r/southeastasia

We are currently on a three-week trip through Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand) and something feels genuinely off compared to what we expected. Hanoi and Bangkok were busy enough, but basically everywhere else has been surprisingly, sometimes eerily quiet.

A few examples from the past two weeks:

We were the only guests in multiple restaurants in a row, not once or twice but pretty consistently outside of the two capitals. Siem Reap’s town center felt like a ghost town in the evening. Our hotel in Chiang Mai has four rooms occupied out of however many they have. We booked what was advertised as a group tour at an elephant sanctuary, showed up, and it turned out to be just the two of us, so we got a full private experience.

Do not get us wrong, we are not complaining about the elephant thing. But the overall vibe is strange. You can feel that businesses are struggling. Staff outnumber guests at a lot of places. Some spots that clearly used to be buzzing feel like they are just holding on.

So what is actually happening here? We have been debating it between ourselves:

Is this just low/shoulder season and we had unrealistic expectations? Is the broader economic situation keeping people home (flights are expensive, cost of living pressure everywhere)? Could the ongoing situation with Iran and regional instability be putting people off Southeast Asia as a whole, even though it is far away?
Curious whether others traveling right now are noticing the same thing, or whether this is specific to the spots we chose. Would love to hear from people who live or work in the region too.

I’m a single 53y/o guy that’s looking at planning/taking a trip (solo) in June/July and trying to decide between Thailand (Bangkok and Koh Samui) or Vietnam (HCMC and Da Nang). Weather? Energy? and etc. looking for honest no YouTube or IG hype opinion/opinions on which is the better fit? any advice is appreciate!

Hey guys, I’m a 20 yrs old solo traveller and planning to visit Peninsular/West Coast Malaysia for around 14 days in mid/late September...

I’m mainly interested in places like cameron highlands, the french & japanese village, george Town/Penang, Langkawi and similar areas around West Malaysia.

I wanted to ask people who’ve visited around that time !!! how’s the weather usually in september there??? I don’t mind occasional rain, but I’m worried about long continuous rain that could stop me from exploring or ruin multiple days of the trip.....

I’ve heard mixed opinions online and some people say september isn’t a great month for the west coast. Is that actually true in reality?

Hi!! I'm a 18 year old from Canada, who plans to take a GAP YEAR, and Solo Backpack SEA for the first time!!!

I can't choose whether to backpack SEA for around 3 months in Oct1/Oct16 or Nov 1? I have been debating this because of weather, seasons, events, special occasions, etc., that may affect my experience, depending on my starting date.

I roughly plan on going from Thailand (1 Month) -> **Laos (**5-7 Days) -> Vietnam (3-4 Weeks) -> Philippines (3 weeks ) -> Indonesia (3 weeks), in that order.

I want to go snorkeling in Philippines, and Indonesia / or Thailand. I want to do Ha Giang Loop, El Nido to Coron Boat Tour, East Java Tour, Mount Bromo tour, Slow Boat in Laos, Quad Biking in Bali, and a Ton More! I also want to socialize a ton, as I feel like I have wasted my teen years sitting on my gaming chair. I'm not a drinker, but I sure do love my iced coffees and other mixes, I also enjoy snacking A Lot.

Feel Free to suggest other start dates, though just keep it between Sept - mid Nov.

My Budget is €5.3k - €6.3k. (Yes, I put the price in €EU to make it easier for most of you)
^^^Including Flights ^^^^

Note: If go Nov 1, then I get extra month of work, which means **€**2k Euro Extra to budget.

After I come back from SEA, I plan to work really hard for 2-3 months and head off to Backpacking Europe for 3 months.

Thank you so much for dedicating your awesome time to reading this! and, please feel free to share any other tips if you'd like!

I'm 19 and planning my first international trip...Stuck between Thailand and Malaysia and honestly can't decide....like my main priority is islands, nature and scenic beauty ....( something calm, peaceful and not too overcrowded ) Trip will be around 10-13 days. Which one would you recommend and why?

Hi all! Me and my girlfriend have been backpacking for the last 2 weeks through Thailand starting from Bangkok. We visited the beautiful Koh Tao, then went south towards Khao Sok and now we’re in the region of Krabi in Ao Nang. Here the weather is rly bad, since the monsoon season came a bit earlier this year, on the West coast there are rly heavy showers and storms.

We booked the plane back to the NL in 10 days from Kuala Lumpur and I was wondering if it might be better for us to explore the east coast (and islands) of Malaysia. Does anyone have some information about the current weather conditions in that area? Other tips of fellow backpackers are also very much appreciated!! 🎒🤠

I seem to be trying to find a perfect utopia - which is not possible - but ideally I would have mountains and the beach within 30 or so minutes somewhere in Southeast Asia with enough people to make the area feel alive and more sunny days than not. It’s fine if it rains for a few hours but the sun being out every day for extended periods of time matters. Being able to rent a motorbike easily to get around matters too.

Here are some of the places I’m debating:

Cebu City: Smaller mountains in the backdrop but the beach seems to be a good hour away. Rainy season is also starting.

Da Nang: Has both but lacks the “authenticity” that everyone seems to crave. Water is also pretty rough. Mountains aren’t really within 30 minutes either, Marble “Mountains”not included.

Krabi: Beaches about as great as they come and Dragon’s Nest is at least an enjoyable hike, but it’s rainy season now. The rain would be the largest drawback.

Bali: Ocean is beautiful, albeit rough. Can surf some and eat well and focus on fitness. But the mountains are not close to the ocean, at least in Uluwatu.

Kuala Lumper: Never been outside of the airport, but no ocean right in the area. Does have mountains/hiking nearby. Can’t really motorbike either (no motorcycle license) which is a big deal.

Sri Lanka: Not sure how close the mountains are to non Colombo beaches but it’s raining a ton now, as far as I know. Colombo is too far from trekking. I want to be able to hike easily any day I want, proximity wise, even if they are smaller hikes.

Hello! I’m currently backpacking the Balkans and plan to end my trip here around June 21 and plan to head over to SEA afterwards and was looking for recommendations.

I visited Vietnam in December for two weeks getting the ha giang loop, Hanoi, & Saigon out of the way which honestly made me fall in love with backpacking and I’ve been dying to go back to SEA ever since, I have no set timeline and I know it’s rainy season in much of the region so it’s not the best time to do it but I left my job earlier this month so now’s better than never 🤣 but with the rain would it be a bad idea to still checkout Laos, Cambodia, the rest of Vietnam & then head down to Indonesia? Orrrrrr, I’m open to honestly any recommendations

Hi everyone,

I’m planning an approximately 10-week solo trip through Southeast Asia and would love a sanity check from people who know the region well.

I’m a 40-year-old male solo traveller. My travel style is a mix of culture, nature, some comfort, and a few adventure highlights. I don’t want to rush too much, but I also want to make good use of the time. I usually prefer private rooms over dorms, and I’m okay with some long travel days if they make sense.

The main things I’d like to include are Angkor, the Gibbon Experience in Laos, Phong Nha caves, the Ha Giang Loop, Singapore, Khao Sok / Cheow Lan Lake, and a relaxed beach ending in South Thailand.

Thailand

• Bangkok – 3 nights
• Ayutthaya – 2 nights
• Night train to Chiang Mai – 1 night
• Chiang Mai – 9 nights
• Chiang Rai – 2 nights

Laos

• Gibbon Experience Classic – 3 days / 2 nights
• Slow boat to Luang Prabang – 2 travel day
• Luang Prabang – 3 nights

Cambodia

• Siem Reap / Angkor – 6 nights

Vietnam

• Da Nang / Hoi An – 4 nights
• Phong Nha – 5 nights
• Ninh Binh – 4 nights
• Ha Giang Loop area – 6 nights
• Hanoi – 5 nights

Singapore

• Singapore – 3 nights

South Thailand

• Khao Sok / Cheow Lan Lake – 4 nights
• Ko Lanta (Beach) – 7 nights
• Bangkok --> Home

What I’d love feedback on:

1. Does the overall pacing look reasonable, or are there sections that feel too rushed?
2. Is the Ha Giang Loop worth keeping in this route at this time of the year (End February/Beginning March), or should I build in a backup plan?
3. Are there places where I should plan ahead, or areas where it’s better to stay flexible? Espacially as it is high season at this time.

I’m especially interested in practical feedback from people who have travelled similar Southeast Asia routes.

Thanks a lot!

I have 5 nights unacounted for as part of a longer trip in Jan 27 and I'm struggling to come up with the right plan. Has anyone got any unusual wildlife or adventure ideas (as in ones that I might not have come across). The five night gap would either be between Bangkok and Siem Reap or Siem Reap and Jakarta.

lookin to do a solo trip to SE asia (vietnam, thailand, cambodia) has anyone done anything similar?
Any advice on the best way to book to save, i’m looking to go mid december to mid january so i know the prices are gonna be higher due to the holiday season but any advice/pointers would be great!

my budget is around 4k cad all in (is this realistic?), i’m interested in street food and historical sites, im Vietnamese and have been back however spent most of my time in the middle and southern regions, would love to explore the north of vietnam.

im flying out of calgary alberta canada if that helps!

Hey everyone… planing on going from Ho Chi Min City to Phnom Phen with bus. I was going to buy an E-Visa in advance because iam not quite sure if the visa on arrival will work on a traffic border?

Would love to hear some opinions if somebody is experienced on this border
Thanks😁

Hi all! To get straight to the point, I’m travelling to Australia this June for the month to visit a friend I made abroad. However, my boyfriend wants to do his own travels and meet me close by, potentially Indonesia? He has travelled there before, but wants to go there with me since it’s nearby and it will be a while without seeing each other. For those who have travelled with there s/o, was it affordable? Is it worth it? How much should I put aside to potentially meet him there? And how long could I stay with maybe 3k? I’m estimating to have that much left after my travels in Australia.

I appreciate any and all advice!! :)

Taking a career break and traveling SE Asia from early June through mid July for about 37 days total. I'm really into being active, wellness, beauty and shopping, and would love to meet people along the way. Here's how I've planned to spend the time but would love feedback on whether this makes sense or if I'm missing anything obvious:

Thailand

• Bangkok — 3 days
• Chiang Mai — 6 days (day trip to Chiang Rai — White Temple, Golden Triangle)
• Koh Tao — 5 days

Vietnam

• Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon — 3 days
• Da Nang — 6 days (day trips to Hội An for tailoring, An Bang Beach, Old Town, basket boats)

Bali, Indonesia

• Nusa Lembongan — 3 days
• Ubud — 6 days (day trip to Jatiluwih UNESCO rice terraces)
• Seminyak — 2 days
• Uluwatu — 4 days (day trips to Padang Padang, Bingin and Balangan beaches, Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple)

Hey all, I am flying out for my first visit to Asia on May 25. I will be spending about a month in Japan before (in theory) heading to Vietnam and perhaps other mainland countries of SE Asia. Initially I had not imagined going during this time of year for heat reasons, but once i found out my friend was working in Tokyo for the summer I thought might as well check out SE Asia since I'll already be flying across the Pacific. I'm having last minute hesitations about weather, especially since I'm pretty active and will want to go hiking, etc. I was most excited about Vietnam (especially the north) and while I've read that people still have good experiences in the country in July/August, it sounds like the north is pretty brutal in terms of weather. I'm also concerned about motorbiking with heavy rain/storm risks. Since I don't have flights or anything else booked, I'm considering other countries during these months. I have been looking into Mongolia, Central Asia perhaps, or even Indonesia since it seems drier during this time and has good diving conditions (I'm certified). Mongolia or Central Asia would presumably be a very different travel experience and I might consider bringing some camping gear and probably more clothing. If anyone has any thoughts about this concern or experiences/recommendations I would love to hear anything! Thank you 😄

I have currently been traveling around Thailand for over 2 months now, flew into Bangkok, I stayed on Koh samui for a month in an airbnb, traveled to Chiang Mai, Pai, Hua Hin,Ko Pha-Ngan for the full moon party which was insane, Phuket and am currently on the island of Koh Phi Phi where they filmed the movie “The Beach”. From here I plan to work my way into Malaysia, then work my way over to Singapore and catch a ferry into Indonesia and Bali, I plan on staying in or around Bali for a month or so, I need to figure out the visa situation there. I am basically looking for a home base, a seaside town most likely right outside a larger town I can use as a hub, somewhere with a slower pace by the beach where I can set up a routine and enjoy life at 67 years old. I was born in Dallas Texas, lived in Florida for 30 years and have no family left, I have a small storage unit back in Texas I will eventually move over here.

I am heading to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia and I was wanting tips on what shoes I should bring. I want to do a bit of everything (hiking, walking around the city, surfing etc)
Thanks guys ✌️