Asia is so big and diverse there are so many options when it comes to which are the best. There are so many factors that play into what are the best countries to visit. Do we categorize by cultural experiences? Safety? Cost? Friendliness? Ease of access? Pollution? As there are many different factors there can be no definite answer. If I were to choose my top 5 based on these criteria I would probably rank them:

1. Taiwan: I am a woman who travels alone a good 95% of my time. I chose Taiwan on a whim after dating a Taiwanese man for 2 years. As a woman, Taiwan was EXTREMELY safe, I could travel alone throughout major cities with a friend or by myself without any issues at all, even at 4 AM (while a little tipsy)! In terms of cost, Taiwan is a fairly cheap country with few places really driving up the price. At bars, you usually pay an entrance fee but will get alcohol for free once inside (If it’s a Wednesday night it’s usually ladies night so free entrance and alcohol). A hotel room (not even a hostel!) will set you back only $30 in a major city. A meal will only be a few dollars, I never paid more than $5 for any singular food item while there and even got a few discounts for being a sweaty American woman (just kidding, but I did get a free mango). The people in Taiwan were extremely friendly, they operate on a lot of traditional customs and mannerisms that make their hospitality on point! When I was lost in Tainan, a man offered to drive me to where I was going (he literally went and got his car because I couldn’t figure out the bus system) just because I couldn’t read Chinese on a bus poster. This leads to my final point, ease of access, Taiwan while still a developing country has some of the fastest and most efficient transit systems in the entire world, you can pay only $30 US and go from one end of the country to another in less than 2 hours on the High Speed Rail. The Taipei metro system is one of the cheapest and most accessible in the world, where they even recycle single ride passes! A trip only costs a dollar and some change and you can go so far on that!
2. South Korea: My heart is still in South Korea. While it’s my favorite country that I’ve visited it just doesn’t make the top of my list for a few reasons. For one, while it’s cheap there are certain things that are way more expensive there than in the USA. You can definitely do things cheaply there if you stay in a hostel, but a private room in an AirBNB or a hotel will run you more than Taiwan. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous you can stay as a solo person in a love motel (they’re actually pretty clean!). Their subway system is quite advanced and it’s very cheap (around $1.5 per ride no matter the distance within the city which is very cheap by American standards). The only issue with their public transit is the cards that you use have to be refilled in cash unless you have a Korean bank account and cash can be hard to come by as the ATMs are scarce for visitors. Entertainment wise there is SO much to do in Seoul alone that you’ll never be bored. They have everything from museums filled with optical illusions to tandem biking down the Han River, there’s something for everything. They have a HUGE cafe culture there that is a treat as the cafe culture has created some unique cafes such as the LEGO cafe, comic book cafes, flower boy cafes, and even raccoon cafes among other unique places. The best part of all of this is the cafe culture and food culture has made food so cheap that it doesn’t make sense NOT to eat out! I personally had so much fun in South Korea that if I had the chance I would move there. Safetywise I always felt safe but you need to be careful if you’re approached by people as South Korea has a lot of cult members who are recruiting on the streets. [1]
3. Japan: I personally have not been to Japan but they are ranked as one of the safest countries in the world. Their violent death rates due to guns are under 10 per year! However, they do have a high suicide rate due to societal pressures. Out of all of these, Japan is one of the most expensive countries according to my friends who have gone, this is in part due to the cost of food and other things, but should not deter you from going. Their transportation system is the most advanced in the world and it shows! You can do so much in Japan and there’s always something going on. I would say that by going to Japan you won’t be disappointed.
4. The Philippines: The Philippines is one of the cheapest Asian countries to visit and one of the most gorgeous. I haven’t been but there will be a day when I finally get the chance to go. You can’t go wrong with the country with the friendliest locals you’ll ever meet.
5. Singapore: One of the most expensive cities in the world (and home to the Crazy, Rich Asians), Singapore is absolutely stunning and filled with unique things to do, Chiangyi Airport alone has a butterfly garden, movie theater and other amazing amenities. Singapore is famous for it’s hawker centers and food as it’s a culturally diverse country filled with all sorts of ethnicities.

Last year I was given the opportunity to visit the city of Tainan in southern Taiwan. Tainan was the original capital of Taiwan before the growth of Taipei and has been a food and cultural epicenter ever since. 
Settled in the 1600s by the Dutch, Tainan city's architecture is a mix of Dutch, Japanese, and traditional Chinese, with buildings dating back to the 1600s varying in style. Because of it's unique heritage, the city boasts everything from sprawling European style buildings to traditional Japanese hotels and everything in between. This rich history has added to a astounding amount of historic sites that tourists can visit, but many do not. 
One of Tainan's best kept secrets is the Anping Treehouse behind the Tait and Co. building in the Anping district of Tainan. Named for the district it's in and for the living banyan tree that occupies the space, this Treehouse is a beautiful reminder of how nature always wins. Originally, the treehouse was a warehouse for a merchantile company called, you guessed it, Tait and Co. Presently, this building is part of a 3 building museum highlighting the merchant trade in Tainan between the Dutch and Chinese, calligraphy and other rotating exhibits. At this time, most of the walls are covered in thick tree branches and roots that give the treehouse it's name. Tourists do have safe, secure walkways that they can use while visiting this attraction.

One of the biggest faux pas you can possibly make in a Korean bath house is not knowing what you should do when at a bath house. Upon arrival, you will receive: 1 small towel (not great for much if you're not used to it a.k.a American), the most unflattering baggy shorts and t-shirt, and a receipt or wristband for the lockers. When you first enter and get your wrist band, you will go to a small locker room where you will store your shoes, the locker number will coincide with either your wristband number or the number on your receipt, as well as a locker in the main gendered locker room where you will store your belongings (bags, clothes, etcetera). Once you reach the main locker room you can choose to either strip down and go straight to the baths or put on the clothing provided and explore, either is great, I prefer to bathe first instead of other things. Don't be afraid, you'll likely be more self-conscious than others will be, just relax and enjoy the experience. 

There are so many features of Korean Jjimjilbangs that you will come to know and love as you spend time there. From the bathing areas to the sleeping rooms there are things to do for everyone. Not all bath houses are the same nor are they going to charge the same prices, however, you will always be able to enjoy your time if you plan accordingly. 
I went to Dragon Hills Spa and Resort so if you're looking for a clean, safe environment I really enjoyed their service, you can check out there services here

For more information on Korean spas and bathhouses check out this link from vloggers Simon and Martina of Eat Your Kimchi.

Disclaimer: This is not a post that is meant to scare you or lead you to not want to go there because of this event. Instead, by educating you on the way that it happens you can be aware in the event that you ever experience this. Overall, to me, South Korea is a very safe country and I have never had any ill will befall myself. 
You’ve heard of cults before, be it the Heaven’s Gate cult of yesteryear or the modern day cult followings of celebrities. To us, they are groups that only really exist in the media and we really don’t see them very often, at least in the USA. There’s something almost otherworldly about them as the only experience some people will ever have is through their tv or computer screen. However, in some countries, like South Korea, cults are flourishing. I should know, I almost joined one. Here’s the story about how I almost ended up in a cult and how you can avoid it.

Seoul, 2017. I exited Hongik University station into the blazing sun, hurrying on my way to Hongdae Shopping District to see some busking (basically the Korean version of performing for cash) while I waited for a friend to go to the Trick Eye Museum. As it is a generally safe country, I had very few reservations about traveling alone, since, up to that point I hadn’t had any real issues, even late at night. I feared nothing except running out of cash and having to find an ATM (in South Korea cash is still king).
As it so happened, today was the day that I would have to get cash from the ATM as I ran dangerously low. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to get on the subway to go to my apartment or anywhere else. I doubled back through the streets of Hongdae and arrived where I had started, Hongik University exit 8 where I knew a Citibank was close by. While I waited to cross the street, a pair approached me and struck up a conversation. Later I would find out that this was a common practice. Comprised of a tall, lanky Korean gentleman and a short, stout Korean woman, no older than 25. By this point, I had been approached by random people who wanted to help me if I seemed lost or needed anything, so I didn’t experience any true red flags. The couple introduced themselves and said they were headed to a tea ceremony and then food afterward, immediately my mind went into overdrive. I read about this before, it was a common ploy to convince foreigners to go to their “cultural events” which were thinly veiled meetings for their respective churches (aka cults). While I decided what to do I was flanked on either side, the woman holding an umbrella over my head. As it’s not unusual for Koreans to do so. This is where things started to get weird. 
The woman held the umbrella and tried to cover me entirely with it, commenting on my white skin and how beautiful I was. By this point, those red flags were raised and billowing in the wind. I knew I had to get out of there before something else happened. 

My survival instinct kicked in, I knew I needed to shake them while staying as visible as possible on the street. As South Korea is the land of CCTV I had few reservations save a concern that the umbrella would block anything from view. I had to think fast, any time wasted could mean I would be led to a side street and out of view. The first thought that I had? The bank. Banks have cameras everywhere, near ATMs, at ATMs, and surrounding the building. All I had to do was get myself and my followers to the bank where I could be caught on camera. We exchanged pleasantries as we walked, I fed them false information about themselves, while they asked questions about my trip thus far, “was I a teacher?” “no” and “was I alone?” “meeting a friend” were two questions that cemented my concerns, a teacher might be missed at work there while someone traveling alone may not be missed until much later. I pretended to be as naive as possible, answering the questions as if I had no idea what was going on, aware that at any moment things could turn ugly. 
As we neared the bank my heart began to beat faster, I needed to get there and bide my time, maybe they would leave. I walked straight to the ATM and ducked inside. To my chagrin, they remained there, waiting for me to leave and continue with them. I was out of options, unable to communicate with anyone, and stuck. Everything I had learned about situations like this came back to me. I had to lose them. I exited the ATM and made the only excuse I could think of “I’m meeting a friend soon” in hopes that they would just give up once they realized that. They persisted, insisting that they walk with me to where I needed to go. I agreed, not wanting to cause a scene. I took the lead, going straight for the spot where we met just minutes before. Not to dissuade they followed.
When we arrived back at the corner where we had met, I pretended that I had seen my friend in the crowd, walking away from us. I said my pleasantries and made my mistake, weaving through the crowd near the station. For the next 10 minutes, I ducked in and out of stores along the shopping street, sometimes doubling back to ensure that I couldn’t be followed. For a while, they followed but gave up after about 5 minutes. To be sure, I went into a coffee shop and sat with a drink for a while just to keep myself from being seen. I am lucky that I am able to speak about this today.​

There are many cults in South Korea, but there are two churches that created the most prolific cults, The Unification Church and the World Mission Society Church of God. I was approached by followers of the Unification Church, you may have heard about them in the media. This church aims to create marriages for their followers, to whatever extent that they can, even tricking foreigners into it.
Their modus operandi is to send out followers in groups of two, usually a male and female or two females into the street. There, they will approach women, usually foreigners, and introduce themselves followed with an invitation to a cultural event that they’re going to. They prefer foreigners because there is a higher chance that they don’t know what is going on and will go willingly, happy to have a free event to go to. If you follow, you might find yourself in a pseudo wedding ceremony with a strange man, usually older. 
Be diligent and always aware of your surroundings. They are less likely to approach you if you’re in a group or walking with a friend. Typically that is enough to keep them away. If you’re alone, make sure that there is someone who is aware of where you are, be it a friend or family member through some sort of tracking software, I suggest Life360. I would also arm yourself with knowledge of where CCTV cameras are and how to remain in sight, the last thing you need to have happened is for there to be a blind spot.
If you follow along with them and start to realize that you’re lost or are unaware of your surroundings, fake a phone call or text message to have an excuse to leave the situation.
In terms of the World Mission Church of God group, as I didn’t have any experiences with them, I would suggest reading Travel With Karla’s post on the matter.

When we first travel somewhere new we can encounter issues that we are not used to. Things like the heat and humidity, hygiene and just plain cultural differences. Below are my top 5 biggest lessons I learned while in Asia. 

1. No Soap, No TP, No Toilets: Hand Sanitizer, tissues, and bracing for life
One of the biggest issues I found while traveling in Asia is the lack of soap, toilet paper, or "western toilets", things we take for granted in the USA. More often than not, I would find myself in a situation where I only had the option of squatting toilet (a popular choice in Asia). I being the graceful person I am, I would have to brace against the sides of the stall only to find when I was done there was no toilet paper. The best way to solve this is by keeping a pack of travel size tissues in your bag or pocket. When you go to wash your hands if there's not soap, just get some hand sanitizer, it works well in a pinch and will substitute soap. 

2. Your International Debit Card DOESN'T WORK: find a Citibank branch or 7-11
For some reason, some ATMs in public areas do not accept foreign cards, even the ones in popular tourist shopping destination. This can be a major issue if you're in a country with a cash-based economy. For the most part, I was able to always find an ATM that took my card, but there were times where I struggled with getting money, such as places like Songshan Cultural Park which only had ATMs for Taiwanese and Chinese consumers. If you wanted to skip these issues for the most part, the best cards for travel in Asia are Charles Schwabb (USA) and Revolut (Europe/USA/Asia) cards, which forgo typical credit card fees and work worldwide. I have a debit card from a small local bank near my house, however, I have met people who swear by these accounts.

3. In Between Lodging and Have Luggage: Use a Luggage Locker
When you're on the go or just in between hotels, carrying luggage from place to place can be a complete drag especially if it's the middle of summer and 100% humidity. You may be backpacking a country or just switching hotels and your check-in is not until 4:00PM. This can be stressful for anyone, however, I've found there is a viable solution. In many regional rail and subway stations there are luggage lockers where you can lock your luggage away for a predetermined amount of time. It may be a small fee, but if you're tired of lugging things around it is a Godsend.
Similarly, many museums have lockers where you can keep your luggage for a refundable fee. In Seoul, South Korea, I found that most museums would charge 250-500 Won, while similarly in Taiwan it was around 10NTD. These fees are under $1 USD and are paid in coins. While museums in the USA have this feature they usually don't have very large lockers, but I've found the ones in Taiwan are quite large and can easily fit a full-sized suitcase or carry on. This is a cheap way to explore a city until your check in time. 

4. Summer Heat is Oppressive and Taking It's Toll: Stay Hydrated, Eat HOT Foods, and PRAY
While this may seem like a no brainer, you would not believe how often I woke up dehydrated after a day out in the sun in Asia. No matter how many bottles of water I drank I was still perpetually dehydrated. I realized later that I was not doing basic things to keep myself from having issues. First, bring a refillable water bottle with you wherever you go. While it may be easier to buy a 50 cent bottle at a 7-11, you will be adding to the crazy amount of plastic waste already in Asia. Instead, there are many public places where you can find a water fountain or water cooler (Most restaurants have one).
Also, if you're someone who wants to stay cool, eating hot food (spice and temperature) is a surefire way to cool you down. While this may seem redundant, you are more likely to sweat more after eating spicy foods, allowing your body to cool itself down faster. This doesn't mean you can't eat cold food, especially when patbingsu or baobing (Korean or Chinese Shaved Ice with fruit) are so delicious in the summer, it just means if you need to cool down fast, add some hot sauce to your lunch or dinner. 

5. Bringing too Much to Carry on Day Trips: Invest in Multi-use Storage and Minimize Heavy Objects
I admit it, I'm a serial overpacker, even on day trips, and when I'm overseas in a place where it's hot, humid, and I can't communicate well I've made some mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes I've made? Carrying guide and language books around on day trips just in case I need them. These items are heavy and don't really help very much when out and about. While you can purchase them prior to a trip, keep them in the hotel, your phone may be a better option with live offline translations et cetera at your fingertips. You can also create offline maps on Maps.me which uses GPS coordinates and no data to track your location. This will significantly lighten your load and make it easier to enjoy your trip, without cumbersome bags. This tip goes for books you read for pleasure, if you can download it to your phone or Kindle it takes up less space and provides some relief. 
Your backpack or purse is your best friend. If you like to bring your camera like I do, I would suggest buying a bag that has a padded section for your camera (Here's my bag). I carry a DSLR for most of my travels and it can be HEAVY, plus all of your day to day travel items are rattling around the bag with it. When I was in Korea, I made the mistake of using a regular purse and putting a smaller camera bag inside of it. By the end of the day my shoulder was covered in red marks from the straps being weighted down with my camera. Travel camera bags are not much more expensive than a backpack or purse, and they have larger straps to distribute the burden. The backpag I use is a GoGroove bag and it was fantastic, compact but really used space well!
If you don't feel like carrying a bag, buy a fanny pack or money belt, this will keep items out of your pockets (and away from any pickpockets) and secure credit cards, passports and phones. I would suggest even investing in one that hangs around your neck instead of going without. 
Finally, you carry a lot in your hands when you travel: maps, phones, the odd beverage or to go food item. If you can find one, purchase a drink holder from a street vendor. These holders have straps that you can slip on your arm and allow you to carry any drink with ease as it frees up your hands. If you're in a country like Korea or Taiwan you will see a lot of these as they are so useful for carry other items as well.