Lights, Camera, Asia! Set-Jetting Destinations For Your Travel Bucket List

Movies and TV shows have an incredible way of immersing their viewers in a gripping storyline and taking them to different places around the globe. Quite literally. More and more shows have pushed the boundaries of film production and left the confines of sound stages — replacing them with actual destinations that provide more vivid imagery on screen.
In the age where the silver screen meets the travel bug, “set-jetting” has become the ultimate adventure for film and TV show fans. From the sweeping landscapes and rugged cliffs featured in “Game of Thrones” to the regal manors and enchanting parks where the ladies and gentlemen of “Bridgerton” often promenade, travelers are inspired more than ever to turn their favorite on-screen moments into real-life journeys, giving cinematic escapism a whole new meaning.
For this list, we’re taking you through some of the most captivating set-jetting destinations in Asia where you can bring your favorite scenes to life and experience a journey worthy of an Oscar.
What is Set-Jetting?
Before we dive into building your 2025 travel bucket list, what exactly is “Set-jetting?” This phenomenon describes the act of traveling to real-world locations featured in films and TV shows. Many TV and movie fans have been doing this for years, creating itineraries that take them to popular filming locations of their favorite shows. From visiting the Shire in “The Lord of the Rings” or walking through the halls of Hogwarts in “Harry Potter,” set-jetting allows travelers to experience the magic of stepping into the settings of iconic shows.
Due to its growing popularity in recent years with the release of hit movies and films on both the silver screen and streaming platforms, Expedia even named it as one of its Top Travel Trends of 2024.
Many destinations now offer tours where they take travelers to filming locations, and fans have been flocking to these destinations, hoping to recreate their favorite moments. Asia boasts a myriad of iconic landmarks and breathtaking places that have captured the eyes of writers and filmmakers alike. If you’re looking to set-jet this 2025, here are some of the best spots to consider.
Thailand
The Land of Smiles is without a doubt the travel destination of the year having experienced a significant resurgence in tourism, attracting 25 to 30 million visitors in 2023. That’s a 20% increase from the previous year! We predict the country will be welcoming even more tourists this year, specifically TV show fans as HBO announced that season 3 of “The White Lotus” would take place on the island of Koh Samui. However, it’s also reported that filming took place at more than one Four Seasons property, the other two being in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Bangkok is the country’s bustling capital filled with incredible food markets and awe-inspiring temples. It’s a hive of activity so you’ll never truly run out of things to do there. Bangkok has been featured in several Hollywood films including “The Hangover Part II” (2011) which had a scene filmed at the Sirocco restaurant at the Lebua at State Tower and Leonard DiCaprio’s “The Beach” (2000), the film most people thihk of when asked about films made in Thailand.
Speaking of beaches, Phuket boasts gorgeous shores where you can emulate the most luxurious vacations—without the murders, of course. Most of the notable scenes in the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974) was filmed on this island, and there’s even a “James Bond Island” (a.k.a. Phang Nga Bay) at the spot where the gun duel was held! So put your shades on, Bond style, and head over to Thailand for a fantastic holiday!
Singapore
Singapore may be tiny compared to its neighbors but it’s full of activity, culture hotspots, delicious cuisine, and breathing skyline views. If there’s one film that truly captures the beauty and grandeur of Singapore, and has rom-com fans flocking to it in the hopes of finding themselves a rich partner, it’s the 2018 blockbuster hit, “Crazy Rich Asians.” The film was a success in many ways, including how it’s the first Hollywood film with an all-Asian cast since “Joy Luck Club” (1993). But more importantly, it shone the spotlight on the city-state as it filmed in various locations across the country — showcasing the tropical and diverse destination as the perfect summer getaway spot.
Some of the iconic places featured in the film are Gardens By The Bay, where the grand wedding reception was held; Newton Food Centre, where Rachel Chu had her first taste of the local cuisine; Marina Bay Sands, where the rooftop pool is located as featured in the magnificent final scene; and the Raffles Hotel Singapore, where the main characters where staying at in the movie.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is known as a shopper’s paradise, but there’s so much more to it than just resplendent malls and shopping streets. This bustling city boasts hiking trails where you can enjoy beautiful views of the harbor, fun theme parks, and incredible cuisine.
And yes, it’s a travel opportunity for film fans too as several movies have been shot here including iconic battle scenes from “The Dark Night” (2008), “Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014), and “Doctor Strange” (2016). Hong Kong was also the location for popular Asian films such as the sci-fi anime film “Ghost in the Shell” (2017) and one of the Philippines’ highest-grossing movies ever, “Hello, Love, Goodbye” (2019).
Additionally, if you enjoy Hong Kong gangster movies, you can visit the Police Museum and view the range of weapons used by the police through the years.
Philippines
There’s simply no place like Manila as the song goes, and if you’re looking to have a good time, it’s definitely more fun in the Philippines!
From the delicious local fare and massive shopping centers to the gorgeous beaches and glorious nature reserves, the Philippines solidified itself as a prime tourist destination in Southeast Asia, especially for those looking for a tropical getaway.
The Philippines had hosted a number of international production teams where they shot scenes at some of its iconic landmarks.
Many of the action scenes in “The Bourne Legacy” (2012), for example, which starred “Avengers” actor Jeremy Renner, were filmed all over Manila. The 2016 South Korean movie “Master” was filmed for over two months in the country, in destinations such as Binondo, Intramuros, Bulacan, and Cebu. The action crime film was a box office success and was one of the best-selling films in the country that year.
Philippine destinations also served as a source of inspiration for iconic films. Just take the record-breaking “Avengers: Infinity War,” which featured the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao as the place Thanos retreated to in the end credits scene.
South Korea
K-Drama fans unite! It’s no secret that K-Drama and K-Pop are two of South Korea’s biggest exports and have permeated cultures, creating a worldwide fan wave that has many foreign visitors flocking to the country to see their biases or recreate their beloved K-drama moments.
A huge percentage of South Korea’s tourists are K-Drama and K-Pop fans hoping to immerse themselves in Korean culture. The country’s capital Seoul is probably the most visited with hundreds of dramas set within the vibrant city. You can re-live a thousand scenes in this city alone, from romantic bike rides along the Han River and getting a love lock at Namsan Tower (N Seoul Tower) to pretending to be royalty dressed in traditional Hanbok at the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds.
You can do the iconic slow-mo walk through the Sinchon Graffiti Tunnel like Gong-Yoo and Lee Dong Wook in “Goblin” (2016); go back in time donned in uniforms and visit Yonsei University where iconic coming-of-age dramas such as “Extraordinary You” and “True Beauty” were filmed; or emulate being inside the mysterious “Hotel Del Luna” (2019) at Hotel Seine, an actual hotel-themed café!
Netflix’s most-watched show “Squid Game” has recently been making rounds on social media with the release of a new season, and we’re sure many fans are dying (forgive, the pun) to explore some of its filming sites. Unfortunately, most of the scenes are filmed within built, enclosed sets, but some of the pre-game scenes were filmed in actual places in Seoul like the Ssangmun-dong neighborhood where protagonist Gi-hun was from, and Gangnam district's Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station where Gi-hun played Ddakji with Gong-Yoo, the mysterious salesman who serves as the “gatekeeper” to the games.
Another Netflix show filmed in Seoul is “XO, Kitty” (2023) a spin-off series based on the hit movie trilogy, “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” (2018). The Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS), which is the international school Kitty goes to, was filmed in various locations including the National Library of Korea in Sejong, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and Kaywon University of Art and Design. The series also shows scenic locations in Myeongdong, Gangnam, and Jongno districts.
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