r/southeastasia

Hey everyone!

I’m planning a **35-day trip around Southeast Asia**, and I’ll be spending around **15 days in Vietnam**, starting in the **south after Cambodia** and finishing in **Hanoi**. I’d love to hear advice from people who have travelled around Vietnam before!

How would you recommend dividing the **15 days**?
Which places would you recommend between the south and Hanoi?

Where would you recommend staying?

Any recommendations for **food, nature, beaches, cities, activities or hidden gems**?
What’s the best way to travel between destinations
— **train, bus or flights**?

Thanks! 🙏🇻🇳

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some recommendations on destinations for a trip with a group of friends and their partners. We'd be around 8-10 people in total and spread all over the world (California, Belgium, Dubai, Canada, and the Philippines), so accessibility is something we'll need to consider.

Our initial idea was Bali. The plan was to rent a large villa and spend a week hanging out together while doing a few activities. The challenge is that about half the group has already been there several times. For others, including myself, Bali isn't necessarily a bucket-list destination.

I'm not particularly interested in heavy tourism, overpriced attractions, influencer culture, or some of the stereotypes Bali has become known for. I'd much rather find a destination that's a bit more authentic, affordable, and easygoing while still offering plenty to do.

I've been looking at a few alternatives:

* **Lombok**: Seems more relaxed and less crowded than Bali, but I'm wondering if it might be *too* quiet. We still enjoy going out for drinks, live music, bars, and the occasional night out.
* **Chiang Mai**: I've heard great things, although I've only been to Bangkok. Not sure if it would provide enough nightlife and social activities for a larger group, and I've heard it's become fairly touristy.
* **Chengdu, China**: This is currently my favorite option. Amazing food, relatively inexpensive accommodation, lots of bars and nightlife, and it appears to be less tourist-focused than many Southeast Asian destinations.

Does anyone have experience with these places or other recommendations that might fit what we're looking for?

We're all in our late 30s to 40s and looking for somewhere that is:

* Lively but not a party destination
* Not overly touristy
* Reasonably affordable
* Good food and nightlife
* Interesting culture and things to explore
* Suitable for a group villa or similar accommodation

I'd love to hear any suggestions or insights. Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone!
I’m planning a **35-day trip around Southeast Asia**, and I’ll be spending around **7 days in Laos**. I’m trying to figure out the best way to make the most of those 7 days and would love to hear advice from people who have travelled around Laos before!

I’m currently thinking about visiting places like **Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane**, but I’m still completely open to suggestions.
How would you recommend dividing the **7 days**?

Where would you recommend staying in **Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and/or Vientiane**?

Any recommendations for **waterfalls, temples, nature, viewpoints, activities or nightlife**?

What’s the best way to **travel between destinations** \- train, bus, etc.?

Thanks! 🙏🇱🇦

Hi! I am backpacking SE Asia starting in January. I'm looking at 4 weeks in Vietnam going south to north and would love a rough itinerary with time for the ha giang loop at the end (places to skip - places that are a must go - etc!). I’ve done a lot of research and the places I want to stop at keep growing but I know I don’t have time to go to all the places so I’m just looking for people’s top destinations and places they could have gone without stopping at. Thanks!

Hi! I’m planning my first solo trip around Southeast Asia for around 3 months, starting in October.
I’ve already been to Thailand for 15 days (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phi Phi and Phuket), but I still have a lot left to see, especially northern Thailand and islands like Koh Tao.
My plan is to travel through Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines as well.
I’m unsure whether I should fly into Bangkok and start with the parts of Thailand I missed, which might be an easy/social way to start my first solo trip, or fly directly somewhere completely new like Vietnam/Indonesia and leave Thailand for another time.
For people who have done a similar solo trip, what would you choose?

Hi! Im from the US, and im starting to plan my HS graduation trip. I would love to go to southeast asia for a week, im a big fan of the food, culture, and from what ive seen, the nature is incredible. Its very hard to choose so I’d love some insight and advice from people who have went to any of the three in the title.

Some deciding factors are how nice/welcoming the people are, how easy it is to get around, how much there is to do, and where can I get the biggest bang for my buck? Im also into spas and wellness centers if anyone knows anything about that

Ive also heard that in Vietnam and Thailand shopping and getting clothing made is popular. Is that true? How is the quality?

I’ve shaved down and changed my itinerary a few times now, I just want it finalised so I can book accommodation.
Background is we are two friends in our late 20s, we like the beach, good cocktails and good food. We enjoy some nightlife but nothing crazy, don’t want to be partying with 20 year olds or staying out all night. However we do enjoy going out to a certain extent. Mainly looking to do cool activities, eat good food and relax on nice beaches.
Here’s my itinerary:

2 nights Bangkok
5 nights Phuket
3 nights Koh lanta
4 nights Krabi
2 nights Koh sok
1 night Bangkok before flying home in the evening on day 18

Please advise on whether this is doable

Thanks!

Hey everyone! 23F here, this’ll be my second international trip and I’m stuck between two options and could really use some real experience.

**Option 1: Thailand — Sept mid to end (8 days)** Route would be Bangkok → Pattaya → Phuket → Krabi. I really want the city + nightlife + island combo, but everything I’m reading says September is peak monsoon on the Andaman coast (Phuket/Krabi side) and I’m worried about rain wrecking the island days or rough seas cancelling boat trips to Phi Phi.

**Option 2: Same route but Sept 30–Oct 8**
This is the latest I can push my dates. Would this actually make a meaningful difference weather-wise, or is it still too early to expect decent conditions?

**Option 3: Bali instead**
I know September is supposed to be Bali’s best month weather-wise (dry season), but I’d be trading Thailand’s nightlife/city energy for Bali’s beach-club vibe instead, which isn’t quite the same thing I’m looking for.
I’ll be travelling either solo or with a friend. Really want the Phi Phi Island experience if I go Thailand.

**Questions for anyone who’s actually been:**
If you’ve done Phuket/Krabi in September or early October, was it actually bad, or is the “monsoon” fear overblown?

Did boat trips to Phi Phi/Maya Bay run fine, or did you get cancellations?

Would you personally choose the early-Oct window over Bali if nightlife + islands both matter to you?

Appreciate any real experiences over travel blog fluff 🙏

I would like to visit on a low budget (from 5k to 10k euros) for a married couple (30M and 33F) a 3 to 6 months trip visiting:

- Japan (we have already seen Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka - I also visited alone Kobe and Akita preferacture).

- China (we have already seen Beijing, Xi'An, and Shangai)

- Vietnam (we have never been)

- Other places you suggest

We will flight from Italy (Rome probably), and we won't have a job when getting back (we will search a new one around Europe).

Which cities do you advice us to visit and what plan do you suggest to stay on budget?

I had made plans to go to Thailand and Vietnam for a solo trip in late August to October. I wanted to go to Bangkok, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Chiang Mai, Hoi An, Hanoi, Ha Giang, and more.

I had picked my flights and was gonna buy today.

But, I’ve seen 2 things that concern me, and I’m having serious doubts:

1. The weather: I underestimated this. I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal. Until I did more research. And saw that most places flood, Chiang is terrible, Hoi A gets typhoons, etc. Overall this does not sound like a very pleasant experience. Not at all the same thing as “short rain in the afternoon” like it is described.

2. Crowds: I wanted to stay in social hostels. And do the party trail. But I hear that this is the low season. Granted, I don’t know what “low” means, but this also puts me off.

Can I ask for some opinions. What is it like? Is it worth doing it now or waiting till December/next summer?

35 day trip planned would like help with some itinerary

Landing Bangkok on 12/31 and fly back out of Bangkok on 2/3. Our plan is to split the time between Vietnam and Thailand

12/31 -1/2 ✈️land Bangkok recover from time change and eat

1/2 ✈️flight to Hanoi stay one night

1/3 🚙private transfer to Ha Giang Loop

1/4 🏍️start Ha Giang loop 3d2n motorbike tour 1/7 private transfer Ninh Binh stay 2nights

1/9 -1/13🚙transfer to Hanoi stay 2-4 nights? Day trip to Han La Bay (is this too much time in Hanoi?)

1/13-1/17✈️fly to Hoi An 4 nights. (We have omitted Saigon but should we trade Hoi a for Saigon or shuffle other dates?) this is where we will do spa days, shopping, tailored clothes, etc..

1/17 -1/21✈️ fly to Chaing Mai 4 nights. Flower gardens, Doi Inthanon, hiking, temples & food.

1/21-1/22✈️ fly to Krabi stay one night

1/22 - 2/27 🚙🚤 Koh Lanta 5 nights. Scuba diving, snorkeling and relaxing

1/27 🚤🚙✈️ Bangkok

we have 7 unplanned nights here.

2/3 ✈️✈️leave BKK

Since we have the time should we:

* opt to add another location: Sapa, Phú Quốc,Ban Gioc, Similan Islands

* Extend or shorten somewhere else.

* Is Koh Lipe a better bet than Koh Lanta.

* What are your must see places, restaurants we need to eat at, spas or tailors.

* Recommendations on places to stay at these locations. Is it better to go with a hotel, private rental ect.

For reference, we are in our 30s. We like to experience the culture of places we go, have good local food owned by local families. We do not drink & are not interested in nightlife or parties. We are more of an athletic, adventure type.

Hi! I’m 33F and planning a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia in November with my 65-year-old mum, and I’d love some advice from people who really know these countries.

My mum is extremely fit, active and adventurous and is absolutely capable of “slumming it” when needed. We’re both very happy to stay somewhere basic, eat street food, take local transport, etc - but I’d also love to mix that with a few really lovely, luxury stays along the way.

Our priorities are:
Culture, beaches, hikes / mountains / jungles / dramatic scenery, really good food & restaurants, Surfing (I’d love to get a few sessions in, so where would actually have good conditions in November?)

Thanks!

Hey everyone! Me and my boyfriend are planning on going backpacking around Asia, we’re hoping to leave around December time and go for 6 months.

We plan to go to 10 countries:

- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Laos
- Cambodia
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Indonesia
- Singapore
- China
- Japan

We saved £10k each, I hope that’s enough? Any opinions?

I also wanted to get opinions on what bag, shoes to take and what to pack in general I’m really worried about overpacking but also about underpacking, it’s our first backpacking trip.

How many tops, shorts, trousers etc would you bring of each category?

So at the moment the bag that I’m thinking of getting is the fairview 55l backpack, what are your opinions on it? Or the 40l but I’m worried that’ll be too small, I will also get a day pack but I can see one is included in the 55l

For the shoes I’m looking at the Solomon ultra glide 4 and for the sandals I’m looking at the teva hurricane xlt2, any opinions on these? And will 2 shoes be enough? 🫣

Also any general tips welcome and would be very much appreciated :)

I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Southeast Asia and just made a sample itinerary for myself, but i can already tell it’s ambitious, what would you cut out and why?

some background info: i’m 31F, traveling from US, planning to go early next year maybe jan/feb. i’ve been to thailand before (chiang mai, bangkok, krabi, phuket, phi phi). I have dreams constantly that i’m going back to thailand (it’s been 6 years) and that’s why i started planning this trip, but once i started looking into it i was drawn to new countries more.

anywho here’s the initial ideas:

🔸fly into hanoi, vietnam (2 days)
🔸bus/train to sapa (2 days)
🔸bus to ha giang (3 day motor tour easy rider)
🔸bus to haiphong, ha long bay (2 days)
🔸flight to da nang, beach and travel to dong hoi caves (2 days)
🔸travel to ho chi minh city (3 days)
🔸bus to kaput cambodia, go to koh rong (3 days)
🔸bus to siem reap (2 days)
🔸bus to phnom penh (mostly because it seems cheaper/easier to get to bangkok from here) (2 days)
🔸fly to bangkok (2 days)
🔸fly back to us

any tips are appreciated including what to cut out, specific recs for these places, or what you’d do differently in general.

I’m going to go south east asia next year as a 22 year old for about 10ish weeks, id love to do longer but wouldnt be able to. (Unless I flew back and fourth from uk which would add an extra four weeks but dont know if that’d be worth it)

I’d be going from August till October so was thinking of something like this:

\- Singapore for 3/4 days (I have a friend I’m going to visit there)
\- Malaysia for 14 days
\- Indonesia for 4 weeks
\- Vietnam for 4 weeks (towards October so weather is better)

I’ve heard Thailand weather isn’t great that time of year so im not sure if I should skip and come back in a few years.

I do really want to spend a month in vietnam it’s definitely the place im looking forward to the most.

How does this sound or should I spend less time in some areas to explore others? I even wanted to fit in Sydney as I have a few friends there but only so much you can do in 10 weeks 🥲

Preferably stating reasons why you prefer to travel to one over the other