choice Awards, and is a queer-friendly hotel, as approved by Misterb&b, a homesharing platform aimed towards queer people; Dao considers the Park Hyatt, “undeniably the city’s most refined stay.”
But if you’re looking for more budget friendly options, consider a stay at the nearby Myst Dong Khoi, a trendy spot with a rooftop pool, or Villa Sông Saigon in District 2, a gay-welcoming boutique hotel along the river with a French colonial façade. And for a quick dip, Dao advises heading to the old colonial villas and tree-lined streets of District 3 and stopping by popular LGBTQ+ pool bar-lounge Azure. In Ho Chi Minh, you’ll get a full-value queer experience whether you’re going out or staying in.
