Around the region: The best events in and around Asia to check out

Pune, India

Gagging for a summer rave in umm, February? Vh1 Supersonic has your bottoms up and eyes glazed at the stage with a stellar lineup from the world of EDM and more. Major Lazer, alt-J, Dillon Francis, Incubus, Marshmello and even Sean Paul take their pounding beats to the Laxmi Lawns, which is covered with over 40 homegrown food stalls, an adult playground featuring swings, ball pits and games, a beer garden and some hipster hammocks. Organisers promise circus-like performances and dancers spilling out on to the ground – it doesn’t get more epic than this.

Happening Feb 9-11; gosupersonic.in.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Tet (Tet Nguyen Dan) is Vietnam’s equivalent to the Chinese New Year and is the same scale of celebration country-wide. While Tet lasts several days, it’s best to arrive the week before and experience the excitement in the run up to the first day. In Hanoi, for example, it climaxes with fireworks over Hoan Kiem Lake and lively street celebrations. The Old Quarter is lined with decorations, musical arts, dancing, market stalls, colourful flowers and cheerful locals wearing red and yellow for prosperity and good fortune. Kids run around with their lucky money red envelopes (‘Li xi’) and you get to devour amazing traditional dishes such as banh chung (steamed square cake), gio cha (Vietnamese ham/sausage) and xoi (sticky rice).

Happening Feb 16-21; vietnamtourism.com.

Bangkok, Thailand

If the thought of bathing in diamonds has ever crossed your curious mind, then the 61st Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair is a sight for twinkling eyes. Expect over 1,000 companies and 2,500 booths from domestic and overseas exhibitors at the Impact Muang Thong Thani convention centre. You’ll find gemstones, rough stones, diamonds, pearls, precious metals, costume jewellery, fine jewellery and just about anything else related to the stuff. The event is staple for those in the business including designers, so fly over and get ahead of the trends. The fair also has a plethora of concept showcases focusing on styles for everything from wedding jewellery to spiritual stones.

Happening Feb 21-23; bkkgems.com.

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand, otherwise known as the ‘City of Sails’, is one of the 2018 hosts of the globe’s toughest round-the-world ocean race. For three and a half weeks the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is in the sailing-mad Kiwi city with a busy programme of celebrations, practice races, seminars and other events. There are free attractions such as dockside displays of Volvo Ocean 65 monohulls and The Grinding Challenge, which tests your muscles in sail-raising. Check out the Race Boat Experience that gives landlubbers a first-hand impression of what life on board an ocean-going race yacht is really like – from sleeping in a bunk to standing at the helm.

Happening Feb 24-Mar 18; volvooceanraceauckland.com.