If someone blindfolded you, spun you around, and dropped you into the heart of Old Quebec, you’d swear you were in some corner of Europe — perhaps France. But surprise: you're standing in the only fortified city north of Mexico, nestled along the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Welcome to Quebec City, where cobblestone streets whisper old stories, and castle-like hotels pierce the sky.

Picture this: you’re wandering along a crumbling red brick wall, surrounded by a water-filled moat, serenaded by the gentle buzz of motorbikes and the aroma of sizzling garlic and lemongrass. Welcome to Chiang Mai Old City — a square kilometer of magic tucked inside the northern hills of Thailand.