The Cham Museum delves deep into the culture of Vietnam’s indigenous Cham tribe. In the museum, you’ll find the largest Cham sculpture collection in the world with almost 300 terracotta and stoneworks to discover. These displays go way back from the 7th to the 15th century. Clearly, this isn’t just a walk down Vietnam’s history, it’s a glimpse of how a share of mankind developed since the ancient times.

As the home of Southeast Asia’s largest museum of Islamic art, travellers can expect a most enriching and educational experience in Malaysia’s Islamic Arts Museum. It has a complete library for researchers, not to mention an approximate of ten thousand artefacts on display. Want to see Islamic jewellery? How about the largest scale model of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca? They have those too!

Jogja National Museum is the heart of Indonesian art. The most admirable aspect of the museum is its focus on rising artists seeking an audience for their work. The museum even has a section called “Gallery of Citizens” which emerging artists use free of charge to showcase and develop their art pieces. If all museums were as supportive of local talent as JNM, the world would be a better place!

In case you’re wondering, yes, Louvre Abu Dhabi is partnered with the Louvre Museum in Paris! This museum’s mission is for visitors to “see humanity in a new light”; it fulfils this by bridging the gap between Eastern and Western art through twelve “chapters” found inside, all of which reveal shared themes throughout humanity. Look closely and you might even recognise borrowed art from The Louvre and Palace of Versailles!

Travellers who have an affinity for contemporary art belong in the Mori Art Museum. This museum hosts numerous exhibits, from fashion, visual arts, to architecture and photography, each year. But it recently shot to fame for breaking the Internet when it opened their Digital Art Museum where visitors can immerse themselves in a three-dimensional borderless world. The ever-changing artworks will have you hypnotized in a wave of colours!

This museum sits on Doha’s waterfront and is a visual feast for the soul. Its architecture is an impressive feat merging traditional Islamic designs with that of 21st century’s architecture. But that’s on top of the fact that inside the museum is one of the world’s greatest collections of Islamic art. Witness exotic masterpieces of their metalwork, woodwork, glasswork and jewellery, only to name a few!

This gallery is home of the largest collection of modern art in Southeast Asia. Its honourable aim of creating a dialogue between art forms in Southeast Asia and inspiring an inclusive society is fostered through the museum’s continuous research and long-term exhibitions, notably the “Art of Southeast Asia since the 19th Century” and “Awakening: Art in Society in Asia”. Now that’s an ultimate crash course on Asian art!

Having an in-depth understanding of Qatar’s culture starts from its National Museum. The museum is divided into three chapters: Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and the Modern History of Qatar. To highlight these stages, the galleries hold historical artefacts, contemporary art, and an activity auditorium and research centre, for tourists and researchers alike. The cherry on top? A dramatic disk roof posing as a striking vista to anyone who sees it.

Fall deeper in love with Bali’s natural beauty in the Neka Art Museum. It houses a collection of art pieces reflecting Bali’s environment and culture. What’s rejuvenating about the museum is its Balinese garden compound which leads you to the numerous paintings and sculptures scattered throughout six different buildings. What better way to celebrate Bali’s flourishing nature than to be in the midst of it while admiring art?

The mouthwatering Ramen Museum gets appetites going by teaching visitors about ramen history, cooking techniques, and sharing a replica of 1958 Tokyo when ramen’s popularity was beginning to skyrocket in Japan. When you’re just about dying to satisfy your ramen cravings, indulge in a food crawl with the museum’s nine ramen restaurants! Why hunt for other ramen hubs when the best of ramen culture is found in this perfect museum?

Vietnam’s war museum is one of the most thought-provoking museums a traveller will ever see. Honouring Vietnam’s relentless resistance against American rule, the photos and personal accounts you’ll find speaks of the country’s resilience and bravery in the face of overwhelming loss. This is a museum filled with remnants, but most of all, the stories of a nation that rose from the ashes — truly a bucket list attraction.