r/southeastasia

Hi! I’m planning a trip to Southeast Asia but I’m a bit stuck. I can’t decide if I should focus on just one country or try to visit two or more.

Im planning to go 3 weeks in July with my fiancee. It's also our first long trip together 😄

Right now I’m considering Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, and Cambodia. Has anyone done a similar trip? What would you recommend, better to go deeper in one place or split time between a few?

Hey all,

I'm planning a 6 month trip to SEA and am super excited/nervous all at the same time. I've always wanted to travel but either never had the money or never quite plucked up the courage to do it. Anyway at 35 now I feel like it's about time I stopped making excuses. In November I am off.

I am currently thinking 3 months based in Thailand and 3 months in Vietnam but honestly at this point I'm open to all suggestions - I just feel like having a base might mean I can earn some money teaching English which brings me to my first question - I have a degree and plan to get tefl before I Ieave but what's the reality of teaching English in Thailand and Vietnam - is it easy work to find or is that a bit of a myth? Does it kill your free time with planning etc? Like does teaching 10 hours a week actually look like 20-25 hours with planning? I will probably have a budget of £500/£600 a month without earning anything so I feel like something supplementary might make it a bit more enjoyable. Similarly if you think £500/£600 a month is plenty it would be good to hear your thoughts on that too and maybe I ditch the teaching idea.

Then it would be good to hear your thoughts on places to stay. I'm really not looking for a party vibe - I want chilled out spots that have a good expat/tourist vibe but also allows me to explore SEA and it not feel too much like gap year central!

Any and all thoughts appreciated as I'm really just starting out in my research!

Hey everyone!

My wife and I are finishing up our trip on Gili T this Sunday and need to get back to the airport (DPS). We’re looking at a few ferry options but the timing is making me a bit nervous since we have a flight to catch.

We’ve narrowed it down to these three arrival options:

1. Padang Bai @ 10:30 AM (Eka Jaya)

2. Padang Bai @ 11:00 AM (Wijaya Buyuk)

3. Serangan @ 11:50 AM (Wijaya Buyuk)

The big questions:

- Which one actually gets us to the airport sooner? I know Serangan is geographically closer to Kuta/DPS, but the boat ride is longer. On the flip side, I've heard the drive from Padang Bai can be a nightmare.

- How’s the road traffic on a Sunday? Is it usually jammed with people heading back from the coast, or is it manageable?

- Arrival Time Confusion: On FerryScanner, Wijaya Buyuk says one time, but their official website lists the arrival as 30 minutes later. Does anyone know why? Is that just "buffer time" for unloading luggage, or is the boat just slower than advertised?

I'd love some "boots on the ground" advice.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Hello everyone,

I'm interested in travelling to South East Asia and might travel soon. I just have a small question ; how does the phone landscape looks like in South East Asia ? What companies are the most common at selling phones ? I've got an iPhone, but I don't know if many here have got one too, since, well, it's expensive as hell even where I live.

Thanks !

I am planning to travel Southeast Asia with my girlfriend from September 2026 to February 2027. We want to travel these countries by motorcycle. We have our flights booked to Bangkok and are flexible on where to start from. I already did quite some research on buying and traveling the mainland with a bike, but a couple of questions are still open.

Our rough route: Thailand → Laos → Cambodia (maybe via Laos depending on Thai/Cambodia boarder situation then) → Thailand → Malaysia → Singapore → Thailand → Vietnam

I found that traveling to Vietnam with a foreign bike is basically impossible and that Thailand is probably the easiest place to buy and resell a bike. Hence the plan to start in Thailand, loop through Laos and Cambodia, then head down to Malaysia and a quick stop in Singapore (without bikes), before coming back to Thailand to sell the bike, fly to Vietnam and buy a new one there.

For now my main concern is buying the bike in Thailand. A bit of context first: my girlfriend drove only 125cc motorcycles while I have motorcycle experience on bigger bikes, and our budget for the bike(s) isn't yet really fixed. I want to (obviously) spend as little as possible but as much as necessary to get well maintained bikes with ABS.

Bangkok vs Chiang Mai where to buy? From my research it seems Bangkok is probably better for gear while Chiang Mai is easier for buying a motorbike. Does that match your experience?

One bike or two? I am wondering whether it makes more sense to buy a small bike (125cc) for my girlfriend and a larger one for me, or if we should just ride together on one larger bike. Two bikes is probably more comfortable, but I don't know if this complicates the bureaucracy at the borders. Or is less save in traffic due to worse maneuverability. Any experience with this?

Documents and legal requirements I am also wondering if I need anything else besides the following to drive legally and avoid unnecessary issues at the borders (please correct me if anything below is wrong):

• The bike
• The green book (in my name)
  • If I buy from a dealer, will they handle that for me?
  • Or if I buy privately, do the seller and I need to go to the DLT together?
• International Driving Permit
• Insurance
  • Thailand insurance → already included when registering the bike
  • Laos insurance → bought at the border
  • Cambodia insurance → bought at the border
  • Malaysia insurance → bought at the border (cheap, mandatory)
• Certificate of Residence (from the Immigration Bureau office with a form from the hotel)

How much time should I plan for getting everything sorted? And is it worth paying extra to buy from an official store that might handle things like the green book for me?

Hello, I am planning my first solo travel this july and I was looking for SE Asia as an option. I'll be on a tight itinerary so any changes or places that are not worth enough i will be wiling to change things. My plan is to go 2 nights sin Singapore then fly to Siem Riep and stay in the area for another 3 nights, then flying to Hanoi and staying there for 5 nights to explore hanoi, ha long bay, sapa... after that flying to chiang mai for another 3 nights and finally to bangkok another 3 nights.

My concerns and questions are.

1. Since it is my first time solo traveling, is it a good place to start?
2. How safe are the places around there?
3. I saw it is usually rainy in July, how bad is it really?
4. Im more of a nature guy that's why i only choose 2 nights in big cities like singapore or bangkok, however are they worth it or should i add more days or remove from other places?
5. any more suggestions of places that i can swap or places that i should stay more or less days will be really appreciate it.

Hello! I keep hearing that it’s best to do only 2 countries max, but I think I can fit 3 in. I’m planning to start in Bali and stay for 10 days, Phuket for 10, and then Hanoi for about 7 days. I’d like to say this is pretty doable but I am booking a lot of activities to do. Im a pretty go go go kind of person and have filled up my itinerary a lot, but I also feel like I have a lot of down time and rest days.

I am a bit worried as this is my first time as a female solo traveler and I’m planning such a long trip. I plan to carry just 2 backpacks, is this pretty common? Since im flying on Asia airlines I know there are weight restrictions so I may check one in… I’m just curious if anyone has done this before and could give me tips?? Also, what are the airports like for a foreigner traveling between Asian countries?

Thanks everyone, I’m looking forward to your inputs!

Hi all,

I’m planning on leaving my job early next year and taking 9-12 months off to go travelling through south east Asia, leaving around Feb/March time)

I’m just in the process of making some initial planning, obviously it’s quite far away and this is by no means a finished itinerary. I’ve just written a draft based on places I’ve been recommended by friends and things I’ve seen online.

I’m fully expecting everything to change, but is what I’ve got down already below somewhat realistic in terms of logistics, timings, cost, etc? I really have no idea what I’m doing so any advice is very much welcome haha.

⁠1. Fly from London to Bangkok - 1 week
2. ⁠Head into North Thailand (Chang Mai, Pai Chang Rai) - 5 weeks
3. ⁠Cross over into Laos (Luang Prabang, VanVieng) - 2 weeks
4. ⁠Down into Vietnam (Ho Chi Min, Hanoi, Hoi an, Ha Giang Loop) - 4 weeks
5. ⁠Fly over to Sri Lanka (Sigiriya, Kandy, Hortain plains, Ella, Colombo) - 5 weeks
6. ⁠Fly back to South Thailand (Phuket, Koh Samui, Phi Phi islands, Khao Sok, Krabi) - 5 weeks
7. ⁠Over to Malaysia (Kuala lumpa, Tasman national park) - 2/3 weeks
8. ⁠Then Indonesia (Jakarta, Bali, Java) - 4 weeks
9. ⁠Fly over to the Philippines (Manila, Palawan (Coron + Elnido), Cebu) - 3 weeks
10. ⁠Over to Australia and working my way up the east coast (Melbourne, Sydney, Byron bay, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosaville, Rainbow beach, Kgari, Whitsundays, Edmondson) - 8 weeks
11. ⁠Then to southern New Zealand (Invercargill, Stewart island, Caroline Peak, Te Anau, Queenstown, Wanaka, Mount cook, Twizel, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch, Blenheim, Wellington, Taupo, Coromandel, Whangarei, Auckland) - 8 weeks
12. ⁠Fly back to London from north New Zealand

Of course I’m perfectly happy to just play things by ear when I’m out there and mix things up as I go along, but I just want to have a basic plan ready.

Also how much roughly would a trip like this be expected to cost? I’m thinking close to £20k but I have no clue really what to expect.

Cheers!

Hey everyone,

My wife and I are finalising our Indonesia itinerary for September, and I’ve hit a wall with our Ubud “Day 8”.

By that point in the trip, we’ll already have done quite a lot:

- Java: hiking Mt. Bromo and Ijen crater (blue fire + sulphur mines)

- Around Ubud: Campuhan Ridge Walk, Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Tirta Empul, Botanical Gardens

- North Bali: Jatiluwih Rice Terraces (which looked incredible) and Ulun Danu Bratan

- Komodo: a 3-day boat expedition through the islands

We’re staying at The Udaya in Ubud, and I keep looking at the standard “East Bali” day trips (Besakih, Lempuyang, etc.) but honestly… I’m just not feeling it.

I really do not want to spend 5–6 hours in a car just to see another temple that feels similar to places we’ve already visited.

I’m looking for something genuinely fun, interesting, and different.

Hard no to:

- Instagram nonsense: swings, bird nests, queuing 2 hours for a “Gate of Heaven” photo

- Tourist trap stuff: Tirta Gangga, overpriced “holy water rituals”, places that feel like staged scams

- Workshops/classes: cooking classes, silver making, “authentic local village experiences”

- Generic expat hotspots: Canggu/Uluwatu aesthetic café culture and traffic chaos

- Standard tourist activities: ATVs, rafting, surfing, etc.

Basically, I’m trying to avoid the usual guiri checklist.

I’d rather have one genuinely memorable day than tick another landmark off a list.

So… is there actually something unique and worthwhile to do around Ubud/Bali that doesn’t feel like a travel chore?

Or is the better plan to forget the private driver, stay at the hotel pool, and find some random proper warung with no English menu and call that the perfect day?

Would love recommendations from people who felt the same.

Cheers!

Hi all,

I am planning to visit Bangkok for a few days at the beginning of August for medical purposes. From there, I’ll be taking roughly two weeks to explore. I understand it’s the rainy season and will be hot.

I’m big into hiking, nature, and would like to explore the local culture as well. Hoping to add 1-3 other countries. Considering Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia. Also considering northern Thailand. I’m totally open to suggestions though! Which is why I’m here. :)

Thanks in advance!

Hello guys,

I recently wrote about me and my wife wanting to go on a 3 month tour around South Asia and our most desired countries being Thailand and Vietnam.

Well we now can only go for 4 weeks, so where would you suggest we spend our time?

We dont to be rushing around everywhere (to an extent) so would rather spend our time wisely.

We love drinking, partying, chilling at beaches, hikes and trails, history and beautiful nature.

We're from Ireland so flying into Bangkok likely the best option.

What were thinking is Bangkok 2 nights, overnight bus to Phuket x days, Krabi x days, Ko Sumai x days then our only definite is we want to do the Hanoi loop in Vietnam as we've always dreamed of doing it.

Just wanting a rough guideline of how long you'd stay at a certain place if you're in this time crunch.

Thank you!

Hello, I'm at the tail end of planning a trip for next March. We have it almost nailed down except for 2 nights. These are minimum requirements over 15 nights:

3 nights Hanoi

4 nights Siem Reap

3 nights Hoi An

3 nights Tam Coc

fly home from Hanoi.

We have 2 nights unaccounted for. Some ideas we had:

1) 2 nights in Luang Prabang (in between Hanoi and Siem Reap). Flight options weren't great though - one of them was connecting through BKK. Doesn't seem worth the hassle for just 2 1/2 days.

2) Add an extra night to Hoi An to allow us to explore the region more, spend a day in Da Nang etc. Then add an extra night in Hanoi after Hoi An and before Tam Coc.

3) Stay 2 nights in Hue

Note: We are avoiding the whole Halong Bay cruise. Sounds very formulaic and crowded, not our vibe. We looked at the higher end cruises but they were so pricey and they just seeemd to follow the same formula as everyone else. Was totally put off reading the itineraries.

We thought about Sapa but it's so far and we don't want to be on the road for that much time. Also thought about PuLuong but thought it might be a little too remote and we might get a little bored.

We love culture, nature, wildlife and history.

Hi all! I'm planning a trip to SE Asia for February this coming year and would love some thoughts from those who have experience. We're in the US so it's a lot of travel time and we'd like to make the most of it and see as many places as we can, but also not make anything feel too crammed. Number of days in each place is still TBD (so am happy to also take advice on how long to spend in each).

Stop #1: Bangkok. We're visiting a family member here, so this will be our first stop and we'll be here longer than anywhere else we stop (although days still TBD).

Stop #2: Siem Reap, Cambodia - Angkor Wat is a bucket list item for me. We will likely not be here long as the point in going is to see the temples and a bit of the town and then head on.

Stop #3: Krabi. I was deciding between this and Phuket but based on our family member's recommendation decided on Krabi. Ideally planning to stay in Railay Beach but I also know you need to arrive early in the day to catch the boat so given travel from Cambodia we may have to stay a night in Ao Nang first.

Stop #4: This is the TBD part. I desperately want Bali to work here, another bucket list item, but have started looking at travel options and it just seems like we'd be spending a whole day getting there. Wondering whether anyone has experience here or feels it is worth it.

Other options for #4 include Singapore, other beach locale in Thailand, adding Chiang Mai earlier in the trip - or maybe something else I haven't thought of yet.

Any thoughts or advice or things I haven't considered would be welcome! Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I’m (22F) planning a trip to SE Asia from June 29 until August 17, so around 7 weeks, and looking for some itinerary advice/recommendations.

Last summer I already spent some time in Thailand and feel like I’ve done a lot of the typical “first-time travelling” places already. I’ve never been to Vietnam before though, so that’s why I’m thinking about spending a bigger part of this trip there.

This time I’m more interested in beautiful nature, jungle, beaches, smaller places, local culture and places that feel a bit more authentic/relaxed. I do prefer places with a beach nearby. I’m pretty active so long travel days, scooters, hikes etc. are all completely fine for me.

I’m also not really into huge party scenes or super commercial nightlife, but I do like good bars, live music, interesting people and more alternative/underground type atmospheres.

I think I’m mainly looking for a mix of nature, social atmosphere, good food, local culture and places that don’t feel overly touristy or completely party-focused.

Last year I went to Koh Tao, Khao Sok National Park and Ko Yao Noi. Amazing but not really planning to go there again this time. I’m landing in Bangkok and probably staying there for 1–2 nights max just to recover from the flight. After that I’m debating whether it’s better to:

*fly to Hanoi and travel Vietnam from north to south
or
*stay in Thailand first and head towards islands like Koh Kood/Koh Chang before going north to Chiang Mai and Pai.

Money isn’t really the main concern for me, but I’m also not looking for luxury resorts or anything like that. I’d much rather stay in guesthouses, boutique hotels, bungalows or places with character. (but no hostels)

I’ll probably travel solo for the first part of the trip (maybe with a friend), and later my boyfriend will join me for a bit.

Not really looking for TikTok/tourist recommendations, more interested in personal experiences, random places you unexpectedly loved, hidden gems, best nature spots, quieter islands, good atmospheres, underground music/bar scenes etc.

Would love to hear any recommendations/stories from people who travelled Thailand and Vietnam!! 🙂 Please help me out. Thank you!

(And yes i am aware that it’s rainy season when i’m going.)

Hi All,

My friends will be meeting me in Asia after I complete a month of summer school in Singapore. We have booked Malaysia Thailand Vietnam and Indonesia. Between the last day of my summer school and the day they meet me I have 10 days.

Id love to relax, meet people and enjoy the sun. It would be between 18/19 July to 27 July. Which country would be best in terms of weather and cheapest? My options are Phillipines, Cambodia, Laos or just Indonesia alone even though I'll be going with them as Ive heard such good things about the weather and social life.

Any advice and opinions will help. Thanks!