Bangkok, Thailand
Yaowarat road is home to Bangkok’s Chinatown. It is one of the oldest areas of the city and is a very popular tourist attraction, famous for its many food stalls and restaurants. It is also the center of the gold trade and home to a 200-year-old market. Yaowarat road is also the location of Wat Traimit, a temple that holds a 5.5 ton solid gold Buddha statue – the largest solid gold statue in the world. Click here for the best attractions in Bangkok.
Yokohama, Japan
Yokohama Chinatown is Japan's largest Chinatown, located in central Yokohama. A large number of Chinese stores and restaurants can be found in the narrow and colorful streets of Chinatown. Various events and festivals such as Chinese New Year around the beginning of February are also held at Chinatown.
Manila, Philippines
The district of Binondo was founded as a home for Spanish-era Manila’s Christianized Chinese population. Today, its hodge-podge of skyscrapers and ancient shophouses nonetheless remains the cultural center of Manila. Walk deeper into Binondo's narrow streets to experience awesome food and culture, where you can experience the unique noodle stylings of Masuki, feng shui tips at Sunrise, and the Chinese-inspired sweets and pastries of Eng Bee Tin, among others.
Singapore
Singapore's Chinatown draws locals and visitors alike to its eateries and several no-frills shopping complexes devoted to bargain-priced goods and handicrafts. The top sight is Thian Hok Keng Temple, where guardian figures with scimitars scowl and incense burners throw shadowy light onto carvings and sculptures. Unusually, Chinatown also has a Hindu temple, mosque and gold-laden Buddhist temple opened in 2007. As evening falls, hit the chic bars and nightclubs of Chinatown's redeveloped Tanjong Pagar area.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The largest Chinatown in Vietnam is Cholon, in district 5 and 6 of Ho Chi Minh, former Saigon. Cholon’s current status was the result of political developments in the 18th and 19th centuries. The most atmospheric temple is the 1818 Quan Am Pagoda, dedicated to the goddess of mercy, where a stream of visitors leave fruit offerings and burn paper money as resident monks snooze in corners. A small Catholic cathedral provides a curious contrast. Rambling Binh Tay Market offers everything from kitchenware and clothing to steaming bowls of pho.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Established in 1741, Jakarta Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Indonesia and one of the oldest in the region. Located in the Glodok neighborhood, it has a typical urban landscape and is a busy shopping and business district. However, with a little observation, visitors can move beyond the urban landscape to appreciate its long history and a culture that managed to survive despite its turbulent past.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
With around a quarter of the Malaysian population of Chinese origin, urban districts with a large concentration of ethnic Chinese are to be found across the country. The term Chinatown is rarely used to refer to such places locally except for tourism purposes, particularly in reference to Petaling Street - the center of Kuala Lumpur's Chinese business district, and is predominantly Cantonese-speaking.