Peng Liyuan, wife of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam, visited China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing on Wednesday. Peng and Ngo Phuong Ly visited the opera house, the virtual reality creative space and the recording studio, learning about the NCPA’s efforts in supporting artistic creation, delivering cultural services and conducting international cultural exchanges. During the tour, they watched rehearsals of a Chinese ethnic dance drama and a choir recording session, pausing from time to time…

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has officially opened the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2026 at Benchakitti Park, Bangkok. Running until 15 April, the five-day event brings together cultural heritage, live entertainment and water celebrations at one of Thailand’s largest Songkran gatherings. The opening ceremony on 11 April was attended by Mr. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, alongside senior representatives from the public and private sectors. Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2026 is a celebration designed for everyone — across generations, regions and the world. It brings together the very best of Thai culture and contemporary festivity, reinforcing Songkran’s standing as a truly global…

StarCruises has announced the return of Malaysia’s renowned celebrity chef, Datuk Chef Wan, onboard its cruise ship Star Voyager for a special school holiday sailing scheduled from May 22 to 25, 2026. Following strong demand earlier this year, the three-night voyage will depart from Port Klang and sail to Phuket and Penang, offering passengers a combined experience of culinary activities, family-friendly entertainment and leisure travel. The sailing is being organised in collaboration with Malaysian restaurant group De.Wan 1958, promising guests a curated onboard dining experience alongside a range of recreational offerings. StarDream Cruises president Michael Goh said the decision to bring back Chef Wan reflects the positive response from guests…

Thailand is set to welcome global travellers to one of the world’s most exciting celebrations as Songkran, the country’s world-famous water fight festival and traditional New Year, returns on an unprecedented nationwide scale. Led by Central Pattana, the “World’s Biggest Songkran Festival” will take place across 28 destinations nationwide, transforming key cities including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and Samui into vibrant festival hubs. The program features more than 1,000 events and over 400 artists, attracting more than 10 million participants annually. Designed as a travel experience, the festival turns Central Pattana’s nationwide network of shopping centres into must-visit destinations where visitors can enjoy both cultural discovery and large-scale entertainment…

Malaysia Airlines is significantly expanding its East Asia footprint with the return of direct flights to Fukuoka, Japan, and the launch of new services to Shenzhen and Changsha, China. Commencing between July and September 2026, these additions bring the airline’s China network to nine key gateways and reinforce its commitment to providing greater travel flexibility across the region. As part of this expansion, the airline will introduce new services between Kuala Lumpur and Shenzhen (SZX) and Changsha (CSX) in China, alongside the resumption of services to Fukuoka (FUK) in Japan, which the airline last operated in September 2006. With the launch of these destinations, Malaysia Airlines consolidates its presence across a…