April 16th, 2024 |Â By:Â Grace Kim
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Southeast Asia is the hub for backpackers, travelers, nature lovers, and solo travelers. Coupled with vibrant cultures and incredible landscapes, Southeast Asia has some of the most diverse ethnic groups and regions in the world. There’s good reason as to why hundreds and thousands of people from all over the world spend 3 or even 6+ more months backpacking Southeast Asia and never want to leave.
During my Southeast Asia trip, I spent 7 months solo traveling across Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. While exploring and photographing everything these countries has to offer, I’ll admit that I’ve also made so many mistakes throughout my trip. From learning about respect to religion and cultural gestures, I’ve come up with the perfect list of do’s and don’ts and everything you need to know before your Southeast Asia trip.
Whether you’re planning on backpacking or traveling solo, there’s a reason why Southeast Asia is known as the Land of Smiles. Southeast Asia offers something for every traveler that even if you only have a couple of days to explore, there are endless things to do that will make you want to come back for more.
How to Plan For Your Southeast Asia Trip
I didn’t really know how I should’ve planned for my trip as my travels were indefinite at the time. Thailand was the first country on my list as I was visiting towards the tail end of the global shutdown. Besides Thailand, most countries in Southeast Asia were still closed off, entry rules were changing by the day, and I didn’t really know what was accessible. With time, I was able to navigate my journey through forums, online groups, and reaching out to digital nomads who were already there.
More countries were opening up by the month, and I was luckily able to visit more countries with the right documentation and talking to local travelers once I got there. Thankfully, while writing this post in 2024, you don’t need half the documents to enter, like having proof of vaccinations and a negative covid test, but it is still important to make sure that you’re not sick and healthy before your arrival.
When is the best time to go?
The best time to visit Southeast Asia is between the end of October – April, which is during the dry season.
The best time to visit Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Cambodia is between October – March. When I initially got to Southeast Asia, I arrived to Thailand in January and I couldn’t have asked for better weather. I then went back in June and the weather was humid, muggy, and rainy. I also visited Vietnam in June and it started raining daily towards the end of the month.
For Indonesia and Malaysia, the best time to visit is between May – September. I visited Indonesia and Malaysia in July and the weather was more than perfect.
Preparing for rainy season
If you’re looking to travel Southeast Asia for months at a time, high chance that you’ll be traveling through the rainy months. During monsoon season, the rain is inevitable and unpredictable. A lot of the time, you won’t come across just regular, light rain, but hard, humid rain.
Keep in mind that rainy season is between the end of May – October. Since the peaks vary by country, I recommend bringing at least 2 disposable rain jackets and a small, travel size umbrella. Since I was already carrying my photography backpack, I made sure I had these items with me at all times and found myself using them everyday during rainy season.
With that being said, girls, if you are planning on getting your hair done for the day, it is not worth it. My hair always frizzed up, even if I was only going for a quick food run for 10 minutes. Recently, I got the Dyson Airwrap and just thinking about doing my hair just to get it ruined in minutes would be such a waste of time.
What is the best route to travel Southeast Asia?
Since all countries in Southeast Asia are relatively close together, I recommend starting off in Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok is Thailand’s largest city, and is where a lot of people start their Southeast Asia journey. You’ll most likely fly into Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) airport, which is Bangkok’s main airport, and has 700-800 domestic and international flights flying everyday.
Depending on how much time you have to explore Southeast Asia, you’ll want to visit at least two cities/districts in Thailand. During my 7 months in Southeast Asia, I spent two months in Thailand, visited 5 districts, and barely felt like I scratched the surface. I bought a one way to Bangkok and purposely didn’t plan further since I wanted to get travel advice from the locals and other travelers. I’m glad I did that because there’s just so much to do in Bangkok. However, if you don’t have as much time as I had to visit, I still recommend starting off your journey in Bangkok.
Flights are very cheap, compared to the US and western Europe. On average, I spent around $30 flying domestically, and $140 for last minute international flights, all while traveling with a big luggage and two backpacks. I bought a one-way flight from from Bangkok to Krabi for $40, which included the price of my luggage. Last minute flights in the US would cost me anywhere between $500-700, so the prices in Southeast Asia were a steal.
VISAs
Before entering into any country, the most important thing to have is your VISA. Because every country has different VISA requirements, double checking that you have all the needed documents through the “dot gov” websites is the most important and the most accurate.
At least 1.5 weeks before traveling to the next country, I made sure that I had all the needed documents before entering. There are some countries, like Indonesia, where you can get a VISA for $30 upon arrival, but others, like Vietnam, where they will not let you step foot into the country without one.
Since my goal was to visit as many cities and countries as I was able to, I only stayed in countries for as long as my tourist VISA allowed me to. Each tourist VISA allowed me to stay in each country for up to 30 days and if I wanted to, there were always ways to extend my stays.
What to pack? How to pack?
Throughout the year, the weather is consistently hot, which makes packing a bit easier, compared to countries with seasons. But how much should you pack for a long term, Southeast Asia trip?
During my 7 month Southeast Asia trip, my wardrobe wasn’t extensive, and I had just the right amount of clothes to stand the heat. I brought at least 10 days worth of underwear, 4 tank tops, 2 shorts, 1 sweater, a pair jeans, leggings, 1 light sweater, 1 thick sweater, 1 flowy dress, 1 pair of sneakers, and 1 pair of sandals. This was more than enough as you’ll be able t o find laundromats almost everywhere. There were even some hotels that offered laundry service to and from the hotel.
Thinking that I was going to go hiking, I brought a pair of hiking shoes, but it is not something you necessarily need to bring. I almost regret bringing them because they took up a lot of space in my luggage. However, I wore them once during my 2 day hike in Sapa, Vietnam, and that trek made it worth lugging around with me for months.
Was I worried I wasn’t going to have enough clothing? In the beginning, yes. But you’ll realize that you have more than enough, and even stop caring about rewearing your clothing because of how hot it gets everyday.
If you happen to under pack and are in desperate need of new clothes, no need to worry because there are markets everywhere. From food markets to walking streets, you’re going to want to shop and no matter how small the city may be, the options to buy clothes are endless.
Ladies, it’s important to note that when you visit temples, you will not be let in unless you have clothing that falls below your knees, and tops that cover your shoulders. I had no idea before my visit, so I ended up buying a handful of flowy pants and dresses. I also kept an extremely light sweater, or a wrap in my bag, so that I would be able to get into these temples.
Bring your own medicine
Although there are medical practices, hospitals, and doctors found all around, nothing is better than the comfort of taking your own medicine. You already know what type of medicine works for you, and you don’t have to be worried about wondering how you will react to certain medications.
There were a couple of times that I got sick and was relieved that I had brought medication back from home. I brought Advil, Tylenol, Airborne, and Vitamin C packs and used every single one of them throughout my trip.
Is traveling in Southeast Asia safe?
Yes. Traveling in Southeast Asia is extremely safe. I never felt scared or worried for my safety, and I genuinely felt safer traveling alone as a woman in Southeast Asia than in some parts of the US.
During my time in Vietnam, I came across a situation at the airport where I thought I saw a man with a gun and I was panicking. I was all by myself, didn’t know what to do, and escaped into a lounge before my flight. Once I was safe and got all settled in the lounge, I recorded my experience and scared it on my Youtube channel. Locals commented on my video and said that it’s actually illegal to own a gun in Vietnam, and that you can potentially go to jail. Although I was scared out of my mind, I was safe and my assumptions were just incorrect.
Is traveling in Southeast Asia solo travel friendly?
Southeast Asia is one of the most solo travel friendly places in the world. Besides one off situations like the one mentioned above, I felt extremely safe and never felt threatened traveling by myself. Believe it or not, but more people were friendlier to me because I was traveling alone.
Obviously, wherever you go in the world, you want to take precaution of yourself and your safety. There were things that I always make sure I did to ensure my safety, such as sharing my location with friends and family on the Find My Friends App, update Instagram Stories, and have backups of everything.
During my travels, I also met a handful of other solo travelers who are still some of my closest friends till this day. Since so many people are traveling and have the same mindset as you, it’s extremely easy to make friends. So if you’re looking to do the same, I’ve put together 5+ years of experience and everything you should know before taking your first solo trip.
Backpacking Southeast Asia
(Shop my favorite camera bag in teal)
Backpacking is the easiest and most convenient way to explore Southeast Asia. It’s cheap, extremely affordable, and the quickest way to get from country to country.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t necessarily backpack Southeast Asia for a couple of reasons. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I already have a designated camera bag with me at all times. So if I added that into an even larger backpack, I wouldn’t have had space for anything else.
Luckily, I never had any trouble getting anywhere because my luggage was in the way of things. Plus, there were kind people everywhere I went who helped me carry my luggage getting to the airport and hotels. And if you are flying with a checked in luggage, just make sure to get to the airport a bit earlier than you normally would because of the long lines.
Compared to the US, checked in luggage is really inexpensive. When traveling in Vietnam, I paid max $13 to check in my luggage flying anywhere in the country. Leaving Cambodia was the most expensive, costing me $60 for checked in luggage. Every time I flew with Philippines Airlines, checking in luggage cost me a flat rate of $50. There were a handful of times that my checked in luggage cost more than the actual plane ticket itself. At the end of the day, I had no choice since my luggage was my home and I was willing to pay for it no matter the price.
Additionally, no matter how you’re planning on traveling Southeast Asia, I highly recommend bringing a fanny pack as well. Whether you’re in Vietnam, Cambodia, or the Philippines, you never want to have your phone out on the streets and potentially get it snatched. I never left my hotel without my fanny pack and always brought it with me, even if it was quick, 10 minute convenient store run.
Where to get a SIM card? Should you get a SIM card?
Depending on your length of stay and phone carrier, you could opt in for your phone carriers international phone plan. However, because I didn’t know how long I was going to be traveling in Southeast Asia for, I found it easier and more cost efficient getting a physical SIM in each country. On average, I was paying ~$8-10 for a SIM card with at least 20GB for 30 days.
Did I buy my SIM cards at the airport? No, I did not, but easily could have. They are usually more expensive, and the lines are usually long. I always found it easier and cheaper getting SIM cards downtown, and never had issues retrieving them.
The other reason why I always preferred getting a physical over a virtual SIM card is because I would also receive a local number. This was super helpful because if I ever wanted to call a hotel to confirm my booking or a tour company, I never had an issue. There were also a handful of times when I could get calls from a taxi or motorbike driver to confirm of their arrival when I would order them through the taxi ride apps.
Recently, I got the iPhone 15 Pro Max and unfortunately, it doesn’t have the option to insert a physical SIM card. So as an alternative option, I have been using Airalo to get access to a virtual SIM card. Is this my preferred method? Ultimately, no because I don’t have the option to get a local phone number anymore, but I’ve been having good experiences with Airalo.
Download the Grab App
If I didn’t get data and a SIM card until I got into town, then how did I get from the airport to my hotel? In every airport, there is very good working WiFi.
Although there are lines of taxi drivers at the airport, I always called my first car through the Grab App, which is like the Uber of Southeast Asia. Plus, since my Grab account is already connected to my credit card, I didn’t have to worry about exchanging money, and was easily able to call a car from the airport to my first hotel.
With the Grab App, you can also request motorbike drivers, tuk-tuks, food, and even door to door delivery services.
Take public transportation
Along with taxi service apps, a trip to Southeast Asia would not be complete without taking other means of transportation, like trains, motorbikes, sleeper buses, and tuk-tuks.
Time to time, I miss driving in the back on tuk-tuks with open doors, sharing sleeper buses with random people, and renting motorbikes for the day.
International Health Insurance
No matter where you decide to travel outside of your home country, it’s crucial to have international health insurance. Just in case anything happens to you abroad, you know that you’ll be covered. Prior to leaving for Southeast Asia, I made sure that I opted into health coverage with SafetyWing. Not only did I have an ease of mind traveling for long periods of time, but I also didn’t feel nervous about potentially having to pay large amounts of money in case I had serious doctor visits.
Depending on your age and country, the price of your coverage may vary. SafetyWing cost me $42 a month and I was able to cancel my plan at anytime. However, just note that you need to have your insurance plan active for at least a month before it becomes effective for use.
ATM Fees
Isn’t it a pain knowing that whenever you want to exchange and withdraw money from the ATM, that you’re going to be charged a withdrawal fee? That’s why for every international trip, I make sure my Charles Schwab Debit Card is always in my wallet. With this debit card, you’ll avoid having to get charged with ATM withdrawal fees and international transaction fees.
How it works is that when you withdraw money from an ATM, you’ll see the withdrawal fee, but you get it back at the end of every month. I’ve saved hundreds, if not at least a thousand dollars on ATM fees because of my Charles Schwab Debit Card. Also because I was traveling solo, it was an ease of mind not having to carry huge amounts of cash at one time and feeling like a target.
Download Skype
These days, there are so many ways to contact people from all around the world for free. I contacted my friends and family back home using FaceTime, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc. But let’s say that you need to call a specific number that you can’t contact through a social media app. Skype calling should be your go to. International calling is not cheap and you will save hundreds of dollars through Skype Calling.
On average, I paid about $5 per month with Skype calling and I used it at least once or twice a month. To say the least, it has been a life saver. Plus, if you are planning on calling someone who is also using Skype Calling, calls are free.
How is the WiFi?
There is extremely fast and reliable WiFi all across Southeast Asia. Because there are a lot of travelers who are traveling all year around, businesses know that having good, reliable WiFi is important. I’ve never had an issue getting access to WiFi at cafes and restaurants, and they are always free to use.
Along with fast and reliable WiFi, having a VPN is extremely handy. There were a handful of times where I couldn’t get access to view certain websites because my IP address was not in the states. So having an active VPNÂ service, like NordVPN was a lifesaver, allowing me to access those websites while traveling abroad.
Carry extra tissues and hand sanitizer at all times
No matter where in Southeast Asia you’re traveling to, I can’t stress enough how important it is to have extra tissues and hand sanitizer on hand. There have been countless instances where I’d use a bathroom with no toilet paper. Especially in rural areas, you’re using the bathroom on the ground and for this reason, having extra tissues and hand sanitizers always came in handy.
Other toiletry items I recommend carrying is sunscreen, fanny pack, a microfiber towel, and a universal travel adapter.
Because it is hot from morning to evening, wearing loads of sunscreen is important. I’ve mentioned it earlier, but having a fanny pack is a must to keep your belongings safe. Carrying a microfiber towel will come in handy, especially during rainy season. Having a universal travel adapter is a must when hopping from country to country. Not only will you not have to worry about buying new ports and cables, but you’re also able to charge up to 5 devices all at once.
Learning basic phrases in each country
Out of respect, the first thing I do when traveling to a new country is learning basic phrases. I always make the effort to learn how to say hello, thank you, good bye, bathroom, and bill.
Luckily, I never had trouble getting anywhere because of my lack of knowing how to speak the language. Especially in busier cities, a lot of locals will know a little bit of English because of tourism. I’ve met a handful of tour guides who actually became conversational in English because of the influx of tourism. However, if your conversations go beyond the basics, Google Translate will come in handy.
Buy bottled water at convenient stores
I don’t recommend drinking tap water as buying bottled water is very cheap across Southeast Asia. On average, I paid $0.50 for larger bottles, and $0.25 for smaller bottles. There are convenient stores in almost every block, so you won’t have any difficulty purchasing water. I did bring a reusable water bottle from home but found myself not using it at all because of how convenient it was to buy bottled water.
Also note that you don’t need to be nervous about the water used to make street food. Personally, I haven’t gotten food poisoning or had a bad food experience but in case this happens to you, I can’t stress enough how important it is to bring back medicine from home.
Bring extra tampons
Girls, it doesn’t matter if you’re not expecting your period during your visit or not. Learning the hard way, bring extra tampons.
Surprisingly, it was pretty difficult trying to find tampons and if I did, they were either really expensive or there wasn’t a lot in a box. I also thought I brought enough tampons but they only lasted me 3 months before I ran out. Yes, it was easier finding pads but finding good quality tampons was just very difficult.
Where to stay in each city?
One of the most common questions I get is how did I know where to stay in each city? In terms of accommodations, I have only stayed in hotels. I have nothing again staying in hostels or Airbnbs but since I had so much camera gear, I preferred having my own hotel room for safety reasons. Plus, since I had so many credit card points, it made sense to book hotel stays with my credit card points.
If you are planning on traveling Southeast Asia with a friend, splitting a hotel room is almost the same price as a hostel. So depending on your preference, booking a hotel room will give you more privacy and space. But if you’re traveling solo and are looking more for a community, there are so many great hostels to choose from to meet other likeminded travelers.
Throughout my Southeast Asia trip, I tracked all my spending with the Spending App and for the first 6 months, I spent $0 on hotels, accommodations and flights. I’m not here to brag but I wanted to extend my trip for as long as I could have.
Once I hit month 7, I should’ve spent $3,700 on flights, but I only ended up spending $276 + $546 (on luggage). I also should’ve spent $4,350 on hotels but ended up spending $439. This all sounds surreal but I wouldn’t have been able to do this without stacking up credit card points and miles.
How much should you expect to spend?
This number really depends on the type of traveler you are, how much you’re willing to spend, how much you are trying to budget, and what type of accommodations you are staying at.
Breaking down my daily spend on accommodations, food, drinks, and activities, I spent around $65 per day. Mind you that I am not the biggest spender and because I had no idea how long I was going to be traveling for, I had to limit myself on buying souvenirs, shopping, etc. It was hard but I had to limit myself to only buying things I needed, such as flowy pants when visiting temples, and small jewelry for memories.
In terms of accommodations, on average, my hotel rooms ranged anywhere between $16-25 per night, $15 on food, drinks, snack, and another $15 on miscellaneous things.
Is it possible to spend less? Absolutely.
And, it is even easier to spend more. Although everything in Southeast Asia is relatively cheap, sometimes you don’t realize how much you actually end up spending, which is why I started tracking my everyday spend.
So if you’re traveling Southeast Asia on a budget and you’re looking to stay at hostels over hotels, you can spend as little as $6-8 per night, and even $5 on food (still eating 3 meals a day) if you only eat at street food stalls, averaging you out to a budget of ~$25-30 per day.
On the flip side, if budgeting isn’t necessary, you can comfortably spend $65 on hotels, $50 on food and drinks, and $50 on miscellaneous purchases, averaging you to spend around $150-200 per day.
Ride a motorbike
One of the best ways to explore Southeast Asia is with a motorbike. You’ll find people riding motorbikes more than driving cars, as it is the most convenient and cost efficient way of getting around.
If you’re like me and you’ve always wanted to ride one, you’ll be in for a treat. I rode a motorbike for my very first time in Thailand and after riding one, I didn’t want to drive a car again. If you’re looking to ride a motorbike during your visit, there are 2 ways to do so: on the back of one, or driving one yourself.
Maybe you’re too nervous to ride one yourself, and that is totally okay. There are still so many ways to get around without ever having to steering one yourself, such as calling one through a taxi or the Grab App.
Feeling adventurous? If you want to rent a bike for the day, all you need to do is present your passport at the bike rental. On average, I paid anywhere between $8-10 for a day rental. Just remember that if you are planning on renting a bike for the day, that the rental companies will not let you to do so unless you have your physical passport. A photo of your passport will not work.
Prior to your arrival, I also recommend watching a couple of Youtube videos on how to ride a motorbike if you’ve never rode one before. I’ll admit that I was pretty nervous at first, but this helped out tremendously.
I also recommend getting an Apple Watch if you ever plan on renting a bike for the day. Trust me on this one. I don’t think I would’ve been able to survive riding one without it. In the beginning, I found myself stopped every half mile to check my navigation and thought, there has to be a better way than this. Then, I ended up connecting my Apple Watch to my phone, had my maps on, and I was then able to navigate my way from point A to B. It was a struggle at first and had no idea how people were riding one without it that by the end of my trip, felt like I discovered a hack.
Take advantage of all the street food
Hopefully this one is a no brainer, but indulge in as much street food as you can. Try not eating the basic pad thais and pho because although they are really good and some of the best, there are so many unique food options available.
Before going to Vietnam, I have never heard of buncha and till this day, that is the only dish I will get at any Vietnamese restaurant. In Thailand, I have never had pad kaprow before my visit. It’s been difficult finding a good kaprow dish here in the states, and is one of the best dishes I’ve had in Thailand. Be open minded when trying food from all these countries. You never know, maybe you can find your new favorite dish by doing so!
On a side note, I feel like there is a big reputation that Cambodia doesn’t have the best tasting food. I ended up visiting Cambodia 3 times and will admit that although I wasn’t the biggest fan of the food at first, I ended up loving it after meeting a local friend who introduced me to all the best eats in Cambodia. Trying unique Cambodian food with a local will complete your trip as their food is some of the most underrated in all of Southeast Asia.
Some of the best Western food
In the beginning, I told myself that I would not eat any American or Western food during my Southeast Asia trip. But after a while, you can only have so much rice and noodles everyday. Here and there, I would crave American brunch and pizza, especially because I grew up eating them regularly.
So I caved in and surprisingly, had some of the best Western food in Southeast Asia. You’ll realize that so many people move to places like Thailand for retirement. Some of them being chefs who end up opening up amazing restaurants that once you eat their food, you’ll question if you’re truly in Thailand, or possibly in Italy?
From hopping around 6 countries across Southeast Asia, the best Western food I’ve had was in Bali. Every single non-Balinese restaurant I went to just had the most delicious tasting food, some being better than a handful of restaurants back in the states.
Required existing flights
Whether you are planning on backpacking Southeast Asia for 2 weeks or 3 months, most countries will require you to have an exiting flight.
If you’re traveling to places like Vietnam, you need to have an exiting flight even before boarding your flight. But if you didn’t know this and you’re stopped at the airport, no need to panic because you will be able to purchase one at the counter.
Friendliest people
There’s a reason why Southeast Asia is known as the Land of Smiles. No matter which country you go to, you’ll meet some of the nicest people in the world. Before my visit, I had no idea how nice, accommodating, and hospitable everyone was going to be. People are so friendly and welcoming with open arms, and they are overall so happy that you are exploring their country.Â
Show off your confidence
Whether or not you’re traveling solo or with a group of friends, people can sense your energy. Once you allow yourself to be present in the moment and immerse yourself into the culture, you’ll feel so free.
Since I unexpectedly caught covid and had to go through a 10-day quarantine, I was pretty nervous going through the entire process alone. But since I had no choice, I forced myself to be present and learned how to calm myself down. Confidence is key and it will take you farther than you know.
Final Thoughts
With all this being said, don’t forget to have fun. There’s a reason why thousands of people choose to backpack Southeast Asia every year. Not only are you creating unforgettable memories, but you’re also up to meet some of the nicest people in the world, eat the most delicious food, and checking off those bucket list destinations.
From the hundreds of mistakes that I’ve made, I hope that one of these tips has helped you plan your Southeast Asia trip better. Solo traveling across Southeast Asia was transformative and so personal, it was one of the best things I could’ve done for myself.
Would I do this all over again? A million times, yes. When? That’s for time to tell but if you want to be in the know, stay tuned for my next adventure. And always remember, safe and happy travels.
Save These Pins When Planning Your Trip to Southeast Asia!
