So you’re thinking about travelling around South East Asia? Good choice. Honestly one of the best decisions I ever made.
I originally planned to backpack through Southeast Asia for just a month. Spoiler alert: I’m still here. That one month trip turned into me basically moving here, and I have zero regrets about it. But there were definitely some things I wish I’d known before I hopped on that first flight to Bangkok with my overstuffed backpack and way too many expectations.
This isn’t going to be one of those posts where I tell you the “top 10 must-see destinations” or whatever. There are a million of those already. Instead, I’m going to tell you what travelling South East Asia is actually like, the stuff nobody really talks about, and the things that would’ve saved me a lot of confusion (and money) if someone had just been real with me from the start.
Okay so everyone knows Southeast Asia is hot. Like, obviously. But what they don’t tell you is that it’s not just hot, it’s humid in a way that makes you feel like you’re walking through soup. Your clothes will stick to you. Your hair will do weird things. You’ll sweat in places you didn’t know could sweat.
I arrived in April which is burning season in Thailand and oh my god. I thought I was prepared because I’d traveled to warm places before, but this was a whole different level. Within like 20 minutes of leaving the airport I was drenched and questioning all my life choices.
Then there’s rainy season which is basically from May to October depending on where you are. And when it rains here, it RAINS. Not like a little drizzle, I’m talking full on tropical downpours that come out of nowhere. You’ll be walking around in sunshine and then suddenly the sky opens up and you’re soaked within seconds.
My first week in Vietnam I got caught in a rainstorm while on a motorbike and it was genuinely terrifying. The roads flood so fast and visibility drops to basically nothing. Now I always check the weather before I head out and I’m not too proud to pull over and wait it out in a random café.
The flip side is that travelling South East Asia during rainy season means way fewer tourists and everything is cheaper. I actually prefer it now that I know what to expect. You just need to be flexible with your plans and accept that sometimes you’re going to get wet. Like, really wet.
If you’re travelling around South East Asia, you’re probably going to use budget airlines at some point. AirAsia, Scoot, Jetstar Asia, VietJet, all of them. They’re cheap as hell which is amazing, but they’re also kind of a nightmare if you’re not prepared.
First flight I took was AirAsia from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and I almost missed it because I didn’t realize they’re STRICT about check-in times. Like, the counter closes 45 minutes before the flight and if you’re not there, tough luck. I watched someone literally run up to the counter at 46 minutes before departure and they wouldn’t let her check in. She had to buy a whole new ticket.
Also the baggage fees will get you if you’re not careful. I made the mistake of not pre-booking baggage on my first few flights and ended up paying like triple at the airport. Now I always buy baggage allowance when I book the ticket, even if I think my bag might be light enough. It’s so much cheaper that way.
Oh and bring snacks because they don’t give you anything for free. Water, food, even a blanket if you want one, all of it costs extra. I learned to travel with a reusable water bottle that I fill up after security and pack some granola bars or whatever.
The delays though. Budget airlines in Southeast Asia are notorious for delays and cancellations, especially during rainy season. I’ve had flights delayed by 6 hours with basically no explanation. One time my flight got cancelled entirely and they just rebooked me for the next day like it was no big deal. Which would’ve been fine except I’d already booked accommodation in the next city.
My advice? Build in buffer days between destinations and get travel insurance that covers flight delays. Trust me on this one.
Before I started travelling South East Asia I was so stressed about visas. Turns out for most countries it’s pretty straightforward if you’re coming from the US or most Western countries.
Thailand gives you 30 days on arrival, no questions asked. You literally just show up and they stamp your passport. Vietnam you need to get an e-visa ahead of time which takes like 10 minutes online and costs $25. Cambodia does visa on arrival which is super easy, you just need a passport photo and $30 in cash.
Laos is similar to Cambodia, visa on arrival at the border. Malaysia gives you 90 days which is wild. Indonesia is 30 days visa free now. The Philippines is also 30 days no visa needed.
The only one that’s kind of annoying is Myanmar if you’re planning to go there, you need to apply for an e-visa beforehand and it takes a few days to process. But honestly even that wasn’t that hard.
What I didn’t know before travelling around South East Asia is that you can extend most visas pretty easily if you want to stay longer. I’ve extended my Thai visa like 4 times now. You just go to immigration, fill out some forms, pay the fee (usually around $60-70) and they give you another 30 days. Some people do visa runs where they leave the country and come back to reset their visa, which is what I did when I went to Malaysia for a weekend.
Just make sure you don’t overstay your visa because the fines are not cheap and it can cause problems when you try to leave the country. I met someone who overstayed by like 3 days in Thailand and had to pay 500 baht per day at the airport. Not fun.
I’m not going to lie, I got food poisoning twice in my first month of travelling South East Asia. Once in Bangkok from street food (I think it was the ice in my drink) and once in Bali from who knows what. It was not a good time.
But here’s the thing, once your stomach adjusts, the food here is literally the best I’ve ever had anywhere in the world. Thai food, Vietnamese pho, Indonesian nasi goreng, Malaysian laksa, all of it is so good and so cheap. I can get a full meal for like $2-3 at most places.
The street food culture here is insane. In Bangkok and Hanoi especially, some of the best food I’ve had was from random carts on the side of the road. You just have to use your judgment about which places look clean and busy. If there’s a line of locals, it’s probably good and safe.
My rule of thumb for travelling South East Asia and avoiding getting sick: drink bottled water only (even for brushing teeth at first), avoid ice unless you’re at a nice restaurant or café, make sure meat is cooked all the way through, and wash your hands constantly. Oh and bring Pepto Bismol or Imodium, just in case.
Also the spice level here is no joke. When they ask if you want it spicy, start with mild or medium until you know what you’re dealing with. I made the mistake of ordering “Thai spicy” pad krapow my first week and I actually thought I was going to die. My mouth was on fire for like an hour.
Getting around when you’re travelling South East Asia is honestly half the experience. And by experience I mean sometimes chaotic, sometimes sketchy, always interesting.
Tuk tuks in Thailand are everywhere and drivers will try to charge you tourist prices if you don’t negotiate. I learned to always agree on a price before getting in. What should cost 60 baht, they’ll try to charge you 200 baht. Just walk away if they won’t give you a fair price, there’s always another tuk tuk around the corner.
In Vietnam everyone rides motorbikes. Like, everyone. Families of four on a single scooter, people carrying refrigerators on bikes, it’s wild. I was scared to rent a motorbike at first but then I did it in Hoi An and it was actually one of the highlights of my trip. You just have to be super careful and defensive because traffic rules are more like suggestions here.
Grab (which is like Uber for Southeast Asia) is a lifesaver in cities. The prices are set so you don’t have to negotiate, and you can see the driver’s rating before you get in. I use it constantly in Bangkok because the taxis here will try to scam you if you’re not careful. Some taxi drivers refuse to use the meter and just quote you some ridiculous price. Just cancel and get a Grab instead.
Overnight buses and trains are a thing here and they’re actually pretty decent for longer distances. I took a sleeper bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and it was surprisingly comfortable. The buses have actual beds, not just seats. Same with trains in Vietnam, the sleeper cars are fun and you meet a lot of other travelers.
Ferries to the islands can get a little sketchy depending on the weather. I took a ferry to Koh Tao during choppy seas and half the boat was throwing up. Bring motion sickness meds if you’re prone to that. Also the ferries are almost never on time, so don’t book tight connections.
This was probably the biggest pleasant surprise about travelling around South East Asia. You can stay in a private room in a decent guesthouse for like $15-20 a night in most places. Hostels are even cheaper if you’re okay with dorm rooms, usually $5-10 per night.
I started out staying in hostels because I wanted to meet people and save money. Some of them were amazing with great common areas, organized pub crawls, group dinners, all that stuff. Made some of my best travel friends in hostels. But some of them were also kind of gross with bedbugs and sketchy showers, so you have to read reviews carefully.
Now I usually book private rooms on Agoda or Booking.com because the prices are so cheap anyway and I like having my own space. You can get a whole apartment with a kitchen for like $25-30 a night in places like Chiang Mai or Da Nang. It’s honestly insane compared to accommodation prices back home.
Airbnb is also popular here and sometimes you can find really cool places for good prices. I stayed in a traditional Thai house in Ayutthaya for like $20 a night and it was beautiful. Just make sure to check the location because sometimes places that look great in photos are actually way outside the city center.
One thing about accommodation when travelling South East Asia, always check for air conditioning. Some places only have fans which sounds fine until you’re trying to sleep in 90 degree weather with 80% humidity. Not fun. I always filter for AC now.
I lost my sunglasses in Bali and dropped my credit card in a canal in Bangkok (RIP). It happens. Everyone I know who’s spent significant time travelling around South East Asia has lost something at some point.
Petty theft is pretty common in tourist areas. It’s usually not violent or anything, just pickpockets in crowded markets or someone going through your stuff while you’re sleeping in a hostel. I’m not trying to scare you, just being real. You need to be smart about your valuables.
I use an anti-theft backpack now with slash-proof material and hidden zippers. I keep my passport and extra cash in a hotel safe, not on me. And I always keep my day pack in front of me when I’m on public transportation or in crowded areas. These little things make a huge difference.
Also, don’t flash expensive stuff around. I know people who wear flashy jewelry or carry around the newest iPhone and then wonder why they became targets. Just be low key about what you have.
Get insurance that covers theft and make sure you have photocopies of your important documents stored in the cloud. When my bag got stolen, I had copies of everything on Google Drive which made dealing with the police and getting emergency documents so much easier.
I mentioned food poisoning earlier but this deserves its own section. Bali Belly is real and it will probably happen to you if you spend any amount of time travelling South East Asia. It’s basically traveler’s diarrhea and it’s super common.
For me it happened twice. Once from bad street food, once from I honestly don’t know what. Both times I was out of commission for like 2-3 days just living in the bathroom. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my vacation but it is what it is.
The locals here have iron stomachs because they’ve built up immunity to the bacteria in the food and water. We haven’t. So even if you’re being careful, you might still get sick. It’s not the end of the world, it just sucks for a few days.
Always travel with anti-diarrhea meds, rehydration salts, and probiotics. Seriously. This stuff is gold when you’re sick. You can buy it all at pharmacies here for super cheap. I learned to keep a little sick kit in my bag at all times just in case.
And if you do get Bali Belly, don’t try to push through it. Just rest, drink tons of water, and eat bland food like rice and bananas when you can. Your body needs time to recover. I tried to go sightseeing while sick once and ended up way worse. Not worth it.
One thing that’s super easy about travelling South East Asia is staying connected. You can get a local SIM card at the airport as soon as you land for like $10-15 and it’ll have enough data to last you weeks.
I always get a SIM card right away because trying to navigate without Google Maps is basically impossible here. Plus you need data for Grab, translating stuff, looking up restaurants, all of that. WiFi is pretty common at cafes and hotels but it’s nice to have your own data.
The internet speeds are actually really good in most cities. I work remotely sometimes and I’ve never had issues with connectivity in places like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh City, or Bali. Co-working spaces are everywhere too if you need a more reliable setup.
The only places where internet can be spotty is on islands or in rural areas. When I was in the Gili Islands in Indonesia the WiFi was super slow and my data barely worked. But honestly that was kind of nice because it forced me to actually disconnect for a bit.
This is something I wish I’d researched more before travelling around South East Asia. Temple etiquette is a big deal and you’ll get called out if you don’t follow the rules.
Always cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples. No tank tops, no short shorts, no skimpy dresses. Some temples are strict and won’t even let you in if you’re not dressed appropriately. I’ve seen tourists get turned away and have to buy those cheesy elephant pants from vendors outside just so they could enter.
Take your shoes off before entering temple buildings. There’s usually a spot to leave them outside. And point your feet away from Buddha statues, it’s considered disrespectful to point your feet at religious images.
Don’t climb on Buddha statues or ancient ruins for photos. I can’t believe this needs to be said but I’ve seen so many people do it. It’s disrespectful and in some places actually illegal.
Just be respectful in general. Temples are active places of worship, not just tourist attractions. Keep your voice down, don’t point at people, dress modestly. Basic stuff but important.
There’s definitely a well-worn backpacker route through Southeast Asia and you’ll keep running into the same people over and over. Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Pai, then down to the islands. Or Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang to Hanoi. Everyone follows similar routes.
This can be fun because you make friends and there’s a built-in social scene everywhere you go. But it can also feel a bit like you’re in a bubble. All the hostels have the same vibe, everyone’s doing the same Instagram tours, eating at the same restaurants.
I tried to get off the beaten path when I could and those ended up being my favorite experiences. Small towns in northern Vietnam that barely see tourists. Local markets in Bangkok where I was the only foreigner. Random beaches in Cambodia that aren’t on anyone’s radar yet.
But there’s also nothing wrong with doing the popular stuff. The touristy places are popular for a reason, they’re usually pretty great. I loved Pai even though it’s super backpackery. The Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan was a messy blast. Ha Long Bay is touristy as hell but also stunning.
Just try to mix it up if you can. Talk to locals, ask for recommendations, take a random bus to a town you’ve never heard of. Some of my best memories from travelling South East Asia happened when I went off-script.
This sounds cheesy but travelling around South East Asia genuinely changed my perspective on life. Before I came here I was working a corporate job, stressed all the time, spending money on stuff I didn’t need. Living in this weird cycle of work and consumption that felt pretty empty.
Being here showed me you don’t need that much to be happy. I’ve met people living on $500 a month who are more content than anyone I knew back home. The pace of life is slower, people actually talk to each other, there’s way less pressure to constantly achieve and produce.
I’m not saying Southeast Asia is perfect or that you should move here forever (although obviously I kind of did). But spending time here will probably make you question some stuff about how you want to live your life.
For me it was realizing that I could work remotely and live anywhere. That I didn’t need a fancy apartment or a new car or any of that stuff. That experiences matter way more than possessions. Again, I know it sounds cliche but it’s true.
Also you’ll become way more adaptable and patient. Things don’t always go according to plan when you’re travelling South East Asia and you learn to roll with it. Flights get cancelled, buses break down, you get lost constantly. At first it’s stressful but eventually you just kind of accept it and figure it out.
Look, I could write another 3000 words about what to pack, but I already did that. Seriously, go read my complete packing guide for backpacking Southeast Asia because I cover everything from what shoes to bring to which tech items are actually worth the luggage space.
The short version? Pack way less than you think you need. Bring lightweight, quick-dry clothes. Get a good backpack. Everything else you can buy here for cheaper than back home anyway.
I made so many packing mistakes my first time travelling around South East Asia and I don’t want you to do the same. That packing list has everything I wish I’d known before I left.
So is travelling around South East Asia everything it’s hyped up to be? Yeah, honestly it is. It’s cheap, it’s beautiful, the food is amazing, the people are friendly, and there’s a ridiculous amount of stuff to see and do.
Is it perfect? No. You’ll get sick, you’ll get scammed at least once, you’ll have days where you’re hot and tired and questioning why you left your comfortable life at home. But those moments pass and you’re left with incredible experiences and memories that stick with you.
My advice if you’re thinking about doing this: just book the ticket. Stop overthinking it, stop waiting for the perfect time, just go. You’ll figure the rest out as you go. That’s kind of the whole point.
And be open to things not going according to plan. My one month trip turned into something completely different and I’m so glad I let that happen instead of being rigid about my original itinerary.
Travelling South East Asia is one of those things where you’ll wish you’d done it sooner. So if you’re sitting there reading this and thinking about it, take this as your sign. Do it. You won’t regret it.
