For a memorable night of cultural immersion, visit an evening show at the Nha Trang Water Puppet Theatre. Water puppetry as an art form originated in northern Vietnam as early as the 11th century and is kept alive by a small number of enthusiasts. Although production value is no match to that of bigger cities, the show itself feels thought out and intimate thanks to the smaller performance room. The show is narrated in Vietnamese, but the visual emphasis and engaging subject matter – folk tales and legends – make it easy to follow even if you don't speak the language.

For a closer look at Namibia's historic path to late independence in 1990, visit the Independence Memorial Museum housed inside an imposing modernist building in Windhoek's former colonial heart. The museum was designed by a North Korean construction company, involved in multiple construction projects across Africa, hence the socialist aesthetic. The top floor panoramic restaurant is worth a pit stop.

Mineral deposits found in the Nha Trang area are believed to have natural curative properties, which can be experienced first-hand at the city's several reputable 'mud spa' centres. Services range from the possibility of, quite literally, bathing in mud, to experiencing a full-on treatment in combination with a massage or other beauty procedures. Spa packages are offered at most centres and are incredibly great value. Some of the best-known spa centres include Thap Ba Hot Springs (with private baths available, as well as waterfalls and thermal pools with both warm and cold water); iResort (another large complex, plus water slides), 100 Egg Mud Bath, and – if you're too short on time to make the trip outside of town to one of the larger complexes – Galina Mud Bath right downtown.