There is no denying that a high percentage of backpackers are dreaming of putting Asia on their bucket list for their next voyage. Well, who wouldn’t? Asia is the largest continent and the most geographically diverse part of the planet.

The continent comes with vibrant culture and extraordinary landscapes that are aesthetically pleasing in various ways.

Vietnam, home of the famous Ha Long Bay. Here lies the island’s number one destination for tourist hubs wanting for a soothing picturesque scenery as they chill.

Across East Asia is the Great Wall of China, it escalated to have 20-23 feet above the ground, and still one of the most appealing sites that have 2,700 years of history.

Meanwhile, if you feel a bit more outgoing, consider heading out to the islands of the Philippines, they are famous for tourist who has a zest for snorkelling and scuba diving.

And if you are also a person obsessed with sunsets and sunrise, considering electric cycling in Bagan over the dawn has to be a good option for you.

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WHAT TO INCLUDE ON YOUR ASIA BUCKET LIST

Asia has multiple underlying countries travellers already distinguished as the best places to go now and then. Of course, you want to visit places worth the time and money. Reading up will give you more insights into the best Asia bucket list that can ease your wanderlust.

Motorbiking in Vietnam

You’ll be surprised by how many motorcyclists, whether foreigner or local who relies on a motorbike in Vietnam as a means of daily transportation in running errands and travelling.

Motorbiking has been part of the culture of Vietnamese since the 1960s. As the tourists find Vietnam as a great travel destination, the British show Top Gear made a discovery of how exciting it is to make a motorbike trip through the Hai Van pass.

The pass that goes from the old town of Hue, up the mountains, over the clouds with almost zero visibility, ride down to the beach town of Da Nang and then reaching the charming place called Hoi An.

Not recently that motorcyclists have been pouring popularity in a travel route connecting from Hanoi all the way to Ho Chi Minh City.

It was the exquisite terrain and majestic mountains that made motorbiking in Vietnam enjoyingly viable. But as a first-time traveller, how much does a motorbike, food, and accommodations will cost you?

REMEMBER: Check if you need a visa for Vietnam

Accommodations

You can find accommodations from $5-$7/dorm room or $10-$15/private room(double occupancy). You can read this list of best hostels in Vietnam

Motorbike cost

You can buy a motorbike for $280-$450 (buying in the south can be pricier) the repair costs between $1-$10 depending on the problem or even more.

How long will it take if riding through Sapa

It takes 2-4 days to experience the nature view of Sapa fully. It is located in the northern district of Vietnam. The terrain overlooks terraced golden rice fields and majestic mountains.

Passing through the Hai Van Pass

About 6-8 hours depending on how many stops you will do. You can also spend a night in Da Nang and continue the trip to Hoi An or to Hue (depending on where you’re coming from) the next day.

Food

Around $5-$8 for budget meals good for three times a day. Most hostels and hotels offer free breakfast. While there is a lot of convenience store in the big cities which offers a quick meal and snack.

Travel time in a motorbike

3 weeks, from north to south of Vietnam or vice versa. If you don’t have the time, you can also get to the central of Vietnam and take an international or domestic flight from there.

Gas expenses

You can buy $6 for full motorbike tanks that has the capacity of 7 litres. Average distance you can go to is about 150km/day or a maximum of 6 hours a day. 

Rickshaw Run India

One of the great travel adventures in India is the Rickshaw Run. Indians have been travelling across India three times a year with various routes driving a rickshaw – a vehicle with a very tiny engine.

The event began on December 2006; the first route travelled was Ernakulam Kochi to Darjeeling. Rickshaw run is commonly traversing with 3000 km with just a rickshaw. The rickshaw doesn’t have the capabilities to withstand the long distance.

Along the way, you’ll tremble in the ground, get stuck, breakdown, and overheat in multiple times. This is the part where Rickshaw Run gets exciting, and adventurous for such, getting lost midway has definite possibilities.

REMEMBER: You probably need to apply for an Indian visa

Cost of a Rickshaw

$2000 for buying a rickshaw vehicle. 

Accommodation​

You’ll have to find lodging every day, and that will cost you $15-$25 for cheap hotels with a double room and air conditioning.

Food

You can eat along the road, there are tons of family-owned restaurant, stalls, and stores which will cost you $ 1.5 for a meal in a family-owned restaurant. 

Gas Expenses

Consuming 10-15 litres per day. $11 each day for rickshaw petrol.

Travel time in a Rickshaw run

The travel time usually lasts for 14 days or more if you travel slower.

Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand

Elephants are scattering around places in Thailand. This huge majestic creature grows a big business for Tourism. In most cases, it is sad to encounter mistreatment to these creatures in Thailand.

Hence, if you want to see and play with the elephants, you have to do extensive research which sanctuaries and rescue centres you should visit to make sure that the place is putting the welfare of the elephant as the top priority.

Ethical elephant sanctuaries help to rescue and rehabilitate them after maltreatment the from the previous owner such as riding them, pushing the elephants to perform for hours under a drug, training them using cruel tactics. They are mostly located in the Northern part of Thailand.

Many retreats engage in saving animals lives and ending the mistreatment of wildlife in Thailand. Remember, elephants have fantastic memories; being mistreated will scar them forever.

Responsible tourism should be equally beneficial to you as a tourist, to the locals, and the animals and nature.

Estimated Cost

The Cost may vary on the length of stay. Travellers can stay for more than one day for $46-$142 a single day visit to up to $1,000 for 1 – 2 weeks of accommodation

How long will it take

One day to a full two weeks 

What to remember

If the place offers a ride or a performance from the elephant, you must avoid this place. Best to read reviews online or ask Thailand traveller forums to get some insights before signing up for this activity

Full Moon Party in Thailand

Partygoers are positive that the most beautiful place to experience a full moon was in Koh Phangan. 10,000 – 30,000 people were getting on party vibes as the moon shines bright in the crescent-shaped white sand beach of Thailand.

Mayhem is avoidable in this night, being the largest and most infamous party over the world. This late-night event is always fully booked and gets first-timers pumped up with a tremendous amount of booze and techno, house, trance, metal kinds of music.

Estimated Cost

You can buy $3 for an entrance fee, and $5-$7 for liquors. The cost now depends on how drunk you are planning to be in this extraordinary party.

How long will it take

It usually takes one night and one full day. 

Electric Cycling Through Bagan/Sunrise Over Bagan

E-bikes and motorcycles are extremely popular in Bagan, however, travellers or if you look like a foreigner, it is illegal for you to own and drive a motorbike in Bagan. Sure, it sounds disheartening, heads up because there is something much better for you, E-bikes.

Myanmar, home of more than 100 ethnic groups, in the region is an ancient city recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Expect temples and infrastructure which resemblance of old civilization in Bagan. A town built by kings in late 1050-1290.

There are about 2200 temples today, and getting over in feet is a fierce battle, locals suggest to rent up an E-bike instead as a means of travelling. One characteristic that keeps on attracting the most tourists in Bagan is the perfect geographical location in its view over sunrise.

TIP: Get your Myanmar evisa online

Estimated cost

​​​​$33 for daily travel expenses, including accommodation, food, water, local transportation, and entertainment.

How long will it take

Three and more days are good enough to enjoy around Bagan.

Best tip

Go in a group if you’re catching the sunrise because the map that your receptionist will hand is not accurate (there are no post lamps in Bagan), there is a big chance that you will get lost in the dark and miss the sunrise

Visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan

Memories will always hunt Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The first-ever atomic bomb (little boy) was dropped and killed thousands of innocent people’s lives. Today, locals and tourists are always free and welcome to commemorate the death of its people in Peace Memorial Park. 

You can also walk around and learn more about the melancholic history in the solemn Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. Like the City of Bagan, in 1996, Hiroshima was also declared as a UNESCO World Heritage.

After the bombings, Japanese starts converting its lands solely for parks and memorialize the aftermaths of this tragic bombings.

ALSO READ: Things to know before travelling to Japan

Estimated Cost

185$ for three days accommodations, destination entrance fee, and a complete itinerary trip that covers top destination in Hiroshima. Excluding airfare and food. Prices of foods vary each type.

How long will it take

Three days is a good amount of time.

Angkor Wat and the Killing Fields, Cambodia

It may be difficult to digest the information you’ll receive on a trip to Angkor Wat to Killing fields; it is important to spend at least three days in Phnom Penh (Killing Fields and Genocide Museum) and another three days in Siem Reap (Angkor Wat).

You can see stone temples across jungles and monuments of the fallen heroes that have been killed by a communist party that took power in the country in the year 1975. Khmer Rouge appeals to be responsible for the death of more than two million Cambodians.

Despite the tragedy, Cambodians have chosen to forget and reflect on this event by pouring its past horrors in its Museums and prayers on temples. Meanwhile on the side of Angkor War lies the most excellent 12th-century ancient university and Asia’s largest lake. 

ALSO READ: What you need to know before arriving in Cambodia

Estimated Cost

Visiting these two places will cost about $80-$150 including the tickets and transportation.

How long will it take

It should take about a week, which should be enough without hurrying to see the two places.

Good ‘ol Great Wall of China

In line with the Chinese defence, dynasties fortified a massive wall and high mountain watch towers in protecting them from raids following invasions. Throughout 475-221 BC, north Chinese men begin developing these walls and start joining it in various states that collectively known today as The Great Wall of China.

Today, the wall is a top-rated tourist site that gets too crowded on the top. The wall is 20-23 feet above the ground, and you could be overlooking a whole nation and experience moderate hiking.

Estimated Cost

It will cost you $30 for entering the wall, including minibus transportation.

How long will it take

The most famous and fully restored section of the wall is Mutianyu. Driving will take 2 hours reaching the entrance. You can spend a whole day walking, running and hiking 4000 stairs to the wall.

Snorkelling and Diving in the Philippines

Thanks to the Gods, the Philippines remains to be the top seductive places to visit when planning to take a dip in the bluest oceans and far-off white sand coastlines. The Visayas, one of the three Philippine islands are primitive in terms of bodies of water.

Wherever you are in the three islands Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao your always close to my home – the beach. Meanwhile, the Philippines are top-rated to divers and snorkelers. There is a myriad of places to visit when expecting to see marine life. Siquijor is one of the islands that attracts travellers the most. And always in the best Asia Bucket List in a travellers journal.

Estimated cost

$30 for one little dive per day, including gear. $28 for a snorkelling course with equipment.

How long will it take

1 – 2 days should be enough or long if you (just like me) can’t have enough of this activity.

Travelling through Borneo

Borneo is one of the most eco biodiverse regions on the planet. It has the oldest far-reaching rainforest and home to multiple kinds of chimps and exotic wildlife.

There over 1100 types of species living in the mountainous centre of Borneo. And interacting with them is possible, especially when you’re on a trip. Sabah is one of the provinces that are rich in ecosystems.

Tourist keeps on growing. Today, tourism in Borneo evolves in ways that they already offer bird tours, wildlife sanctuaries, and many more enjoyments that can leave you speechless with your jungle life experience.

Estimated cost

$8 – 15 for a dorm bed, $6 a day for food, and $7 for park admissions

How long will it take

1-2 weeks is enough in exploring the entire Sabah Region.

Train Travel Across Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka runs every railway across nations. A train trip is a spectacular, and sensational experience you can have when planning for Asia’s bucket list. This trip is popular for its scenic view but also for a chance to get the coolest photo from Asia.

You’ll have your ultimate me time and try reflecting on life while overlooking far-reaching fields of tea plantations. A scenic Sri Lanka train expedition is just like Before Sunrise, and the ride can be very romantic and personal.  

Estimated cost

$1.5 for a 4 hours ride on a train. 

How long will it take

A lot of travellers would travel the entire country of Sri Lanka on a train. You can either do this just once or multiple times.

These are some of my Asia’s bucket list, tell me yours. I’d also love to visit lovely places that can shake your whole world overview.

If you have comments, suggestions, insights or more outputs, leave a comment below! I’d be happy to hear something from a fellow traveller.

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Since travelling is now very trendy especially backpacking in Southeast Asia, cheap ways to travel are getting more and more attention. If you are on a budget, Southeast Asia is a perfect destination for you and I’ll tell you later why.

Travelling is constantly developing, nowadays, this is something that other people see as a lifestyle. Companies in the tourism industry are everywhere and a lot of them are competing who can offer the cheapest flight tickets, accommodations, tours, and other services.

Even you are half the world away, travelling is very possible now without spending too much. Find out what are the top destinations in Southeast you should explore next.

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• ​Visa guide for Southeast Asia
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NOTE: All prices are in US Dollars

HERE ARE THE TOP DESTINATIONS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA FOR YOU TO EXPLORE

Make sure you already have a passport, because after reading this article, you will not be able to stop looking at cheap flights, accommodations, food to try, and of course, blue beaches to swim.

VIETNAM TRAVEL COST

Forget about the Pho they offer to your favourite Vietnamese restaurant, get on the plane and try the tastiest, freshest and cheapest Pho you will ever have! Vietnam has a crazy number of tourist every day, and it keeps growing. Because of this, cheap hostels and affordable tours can be found in every corner of the streets.

Why Is This One Of The Most Affordable Destinations Outside The Philippines?

Daily Budget

Accommodation and food alone should not cost you more than $10-$15 a day, which means you can survive with $20 a day. There are tons of budget-friendly hostels around, while cheap and tasty food can be found almost everywhere. Even beers cost next to nothing!

Flight Tickets

$500 or less, I managed to fly from Denmark to Hanoi for $350 for one-way ticket most of the time, it’s cheaper if you get a return flight. Most affordable flights are leaving from Helsinki, London, Copenhagen, Warsaw. Turkey, Rome, Frankfurt, and Paris in Europe, make sure to check the flights from big cities or capital of the country to find the best flight. Check for cheap flights.

Hostels​

$4-$5 – Sharing a room with 2 or more bunk beds. If you are travelling with a friend or someone else, it’s cheaper to get a private room which starts at $10. Check these Best Vietnam Hostels or my recommended hostel in Vietnam that I personally stayed at

Meal​​​​

$1-3 from street food to a casual restaurant or fast-food chains. There is also convenient stores like VinMart, Family Mart, and Circle K that offers ready to eat meals for great prices.

Transportation

$12 for an 8-hour bus ride. Local buses around the city are around $0.20 but the traffic is pretty bad, you can take a motorbike taxi for as cheap as $.50. Maybe motorbiking in Vietnam sounds appealing to you as well.

Tours​

Tours start about US$25 up depending on what you are looking for to do. There are also free things to do like visiting Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum in Hanoi. I joined the Mekong Delta tour in Ho Chi Minh City for $12. Check the super cheap tours here. or here.

CHECK FOR SUITABLE TOURS FOR YOU and CHECK FOR AFFORDABLE TOURS

Visa​

Southeast Asian nationals and a few Europeans are free to enter between 14-30 days. If you want to stay longer than that or if you need a visa, you can do it check this Vietnam visa guide too or  Apply here

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CAMBODIA TRAVEL COST

The beautiful Angkor Wat, the markets in Battambang, the beach in Koh Rong, and not to mention the happy pizza (Oops!). Whatever your reason is, Cambodia is definitely worth a visit. With its affordable food, hostels, and beers, there is no excuse not to travel here anytime soon.

Why is it one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia? 

Daily Budget

You can easily survive with $15-$20, tours and visit to Angkor Wat are excluded. It’s very easy to find budget food and hostels. Transportation should not be expensive too and remember to always bargain when you use tuk-tuk. Check for cheap flights.

Flight Tickets

The flight are about $600 or more, it’s rare to find a direct cheap flight to Cambodia, the best is to fly to Bangkok and then take a bus for $12 to Cambodia. Check for cheap flights

Hostels

Dorm beds in a mixed room are about $4-$6. Again, sharing a private room is also cheaper. 
Check Hostels in Cambodia that I personally stayed at

Meal

You can find $1.5 or less for street food or $2 for side street restaurant that can leave you full. While the restaurant is about $3-$5.

Transportation​

A taxi should cost you around $1-$2 per 5 kilometres. For a short ride with tuk-tuks, it should not be more than a dollar. Buses are around $10-$12 for 9-10 hour bus ride. Local buses are $5-$6 or less.

Tours

You can find cheap tours in Phnom Penh for about $3, these are some tours that you only need to pay for transportation.  Find more information about affordable tours here or here.

CHECK FOR SUITABLE TOURS FOR YOU and CHECK FOR AFFORDABLE TOURS

Visa

Cambodia is only visa-free for Southeast Asian countries, however, Europeans and travellers from other parts of the world can get a visa on arrival or an evisa online – Cambodia Visa Guide: Apply here!

THAILAND BUDGET COST

Wait, what?! I thought Thailand is supposed to be expensive? Well, that’s quite accurate, unless you budget and plan well. Perhaps turn your focus up in the north instead of the islands? Both of us know that we have more than enough islands in the Philippines.

Thailand is one of the main destinations in Southeast Asia, because of the growing number of backpackers here, Thailand offers affordable hostels and food to its travellers. If you are going alone (because your friends are “puro drawing”) no need to worry, you will meet heaps of solo travellers here.

RELATED POST: But watch out for the lady in the Red Dress!

Why is it one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia? 

Daily Budget

If you stay out of the restaurants and private rooms, $20-$35 will be enough for your daily budget. To be honest, you could even spend less if you will look harder for cheaper food and accommodation. Consider putting your feet to use instead of taking a taxi or tuk-tuks. Chiang Mai should definitely be on your list because it’s somehow cheap than Bangkok and its nature is a must explore.

Flight Tickets

Flying from major airports in Europe to Bangkok, there are flights from $350. While from North America, flights is not so cheap, they start at $800 if you get lucky. Many travellers from this part of the world take a flight to Europe then flight to Southeast Asia.

If you are located either in Australia or New Zealand, there are flights starting at $600 from budget airlines. Every now and then, look out for a promo for cheap flights well.

Hostels​

For as cheap as $5-$8 for dorm beds and $10-12 for private rooms. Check Hostels in Thailand.

Meal

$1-$4 for street food and casual restaurants or fast-food chains. Look out for those local restaurants on the side streets, they are the affordable ones.

Transportation

Taking buses around Bangkok should be around $0.50 while taking taxis, the fair starts at $1.5. Motor taxis and tuk-tuks are around $1 as well for a short ride. Bangkok also has a metro, they are cheaper than taxis for sure, however, they don’t cover many areas of the city yet.

Tours

$12 can be found all-over Thailand. There are actually cheap but great tours in Thailand. or even Bangkok tours for $22 or here for less.

CHECK FOR SUITABLE TOURS FOR YOU and CHECK FOR SUITABLE TOURS FOR YOU and CHECK FOR AFFORDABLE TOURS

$12 can be fond all-over Thailand. There are actually cheap but great tours in Thailand. or even Bangkok tours for $22 or here for less. CHECK FOR SUITABLE TOURS FOR YOU or CHECK FOR AFFORDABLE TOURS

Visa

Thailand offers free-visa for 30 days to a lot of nationalities – you can more information about Thailand visa here.

INDIA TRAVEL COST

Hello, Taj Mahal and Indian food, who can resist these two? Pack your bags and head to India to try the real curry, perhaps an epic shot of your Instagram on Taj Mahal? India is a huge country, most travellers need more than three months to have a good grip on this country. Most Indians also speak English, which made it a lot easier to travel around.

Why is it one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia?

Daily Budget

A backpacker could easily survive in India with $20-35 a day excluded the tours. While a backpacker with a great talent for budgeting can survive with $18.

Flight Tickets

You can find as cheap as $250 if you are smart enough to spot the cheap flights and coming from Europe. While again, North Americans and travellers from Oceania will have to spend a more. Remember to look for flights leaving the major cities from your home country and landing in a major city in India.

Hostels

You can book a mixed dorm room for $5-$7 Check Hostels in India

Meal

There are $1 or less for street food. India is very well-known for its amazing but affordable food. India is a good place for vegetarians as well, however, you can, of course, find places that offer meat dishes.

Transportation

$0.50 to $1 are the starting rate for rickshaws and taxis. Local buses around the country are from $10-$12, that is for 12-15 hour bus trip. Some travellers even say that you can get on a train for a lot cheaper if you don’t mind to be cramped with the locals on the lowest cabin of the train.

Tours

$5 or less, depending on the tour you want to do and where in India. Check out some tours for India while you can find the cheap ones here.

CHECK FOR SUITABLE TOURS FOR YOU and CHECK FOR AFFORDABLE TOURS

$5 or less, depending on the tour you want to do and where in India. Check out some tours for India  while you can find the cheap ones here. CHECK FOR AFFORDABLE TOURS

Visa

You must apply for an e-visa before arriving –   Apply here! or find out how you can apply for India visa online

MALAYSIA TRAVEL COST

Always wanted to see the famous Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur? Or the vibrant city of Malacca? Even though Malaysia is not very cheap compared to other destinations below, it is possible to travel cheaply. Planning in advance, you can find cheap hostels and flight tickets.

Affordable meals can be found in the local eateries and street food stalls as well. You should also keep in mind that Kuala Lumpur can be pricey but doesn’t mean the entire country is.

​Why is it one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia? 

Daily Budget

Daily budget in Malaysia is around $25-$30, however, if you keep yourself away from restaurants and taxis, and dig down for cheap hostels, you can easily go for $20-$25 a day. Street stalls are everywhere, you can easily run into a good meal for $6, or an affordable one for $2-$3.

Flight Tickets

Malaysia is actually a popular transit hub to Southeast Asia, there are direct flights from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and sometimes even from North America.

However, these direct flights are not the cheapest, which is about $1,000 and up. While flights with a connection can be as cheap as $700.

Hostels

In Kuala Lumpur, hostels are not very cheap, still affordable though but in Langkawi, you can find ones for $7 Check Hostels in Malaysia that I personally stayed at

Meal

You can score a $2  for cheap eats like street food, while casual restaurants are about $4. Some hostels have their own kitchen, which means, you can cook and save money.

Transportation

For transportation, prepare to spend about $2-$7. Buses are relatively cheap, if you take a bus from the airport to George Town that should cost $0.78, renting a bicycle is also affordable, it’s around $2.50 per day, while renting a motorbike is quite popular and should be around $7.50 per day.

You can also cross the border from Melaka to Singapore by bus.

Tours

There are free things to do around Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca, and Langkawi. There are actually very affordable tours in Malaysia, as low as $8!

CHECK FOR TOURS and CHECK FOR TOURS

Visa

Free visa for 30 days –  Apply here or find out if you need one on this Malaysia visa guide post.

WHERE ELSE

Laos – Free Visa for Southeast Asian (30 days). A bit less touristy compared to Thailand and Vietnam, you can find spots where it’s more laid back and chill. Most prices are like Vietnam and Cambodia, maybe a little bit higher. Daily Budget is around $20-$25. Here’s a Vietnam-Laos Border guide.

Indonesia– Free Visa for almost all nationalities (30 Days). If the mountains and beaches in the Philippines are not enough for you, why not enjoy Indonesia’s active volcanoes and badass beaches? Indonesia may be a bit more pricey than the others, however, it is still possible to enjoy the country with good budgeting. 

I hope this list of top destinations in Southeast Asia can help you feed your travel bug even just for a week or two. Travelling is not cheap, that’s for sure, but it is affordable!

RELATED POST:

• Things to Know Before Travelling to Asia

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What many people don’t know is that visas in Southeast Asia are actually one of the easiest to get. They can be a little pricey sometimes or some accurate information is hard to find, but when you get used to the routine of what to prepare for your next trip, visas can just be a piece of cake.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER

There are a few things that you need to know about visas in Southeast Asia. There are a lot of travellers who thought visas are easy and free and get surprised about the costs and worse, how long and expensive it can be sometimes especially when trying to extend a visa.

Here is some important information you should keep in mind.

NOTE: All prices are in US Dollars

Cost

Not because you carry a pretty strong passport doesn’t mean visas will come easy. Nowadays, the government of each Southeast Asia countries prefer to charge for a visa fee instead of giving it for free.

There are still visa-free possibilities but they are often limited (only a few days or with only single entry) which will require you to extend your stay – this one costs between $30-$80 or more.

Some visa extensions are not even possible at all, meaning you have to leave the country and enter with a new visa.

Processing Time

Getting a visa takes some time unless you are eligible for visa on arrival which should only take no longer than 15 minutes unless you run into problems or have missing documents.

Normally, going through the embassies or consulates are the cheapest and most secure way to get a visa, however, they are also known as the slowest way to do it.

Online sites are hard to predict, they often disclose or give you a time frame. Sometimes between 15-minutes to 7 working days are the standard processing time. You can also obtain a “rush service” for a fee.

Requirements

Either you are getting for a visa for the first time or extending your stay, these are the usual requirements:

• your passport must be valid for at least six (6) months upon arrival
• your passport must have at least one blank page
• a passport photo (white background)
• an address of your hotel or a friend (if you are staying with them)
• number of days you will be staying
• arrival and departure dates
• return or exit flight tickets, often, explaining that you will be taking the bus or train to the border of the next country is good enough
• some immigration will ask you to show the accommodation booking, exit flight ticket, bank statement, and even cash

Your Passport Validity and Empty Pages

As mentioned before, your passport must be valid for the next six (6) months upon arriving. However, when trying to extend a visa, this rule is strictly required too.

If you are running out of pages, it’s best either renew your passport before leaving your home country or to contact the nearest embassy (if you already left) and get extra pages or renew your passport.

A lot of travellers get in trouble because they often overlook the validity of their passport or remaining empty pages and are forced to fly home right away.

Best Way To Get The Visa For Southeast Asia

Personally, I like those visas or evisas that you can get online, they can be pricey sometimes but they are often the fastest and less hassle. There are also websites that process evisas which are operated by the official government, like Vietnam.

It’s best to check if this is possible for a safer and cheaper way to obtain a visa. If online is not something you prefer to do, the other option is travel agencies which also the same price as online websites but they often take your passport – which many people find really dodgy.

Remember to only go to respectable agencies to avoid losing your passport or get scammed.

The other and oldest way is to go to the embassy or consulate. They are safe and affordable amongst the other options but they are also known for being slow and a lot stricter than the other. You will also have to spend at least a full day and probably have to go back a few days later.

Check If You Need A Visa

VISAS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

Travel visa is a document that gives you the right to enter and stay in a country legally. You will be allowed to travel, visit friends and family, and take a holiday without hassle as long as you stay within the validity or your visa.

Visa For Brunei

Brunei government offers pretty decent visa deals, however, there are still a handful of nations who need to get a visa on Bruneian Embassy or Consulate.

• Who is free: passport holders of Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and some Middle East while others can receive a visa on arrival
• Who must apply: Africa, South and Central Asia, and Latin America
• Cost: $14 and up
• Requirements: a passport valid for six months, return ticket, and sometimes, accommodation booking
• Length of stay: between 14 and 90 days
• How long is the process of the application:  depending on how busy the embassy or consulate
• How to apply: visit the immigration office
• Entry refusal: Israel passport holders

Visa for Cambodia

A Cambodian tourist visa is a straightforward one. All you need to remember is only ASEAN (Southeast Asian apart from Myanmar and Timor Leste) and Seychelles passport holders are free of visa to enter and travel Cambodia.

The rest of the world are required to apply for a visa in advance or when you arrive at the airport or when you cross the border. You can read my Cambodia visa guide for more information.

• Who is free: nationals of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
• Who must apply: the rest of the world who are not on the list above
• Cost: $30-35
• Requirements: your passport details, passport photo, your fly out ticket (sometimes)
• Length of stay: 30 days, single entry
• How to apply: you can either apply online, get a visa on arrival, or from a Cambodian embassy or consulate
• How long is the process of the application: 
• Can you extend: yes, all you need to do is go to the immigration office or you can also exit the country and enter again with a new visa

Visa for Indonesia

Indonesia is popular not only because of the beautiful beaches, rice paddies, and mountains. It is also because their visa policy is very easy while extending your visa is straightforward as well. You can also read this Indonesia tourist visa article.

• Who is free: everyone apart from a few countries in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East
• Who must apply: the countries listed above, some countries also need to get a clearance from the government
• Cost: $30 and up
• Requirements: depends on each nationality and the Embassy
• Length of stay: 30 days
• How to apply: through the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate
• How long is the process of the application: depending on the Embassy
• Can you extend: Yes, for $61.50 via the immigration office or travel agency

Visa for Laos

Laos only let Southeast Asian, East Asia, two European countries visa-free, the rest can obtain a visa on arrival or evisa for $40, which lets you stay for 30 days, it is a single entry visa. Read Laos visa guide.

• Who is free: Southeast Asia, Mongolia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and Luxembourg
• Who must apply: the rest of the world except some countries in Africa, Middle East, South Asia
• Cost: $40-$55
• Requirements: travel dates, passport
• Length of stay: 14-30 days
• How to apply: online for evisa or visa on arrival
• How long is the process of the application: right away to 3-5 business days
• Can you extend: yes, can be extended twice, not more than 90 days at the immigration office

Visa for Malaysia

Malaysia offers visa-free access however, they offer different days in various countries. It is important to know how many days you can only stay depending on the passport you hold. 

Read Also: Malaysia visa guide.

• Who is free: almost all countries in the world
• Who must apply: South Asian, China, some countries in Africa, South America, and Israel
• Cost: depending on your nationality / around $100
• Requirements: travel dates, possible interview, valid passport
• Length of stay: 7-30 days
• How to apply: contact the Malaysian Embassy or consulate
• How long is the process of the application: 1-3 working days
• Can you extend: depending on your nationality

Visa for Myanmar

Visa for Myanmar is pretty easy to understand. If you are not from any Southeast Asian country, it will only mean that you need will need a visa to enter and travel Myanmar.

Read Also: Myanmar visa guide.

• Who is free: Southeast Asia apart from Timor Leste and Malaysia
• Visa on arrival: Australia, Austria, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, Switzerland for 30 days, $50 fee
• Who must apply: the rest of the world, apart from some African and Central Asian countries also visa-free countries who need more days compared to their visa-free access – apply here
• Cost: $50 for tourist and $70 or business
• Requirements: passport (must be valid for at least six months from the day you enter Myanmar, travel dates, address for your first accommodation in Myanmar, a port of entry payment)
• Length of stay: maximum of 28 days, single entry
• How to apply: online or through the Embassy or consulate
• How long is the process of the application: 3 working days
• Can you extend: you have to leave the country and re-enter, apply for a new evisa if needed, overstay fee is $3 per day, overstaying for longer than a few days will be too risky

Visa for the Philippines

The Philippines is generous in granting visa-free to most countries in the world. Not to mention that the extension of visa is easy as well, it will cost a little but shouldn’t be a hassle to do. Visa on arrival is also possible for a fee.

Read Also:  Philippines visa guide.

• Who is free: most nationalities
• Who must apply: north and east African countries, some central and south Asia, and China
• Cost: depending on your nationality
• Requirements: often, the immigration ask for an exit flight ticket
• Length of stay: 59, 30, 14 days
• How to apply: through the Philippines Embassy or consulate
• How long is the process of the application:
• Can you extend: yes, need to wait for a week or two before you can apply for your first extension (extra 29 days), you can extend for up to six months after the first extension (must have ARC card)

Visa for Singapore

Singapore is pretty easy when it comes to visa but perhaps this is because their immigration officers are pretty strict, sometimes intimidating, and very good with their jobs. Read Singapore visa guide.

• Who is free: most nationalities from the Americas, Europe, Central and South Africa, Southeast Asia, and some Oceania
• Who must apply: North Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, and China
• Cost: $50-$90
• Requirements: passport must be valid for 6 months, nationalities from Africa must show a Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate
• Length of stay: 30 days
• How to apply: must contact Singapore embassy or consulate
• How long is the process of the application: 1-3 working days
• Can you extend: yes – more info here

Visa for Thailand

Thailand has turned into a gateway hub between Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. There are a lot of flights coming and leaving Thailand to anywhere in the world.

The past decade this country has been one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia resulting in millions of travellers coming every month. While this has been a great ride in their tourism economy, it also has taken a toll in knowing travellers between illegal workers who set foot in Thailand and never left without a valid visa to stay.

Today, Thailand is known as one of the countries in Southeast Asia with strict entry and visa extension policy. Read Thailand visa guide.

• Who is free: most EU citizens, Southeast Asians, Middle Easterns, East Asians, and a limited number of North and South Americans
• Who must apply: those who are not on the list can get a visa on arrival
• Cost: $29 or depending on your nationality
• Requirements: valid passport, passport photo, bank statement, cash amounts between $800 and $1500 (in Thai Baht or major currencies), exit ticket must be shown at the immigration, travel dates
• Length of stay: 14, 30, 90 days depending on your nationality
• How to apply: visa on arrival, embassy or consulate, and online
• How long is the process of the application: 30 minutes via online, at least 3 working days or more if via the embassy
• Can you extend: Yes, one time

Visa for Timor Lester (East Timor)

Timor Leste is one of the best places in Southeast Asia when it comes to visas regardless of what passport you carry. The only catch is most nationalities must enter through Dili Airport or Seaport through visa on arrival and must prove your financial capacity. While a big portion of European citizens can enter without a visa at any border points.

• Who is free: Europeans and Cape Verde citizens
• Who must apply: the rest of the world are eligible for a visa on arrival
• Cost: $30
• Requirements: must get visa application authorisation the moment you land, passport (6 months validity), return ticket, accommodation booking, can financially prove to stay ($150/day)
• Length of stay: 30 days for air arrival and90 days for land
• How to apply: at the immigration the time you land or arrive Dili
• How long is the process of the application: in minutes
• Can you extend: Yes, must go to the immigration office in Thailand, the fees are $35 for 30-days and $75 for 30-60 days

Visa for Vietnam

Vietnam has a very specific visa policy. It’s one of the countries that you really have to check if you need a visa or not. The government granted a free-visa to a very limited number of countries with very different number of days.

For example, not because one EU country doesn’t need a visa to enter Vietnam meaning all EU members are exempted. You should read this Vietnam visa guide.

• Who is free: all ASEAN countries except Timor Leste, Belarus, Chile, Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Finland, Franc,e Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, UK – check this detailed how to apply for a Vietnam visa article to find out how long you can stay for free
• Who must apply: those who are not on the list – you can apply here
• Cost: between $25-$95 (depending on the type, length of stay, and number of entries, the invitation letter fee is different from visa stamp fee
• Requirements: a passport valid for the next six months upon entry, passport photo, arriving and departure date
• Length of stay: between 7 days to 1 year (depending on nationality)
• How to apply: through the embassy or consulate, travel agency in neighbouring countries and online
• How long is the process of the application: 3 days to 4 weeks or even more
• Can you extend:

MORE TIPS WHEN ACQUIRING VISA FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

As a traveller who’s been exploring Southeast Asia for five years now, there are a lot of things I’ve learnt about visas around this region. I have a weak passport, hence, when I decide to go somewhere, this is the first thing I also look into.

When To Apply

As soon as you have decided to go to Southeast Asia, check the visa right away and apply if you need one. If you are a backpacker who probably doesn’t plan a lot, apply a week to 10-days before you arrive is a good amount of time.

If you are going through Embassy, always call them and ask how long it will take or read reviews online. While through online sites, they always tell you upfront how long it will take.

I’ve been to situations where I sit in the border of in the airport while anxiously waiting for the email confirmation of my visa – I would never wish that to happen to anyone!

Where To Apply

Depending on your budget and how much time you have will be the two factors to consider which option is best for you.

If doing an online service is something you will go for, always check reviews online – Google Maps, TripAdvisor, Facebook Page.

How Long Is It Valid

If you already know that you want to stay longer than your free visa, it’s best to know if you need to do an extension or if you have to cut down on your travel days. Knowing the validity will help you plan around better.

Can You Extend

In case the visa can’t be extended, you have to know that right away so you can plan your itinerary very well. While if the extension is possible, find out what is the best way to do it and the cheapest.

Visa runs are pretty easy in Southeast Asia way to extend your stay. It’s when you exit the border (either via air, land or sea), and entering again with a new visa.

However, you should do the math and calculate if it’s cheaper to extend the visa without leaving the country or if it’s best to take the bus to the border or fly out to avoid any hassles in dealing with visa extension shenanigans.

How Long Are You Going to Be Travelling

Last but not the least, it will really be helpful to know how long you will be travelling in each Southeast Asian country. Do your research and find out a decent amount of time to travel around each place. Because to be honest, visa extension is often a pain in the butt and expensive.

BACKPACKING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL TIPS

Here are some travelling around Southeast Asia tips that you might find useful:

• Backpacking in Southeast Asia: Literally everything you need to know
• Southeast Asia travel route and itineraries: Where to start your trip and how to make a good travel itinerary
• Travel budget guide for Southeast Asia: Here’s a detailed article on the cost of travelling in Southeast Asia
• When is the best time to travel to Southeast Asia: Which months to go, festivals, peak season
• Affordable destinations in Southeast Asia: Where can you go without breaking the bank
• Vaccinations for Southeast Asia: What shots you need depending on where you’re going
• Asia bucket list: fun and adventurous trips to add

I hope this post helps you sort out visas for Southeast Asia. If you have any questions, let me know in the comment section below.

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Travelling to a different country, whether it be solo or with your friends, is an exciting and life-changing experience. You’ll get exposed to different angles of life, the diverse ways of living, and you’ll also get to eat relatively exotic, but nevertheless, good food.

As part of your Southeast Asian adventure, you will have plenty of opportunities to do what the locals are doing. But before doing what the Romans do, you need to first ensure that you’ll be as healthy as you can be.

As cliche’ as it sounds, prevention is always better than cure. So, if you are headed in this part of the world, vaccinations for countries in Southeast Asia is recommended especially if you are doing activities that involve volunteering with the animals and going to rural areas. Definitely read the rest of this article for more information on the most important injections for Southeast Asia that you should get.

DISCLAIMER: We claim no expertise in the medical industry, this article is to merely inform you to keep you safe during your trip. We highly recommend you talk to your GP for a better understanding of vaccines. Getting the shots we mention in this post will be your own responsibility.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE DECIDING WHICH VACCINATIONS TO GET FOR YOUR SOUTHEAST ASIA TRIP

Getting the vaccines needed for Southeast Asia is very important not only because it prevents you from contracting potentially life-threatening diseases, but you are also preventing certain diseases to spread to other people.

There are several things that you need to consider before getting your vaccine shots for Southeast Asia. You may also want to check your insurances, some include travel vaccinations. 

Which countries are you going into 

One of the things that you need to take into consideration before getting your vaccine is the countries that you’re going to visit. It is important to be aware of which diseases are prevalent in each destination you’ll visit, so you’ll know exactly the immunizations for Southeast Asia to get. Some insurances also cover travel vaccinations.

For example, if you are going to Malaysia, the experts recommend getting Tetanus, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid fever vaccine, as these are the diseases that you’ll most likely to contract in the country.

ALSO READ: Travel vaccination for South America

The weather in your destination 

Being aware of the weather of the destination that you’ll visit helps you to decide whether to get vaccinated or not. The weather affects the risk of having an outbreak of a disease in Southeast Asia as well as transportation in different sites.

For example, typhoid fever cases are known to rise during the monsoon season due to the increase of mosquitoes breeding from stagnant water, hence, the risk of getting this disease from a mosquito bite also increases.

Costs 

Vaccines are generally cheaper in Southeast Asian countries, but at the same time, know that a language barrier can possibly hinder you in some countries. You also need to consider that the immunity you’ll get from vaccines does not immediately kick in, so you might still be at risk of contracting the disease that you’re avoiding even after getting vaccinated.

Experts recommend getting your shots needed for Southeast Asia at least 4 to 6 weeks before travelling to give time for the immunization to take effect.

The effects 

It is important to know the effects of a particular vaccine so you won’t panic unnecessarily when you suddenly feel ill after getting vaccinated. Some shots can have great effects on your body, for example, you can feel very sore after a few days of getting vaccinated for Yellow Fever, while the vaccine for Malaria may cause you to hallucinate.

You certainly don’t want to feel these effects while travelling, which is another reason why getting vaccinated before travelling is the more practical option.

Find out if you can take them either on shots or pills 

Some people are not comfortable with or have an irrational fear of needles. Some do not believe that pills work. Many types of vaccines come in two forms: one is administered through an injection, and the other is taken orally through the form of a pill.

If you prefer one over the other, you’ll need to find out where to get the method of vaccination that you like as early as possible.

VACCINATIONS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

The awareness of the ailments that are prevalent in the country that you plan on visiting should be one of your priorities before actually visiting the country.

Out of awareness comes prevention of getting a disease that may hinder you from fully experiencing your fun-filled and meaningful vacation not to mention that some of these diseases can be fatal. That is the reason why you should consider getting yourself vaccinated.

Thankfully, there is a list of immunizations for Southeast Asia that our friends in the medical industry have developed to keep us as healthy as we can be during our Southeast Asia travels.

Cholera Vaccination 

Cholera is a disease that causes severe diarrhoea which may lead to dehydration and even death if left untreated. You can contract this disease if you have eaten food or drank a beverage that is contaminated with the bacteria called Vibrio Cholerae, this is common if your on tours in rural areas.

Getting a cholera vaccination makes you immune to contracting cholera, plus, it was discovered that this vaccine also protects you from traveller’s diarrhoea and E. Coli infection for approximately three months.

• must get if travelling during: June – December
• must get if going to: areas with poor sanitation such as refugee camps and impoverished areas
• range cost US: $30 – $50
• range cost Europe: €27 – €45
• range cost to get it in SEA: $15 – $30

Hepatitis A Vaccine 

Hepatitis A is a liver disease that can be acquired from food and beverages that have been contaminated with the faeces of, or by having sexual intercourse with someone with the disease.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A is similar to having flu, jaundice, nausea, and vomiting. There is no known cure at the moment, other than prevention through two hepatitis A vaccine shots over a period of 6 months, which will give you lifetime immunity.

• must get if travelling during: generally recommended any month of the year
• must get if going to: areas with poor sanitation
• range cost US: $85 – $150
• range cost Europe: €75 – €133
• range cost to get it in SEA: $50 – $70

Hepatitis B Vaccine 

Hepatitis B vaccine gives you immunity to Hepatitis B virus. This type of hepatitis can be transmitted through needles, so having a tattoo or body piercing puts you at risk. It can also be transmitted through sex.

The vaccine has to be administered three times over a period of six months to take effect, hence, you should get vaccinated 6 months before travelling to Southeast Asia.

• must get if travelling during: generally recommended any month of the year
• must get if going to: tattoo shops, hospitals, and areas with poor sanitation
• range cost US: $59 – $90
• range cost Europe: €70 – €90
• range cost to get it in SEA: $12 – $20

Rabies Vaccine 

Rabies vaccine protects you from the Rabies lyssavirus, which can be acquired from the bite of an infected mammal, such as dogs, rats, cats, and wild animals and a fatal virus. Experts recommend getting a pre-exposure shot before travelling so that you’ll only need 2 shots of post-exposure rabies shots instead of 4.

The vaccine will only grant a person immunity for a limited period of time, and persons with a high risk of getting bitten by infected animals may need to get a booster shot once every 6 to 24 months.

• must get if travelling during: generally recommended any month of the year
• must get if going to: forests, mountains, and rural areas
• range cost US: $280 – $3000 per shot
• range cost Europe: €32 – €50 per shot 
• range cost to get it in SEA: $11 – $20 per shot

Malaria Vaccine 

A malaria vaccine is used to prevent contracting malaria, a disease caused by a parasite transmitted to humans from mosquito bites. The vaccine will only lower your chance of getting malaria and is only effective for as long as you are taking the medication.

It is still recommended to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes even after getting vaccinated for this disease, by using insect repellent, and or staying in an air-conditioned room.

• must get if travelling during: October – December
• must get if going to: rural areas and during raining season
• range cost US: $25 – $200
• range cost Europe (in Euro): €22 – €55
• range cost to get it in SEA: $5 – $87

Typhoid Vaccine 

Typhoid vaccine gives you protection from Salmonella typhi, a bacterium that causes high fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and can even lead to death. It can be acquired from contaminated food and drinks.

It can be taken either orally or through an injection. It is recommended to get vaccinated for typhoid fever at least a month before travelling.

• must get if travelling during: it’s best to take it a month before travelling to high-risk countries 
• must get if going to: rural areas, areas with poor sanitation
• range cost US: $70 – $100
• range cost Europe: €30 – €60
• range cost to get it in SEA: $10 – $40

Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap) 

You can get Tetanus from places with poor sanitation, Diphtheria and Pertussis from coughs and sneezes of people who are carriers of the bacteria. Tdap is a vaccine that prevents all three diseases. You will need to get a booster shot once every 10 years to ensure that you’re always protected from these ailments.

• must get if travelling during: it’s best to get when travelling to different countries
• must get if going to: rural areas, areas with poor sanitation, hiking
• range cost US: $25 – $60
• range cost Europe: €30 – €55
• range cost to get it in SEA: $10 – $30

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine 

Japanese Encephalitis vaccine is administered to people to prevent contracting the Japanese encephalitis virus. Though rare, you can get infected through mosquitoes carrying the Japanese Encephalitis virus. Symptoms include vomiting, confusion, fever, headache and swelling of the brain.

• must get if travelling during: June – December
• must get if going to: rural areas, hiking, camping
• range cost US: $450 – $1000
• range cost Europe: €120 – €200
• range cost to get it in SEA: $15 – $80

Polio Vaccine 

Polio vaccine is administered to people who want to be immune to the Poliovirus. Polio is a disease that causes paralysis and is spread through human contact, from contaminated food and water, as well as areas with poor sanitation. Polio vaccines can give you lifetime immunity to the virus if you have completed the series of shots needed.

• must get if travelling during: generally recommended regardless of the month
• must get if going to: rural areas, areas with poor sanitation
• range cost US: $80 – $200
• range cost Europe (in Euro): €20 – €50
• range cost to get it in SEA: $13 – $55

Yellow Fever Vaccine 

Yellow Fever vaccine gives you immunity to Yellow Fever, a disease that can be transmitted from a mosquito bite. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle ache, red eyes and face. The shot has lifetime validity unless you are living in a place where Yellow Fever is common like some countries in Africa and South America.

Although rare in Southeast Asia, it’s best to get the shot since the effectiveness can last a while.

• must get if going to: countries that require proof of Yellow Fever vaccine
• range cost US: $45 – $75
• range cost Europe: €50 – €70

RECOMMENDED SHOTS FOR EACH COUNTRY

No two countries are the same. Different countries have different cultures, problems, and even diseases. It is important to know the diseases you are at risk of getting, so you can get vaccinated before your travel date.

Below are the recommended immunization shots for each Southeast Asian country.

Shots for Brunei 

• Japanese Encephalitis: cost range is $15 – 80, available in most hospitals in Brunei
• Typhoid: cost range is between $10 – $40
• Hepatitis A & B: cost range is $30 – $50
• Rabies: cost range from $11 – $20

Shots for Cambodia

• Japanese Encephalitis: cost is around $100
• Typhoid: cost is around $10 – $40
• Hepatitis A & B: $60 – $90
• Rabies: the cost of rabies shot in Cambodia is around $10

Shots for Indonesia 

• Polio: cost may range from $13 – $55
• Japanese Encephalitis: The cost is about $37
• Typhoid: costs around $10 – $30
• Hepatitis A & B: price range around $60 – $90

Shots for Laos

• Polio: cost may range from $13 – $55
• Cholera: costs around $15 – $30
• Japanese Encephalitis: around $10 per shot​​​​
• Typhoid: price range is about $10 – $40
• Hepatitis A & B: range of cost is $30 – $50

Shots for Malaysia

• Rabies: a shot costs around $120
• Hepatitis A & B: around $100 – $150
• Typhoid: around $20

Shots for Myanmar

• Polio: around  $13 – $55
• Hepatitis A & B: around $30 – $50
• Typhoid: price range is $10 – $40
• Japanese Encephalitis: $15 – $80
• Rabies: $11 – $20 per shot

Shots for the Philippines

• Japanese Encephalitis: $40 – $80 per dose
• Typhoid: $10 – $15 per dose
• Hepatitis A & B: $15 – $20 per shot
• Rabies: $10 – $30 per shot. Available in most public and private hospitals and sometimes even for free

Shots for Singapore

• Japanese Encephalitis: around $300 per shot
• Typhoid: around $30 per shot
• Hepatitis A & B: $35 – $51 per shot
• Rabies: around $125 per shot
• Yellow Fever: $120 per shot

Shots for Thailand

• Cholera: around $25 per dose. Available in most hospitals
• Japanese Encephalitis: $15 – $16 per dose. Available in most hospitals
• Typhoid: around $10 per dose. Available in most hospitals
• Hepatitis A & B: around $35. Available in most hospitals
• Rabies: around $11 – $20/shot. Available in most hospitals
• Yellow Fever: around $40

Shots for Timor Leste/East Timor

• Japanese Encephalitis: around $15 – $80. Available in most hospitals
• Typhoid: $10 – $40 per dose. Available in most hospitals
• Hepatitis A & B: $50 – $70 per dose, available in most hospitals
• Rabies: $11 – $20 per shot. Available in most hospitals

Shots for Vietnam

• Japanese Encephalitis: around $600. Available in private hospitals
• Typhoid: around $10. Available in private hospitals
• Hepatitis A & B: around $25 – $30. Available in private hospitals
• Rabies: $11 – $15 per shot. Available in most hospitals

Travelling is a liberating experience. But, as with all other things in life, it comes with a risk. Knowing how to minimize or even totally eliminate those risks, especially of contracting serious diseases, will help you fully enjoy your journey in Southeast Asia.

SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL TIPS

Here are some posts about travelling in Southeast Asia that you might find helpful:

• Backpacking in Southeast Asia
• Southeast Asia travel itineraries
• Visa guide around Southeast Asia
• Southeast Asia travel budget
• Fun and adventurous trips to add on your Asia bucket list
• Best surfing spots in Asia

We hope that this article about vaccinations for Southeast Asia will help you take precautions for your next trip. It is important to enjoy but we also should know how to keep safe.

If you have any questions about travelling to Southeast Asia, feel free to get in touch with us. Which countries in Southeast Asia are you visiting? We’d love to hear your stories, too! Be sure to keep us in the loop through the comment section below! 

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Southeast Asia has been one of the favourite regions and becoming popular with every couple, family & backpackers because it’s not expensive. It has so much to offer to every kind of travellers. Another reason is that it’s easy to access.

Some of the Southeast Asian countries don’t require a visa for travellers to get in which lessen the hassle. While when is the best time to travel to Southeast Asia is one of the golden questions during the planning stage of a trip. This article will help you decide on that matter.

RELATED POSTS:

• Fun and adventurous trip to add on your Asia bucket list
• Visas for Southeast Asia
• Complete guide on backpacking in Southeast Asia
• Best Southeast Asia travel itineraries and routes 
• How much is the right travel budget for travelling through Southeast Asia
• Affordable places in Southeast Asia

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR VISIT TO SOUTHEAST ASIA

There are things that we should consider when we plan to travel to this region. We can only determine the best time to visit Southeast Asia when we look at the factors below:

Climate and Weather in Southeast Asia

Climate is the first thing to consider before visiting a place. Southeast Asia is predominantly tropical-hot and humid throughout the year with a lot of rainfall days. Northern Vietnam and​ Myanmar Himalayas are the only part in Southeast Asia that has a subtropical climate that has winter with snow.

Most of the countries in Southeast Asia have a wet and dry season. Yet it is also one of the most vulnerable regions when it comes to climate change in the world.

Holidays in Southeast Asia

Another thing we should know is the public holidays of each country. Because some of the tourist destinations become very busy and crowded during the holidays. This is also to guide you to know the local customs and traditions in each country.

Some events to observe is the festivals like Songkran in Thailand and Holy Week in the Philippines to avoid any hassles during your trip.

Peak Season in Southeast Asia

One of the most important things to consider is to know when is the peak season because it will affect your budget for travel. From transportation to accommodations become pricey and fully booked during this season.

Typhoon Season in Southeast Asia

​​​​​It is significant to know when is the typhoon season because we need to secure safe travel and not to mess up your travel itinerary. The southwest monsoon normally starts in May or June and stronger between August and October which slowly stops in November.

Rainy days in the Philippines and Vietnam starts in June while Bali experience rainfall during March and December.

Vaccinations for Southeast Asia

You should also be aware of the vaccinations for Southeast Asia that you will be needing especially if you are coming during typhoon season and most likely will be in rural areas, mountains, and around animals.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SOUTHEAST ASIA PER EACH country

One of the most fun and rewarding experiences is when your timing is right in visiting Southeast Asian countries. It will not fail your expectations and give you more memorable travel stories.

Brunei

Brunei is very known for its beautiful mosques, cultural, and wildlife exploration. Even though it is among the least visited countries, you will be amazed at its cleanliness.

• When is the summer: June to August when the weather is incredibly hot
• When is the typhoon season: the climate becomes cool due to rain starts from September to December
• When is the school holiday: March, May, June, September, December & January
• Important holidays to remember: Sultan’s birthday attracts many tourists
• When is the peak season: between June and August is the peak tourist season and the weather in Brunei is extremely hot.
• Best time to visit Brunei: between January and May because the weather is dry and warm

Cambodia

The rich culture and history add to the charm of Cambodia. The very famous Angkor Temple is one of the pieces of evidence that Cambodia has many things to reveal to the tourists.​​​​​​

The cool season (November to February) in Cambodia is the peak time for tourism where you can mildly explore temples. The pros of visiting Cambodia during the rainy season (June-October) is it is cheaper while the cons are it is not safer.

• When is the summer: between November and April
• When is the typhoon season: July to September
• When is the school holiday: Khmer New Year celebrated on April 13 or 14
• Important holidays to remember: Water Festival during early November; Pchum Ben is a 15-day holiday which runs from the end of September up to mid-October
• When is the peak season: most travellers visit Cambodia from November to March
• Best time to visit Cambodia: from early March to end of May then end of September to January

RELATED POSTS:

• Visa guide for Cambodia
• Things to know before going to Cambodia
• Best hostels in Cambodia – that Mary personally stayed
• How to get from Cambodia to Vietnam

Indonesia

Indonesia has beautiful and scenic natural landscapes, untouched beaches, mountains, and lakes. Some of the known places are Bali, Lombok, and Jakarta.

• When is the summer: between May and September 
• When is the typhoon season: November to March 
• When is the school holiday: June, July, December, and January
• Important holidays to remember: Idul Fitri or Eid, Independence Day, and Nyepi 
• When is the peak season: July and August are the peak tourist seasons because it’s Europeans summer vacations and Australian school holidays
• Best time to visit Indonesia: April to October

Laos

Laos is simply beautiful because it has a friendly population combined with the ‘back in old times’ vibe. It is one of the few countries that has exotic tourist spots. Check if you need a visa to Laos and how to get to Vietnam from Laos.

• When is the summer: March and April 
• When is the typhoon season: May to October 
• When is the school holiday: mostly in April and May 
• Important holidays to remember: Full Moon Festival 
• When is the peak season: between October and April
• Best time to go to Laos: November to May

Malaysia

Malaysia is a great place to complete your holiday vacation. It offers beautiful coastline, tropical islands, and coral reefs.

• When is the summer: the dry season in the west peninsula starts from November to February while the eastern peninsula starts from April to October 
• When is the typhoon season: the wet season in the west peninsula starts from April to October while the eastern peninsula starts from November to February
• When is the school holiday: March, May, and November 
• Important holidays to remember: Idul Fitri or Eid, Deepavali Holiday and Wesak Day 
• When is the peak season: the beginning of December to the end of January 
• Best time to go to Malaysia: March to July then again October to December

RELATED POSTS:

• Visa guide for Malaysia
• Hostels in Malaysia – that Mary personally stayed
• Melaka, Malaysia to Singapore border crossing

Myanmar

Myanmar is rich in iconic sights, very hospitable locals, and known for its unbeaten paths. One of the best sights is the Bagan sunrises where you can also see the hot air balloons in the sky.

• When is the summer: hottest period is between February and May 
• When is the typhoon season: the rainy season starts in May and ends in October 
• When is the school holiday: March and April 
• Important holidays to remember: Peasant’s Day and Full Moon Day 
• When is the peak season: May to September
• Best time to go to Myanmar: October to February

RELATED POSTS:

• Myanmar visa guide – how to get your evisa
• Must-see places in Myanmar
• What to know before travelling to Myanmar
• Hitchhiking in Myanmar

Philippines

The Philippines is very known for its beautiful beaches, an attractive culture, and great hospitality. Some of the great destinations are Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao which listed as the most beautiful islands in Asia.

• When is the summer: end of February to end of May 
• When is the typhoon season: June to October 
• When is the school holiday: March to May 
• Important holidays to remember: Holy Week and Christmas to New Years
• When is the peak season: February to May – it’s best to avoid going to the Philippines especially from April to May, everything is fully booked and crowded 
• Best time to go to the Philippines: October to February

RELATED POSTS:

• Philippines visa guide
• What to explore in the North of the Philippines
• Festivals in the Philippines – year-round

Singapore

Singapore is referred as to Lion’s city because it is filled with fascinated culinary experiences, full of art accommodations and exciting nightlife. It is also a great destination to bond family, loved ones and friends.

• When is the summer: March to August
• When is the typhoon season: September to February 
• When is the school holiday: National Holiday 
• Important holidays to remember: Chinese New Year, Vesak Holiday
• When is the peak season: between February and April 
• Best time to go to Singapore: June to September and December to March

RELATED POSTS:

• Singapore visa guide
• Recommended hostels in Singapore

Thailand

Thailand is the most favourite country of backpackers because it feels like home. Though it is inexpensive, everyone has a luxurious taste in visiting this country.

• When is the summer: March through to June, with April and May the hottest months of the year
• When is the typhoon season: May/June to October 
• When is the school holiday: Summer holiday 
• Important holidays to remember: Songkran Holiday, Western New Year 
• When is the peak season: between November and early April 
• Best time to go to Thailand: November to April

RELATED POSTS:

• Thailand visa guide
• How to get from Thailand to Cambodia: Border crossing

Timor Leste/East Timor

East Timor or Timor Leste is one of the world’s unacknowledged tourism destinations. But it offers spectacular diving spot, whale-watching, trekking, biking, great scenery, stunning mountain driving, and beautiful white-sand beaches.

• When is the summer: June to September 
• When is the typhoon season: December to March 
• When is the school holiday: November 
• Important holidays to remember: Easter Week, Youth National Holiday 
• When is the peak season: April to July
• Best time to go to Timor Leste: September to November and February to May

Vietnam

Vietnam is another favourite destination of backpackers because of its gorgeous landscapes, tasty food, and vibrant energy. But you have to remember that Vietnam is the only Southeast Asian country that has winter.

The north of Vietnam can even be covered in ice from December until January. The climate from the north, central, and south of Vietnam is very different from each other. Hence, planning your trip here should be carefully done if you want to all parts of the country.

• When is the summer: June-September
• When is the typhoon season: north is May-October, south is June to September
• When is the school holiday: June-August
• Important holidays to remember: Tet Holiday (Lunar New Year) which falls either end of February of the middle of March
• When is the peak season: from November to February and May to August
• Best time to go to Vietnam: in the north, August to November while in the south is November to February

RELATED POSTS:

• Best time to visit Vietnam – extensive guide
• How to apply for Vietnam visa
• Backpacking in Vietnam
• Motorbiking in Vietnam
• Vietnam to Laos border crossing

FESTIVALS YOU MUST NOT MISS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND ALSO BE AWARE OF

These festivals and holidays in Southeast Asia can bring so much joy, excitement, and adventure for travellers but at the same time they can also ruin your trip – expect that most accommodations are fully booked and on the high price at these times of the year.

These events will also determine the best time to go to Southeast Asia.

January to March

• Sinulog Festival – Philippines (January) – There are grand street parades that last in 12 hours and you will see a lot of people wearing costumes
• Thaipusam – Malaysia (January): People do piercing the skin with skewers or dragging a heavy chariot by metal hooks pierced into the flesh and walking starts at midnight.
• Tet – Vietnam (February): this is the Vietnamese New Year and everything will be closed for almost a week, buses, hotels, and tours will be fully booked
• Nyepi – Bali (March): People spend the days in silence and meditating. You will never hear anything at all.

April to June

• Songkran Festival – Thailand (April): People take to the streets armed with water pistols, super soakers, buckets of ice-cold water and industrial hoses
• Singapore Arts Festival – Singapore (June): This dynamic event showcase local and international talent.

July to September

• Mid-Autumn Festival – Vietnam (September): It symbolizes the harvest time which is very important to the families.

October to December

• Deepavali – Malaysia (October): Candles and lanterns are lit and it symbolizes the triumph of good over darkness
• Christmas and New Year – Philippines: Most places are fully booked while some shops, banks, and business will be closed for a few days

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO SOUTHEAST ASIA

During the dry season, which is from November to March, is the best time of the year to visit Southeast Asia because most of the countries are tropical. The diverse culture, good food, and amazing tourist spots are worth your penny.

I suggest you avoid peak seasons because it is quite expensive, crowded, and everything will be fully booked. You’ll have a lot of stress trying to get the last bed or ticket which are often overpriced in such bad quality.

However, at the end of the day, with the rapid worsening of global warming, the climate and weather in each place are very hard to determine. If you happen to arrive during a bad season, find a way to make the best out of it instead and to enjoy your trip. These situations are unpredictable.

I hope we helped you to decide when to visit these Southeast Asian countries. If you have any comments, suggestions or anything that I have not mentioned, feel free to write your thoughts and guides below.

ARE YOU ON PINTEREST? SAVE THIS FOR LATER READ:

I’ve been living and travelling around Southeast Asia since 2015. I’ve witnessed so many changes over the years one of those is the significant change in the cost of travelling in Southeast Asia.

The ultimate question I constantly receive whilst travelling and on my email is “what is the right budget for Southeast Asia?” The truth is, there is no right Southeast Asia budget because it will be down to the way you will travel, however, hiking alone for 90 days without your survival kit is almost like a suicide. Let’s make sure you get the trip of your life by giving you an idea of how to prepare the ultimate Southeast Asia travel budget.

Before you hop on your backpacking in Southeast Asia, first off, let’s list down the possible countries you want to visit and how long is the ideal time to spend in every destination. In this way, we can figure out the daily budget for travelling Southeast Asia.

SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL TIPS

• Visas for Southeast Asia – don’t forget to check this to avoid hassle on your trip or worse, waste money
• How I travelled in Southeast Asia with $2000 for six months – travelling on a budget is not a problem in Southeast Asia; find out how I managed to do it
• Southeast Asia travel route and itineraries – here’s a guide to help you plan a suitable travel itinerary for you
• Crossing the border from Melaka to Singapore by bus – get to Singapore from Malaysia without spending too much
• When is the best time to go to Southeast Asia – find out when is the time of the year to travel in this region
• Vaccinations for Southeast Asia – get the shots you might need

HOW LONG SHOULD I STAY IN EACH SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES

• Brunei – 1-2 weeks ( this country is very small but have loads of attractions to offer)
• Cambodia 2-3 weeks is plenty to explore this fascinating destination
• Laos – 3 weeks (you can buy a motorbike and travel slowly)
• Indonesia – 1 month (or more) this country has 17.5K islands
• Malaysia – 3 weeks (you can easily spend more here, buy a motorbike and travel in your own way)
• Myanmar – 28 days (the maximum single entry visa is only for 28 days, you can always get another visa if you want to stay longer)
• Philippines – 1 month (or more) since this country has 7,000+ islands, mostly can be travelled by ferry or aeroplanes
• Singapore – 2 weeks (this will give you plenty of time to explore slowly)
• Thailand – 4 weeks (hopping on the islands takes time)
• Timor-Leste – 2 weeks
• Vietnam – 3 weeks on a motorbike | 2.5 weeks on public transportations

TIP: If your time permits, stay as long as you can to explore the small and unbeaten areas of each destination. You can never stay too long in places that you find fascinating.

RELATED POST: ​Best 40L backpacks for men and women

TRAVEL TOOLS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

• ACCOMMODATIONS
• BUSES, FERRIES, FLIGHTS, AND TRAINS
• AFFORDABLE TOURS
• CHEAP FLIGHTS
• TRAVEL INSURANCE
• VISA ASSISTANCE

SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL BUDGET PER COUNTRY

This article of Southeast Asia backpacking budget is a roughly an estimation guide. People travel differently and in different styles. Even you prefer  private room, it doesn’t mean you can’t go backpacking in this region.

All you need to do is to know what your preference is. For example, you can spend more money on accommodation and cheap out of food. Personally, I always cheap out on accommodation and transportation and prefer to spend money on food and tours.

LEGEND: VOA (Visa On Arrival) | Prices are in US Dollars

Brunei Travel Budget

Even Brunei is such a small country, located right next to Malaysia, it has something to offer to its visitors. From its stunning landscape, the local food can surely find its way to every traveller’s heart. Since it’s a relatively small country, travelling around in Brunei is easy and surprisingly affordable.

Visa: Free visa & VOA – check out the list
Dorm: $10 – affordable accommodations in Brunei
Private room: $18
Food: $3-$5
Transportation: $1 for a short ride to go on the other side of the city
Tours: there are a lot of free things to do or check these things to do in Brunei

RELATED POST: Best walking shoes on concrete while travelling

Cambodia Travel Budget

Travelling around Southeast Asia can be cheap, but no one prepared me how affordable backpacking in Cambodia is! If you really want to travel Southeast Asia on a shoestring budget, head to Cambodia. Since Cambodia mainly uses US dollars, it feels like the prices are more expensive than the rest of Southeast Asia, but if you look closely and convert the prices in Thailand or Vietnam to US dollars, Cambodia is the cheapest on all of them.

Visa: 30 days VOA (check the visa guide for Cambodia) – Apply now!
Dorm: $2-$5 (check out the list of hostels where I stayed in Cambodia)
Private room: $5-$15
Food: $1 (side street food vendor) $2 (average small side street restaurants) $3-$4 (regular price on casual restaurants)
Sim Card: $4- Cellcard (this company offers cheap options but fast internet speed: 30 GB data for 30 days)
Transportation: $8 for a six-hour bus
Motorbike: $300-$400 (one of the few things that are more expensive in Cambodia compared to Vietnam)
Tours: $5 for short day tours (normally this is only for the transportation like in Phnom Penh) -There are great tours for only $15

RELATED POST: Important things to remember before you travel to Cambodia

Indonesia Travel Budget

Are you up for an adventure? Why not travel a country with 17,000 islands plus loads of active volcanoes? Indonesia attracts a lot of travellers not only because of these features but also for being such an affordable travel destination. Bali is one of the most visited cities in Indonesia, check this Bali on a budget guide.

Visa: Free-visa is offered to almost everyone in the world for 30-days (check if you need a visa)
Dorm: $5 – affordable accommodations in Indonesia or check these accommodations in Bali
Private room: $10
Food: $2 – you can easily find them from the street vendors, get away from where tourist hangout to find the cheap eats
Sim Card: $10 – XL or Telkomsel (you get 12 GB)
Transportation: $0.50 for the intercity public transportations, ferries are about $2-$3
Motorbike: $5-20 per day
Tours: $12 – check here the cool tours, for as low as $30

RELATED POST: Best quick dry towels for travelling and outdoor activities

Malaysia Travel Budget

I didn’t originally plan to visit Malaysia, but I’m glad I did. I find the locals very friendly and the food super tasty. Malaysia is also great for travellers on a budget, make sure you visit Langkawi for probably the most affordable destination in Southeast Asia since it’s a tax-free island. For more details, check this Malaysia travel cost guide.

Visa: Free visa – 90 days for EU (check the visa guide for Malaysia) – Apply now!
Dorm: $5-$8 (check hostels that I personally stayed in Malaysia)
Private room: $10-$15
Food: $2
Sim Card: $10 – Digi (this company offer high-speed internet that works from the North of Malaysia to the South: 10 GB for 30 days )
Transportation: $18 (domestic flight) $15 (9-hour bus)
Tours:  $15 tours can be found in Langkawi – Tours can be pretty pricey especially in Kuala Lumpur – but you can find affordable ones here

RELATED POST: How to book cheap flights to everywhere in the world

Myanmar Travel Budget

Myanmar is not as affordable as I thought, however, I managed to travel for 21 days and spent $750 including a one-way flight from Bangkok and a bus from the border of Myanmar to the city centre of Bangkok. I find the accommodation is the most expensive, so the best way is to travel with someone and share a private room instead of staying in dorm rooms. I also hitchhiked in Myanmar and slept in monasteries which I highly recommend.

Visa: Free visa – ASEAN countries (check the visa guide for Myanmar) – Apply now!
Dorm: $8-$10
Private room: $10-20
Food: $1.5-$2
Sim Card: $10 – Telenor (the internet in Myanmar, in general, is painfully slow, I was only able to use it on my online map)
Transportation: $10 (9-hour bus)
Tours: $20 (admission fee in archaeological areas; Bagan, Mandalay Hill) – it’s hard to find trustable tour agencies in Myanmar, you may check out my recommendations

RELATED POST: Important things to remember before you travel to Myanmar

Philippines Travel Budget

The Philippines is not bordered to any countries, therefore, if you decide to let this country show its charm to you, flights from the neighbouring countries can be as low as $50 for one-way. The Philipines also has 7,000+, the warm and hospitable locals speak English, and the scenery can easily capture your heart.

Visa: Free visa & VOA (check the visa guide for the Philipines)
Dorm: $5 (check the best hostels in the Philippines)
Private room: $8-$10
Food: $.50 (side street places) $1 fast food $1.5 casual restaurants
Sim Card: $10 – Globe (take note that the internet is not very good in the Philippines, personally I use the company Talk N’ Text. I can register on unlimited mobile data for $.50 valid for 24-hours, which I can use as a hotspot for my laptop)
Transportation: $5 (9-hour local non-AC bus)
Tours: $ 10-day tours – you can get an organised tour for cheap as $30

RELATED POST: Philippines on a budget: What to do in the Philippines

Singapore Travel Budget

Despite being such an expensive country to live and travel to, Singapore can easily be part of your itinerary. Why? Because this country has such a wealthy economy, great public transportation, and beautiful skyscrapers. A lot of travellers are curious about what Singapore is like.

Visa: Free visa for Europeans, Americans (North and South), and Southeast Asians (check here to see if you need a visa)
Dorm: $15 (affordable hostels in Singapore)
Private room: $30
Food: $2 – Look out for hawkers for cheap but awesome local food
Sim Card: $10 – Klook travel sim card (can be picked up at the Changi Airport- 100 GB mobile data)
Transportation: $1.50 – make sure to get yourself  either the regular train card (can be used up to 6 times) or EZ Link Card to get around using public transportations
Tours: $20 (entrance fees on popular amusement parks) – you can find less pricey tours around $20

Thailand Travel Budget

The land where the islands are made to charm you. Thailand can easily win your heart through its beautiful scenery and mouthwatering local food. Despite the huge number of travellers coming to Thailand every year, a lot of backpackers and holiday still include this country on their list.

Visa: Free visa and VOA (check my Thailand visa guide)
Dorm: $5 (check affordable hostels in Thailand)
Private room: $10
Food: $1-$2 for street food or light meals $4
Sim Card: $10 for tourist sim card (can be bought at the airport of any 7eleven stores)
Transportation: $1.50 for subway and $12 for 9-hour bus ride
Motorbike: $15 per day (make sure you have a driver’s license that is valid in Thailand)
Tours: $10-$20 for day tours, but only for transportation-based tours – affordable organised tours for as cheap as $22

Timor-Leste Travel Budget

Timor-Leste is probably not on your list, but why not explore here for a bit to find a little getaway from the heavy touristic destinations in Southeast Asia? The other country in Asia where is Catholicism is the main religion (the other is the Philippines) and US dollars are widely used.

Visa: Free visa for Europeans (check if you need a visa)
Dorm: $12 (backpacker’s favourite hostel in Timor Leste)
Private room: $30
Food: $2-$5 (street food or decent affordable restaurants)
Transportation: $2 for one-hour bus ride
Tours: $20 small day tours –find a tour that fits your need here

Vietnam Travel Budget

Vietnam is supposed to be cheap, although it looks like that is not the case anymore. After receiving millions of travellers every year, Vietnam managed to up its economy game which resulted in making this country a little more expensive than it used to. When I was travelling here two years ago, I can easily find hostels for $3 per bunk bed, nowadays, it’s still affordable to travel in Vietnam but it’s slowly changing.

Visa: Free visa – ASEAN (check the visa guide for Vietnam) – Apply now and get your visa in a few hours only
Dorm: $5-$8 – best Vietnam hostels
Private room: $10-$20
Food: $1.5-$2 (side street food) $3-$5 casual restaurants
Sim Card: $8 – Viettel (for $8, you get 5 GB mobile data valid for 30 days)
Transportation: $8 (4.5-hour bus)
Motorbike: $200-$350 (second-hand – it’s cheaper to buy a motorbike in Hanoi compared to Ho Chi Minh City) – find more information about motorbiking in Vietnam
Tours: $5 for a day tour (mostly transportation only tours) – there are tours for as low as $9

If you need suggestions for hostels in Vietnam check out this article, Best Hostels in Vietnam

WHAT IS THE DAILY BUDGET FOR TRAVELLING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA 

You can divide the places in Southeast Asia into three categories.

First group; Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, and Myanmar, I would put it on $35 per day. In these countries, either the accommodation or food are on the pricey side, transportation and tours are falling on almost same price range.

While the second group; Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia, can easily be on $30 a day or even less. I personally find these places affordable on most aspects; accommodation, food, and transportation. Sometimes even the tours are really on the budget side. Accommodation can be as cheap as $5 except if you decide to stay around in the very touristy areas like Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia or Canggu – main tourist town in Bali, Indonesia.

The third group; Singapore, Timor Leste, and Brunei will be on the expensive side especially Singapore where dorm beds cost around $18/night, a beer is $5 a can, and food for $5 a meal. While Timor Leste and Brunei are expensive on tours and transportation (especially flying there). In this group, I would easily put it on $40-$50/day to really enjoy your time.

So in general, I’d calculate a $25-$40/day, you can save money from the second group and be ready to put more budget on the third group.

I hope this Southeast Asia budget guide gave you enough idea about travelling in this part of the world and point your planning in the right direction. Travelling is not always colourful but keep in mind that it’s something you will forever look back into, the stories you will get to share in the future are yours and forever yours.

So, are you ready to travel Southeast Asia on a budget?! If you have travelled in this part of the world, let us know what you think is the cheapest or mos  expensive destination or if you have a great tip to share!

RELATED POST: Packing Essentials for Southeast Asia

ARE YOU ON PINTEREST? SAVE THIS FOR LATER READ:

Cambodia has quite a straightforward rule about visas. There are only 7 nations that have visa exemption entering and travelling in Cambodia. Even though, Cambodia remains one of the top-visited countries in Southeast Asia, both for young travellers and family travellers.

Visa on arrival system and e-visa are well prepared for travellers who wish to visit Cambodia for a certain period of time. Although visa scams are scattered throughout the land borders (Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand), everyone who is flying in the country shouldn’t face this problem. Before you arrive, make sure you have your Cambodia visa ready.

RELATED POSTS:

• Important Things To Know Before You Arrive In Cambodia
• Vaccinations for travelling to Southeast Asia

VISA-FREE COUNTRIES

Here is a shortlist of nationalities that are visa free for Cambodia to enter and travel.

• ​Brunei – 14 days
• Indonesia – 30 days
• Laos – 30 days
• Malaysia – 30 days
• Philippines – 21 days
• Seychelles – 14 days
• Singapore – 30 days
• Thailand – 14 days
• Vietnam – 30 days

RELATED POST: Visas for Southeast Asia; A complete guide

VISA ON ARRIVAL COUNTRIES; How much is a visa on arrival

Cambodia visa on arrival countries is those who are not on the list of visa-free. It’s pretty easy and straightforward, however, if you are crossing the border to Cambodia (either from Thailand, Vietnam or Laos), you should be aware of the scams on the border.

Don’t talk to anyone who will offer you a fast track or cheap visa, all you should do is go straight ahead to the immigration office and only transact to the immigration officials.

Prepare your passport photo plus US$30 for a single entry 30 days visa. All nationals of every country are entitled to get a visa on arrival. Check the visa policy map here.

CAMBODIA E-VISA

It’s very easy to get a Cambodian e-visa. I highly suggest you get it online. If you are crossing the land border from Thailand to Cambodia, it is known to be a border with many scams. Getting the visa online will avoid this situation. I recommend you to get your e-visa here, I’ve used their services many times when I help my friends to get a visa.

EXTENSION OF YOUR CAMBODIA VISA

Most travellers decide on leaving Cambodia and come back the next day, although this has been also a pain when dealing with land borders as I mentioned above. You can extend your visa for a fee of US$45, however, most travellers who have done this said that it takes a lot of time and bribes in between. You can also walk up to any travel agencies and let them do the job. The processing days takes about 2-3 days, the prices vary depending on the agent’s fee. At the moment, renewing of visa is not possible online.

RELATED POST: Hostels I personally stayed in Cambodia

Requirements For Cambodia Visa Extension

You can either do Cambodia visa extension in the immigration office or look for a travel agency who can assist you on this matter.

• a passport that is valid for the next six months
• blank page on your passport
• passport photo
• renewal fee (US Dollars)

APPLY ONLINE HERE

Renewing Of Cambodia Visa In An Office

Bring your passport, US Dollar, and a passport photo on the following address:

Department of Immigration
322 Russian Federation Boulevard, opposite Phnom Penh International Airport
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

OVERSTAYING IN CAMBODIA

Overstaying in Cambodia shouldn’t be a problem if you’re planning to overstay for a day or two. Overstay fee is US$10 per day. Overstaying for 30 days can be solved by paying the fee, however, there’s a big risk in facing imprisonment, travel ban, or deportation.

Travelling in Cambodia is pretty easy, to be honest and probably one of the most beautiful and affordable countries I’ve been to. If you have a question about visa in Cambodia, leave your comment below!

RELATED POSTS:

• Check out Kong Rong, Cambodia
• Best Budget Hotels in Cambodia

Masasa Beach, Philippines

Which countries are in Southeast Asia? The answer is Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Lester, and Vietnam. There are 11 countries in Southeast Asia. Now, if you decide to travel in this part of the world, you don’t have to go to all of them in one trip especially if you have limited time. Even they are neighbouring countries, they are very different from each other and honestly takes so much to go around.

Some people will go for only two weeks since that’s the only time off they get from work. While others quit their jobs and start to travel the world. Either way, let me show you the best Southeast Asia travel route, I will always suggest some itineraries per country for you

NOTE: All prices are in USD ($). You may also use the table of contents to navigate faster.

RELATED POSTS: To help you map out and prepare for your trip, check these pots:

• Travel budget for backpacking in Southeast Asia
• Best time to travel to Southeast Asia
• Backpacking in Southeast Asia travel guide and tips
• Surfing in Asia; where to surf in Asia

TIP: Use the table of contents to navigate faster

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Southeast Asia is massive, that’s not a secret. So, how much time do you need to explore the entire region? I personally travelled here for 8 months on my first trip then another 8 months on my second time. You can easily spend 2 weeks to a year depending on how much time you have. If you only have a few weeks, that’s no problem as well, have a taste of Southeast Asia and see if you want to come back later.

HOW MUCH IS A GOOD BUDGET FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

You can easily spend $1,000 in a month or $2,000 for six months, like what I did. I know that’s not really hopeful. Let’s take a look at this ideal travel cost:

• Accommodation: $6 for a dorm room, $10 for a private room – these are the average prices, I found some dorm room for $3 and a private room for $8
• Transportation over land: $8 for a 5-6 hour bus
• Flying: $25 for a domestic flight, $35 (is the lowest I’ve taken) for a flight to another Southeast Asia country – the price differs A LOT because of the distance
• Food: $3 per meal or $1 for a street food
• Tours: from FREE to $10 for a day trip (covers transportation and/or bottle of water)
• Visa: $35 and up; a lot of European and North American countries need to pay for a visa in some Southeast Asian countries

Depending on WHERE you are going and HOW you are going to travel or what they call, your travel style and HOW LONG you are going to travel for is how you can figure out your budget. 

WHERE TO START IN YOUR SOUTHEAST ASIA ROUTE

A lot of backpackers start in Bangkok, Thailand. This is mostly because there are flights directly from Europe (UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway, Finland, and Poland. If your budget permits, fly to the country where you really want to start.

Another reason why backpackers start in Thailand is that, there are thousands of travellers here and they have been coming to Thailand for more than a decade now. This makes Thailand a great hub; meet travel companions, there are locals who speak English, there are parties everywhere, Thai food is almost everyone’s favourite, and it has beautiful and stunning beaches that even someone who doesn’t like the beach that much will say “wow!”.

Have you heard about the Banana Pancake Trail? This trail doesn’t really have a definite route, this is also known as the Southeast Asia trail. But most travellers will describe Banana Pancake Trail starts in Thailand, then Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, then back to Thailand – from here, you can decide if you want to go to cross the land border to Myanmar or Malaysia, or fly to the Philippines or Indonesia or Singapore.

I personally started in Vietnam, then to Thailand, then Myanmar, back to Vietnam, then Laos, then Vietnam again – I don’t really have a trail as you see.

SOUTHEAST ASIA IN 2 WEEKS OR LESS

Even 2 weeks is not a lot, you can still enjoy Southeast Asia. What you need to remember is to not try to see 4 countries in a span of 2 weeks. Doing this will result in you spending ALL your time in the bus or airports instead of actually enjoying or experiencing each place.

With only 2 weeks on your trip, focus on one country and 2 cities/towns/islands only. Having limited time, you may also want to consider the smaller countries or countries with fewer islands or else again, you will only spend time getting from point A to B.

If it’s your first time in Southeast Asia, think about which activity do you like most, is it going to the beach, history, party, or climbing mountains? Here are the countries I suggest you start and spend your 2 weeks:f

Sea Salt, Beaches, Sunnies

​​If you are looking for a quick beach getaway, a lazy day on the beach, reading a book, drinking cold cocktails, and snorkelling or surfing your day away, Southeast Asia have something for you.

Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia

These three are the best options for this type of trip and holiday.

Thailand‘s beaches are probably something you have seen on the movies or telly before, and those are not lying. Thailand is really a great place to do all the beach and water activities you want to do, not to mention the most interesting cuisine you’ll ever try.

While the Philippines have 7,000 islands – I think I don’t need to say more but if you want some information, the Philippines have the most diverse aquatic ecosystem in the world. You can snorkel, dive, surf, kayak, or simply go partying. One of the best features of this country is that more than 80% of the locals speak English.

If you want to get away from the crowd while still enjoying the beach, Malaysia is the place for you. Being a Muslim country, enjoying the beach shouldn’t be a big problem, however, you have to remember the dress code in most part of the country. Malaysia is popular to family travellers, so, if you have kids with you, you just found the right place for the next trip.

Mountain, Hiking, Sunrise

For some adventure, time with nature, and enjoying a sunrise over the mountain top, Southeast Asia will not disappoint.

Indonesia, Philippines, Borneo

Indonesia and the Philippines both have amazing and thousands of mountains to climb. One of the most known in Indonesia is Mount Bromo, Mount Rinjani, Semeru, Ijen to name a few.

In the Philippines mountain Apo, Sagada, Pulag, Pinatubo, Mayon, and Pinatubo. are the most beautiful you can see in this country. 

Borneo is undeniably one of the richest forests in the world. It’s beautiful with many various species of animals, trees, and not to mention traditional societies have lived and also known for historic warfare and headhunting.

REMEMBER: Not all mountains in Indonesia and the Philippines can be hiked because a lot of them are still active and are off-limits to the tourists.

Cultural and Historical Trip

If you are a traveller who loves to learn the history and culture of a place, one of the most suitable places you can explore are Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam

Myanmar only fully opened up to the tourist in 2010 (originally in 1992 but with very strict rules). Myanmar has been a mysterious destination and many people who travelled there have found the Burmese culture is very fascinating and raw, the locals are still getting used to tourists.

Cambodia had a very dark history; a genocide which happened in 1970s. Almost 2 million died which was carried by the Khmer Rouge. You can visit the Killing Fields and the Genocide Museum to learn more about this dark chapter of Cambodia.

I’m sure you are familiar with the Vietnam War, and if not, you should know about it. The Vietnam war is one of the biggest and darkest wars in the history of Southeast Asia. Many people have died many locals until today are still suffering to the result of this war which happened in 1970. A war between north of Vietnam and the south of Vietnam (slash the US.).

Land Travel Only

If you prefer the over the land travel only, Vietnam and Cambodia or Thailand and Myanmar are two great destinations to check out.

Vietnam and Cambodia

You can easily fly to Vietnam and cross the border to Cambodia or the other way around. For only about $12 bus fare on a 5-6 hour bus ride, you can explore two countries in a short period of time. Both countries have fascinating history and culture, both have beaches that you can enjoy as well.

Thailand and Cambodia

Enjoy the beach of Thailand and then explore the mountain and the interesting culture of Cambodia, you can easily cross the border to Cambodia (about 6-hour bus ride, and $12 ticket). Both have great beaches, while both are pretty affordable destinations.

TIP: Here is a great travel guide and information about travelling in Vietnam.

SOUTHEAST ASIA IN 4 WEEKS OR 2 MONTH

One month of travel is a great length of time while 2 months is even better. You can focus on one country and check out its off-beaten track or you can combine two countries depending on how you will get from one place to another or how much you want to see in each country. Here are the countries I suggest you focus for one month:

Vietnam

If I have my favourite place in Southeast Asia, it would be Vietnam. It’s crazy (in a good way). It’s super cheap, Vietnam is probably the most affordable in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, spending 4 weeks or 1 month will let you explore its popular destinations and the parts that are not very known to other backpackers.

• Motorbiking in Vietnam – this is one of the best ways to travel around Vietnam, you can go everywhere at your own pace
• North to south or vice versa – with 4 weeks in your hand, you can travel the entire country. Most backpackers will either go to the north or head down to the south. In this way, you know that you won’t miss anything along the way while you meet travellers who can give you their first-hand experience in the other locations that they have been. 

The top destinations in Vietnam are:

• North: Sa Pa, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Trang An, Phong Nha
• Central: Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Da Lat
• South: Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc Island

Malaysia

Malaysia is another favourite destination because of its more quiet vibe, islands that are not full of tourist or parties, destinations that are cheaper and even a tax-free island like Langkawi.

A lot of travellers don’t spend a full month in Malaysia, which is great, this means there are places that are secluded and very relaxing. If you have a limited time, check this 2 weeks in Malaysia itinerary. Here are the popular destinations in Malaysia:

• Kuala Lumpur is a great capital city if you love skyscrapers. You can go around the city easily because they have such an amazing transportation system.
• Langkawi which I mentioned a while ago is a tax-free island. You can rent a motorbike for $5 for 24-hours.
• Penang is popular for the street arts that you cannot find anywhere else in Southeast Asia, you can also enjoy the beach from here if you head to Georgetown
• Peripheral Islands is the place you want to go for a really relaxing beach holiday. The water is unbelievably clear and blue, there are fewer parties, it’s a perfect place to enjoy nature, read a book, and drink coconut water
• Malacca is an old town that you won’t want to miss, from here you can head and cross the border to Singapore

Thailand

A month in Thailand will let you hike its mountains and enjoy its beautiful islands. From here you can easily cross the border to Malaysia or Cambodia. Although Thailand has become a little more expensive than other Southeast Asian countries, it is still cheaper than a holiday in south Europe.  Here are the top places you want to explore in Thailand.

• Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Lanta, Koh Chang, Koh Phangan, and Koh Phi Phi are the places for the party and to enjoy water activities for such affordable price
• Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai for mountain adventure
• While there are motorbike rentals in Thailand that will let you rent a bike, it is illegal to do it and will cost a lot of money if you get caught.

Cambodia

In my opinion, you can spend 3 weeks in Cambodia and you will basically be able to cover the “must-sees” spending more than that will give you the chance to discover other parts of the country that not many backpackers are able to see. Cambodia is a known destination for the following reasons:

• Cambodian Genocide – if you like history, travelling in Cambodia will teach you about its genocide that is not very known. The dark history of Cambodia is a good way to educate yourself about this part of the world
• Angkor Wat – head to Siem Reap and learn more about Cambodian history
• Islands – there are islands in Cambodia that you can enjoy for such affordable price, I personally went on a 6-hour boat trip for $10 which includes food, boat fee, tour guides, snorkelling gears, and drinks
• Motorbiking in Cambodia – is a less known way of travelling compared to Vietnam but it is possible

Laos

Laos, the place you want to spend your 4 weeks if you want to get away from crazy parties in Thailand or you prefer to go hike the mountains than diving on the ocean. Fewer people are travelling in Laos, you will meet mostly those who love to lie on the hammock, enjoy nature, and relax. Laos is not known as a place to start a trip in Southeast Asia, which is a shame since you can reach 3 countries from here.  Top places you can visit in Laos:

• Vientiane – is the capital of Laos which are not well-visited but still offers great atmosphere especially if you like to interact with the locals
• Luang Prabang – here, you can visit Kuang Si Falls
• Vang Vieng – is the party hub for Laos, not as wild as Vietnam, but indeed a must-visit place
• From any of these places, you can get to either Vietnam, Cambodia, or Thailand.

Another country that you can spend 3-4 weeks but not less than 2 weeks would be the Philippines. You can check this 3-week itinerary for the Philippines.

COUNTRIES TO COMBINE IF YOU HAVE 4 WEEKS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Like what I mentioned before, I would either focus in one country if I have 4 weeks but you can also combine 2 countries as long as they are land bordered to each other or there are flights that are direct flights that are not too expensive. Here are the countries you can combine together:

• Vietnam and Cambodia – these two countries are land bordered in the south. You can get from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh is 6 hours on a bus.
• Vietnam and Laos – if you love mountains, stay in the north of Vietnam and do a border crossing to Laos for more nature and mountains. Although the bus takes about 20-30 hours. Flying is also an option.
• Thailand and Cambodia – This is already a popular choice and the bus journey is only less than 5 hours, not too long unless you get a hangover from partying in Bangkok like me when I crossed the border from Bangkok to Siem Reap.
• Thailand and Malaysia – crossing from the south of Thailand and entering Malaysia via Langkawi island is a great combination if you really love island hopping.

SOUTHEAST ASIA IN 3 MONTHS OR MORE

Now, 3 months is a lot of time. However, after you travelled and have used up all your time, it will feel like it was not enough because there is just so much to see. Either you have 3 months, 6 months or more, there is always a place that not many have travelled yet.

Some backpackers who headed to Southeast Asia have a lot of time in their hands but not enough budget to keep travelling which lead them in stopping or travelling slower in some places and work or volunteer which is not a problem either. It’s a great way to learn more about the new place you just discovered.

While if you have the time and budget, this is the route I would love you to consider.

• Thailand – land or arrive in Southeast Asia here, however, Bangkok is in the middle, therefore, you will be torn between the north and the south which is filled with islands, what I can suggest is, go up north and spend a month exploring the mountains like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and do volunteers. From here you can head to Myanmar.
• Myanmar – you can enter the land border between Thailand and Myanmar. You can explore the beautiful Bagan, trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake, visit Mandalay and other small towns in the North and finish up in Yangon, from here, you can head back to the north of Thailand and cross the border to Laos.
• Laos – which you can enter via slow boat. You can buy a motorbike and drive around Laos if you are feeling adventurous. If not, you can easily travel by buses. Visiting Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Vientiane (the capital) and many more places. From here you can take your motorbike, fly or take a bus to the north of Vietnam.
• Vietnam – If you are taking the bus, they will more likely to drop you off in Hanoi, if you have a motorbike, you can enter through the most north of Vietnam which is Lao Cai province near Sa Pa where you can hike the highest peak in Indochina called Fansipan. If you have a motorbike bike, you can head down south or take the best night buses in Southeast Asia. If you don’t have a motorbike or want to sell yours, you can do it in the popular cities in town throughout Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), it’s very easy to cross the border to Cambodia.
• Cambodia – You can also bring your motorbike with you to Cambodia or buy or rent one once you get there, explore the dark history of Phnom Penh, and the lively city of Siem Reap and Battambang, don’t forget to swim and party at Koh Rong Island and Koh Rong Samloem. You will more likely to end in Siem Reap where you can take a bus to Thailand

• Thailand – unfortunately, you cannot bring your motorbike here. From Bangkok, you can either fly down to the islands or take a bus. From Padang Besar, you can cross the border to Malaysia.
• Malaysia – and head to Langkawi, the tax-free island, where everything is much cheaper than Thailand. Malaysia can be tricky, it has north to south and west to east. If you have more time, there is no reason to rush, but if you have a limited one, choose which part you’d rather see. By reaching the south of Malaysia, you will have an easy time crossing Singapore by land.
• Singapore – an expensive but very fascinating country, make sure you know someone who lives in Singapore or have made enough Singaporean friends before you reach here. If you play your cards well, you can save money by couchsurfing or ask a friend if you can crash their place. One of the few affordable things in Singapore is flying out, Changi airport has many flights to everywhere in the world. The best is to fly to the Philippines or Indonesia.
• Philippines – you can easily spend more than a month here, however, due to its large number of islands, you will be needing to spend a lot of time using the boat or taking a flight. You can take a bus to the north and enjoy Banaue Rice Terraces and Vigan, then fly to Boracay to party or swim in Palawan or go surfing in Siargao. Leaving the Philippines, you can either fly out of Cebu or Manila to Indonesia, Brunei, or Timor-Leste.

WHAT ARE THE LESS TRAVELLED COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore are the top destinations in Southeast Asia. While Laos is also popular, this is mainly because along with the way, many backpackers would hear about Laos and it’s basically on the way between Thailand and Vietnam.

Those who have unlimited time to travel are the ones who normally would consider Laos, which is personally, I think should not be missed. It’s less touristy and most backpackers are the ones who only go to Laos. It’s rich in beautiful nature than stunning cities, it’s a place where you want to go if you want to escape the loudspeakers on every street of a city, it’s a place where you want to spend more time on a hammock or hiking or simply just on a beach.

The Philippines is somehow popular, but because of the fact that it’s not land bordered to any countries, many backpackers will either skip the Philippines or visit it next time they are in Southeast Asia. If head here, you will notice that most couples on their honeymoon, retired Europeans and North Americans, South Koreans and Japanese, or backpackers in their late 20s are the ones travelling here.

If we will only talk about the “real” less travelled in Southeast, it must be Timor-Leste, Brunei, and Myanmar. Although Myanmar is already gaining massive attention, it’s starting to be more and more popular among backpackers.

Timor-Leste and Brunei are the two that are truly less popular. Many would argue because there is nothing very special in these two countries while others will say it’s because it’s too small or they are actually not budget-friendly, plus, like the Philippines, they are not really bordered to any other countries or areas that are touristy making the trip there will cost more money and time.

WHAT TO REMEMBER WHEN PLANNING YOUR SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL ROUTE AND ITINERARY

If you join backpacker and traveller’s forum on social media like Facebook or Reddit or forum sites like TripAdvisor, there are too many things that they will tell you what to remember and what is something that you should not be bothered about.

Let’s talk about all of them and you can decide for yourself which one are worthy a wrinkle on your face.

Vaccinations and Pills 

Of course, it’s always best to get them, but you are on a budget and want to keep things right at the margin. The thing is, accidents are unpredictable, I never expected or wished to get bitten by a dog in Thailand, but man, it happened and it was scary.

MUST-READ: Vaccinations for Southeast Asia – an in-depth article

Now, if you know that you will spend time around dogs, rural areas, and forests – get that vaccine-like rabies, tetanus, hepatitis A & B, and Yellow Fever. These are valid for a few years while others can last for life. I really think it’s worth the hassle.

If you are on a budget, head to Southeast Asia and get them here as soon as you can, they are super affordable and easy to get. Do the research and make a list of hospitals and clinics who can give these shots and can do the service in English.

I had my rabies shot in Thailand which was $12 per shot(total of 5 shots). Compared to Europe, North America, and Oceania, they are a lot cheaper here unless of course, you have public health in your country.

Malaria Pills are one of the most common concern, should you be taking them? I personally did not take any, but I spent most of my time in the city and only did a few very rural area travels.

However, remember to consult your GP as well to make sure which shots and pills you will be needing.

DISCLAIMER: A Mary Road does not claim any expertise in the field of medication, these suggestions are based on my experience and should not be considered as professional advice.

Is it cheap in Southeast Asia

It is but it can only be cheap if you are willing to be one. Avoid staying in private rooms or taking an organised tour. Take buses, train, and boats instead of flying everywhere. Buy food in the grocery store or eat street food outside. You can also check this Southeast Asia travel budget.

Free walking tours are getting more and more popular in Southeast Asia, however, this does not mean that it is completely free. The tour guide will be spending his/her time, sharing knowledge, and taking you around, a tip is encouraged and will be appreciated. Give a tip depending on the guide’s performance, length of the tour, and the information you received.

If you are having a hard time deciding how much you should give, count how many tour participants and do the Math, if everyone hands over $5 or $10 would it be enough? 

Hitchhiking in Southeast Asia

Many backpackers will not agree about this because Southeast is already affordable. Hitchhiking is also not as popular as in Europe, therefore, your chances to be picked up will be less.

The only place I hitchhike was in Myanmar and it was only about 300 kms of 2 rides and only did it for the experience.

Weather in Southeast Asia

This region is composed of islands, mountains, and farms. Do your research in each country because all of them poses different weather throughout the year. Who would have known that Vietnam experience cold (drop to zero Celsius) during winter? I surely did not know.

Busking in Southeast Asia

Apart from Singapore, where busking is illegal, I don’t know any other countries where you can actually be thrown in jail for doing this. However, many expats and travellers do not accept having western foreigners busking from the locals and I agree with it.

Many locals of Southeast Asia makes an average of $150 a month or even less, if one has the right to go busking, it’s the locals.

If you are in real trouble, get in touch with your Embassy or reach out to your friends and families.

Motorbiking in Southeast Asia

If you want to travel on a motorbike, you should know that not all Southeast Asian countries will allow this. Only Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia is where motorbiking is a “thing”, even so, you will more or less be driving without a legal permit. Between these three countries, there is a big chance that you can bring your motorbike between borders.

Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai, motorbiking is illegal unless you have an international driver’s license that has been converted into a Thai driving license. Singapore is definitely a no go, while the Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia, are sort of so-so.

Language Barrier in Southeast Asia

If you head to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia, you don’t have to worry about the language barrier. These four countries speak English and most of the road signs, airports, restaurants, and other public places will be in English.

Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia are all melting pots of ESL teachers, if you speak to young locals, there is a big chance that they speak English. You should also have an easy time communicating in English in Timor-Leste. While in Myanmar, young people are getting a grasp of English as well little by little.

SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL GEARS

Southeast Asia is actually very easy to travel, either by yourself or with friends or family. Getting a sim card with data is cheap and fast which basically will solve most of your mishaps on the road.

You will also meet tons of backpackers who will give you tips left and right, the locals are very warm and helpful. To make sure you will have a great time, here are some travel gears and packing tips for you:

• Maps.Me – if you are travelling for a while, get the app maps.me and download the maps for the places you are heading to. This is great if you don’t have or run out of data.
• Cash -always keep a stash of cash; US Dollars, British Pound, and Euro. Canadian and Australian Dollars can be hard to exchange especially in rural areas
• Translator – download an offline translator, it can be really handy
• Scarf and long trousers – bring a big but lightweight scarf, you will need it when visiting sacred places and can be used as a skirt or to cover your shoulders or you can also pack lightweight trousers or buy one of those elephant pants
• Photocopy of your passport – you will be surprised how many accommodations in Southeast Asia will ask if they can keep your passport, hand them a photocopy instead

For packing, you many want to check these cool travel items:

• Best quick dry towels for backpacking
• Wheeled backpack or rucksack with wheels
• Travel jacket with hidden pockets
• Long-haul flight essentials
• Eco-friendly travel accessories and product

SOUTHEAST ASIA VISA GUIDE

Visa in Southeast Asia is pretty easy actually. You either get a visa-free or have to apply beforehand but they are easy and quick to get unlike a Schengen Visa or other western countries.

You can find more information about visas in Southeast Asia here.

That’s all I have for this topic, I know it’s pretty long but I hope you found something useful. If you have any questions about Southeast Asia travel route, send me an email or message me on my social media platforms. You can also simply leave a comment below.

ARE YOU ON PINTEREST? SAVE THIS FOR LATER READ:

I’ve mentioned a lot of times how much I love and how much I recommend anyone who wants to travel or go on a holiday to check out Southeast Asia. It’s a perfect place to start; affordable, easy to get around, and a lot of backpackers begin their trip here.

When I started my backpacking in Southeast Asia, I didn’t have any idea what I was going into. I must have unnecessarily spent some of my budget on a few things and missed some places along the way. To help you not to do the same mistake as I’ve done, I’ll give you all the tips I’ve picked up along the way. I know how frustrating it can be to not have any idea how much should you save for your upcoming Southeast Asia adventure. If you are a novice backpacker, it’s also very important to be well prepared and familiar with all the essentials you should bring. Make sure yo check this extensive guide for beginner backpackers before starting to plan your trip.

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How Many Countries are in Southeast Asia?

There are 11 countries in Southeast Asia which are all member of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and those are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor (aka Timor Leste), and Vietnam. It’s a lot of countries, and if you only have 2 weeks or even 1 month, it’s impossible to explore all of them in one go. The most popular destinations and are easier to begin your trip are Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. 

Why Should You Go Backpacking in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia is one of the best places to go backpacking. Why? It is very lively, affordable, easy to travel to, hundreds and hundreds of backpacker starts in Southeast Asia. Apart from that, it is rich in culture, history, it has the most amazing cuisines. This region offers such a great deal, from mountains, sea adventures, food tripping, road tripping, or even just lie on the beach, drink your night out, or simply make new friends.

How Long Should You Spend in Southeast Asia?

Of course, this depends on how much time you have. But, if you have an indefinite time or can squeeze to go for more than three months, there are more than enough things to see and explore. With a year in your hand, you can definitely explore the entire region. You can probably still do this with six months, however, you won’t be able to see and explore deeply.

You can spend two weeks and focus on one region of the country to have a taste of Southeast Asia. One month can easily be spent as well, with that, you can combine two countries or focus on one country and dig its unbeaten path. To give you an idea what’s the ideal time to spend in each country:

• Brunei – 1-2 weeks ( this country is very small but have loads of attractions to offer)
• Cambodia 2-3 weeks is plenty to explore this fascinating destination
• Laos – 3 weeks (you can buy a motorbike and travel slowly)
• Indonesia – 1 month (or more) this country has 17.5K islands
• Malaysia – 3 weeks (you can easily spend more here, get a motorbike and travel in your own way)
• Myanmar – 28 days (the maximum single entry visa is only for 28 days, you can always get another visa if you want to stay longer but you need to exit the country then re-enter)
• Philippines – 1 month (or more) since this country has 7,000+ islands, mostly can be travelled by ferry or aeroplanes
• Singapore – 2 weeks (this will give you plenty of time to explore slowly)
• Thailand – 4 weeks (hopping on different islands takes time)
• Timor-Leste – 2 weeks
• Vietnam – 4 weeks on a motorbike | 3 weeks on public transportation

TIP: If your time permits, stay as long as you can to explore the small and unbeaten areas of each destination. I personally don’t believe in “I stayed too long here”.

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Southeast Asia?

What is a good budget for backpacking in Southeast Asia? That’s a very common question and very vague. You can easily spend $1,000 for a week’s trip or $1,000 for two month’s trip. The first question you need to answer is how long do you want to travel and how do you want to travel. I spent $2,000 for six months on my first trip, I stayed in dorms, I volunteered, taught and worked in hostels, hitchhiked. and even sleep in monasteries.

Are you willing to stay in hostels dorm rooms, deal with people who snore or possibly a roommate who will shag on the top bunk? Do you prefer to have your own private room to have peace and quiet? Are you okay eating street food or a casual restaurant is a must? Would you prefer to fly overtaking a bus? It also depends on which countries are going to be on your list. Because Vietnam is crazy affordable but Singapore will break your bank in just a week.

I would say between $500-$700 for a month’s trip is a good and safe budget. Just remember which countries are expensive and which are cheaper.

And now, to give you an idea of the costs of traveling in Southeast Asia:

Accommodation

You can find a $6 for a dorm room, $10 for a private room – these are the average prices, I found some dorm room for $3 and a private room for $8. Check out best hostels in Vietnam, hostels I stayed in Cambodia and hostels I recommend in Malaysia. Or you can check our favorite booking sites:

BOOKING.COM and HOSTELWORLD

Transportation over land

For a 5-6 hour bus, it should cost about $8, overnight buses are about $12, some of them have a toilet inside and offers a reclined seat up to 160-degrees. They also offer some snack and a bottle of water. You can also take a bus to cross the border. For example from Vietnam to Laos, Thailand to Cambodia, Malaysia to Singapore, and other land borders in Southeast Asia.

Using Grab (like Uber) is also popular in almost all major cities in Southeast Asia. In countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, you can even book for a motorbike. In Indonesia, you can also use GoJek (cheaper than Grab), while in the Philippines, you can use Angkas for motorbike.

TRAINS, BOATS, & BUSES and FLYING

Flying

There are $25 for a domestic flight, $35 (is the lowest I’ve taken) for a flight to another Southeast Asia country – the price differs A LOT because of the distance and the fact that even there are budget airlines in Southeast Asia, so far, there are no airlines that offer crazy cheap tickets like Ryanair or Wizz Air. I use this site to find cheap flights for Southeast Asia.

Food

You should be able to find $3 meal in a casual restaurant and fast food or $1 for a street food if you’re down for that. It is very rare that hostels in Southeast Asia have a kitchen.

Tours

From FREE tours to $10 for a day trip (covers transportation and/or bottle of water) are both can be found easily. Free walking tours exist in major cities (remember to tip the tour guide), while there are very cheap tours like in Cambodia, I managed to get on a boat tour for $10 with food and drinks, a $3 tour in Phnom Penh where you pay for the transportation only. I highly suggest this site for tours all over Southeast Asia, I’ve had a great experience with them, I even booked their tours in Europe.

My #1 Recommended Tour Company for Southeast Asia

Visa

For a visa, you can spend from $35 and up; a lot of European and North American countries need to pay for a visa in some Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. While Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore will let you enter their country without a visa.

These only estimated costs, it’s easy to spend more. If you want a deeper idea for budget and costing, check our in-depth article about Southeast Asia Travel Budget where I list down the expected cost per country. I also recommend this article about backpacking in Vietnam for more specific information about travelling here.

Reliable and Fast Online Visa Agent

What are the Best Southeast Asia Travel Routes?

If you are coming from Europe, direct and cheap flights are heading to Bangkok in Thailand, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Based on these, the best place to start is either Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.

TIP: I wrote a very detailed Southeast Asia travel route you should check out

Start in Singapore

You can also start in Singapore, cross the land border to Malaysia, another border to Thailand, then Laos, Vietnam, and through Cambodia. However, Singapore is quite expensive, probably cost like the UK or sometimes, even the Scandinavian countries.

Start in Thailand

Bangkok is where everyone starts their trip, from there, they will cross the border to Laos or Cambodia then hitting up Vietnam. From Vietnam or Cambodia, there are affordable flights to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Banana Pancake Trail

There is a well-known trail called Banana Pancake Trail, while there is no specific trail for this, most of the backpackers agree that it’s around Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, then off to Malaysia or Myanmar.

Or, Don’t Listen to Me

Or don’t listen to me, you can always make your own trail depending on what you want to see, do, and budget. You can check out our article about Southeast Asia Travel Route which I divided depending on how much time you have, from 2 weeks to 6 months.

Weather in Southeast Asia

Before you book an expensive or last-minute flight, you must know first the weather in your country of destination. If you are looking for a full-on summer holiday on the beach, you probably should not go to the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam between June to October.

Even the countries in Southeast Asia are not very far from each other, they possess different weather. Make sure you have the weather checked for the time you are going. You will be surprised how many backpackers forget to do research on this topic.

When is the Best Time to Go?

Take note of the climate of each country below, I highly suggest you read our best time to travel to Southeast Asia post for more information about the weather, peak season, and festivals in every country.

Brunei

• the best time to go to Brunei is between January to April with less rain
• the temperature in Brunei is almost the same all year round, the chance between 23-30 degrees Celsius. 
• there is rain at least 15 days a month all-year averaging 175mm, the month with least rain are February and March while the month with most rain are October to December

Cambodia

• the best time to go to Cambodia is between the end of October to the middle of January
• the rainy season starts in July and lasts until November, however, the average rainfall is only 60mm, not so much compared to other Southeast Asian countries
• the hottest time of the year in Cambodia is between February to August

East Timor

• the best time to go to East Timor is between April to August where it rains a lot less and the temperature will be bearable
• the average temperature of East Timor doesn’t change a lot all year which is between 23-28 degrees Celsius
• rain season starts at the end of November until mid-March with an average rainfall of 175mm

Indonesia

• the best time to go to Indonesia is aroundJuly to August
• due to the size of Indonesia (at least 17,000 islands) and the fact that there are hundreds of mountains and volcanoes, the country has very different weather per area
• the temperature dances between 25-29 degrees Celcius, the hottest months are April and May
• while rainy season starts in November and lasts until April with an average 90mm of rainfall

Laos

• the best time to go to Laos is October to May where there are less rain
• the temperature in Laos is not as hot as other Southeast Asia countries, it plays between 22-29 degrees Celcius
• the rainy or typhoon season starts in June and lasts until September with an average rainfall of 100mm for at least 11-17 days per month

Malaysia

• the best time to go to Malaysia is between February or June and July
• the average temperature in Malaysia is between 26-29 degrees Celcius
• it rains throughout the year with at least 13 days of rain in one month with an average rainfall of 200mm, the months with most rains are September to May except February

Myanmar

• the best time to go to Myanmar is around November and April
• May to October are the rainy months with an average of 75% chance of rain
• January to February will be very dry and dusty, while March to April will be a little more green and some rain to cool down the hot temperature

Philippines

• I’m from the Philippines and personally, I would say the best time to go will be November to March, the temperature will be a little cooler. If you head to the mountains, it can be as cold as 14 degrees Celsius while there is almost no rain in this time of the year
• you will want to avoid the rainy season and heavy typhoon which starts in June and ends in the middle of October where it rains 16-20 days out per month
• while the hottest months are April and May
• In December, many Filipinos love to celebrate the Christmas, if you do at this time of the year, you will experience and witness how happy and in such good mood the locals will be

Singapore

• the best time to go to Singapore is around February to March, the temperature won’t be too hot, however, you should remember that the humidity in Singapore is very high most time of the year
• it rains a lot in Singapore as well throughout the year with an average of 150mm at least 13 days per month

Thailand

• the best time to go to Thailand is November to March where the temperature is between 25-27 degrees Celcius
• the rainy season starts in May until October where it rains at least 16 days per month with an average of 175mm rainfall
• the hottest months are March to August

Vietnam

• the best time to go to Vietnam will be from November to March
• end of December to the middle of February: cold and wet in the north (can drop to zero degrees), chill and less humid in central (18 degrees), less hot with a little humid in the south (21 degrees)
• the hottest time of the year will be March to May (up to 32 degrees) and even during the rainy season because of the high humidity
• the rainy season starts at the end of May and lasts until the middle of October with an average of 150mm rainfall, making June, July, and August as the rainy/typhoon season
• you have to keep in mind that because of the geographical design of Vietnam, the weather from the north, central, and the south can differ massively

Is Southeast Asia Safe?

Southeast Asia is full of tourist from everywhere in the world which makes new backpackers and travellers feel a lot safer. Regardless, this region is safe and the locals are very friendly and warm.

However, just like everywhere in the world, other people take advantages of others. The poverty here is still a big problem (apart from Singapore) which is mostly the cause of crimes such as robberies.

Some safety tips for you:

• If you have a locker in your hotel or hostel, it is safer to leave your passport, bank cards, and other valuables. You can also ask your reception desk to keep these valuables for you.
• When walking on the street, keep your bags and valuables close to you, place your bag in front of you and hold it when entering a big crowd. Do not wave your phone everywhere or near the sidewalk.
• Always remember to keep in touch with your family and friends back home, tell them your plans and where you are going. When you meet new people during your travels, there will be a big chance that you will change your plans often, make sure to keep your family and friends updated with your whereabouts. If you use Google Maps, you can share your location with your parents or trusted guardians.
• Do not agree to meet strangers in a private place, always meet them in the public where there will be a crowd and you will be seen by many people
• Always trust your instinct, when you don’t feel like something is not right or you are not comfortable, get out of the situation as soon as you can and go back to your hotel or hostel
• You need to know that the police are not very helpful and should not frustrate yourself in case you don’t receive a must needed attendance, instead, reach out to your hotel for assistance or other travellers, locals, and expat groups. If the situation is really serious and you feel that your life is in danger, contact your Embassy immediately (also, save the number of your Embassy on your phone).
• Do not walk alone late at night. Some places in Southeast Asia are just not safe to walk alone at night especially for women.
• Bring a whistle and pocket flashlight.
• Do not do drugs especially in countries where using, selling, and buying drugs is a serious offence like in the Philippines

Diseases and Vaccines for Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia has a different climate than your home country, insects and parasites exist here that doesn’t exist in other parts of the world. While the cooking practices and drinking the water from the tap can also result in some sickness. Here are some diseases that can be potentially acquired while in Southeast Asia:

• Dengue
• Malaria
• Chikungunya virus
• Diarrhoea
• Enteroviruses
• Zoonotic viruses
• Rabies

Personally, I have never been sick while travelling in Southeast Asia apart from when I got bitten by a stray dog, I took a set of the anti-rabies shot right away.

There are shots and medicines you must take especially if you know that you will be going to rural areas of the region or will be around animals a lot. If you are highly concern, you must consult your doctor and ask for their opinion. 

DISCLAIMER: I am no specialist in medicine or whatsoever that involves medical topic and I do not advise you to take everything I suggest in this section apart from talking to your doctor.

What are the Less-Traveled Countries in Southeast Asia?

The less travelled countries in Southeast Asia are East Timor and Brunei this is mostly because the flights to these countries are costly and they made a smaller impact than other Southeast Asian countries. However, if you like to explore the unbeaten paths, like to be the unusual traveller, and discover the hidden gems, these are the countries that you would want to go.

How do I Get Around in Southeast Asia?

There are 10 countries in Southeast Asia that are land bordered to each other and there are 2 countries that have thousands of islands. Only the Philippines is not bordered by land to any Southeast Asian country.

Bus

The land bordered countries are Myanmar to Thailand, Thailand to Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia, Malaysia to Thailand and Singapore and Brunei, and Indonesia to East Timor. This means that you can enter and travel to these countries through a bus, train, and even with a boat easily and cheaply. While within each country, you can easily take a bus to get from city to city and even across borders..

Flying

While you can take a flight to other neighbouring countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, East Timor, and Brunei. There are direct flights from budget airlines like AirAsia, JetStar, Scoot, and Cebu Pacific. The flights between Southeast Asia countries can be affordable, however, there are no crazy cheap flights like in Europe which are offered by Ryanair or Wizz Air.

Boats

There are also times that you can take a boat between countries or destinations. For example a slow boat between Thailand to Laos, Cambodia to Vietnam. While Indonesia and the Philippines have thousands of islands, there are boats that you can take to get from one island to another.

Motorbiking

Remember that not all countries will allow you to drive a motorbike. However, countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia are ones that are popular in this way of transportation or travelling. In Thailand, it is strictly illegal for a foreigner on a tourist visa to drive a motorbike regardless what your international driving license said so, unless of course, if you have a work permit or your visa lets you drive.

What are the Must-Do Tours in Southeast Asia?

Even you are not a fan of organised tours, there are some destinations and situations that you cannot avoid joining a tour. Either because there are some places that only organised tours can get to or the government only allows tours group to do such activity.

For example, the famous 3-day hike in Myanmar, which is between Kalaw to Inle Lake is a must tour that you should not miss but even if you are an experienced hiker, the government of Myanmar will only allow hikers to go with a local tour guide. I highly suggest this young lady who was our tour guide on this tour in Myanmar. She’s amazing, speaks great English, and this is her own business that she runs.

While in the Philippines, there are caves and mountains you can hike that is only accessible with local tour guides for safety reasons. Regardless of your own experience and expertise, if go to these places that required a tour guide, you are being irresponsible. If something happens to you, these areas will be shut down, which result in taking away the local’s livelihood and preventing other travellers to explore a destination.

In Vietnam, it’s not a secret that a lot of backpackers would jump on a motorbike and drive around the country by themselves. However, if you can’t afford to spend a month doing this or you prefer to go with a group or a guide, you can always join these affordable motorbike tours in Vietnam throughout the country.

My #1 Most Reliable Tour Provider

Are There Dress Codes in Southeast Asia?

No countries in Southeast Asia have a dress code that is written on their law. However, this does not mean that you should wear whatever you want. Take into account that every country is different and every country has different cultures. Dressing in some ways can be offensive to the locals. Afar Magazine has a good list of things that are offensive in Southeast Asia.

You can easily wear casual clothing but remember to cover up when visiting sacred buildings and destinations. You can also check out this article about the dress code in Vietnam.

SOUTHEAST ASIA VISA GUIDE

The visa requirements in Southeast Asian countries are very different from each other. Make sure to do your research before arriving or else you will be spending too much or worse will be denied of entry. Here are the visa guides and other information you need to know about ​visas in Southeast Asia (an in-depth guide):

Brunei

With a more flexible visa policy, Brunei let’s most tourists to enter the country without a visa. However, the entire continent of Africa, most south and central America, and Central Asia need to obtain a visa before arrival. Get more information.

Cambodia

Visa-free for ASEAN members, Africans, Europeans, North and South Americans, must apply one before arriving or pay for one on your arrival. Read this visa guide for Cambodia for more specific requirements – Get your e-Visa Online.

East Timor

Schengen State citizens and Cape Verde are free to enter East Timor without a visa, while the rest of the most can receive a visa on arrival at Dili Airpot or seaport only. Get more information.

Indonesia

Indonesia also lets any tourist enter the country without a visa while there are only less than 20 countries that need to get a visa beforehand. Get more information.

Malaysia

A lot of European, north and south Americans and Asian countries can travel in Malaysia without a visa they also offer a visa for those who need it. Check out our visa guide for Malaysia for more information.

Myanmar

This country probably has one of the most strict visa policy, only ASEAN members can enter without a visa while obtaining a visa is limited to only 28 days with a single entry and must enter via air to use – Apply for your e-Visa online or read our Myanmar visa guide.

Philippines

The Philippines has a really flexible visa policy, almost anyone can enter without a visa and extend it without leaving the country for a fee. Check out our Philippines visa guide.

Singapore

While most countries in the world can enter Singapore without a visa, central Asia, Eastern Europe, and some African countries need to apply for an evisa or a visa before travelling to Singapore. Here is our Singapore tourist visa guide.

Thailand

Most countries in the Americas, Asia, and Europe can travel to Thailand without a visa for someday while other countries can expect a visa on arrival or obtain a visa before flying. Check out our Thailand visa guide for more information.

Vietnam

All ASEAN members are free to enter Vietnam while some not all western countries can receive visa-free access too with limited time. If you want to stay longer, you can apply for a visa easily. You can read more information on Vietnam visa guide and apply online here.

Get your visa to any Southeast Asian country in a few hours.

What are Some General Tips for Travelling in Southeast Asia?

There are only so much you can do to prepare for your adventure and stay safe during your trip. However, there are few small things that can save yourself and ease up your travel worries a little bit. Here are some general travel tips for Southeast Asia:

• Always carry emergency money in US Dollars, Euros, and British Pounds. Tuck them in a secure place in your backpack. In case you lose your wallet in the middle of nowhere or there are no ATMs near you, this a good thing to have. If at some point you have used up your emergency money, make sure to replace them immediately because accidents are unpredictable events.
• Make a photocopy and a digital copy of your passport. This is handy in the airports, hotels, renting a motorbike/bicycle, currency exchange shops or even when you lose your passport.
• Pack a long trouser, scarf, and a shirt with a long enough sleeve. Visiting Southeast Asia also means visiting praying buildings like pagodas, churches, or even a place that requires to cover your legs, shoulders, and head.
• Book at least the first night. Before arriving at your destination, make sure to book at least the first night of your arrival even you don’t like planning ahead of time. Shit happens and that can ruin your entire trip.
• Check the public holidays. Public holidays can mess up your plan big time. There is a 2-week holiday in Vietnam which resulted in hotels, hostels, and buses being fully booked.
• Check the weather. North of Vietnam actually has winter where the temperature can drop down to zero, while the rainy season in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, and other parts of the region is not ideal for your trip. The folks over at Selective Asia have an in-depth guide on what the weather is like in each country throughout the year.
• Be a responsible and ethical traveller. Make your trip not only fun but something you can be proud of in the future. Don’t ride the elephants, don’t patronise the photo ops with tigers even they say they are not drugged. Don’t throw your rubbish on the street even the locals are doing it, pack Eco-friendly travel accessories, buy the souvenirs to local shops instead of big shopping malls to support the locals who can barely bring food on their table. Respect the culture of your host country and understand that you cannot do everything you want here compared to your home country.
• Pack light. The most common mistake that a lot of backpackers make is packing too much that they can barely carry it and walk 100 metres. You can even travel in Southeast Asia with a carry-on bag only. The best thing to do is pack your bag, take a look at it, if it’s more than 25kgs in total, take out half of it. Check if you want a 40L backpack, a 50L backpack, or compare these waterproof backpacks at Globo Surf.
• Check your visa. Find out if you need a visa in each country that you will go to. Some visas take a few days to get. If you need one get it as soon as possible to avoid any hassles.
• Get travel insurance. A lot of travellers think that it’s a sign of overreacting when someone gets travel insurance but the truth is, you won’t believe how many backpackers get on accidents while travelling in Southeast Asia. Then they had to cut their trip short because of the lack of budget for hospitalisation. Secure your safety and get travel insurance even after you left your home country. I always get my travel insurance with this company, from Southeast to Europe and to the Middle East.

Southeast Asia Travel Resources

Even Southeast Asia is an easy region to explore, you cannot expect a smooth journey even it’s only 2 weeks or more or if it’s 6 months. To help you a little bit on your trip, here are some travel resources that I personally use through my backpacking in Southeast Asia.

• Accommodations: Booking.com, Hostel World
• Transportation: buses, boats, trains, and flying
• Tours: Get Your Guide (I booked tours with them for Southeast Asia and Europe), Klook
• Visa: iVisa
• Travel Insurance: IMG Global (I use them from Southeast Asia, Europe, to the Middle East)

Check out our resources page for more tips

Southeast Asia is massive with very beautiful places, if you consider backpacking in Southeast Asia, the main thing you need to remember is to have fun, be responsible, and stay safe.

I really hope you found this article useful, I know it’s a little bit longer as I’ve tried to add all the information you needed for your trip. If you have questions or suggestions, you can contact me or leave a comment below.

When you are travelling in this part of the world – Southeast Asia, you’re more likely going to cross four countries; Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. I didn’t do this trail last year, I’m not sure why! I ended up leaving without seeing Cambodia, now that I had the chance, I grabbed it and booked a bus ticket from Bangkok to Siem Reap.

Crossing the border between Thailand and Cambodia was a piece of cake, it was fast and easy unless you decide to dance and drink in Khaosan Road until 3 in the morning. Don’t do it. I did it and it was horrible the next day when I needed to take this bus to Siem Reap. If you haven’t found a hostel yet, check out this list of hostels in Cambodia that I personally stayed at. If you are staying in Siem Reap for a while, you may want to check out the swimming pools in Siem Reap.

If you need help in budgeting, check out this Southeast Asia travel budget which I thoroughly wrote. I also have backpacking in Southeast Asia guide and Southeast Asia travel route post.

AFFORDABLE TOURS IN CAMBODIA

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• Important things to know before you arrive in Cambodia and tips
• Explore Cambodia with Urban Adventures – what to do in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
• Border crossing from Melaka to Singapore by bus – how to cross the border, book a bus, and costs
• Where to surf in Asia – best surfing spots in Asia

THAILAND-CAMBODIA BORDER CROSSING

I’ll walk you step by step on how to cross the border by land between Thailand and Cambodia, we’ll also discuss the cost and what to expect once you reach the border.

Book Your Bus From Bangkok To Siem Reap

The main bus station is in Mo Chit, which is 10 kms from the city centre of Bangkok. We all know that it’s always cheaper to book your bus directly from the bus station, however giving the fact that the bus station is located outside the city centre, it might be cheaper to book your bus online or find the best travel agency.

You can also take your chances and arrive as early as you can to buy your ticket on the same day you earn to travel. But this is risky as you never know if the bus has space or not. The bus ride is about 9 hours and the bus ticket should cost about 750 baht directly from the bus station, 1100 baht through a travel agency or your hostel/hotel and 950 through online which I did.

You have the option to get a bus from Bangkok to the border of Bangkok to Siem Reap.

CHECK BUS SCHEDULE AND PRICES

Cost

The ticket cost about $12, plus the metro and motorbike taxi I took to get to the bus station, which was around $3. From the bus’ office, I took a tuk-tuk to get to my hostel for $1. I spent about $16 in total.

How To Get To Mo Chit Bus Station

Surprisingly, Bangkok has a great metro system. It’s cheap and reliable. From Silom, I took a metro to Mo Chit (42 baht) from the metro station, I took a motorbike taxi to the bus station (40 baht). Remember to arrive 30 minutes before your bus leaves as this bus station is quite busy.

You can also just book a Grab car service from your accommodation. The cost depends on how far you are from the bus station.

Crossing The Border

About 13.00, I got off the bus and head to the border control of Thailand to get my exit stamp. The whole border is a chaos and under construction, don’t panic if you get confused and lost. Just ask anyone where can you get the stamp and they’ll point you in the right direction or better just keep going straight, no turns.

Only 7 countries are visa-free in Cambodia, if you’re not on the list, you can get a visa on arrival for a fee of $30, make sure you have a passport photo with you as well. Here’s a visa guide for Cambodia for all nationalities. After getting your exit stamp from Thailand, walk about a kilometre to the entry point of Cambodia. Prepare your visa fee and a passport photo.

GET YOUR VISA FOR CAMBODIA ONLINE TO AVOID SCAMS AT THE BORDER

The border is open between 07:30 – 20.00 (7.30 am to 10 pm).

After you get your entry stamp, jump back to your bus for another 4-hour drive to Siem Reap. The journey is pretty nice, passing through farms and seeing how the locals in the countryside live their life is interesting. In my opinion, I think Cambodia is one of the poorest yet top destination country in Southeast Asia. The roads are undeveloped as soon as you leave the city. Siem Reap itself is covered in mud when the rain starts to pour.

It was about 18.30 when we reached the office of the bus company, they provided free service to drop us off at our accommodations. So, that’s it! The border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia is pretty straightforward and easy. From Siem Reap, a lot of backpackers head to Battambang, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Sihanoukville and Koh Rong. Check the map and plan out where you want to head next. Check this border crossing guide, it will show you the options of how to get from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh city.

If you have any question regarding Thailand Cambodia border crossing, don’t hesitate to reach out to me through the comment section below.

SCAMS AT THE BORDER

Be aware of the scam in the land border of Thailand and Cambodia, it has been proven that some people have been scammed by someone as they cross this border. I highly suggest you get your evisa before you arrive to avoid being a victim of the scam.

GET YOUR EVISA NOW

One example of the scam is when you supposed to pay $30 for the visa, but then you will be asked to pay another $10. Another story is when you already arranged your e-visa beforehand, someone will ask you to pay extra money without explaining what it is for.

It’s hard to say to only deal with an official at the border since some travellers claimed that even the officials are running the show as well. Just keep your passport with you and don’t hand it to anyone unless you’re about to get your stamp/visa.

ARE YOU ON PINTEREST? SAVE THIS FOR LATER READ:

When you are backpacking in Southeast Asia, you won’t want to miss Cambodia. I managed to explore four destinations in Cambodia in a span of three weeks. I know I’ve missed a lot of awesome places to see plus areas at that are less travelled, but then that’s another reason to come back which is totally on top of my list.

Now, I’m sharing the hostels I have stayed and have enjoyed, hopefully, will come handy when it’s your turn to visit this top destination in Southeast Asia. Don’t forget to secure your visa for Cambodia and make sure you know these things before arriving. If you need help with budgeting, check this Southeast Asia travel budget that I wrote with very thorough information.

Best Hostels In Cambodia

SIEM REAP

After crossing the border between Thailand and Cambodia, Siem Reap was my first stop. It was raining hard when I arrived, luckily, the bus company I drove with provided a free shuttle service to my hostel which helped a lot to keep myself and my bags dry. The great thing about this city is that most hostels and hotels are walking distance to the city centre or the famous Pubstreet!

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com | HostelWorld | Agoda

Mad Monkey Hostel

Why is it one of the best hostels in Cambodia?

This is it! My travel friends wouldn’t stop talking about this hostel and how awesome it is! So, I didn’t let my chance slipped from my hand without checking out Mad Monkey and see why are they so mad about it. After staying there for 3 nights, I have to admit, this hostel definitely has the spirit of young backpacker’s right the moment I stepped into their reception area.

A hostel not only there to provide a clean and comfortable bed, stunning rooftop beach bar, and a cosy swimming pool, Mad Monkey also supports a lot of projects to help the locals and the community of Cambodia. Because of this, your money doesn’t only get you a bed to sleep but also help unfortunate children to have education and the locals to have access to clean water. How badass is that?! This is totally one of the best hostels not only in Siem Reap but in the whole of Cambodia. It’s well located, helping the locals, and affordable, this is the reason why it is the best hostel in Siem Reap.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through HostelWorld

Central Hostel

Why is it one of the best hostels in Cambodia?

Central hostel is located only 500 metres from the Pubstreet, far enough from the pool of travellers but close enough to enjoy the night market and the lively area of the city centre. Central Hostel has also a pool to chill when it’s too hot outside and a restaurant that offers different cuisine; from local to European dishes.

Although I only stayed here for a night, I truly enjoyed it as the staffs are all friendly, the common area is just by the pool, they also let me hang around for 10 hours whilst waiting for my night bus to Phnom Penh. This hostel offers bus tickets to your next destination, but you can also book it for a cheaper price or walk to any bus company, which is less than a 15-minute walk, like the Giant Ibis. Considering it’s a well-located hostel, affordable prices, and swimming pool, Central hostel is definitely one of the best hostels in Siem Reap!

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com | HostelWorld | Agoda

PHNOM PENH

I took an overnight bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, which was about 6 hours. Although it was very comfortable, I wish I took an earlier bus, because arriving at five in the morning is not all fun. Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, it is also bigger and the roads are a lot better.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com | HostelWorld | Agoda

Mad Monkey Hostel

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Travelling is unlimited fun but sometimes you just need a pool day. . . . ? @courtenayfisher3

A post shared by Mad Monkey (@madmonkeyhostels) on Apr 19, 2017 at 6:37am PDT

Why is it one of the best hostels in Cambodia?

Since I already know that Mad Monkey is more than just a hostel, I made sure I have booked a bed for four nights until my friend Christopher arrived to join me on this trip. Just like the one in Siem Reap, this hostel is comfortable, comes with a swimming pool and a fun bar. Even this one is located a bit far from the city centre, the area is clean and nice, away from the busy traffic. Even the location is not very attractive, Mad Monkey offers an amazing atmosphere for the travellers which makes it one of the best hotels in Phnom Penh.

Where are you going after Phnom Penh? If you are crossing the border, check how to get from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City article while here are the best Vietnam hostels.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through HostelWorld

Billabong Hostel and Hotel

Why is it one of the best hostels in Cambodia?

Christopher and I stayed in Billabong only for two nights, we planned to go down to Sihanoukville to reach Koh Rong eventually. Billabong is one fine hostel too, for a very affordable price, hotel rooms converted into hostel dorms gave us a comfortable sleep at night. We were also able to access the pool area which is perfect to spend a lazy afternoon after visiting the must-sees in the city. Billabong hostel is also closer to the river or the main city area, which is about less than 20-minute walk. Clean, comfortable, and a swimming pool makes Billabong a top notch hostel in Phnom Penh.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com | HostelWorld | Agoda

KOH RONG

The bus ride from Phnom Penh was supposed to be four and a half hours, but due to the heavy traffic, it took us six hours to reach Sihanoukville. Christopher and I then hopped into a boat for a 35-minute drive to Koh Rong, we were lucky enough to catch the last boat of the day. Don’t get confused between Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, these are two different islands. We went to Koh Rong since I was told that most backpackers head there. It’s hard to find an accommodation with air conditioning unless you are willing to pay a lot extra more.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com | HostelWorld | Agoda

Suns Of Beaches

Why is it one of the best hostels in Cambodia?

As funny of the name sounds like, Suns of Beaches is a unique and fun hostel, located on the other side of the island and away from the main pier, this hostel is a great place if you want a break from the all the noise. There are no dorm rooms here, the doors are non-existing too! Even though, the place is safe and is full of young travellers. WiFi is not available, instead, spend your day on either swimming, playing volleyball, just read a book on the hammocks. They offer not as cheap compared another part of Cambodia offers but still good food, besides, there’s no other options in the area.

Christopher and I agreed to stay only for a night because we both need internet access so we can work on our computers. We headed to the main pier, where all the crazy fun things to do are happening! A quiet, chill, and awesome accommodation concept makes Suns of beaches one of the best hostels in Koh Rong.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com | HostelWorld | Agoda

Dragon Den

Why is it one of the best hostels in Cambodia?

Dragon Den right at the main pier, a little hidden from the main walking street, but good enough to escape the loud music at night. On this one, we stayed for four nights, paying only US$12 between us per night, we have our own room and bathroom. The lady who is managing this place is really shy but very sweet, if you need anything, just let her know. I think what makes Dragon Den one of the best hostels in Koh Rong is its location and the very competitive price.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com |  Agoda

SIHANOUKVILLE

After a few days, even Koh Rong was really fun, I found it a bit isolated and too small. I also had a hard time to focus on working, I asked Christopher if we can move to Sihanoukville and stay there until my visa runs out, which he agreed. Sihanoukville is the town before Koh Rong, smaller than Phnom Penh but bigger than Siem Reap.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com | HostelWorld | Agoda

Mick & Craig’s Guesthouse

Why is it one of the best hostels in Cambodia?

We stayed here for nearly a week, apart from the fact that it is well-located (less than a 10-minute walk from the beach), this guesthouse has an impeccable internet speed, a spacious private room, and an air conditioning which we both craved for. For only US$11 per night, we didn’t bother moving to another accommodation. Apart from awesome location, affordable prices, and great staffs, Mick and Craig’s has the best internet speed, it’s totally on the best hostels in Sihanoukville.

Don’t miss the best deal and book your room or bed through Booking.com | HostelWorld

When you get to Sihanoukville, make sure to check out both Serendipity and Otres beach. We left Sihanoukville to head to Phnom Penh where I took a bus to Ho Chi Mink City in Vietnam, whilst Christopher flew to China the next day.

Are you looking for a tour around Cambodia? You may want to check out this tour! If you are heading to Vietnam next, check out these best Vietnam hostels.

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DISCLAIMER: Even though I received a complimentary stay at Mad Monkey Hostel, I still recommend them to my readers because I truly enjoyed my stay. This article contains affiliate links as well.

Before we get all the judgy comments to crawl up in your head, I’m writing this for the people who asked me how I did it. This is not for travellers who want to continuously backpack for six months in Southeast Asia. First, I’m telling you, this might not be for you. Though, who knows? If you are still curious, just keep reading and shoot me a comment, message or an email if you have questions about backpacking in Southeast Asia.

During my six months in Southeast Asia, I covered Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. I have to admit, I hope I had more budget so I could stay in some countries longer and explore it better. Nevertheless, I’m glad to have an overlook of Thailand and Laos. Now, I have more reasons to come back one day.

I left Denmark with $2000 in my pocket, I have no idea how long I will be out there, or how long that money will last me. Because of the lack of the budget, I made sure that I planned a little bit before I embark on my not so possible adventure. If you need a guide for packing list in Asia, check this out.

RELATED POSTS:

• ​Complete visa guide for Southeast Asia
• Here’s the story how I started travelling and funded this Southeast Asia Trip
• Visa guide for US passport holders
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Six Months in Southeast Asia with $2000

Remember that everyone travel differently, it’s your own journey and you should not feel bad if you miss something or you spent too much. At the end of the day, we all going to reflect on how travel affected us. Just do your own thing, stay safe, and enjoy.

TIP: Check my intensive article about Southeast Asia travel route

Timeline: Three Weeks Travelling + Three Weeks Living in Vietnam

I started in Vietnam wand travelled there for three weeks spending about $300. I was already blogging for another travel blog before I left. I travelled to Vietnam for three weeks, most of it was covered through a press trip whilst I represent another travel blog. Where accommodations, tours, and transportation are all covered. I didn’t spend a lot of money since my trip was well-covered. 

RELATED POST: Vietnam Visa Guide

After I finished Vietnam, I went back to Hanoi to catch up on pending works on the blog. I stayed there for almost three weeks, I was able to do a little volunteering as an English Teacher, in exchange for food and accommodation. I’m also a certified TEFL Teacher, which I highly suggest you to obtain, it comes really handy at times.

Related Post: Here’s my article about Tracing Vietnam – Must Not Miss!

Living cost in Vietnam is cheap, food, and accommodation are all affordable which makes it a great base for travellers who work and travel at the same time. If you like teaching, I suggest you give Vietnam a try, teachers are getting paid quite high and the demand is very well.

You may want to check my recommend hostels in Vietnam and these affordable motorbiking tours.

Timeline: Six Weeks in Vietnam + Ten Days  in Thailand

When I left Vietnam, I then headed to Thailand, though I was only able to visit Bangkok, Koh Chang, and Chiang Mai. I did a representation trip under the same travel blog I spent a total of 10 days covering those three places, I stayed mostly in hostels and ate local food. I have a Thailand visa guide if you are confused about how it works.

Whilst I was in Vietnam, I made a plan with one of the travellers, Morgan, who was backpacking in Vietnam, now turned into a great friend to go travel in Myanmar. Myanmar is something that never came into my mind to go. But, after hearing positive comments about it, I decided to give it a go.

RELATED POST: Cost, tips, and itinerary for backpacking in Vietnam

Timeline: Six Weeks (Vietnam) + Ten Days (Thailand) + Three Weeks in Myanmar

I flew from Bangkok to Yangon where Morgan and I started our trip. Myanmar is not very touristic yet, but it wasn’t cheap compared to Vietnam and Thailand. There aren’t a lot of dorm rooms, luckily, I was travelling with a friend. We were able to share a room in the guesthouses to make the accommodation cost cheaper. Check out these must not miss in Myanmar.

Extra tip: Travel to Myanmar with a friend or someone to share the accommodation costs

In my three weeks of travel in Myanmar, I spent between $600-700, excluded the flight and visa fee. I also hitchhiked for a few times and slept in a monastery for a few nights, which I highly suggest. >>Read my Myanmar Hitchhiker’s Guide.

Note: Philippine passport holder doesn’t need a visa to Myanmar if you are staying for only 14 days. Some Southeast Asian countries don’t need a visa as well.  North American, South American, and European are required to obtain a visa. >>Read Myanmar Visa Guide.

Timeline: Six Weeks (Vietnam) + Ten Days (Thailand) + Three Weeks (Myanmar) + Two Days (Thailand)

From Myanmar, I crossed the border to Thailand. I took a flight from Bangkok back to Vietnam to work in a hostel and to work as an English Teacher. In the hostel, I was in charge of digital marketing, reception desk, and as an assistant manager too, in exchange for free accommodation and food. I worked for five hours a day, four days a week. I also got paid a small amount as pocket money which was fair enough.

Extra tip: There are few hostels looking for travellers to work for them for a few months

Timeline: Six Weeks (Vietnam) + Ten Days (Thailand) + Three Weeks (Myanmar) + Two Days (Thailand) + Three Months (Vietnam)

Although my teaching job wasn’t full time, I got free accommodation and food covered. I decided to work out of the city, so the local student has a foreign teacher. The rate wasn’t as good as the one in the big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh.  However, I was still able to save some money.

RELATED POST: Southeast Asia Itinerary

Timeline: Six Weeks + Ten Days (Thailand) + Three Weeks (Myanmar) + Two Days (Thailand) + Three Months (Vietnam) + One Week (Laos)

From Hanoi, I went to Laos and spent a full week there. I only got the chance to explore the beautiful Luang Prabang. I’m hoping to be able to visit the other parts of Laos in the future.

Related Post:  Visa Free Countries For Philippines Passport Holder

What Helped Me Survive For Six Months In Southeast Asia?

• blogging
• volunteering
• hitchhiking and sleeping in a monastery
• hostel work
• paid teaching gig
• online gig

When I settled in Vietnam to work in a hostel and teach English, I also did online jobs, like content writing and as a virtual assistant. For beginners in this field, you might have to charge lower. Once you get your profile in a good shape, you will get paid better. Also, be sure to check this list travel jobs for even more great ideas.

So there you go, it’s not the ideal backpacking set up that I wish I could have. But I had a really good time and I met amazing travellers from everywhere in the world. Spending six months in Southeast Asia is definitely something I will never forget.

TIP: Check my resources page to see the main online platforms I use on my travels!

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• Heading to Barcelona soon? But short on budget? Maybe these tips will help!
• Travel cheaply but responsibly!

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Crossing borders between countries can be very stressful but can be a very interesting experience too. You get to go another step out of your comfort zone, as these are the areas where the internet cannot be accessible and interacting with the locals is the only thing you can do to move forward.

I’ve decided to ask my fellow travel bloggers about their own land border experiences while backpacking in Southeast Asia. Personally, I’ve crossed five land borders across this part of the world and I must say that those are one of my favourites.

Read on and get more ideas for your future travels.

Land Border Crossings in Southeast Asia

BANGKOK TO SIEM REAP (Thailand to Cambodia)

A very popular and well-travelled backpacker journey is the overland border crossing from the capital of Thailand, Bangkok to Siem Reap in Cambodia, the city very close to the ‘big three’ temples of Angkor: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm. There are several tour operators that offer this trip so you could just go and book in any tour operator’s office in Bangkok, but you can also just do it by yourself.

It is definitely the cheapest and most convenient option, besides the fact that you could as well just take a cheap flight to Siem Reap. But as we all know that travelling is all for the big adventure, you should give it a try at least once. The border crossing itself is pretty easy, fast, inexpensive and definitely a fun experience you will probably never forget. Just imagine the selfie you will take in front of the border.

• Travel time: 8-10 hours
• Bus price: $28
• Recommended bus company: Nattakan/Transport Co. Ltd – BOOK HERE
• Border control: good and easy

Contributed By Clemens of Travellers Archive

PREK CHECK to HA TIEN (Cambodia to Vietnam)

If you want to travel between Kep, Cambodia and the Mekong Delta Region or Phu Quoc in Vietnam, the land border at Prek Chek to Ha Tien is the nearest crossing. We crossed from Cambodia into Vietnam here.

The easiest way to reach the crossing is via taxi or tuk-tuk from Kep (20 kilometres), a sleepy seaside village in Cambodia, or Kampot. You can catch a taxi or motorbike on the Vietnam side to Ha Tien for onward transport or arrange pick-up at the border. Ask at your accommodation.

We walked across the border (200-300) meters carrying our luggage, as transport typically does not cross the border.

Most travellers will need a visa for both Cambodia and Vietnam. When crossing from Cambodia to Vietnam at the Prek Chek to Ha Tien crossing you must have organized your Vietnam visa in advance. It is not available at the border. For entry to Cambodia, you can get a visa at the border for $30 USD in cash. You need two passport-sized photos and the bills need to be in good shape.

• Travel time: 30 minutes
• Bus fare: Not applicable- use a tuk-tuk or taxi approx. $8 USD for Tuk Tuk
• Recommend bus company: Arrange transport at your accommodation or you can BOOK HERE
• Border:  Open 6:00- 18:00, good and easy.  Need Vietnam Visa ahead of time.

Contributed by By Elizabeth of Compass and Fork

RATCHABURI – BUTTERWORTH (Thailand to Malaysia by Train)

Overland border crossing between South-East Asian countries sometimes can be tricky and be confusing especially if you take local transport, but not always. We had a great experience crossing the border between Thailand and Malaysia by train. After spending a couple of amazing days at Amphawa Floating Market in Thailand we headed towards Malaysia and decided to use a local train as a long-distance train journey is usually more comfortable than a bus one.

First, we took a bus to Ratchaburi to get to the train station. From Ratchaburi, there is a sleeper express train to Butterworth in Malaysia. The train leaves every day at 5 pm. Next morning, at about 8 am, the train arrives at the Thailand/Malaysia border where passengers do the border crossing procedure and switch trains. Both countries’ immigration desks are in the same building. It takes 5-10 min. to get both stamps and check the luggage. After that everybody gets on a second train, which takes two more hours to get to Butterworth.

• Travel time: 18 hours, including border crossing and train switching
• Train price: 1100 Thai Baht
• Recommended train company: State Railway of Thailand- BOOK HERE
• Border control: Good and fast

Contributed By Alya of Stingy Nomads

LANGKAWI – SATUN (Malaysia to Thailand by Boat)

I’ve travelled in between Thailand and Malaysia multiple different times, and in several different ways…but the absolute best and easiest option is taking the boat from Langkawi, Malaysia – Satun, Thailand (or vice versa). Langkawi is one of my favourite islands in South-East Asia, and I’m always telling fellow backpackers they need to visit! TraveLling overland from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok was one of my best trips I’ve ever done, and think it’s super easy.

There are travel agents all over Langkawi that can help book the package, but it depends on where in Thailand you’re continuing on to. Some people go to the Trang Province, while others head all the way up to Krabi. Prices vary between 85-140 MYR. The immigration lines are always quick and easy, and it’s much easier than the train/bus border on the mainland. While there are also a lot of hostels in Langkawi who can help you find the best way to get to Thailand depending on your budget and adventure you’re up to.

Contributed By Dave of Jones Around the World

YANGON TO BANGKOK (Myanmar to Thailand -Maesot Border)

One of my favourite land crossing borders in Southeast Asia is the border between Myanmar and Thailand through Maesot border. It’s probably the friendliest border ever and the not corrupted one. After a 9-hour bus journey from Yangon, I reached the town called Myawaddy the bus station was a minute or two to walk over to the exit point (Myanmar side), without any internet, I couldn’t check where I should go.

I asked the locals where is the border office, who was very happy to help me. The line for the locals of Myanmar and Thailand is pretty long lucky for me there are not many backpackers that day, so I didn’t have to wait for a while. I sat in front of the officer who took my passport, a photo of me and landed an exit stamp on my travel document.

I walked the bridge which is about 300 metres, then I stood on the line to get my entry stamp to Thailand. The whole process took about 20 minutes. I didn’t know where to take the bus, there were loads of buses that are parked. Maesot is sitting between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, which explains a large number of buses with different destinations. A local lady told me to take a tuk-tuk and ask the driver to drop me at the “bus station” where I can take a bus to Bangkok. From this station, you can also take a bus to Chiang Mai.

Even it was stated on my evisa letter that my visa should only be used through air borders, I managed to exit Myanmar without a fuss (I entered through Yangong Airport). However, I had enough time to turn around in case I will be denied to exit through the land. If you are in a hurry, I suggest you not to take this risk as things can go wrong.

• Travel cost: $13
• Travel time: 8 hours
• Border control: Very friendly and easy
• Bus Company: I can’t remember which one I took, but I was advised to head to the terminal in Yangon and booked the one for overnight for
• Bus from Maesot to either Bangkok or Chiang Mai can be BOOKED HERE

Contributed by Mary of A Mary Road

SIEM REAP – BANGKOK (Cambodia to Thailand)

This is a relatively easy journey to make from Siem Reap, the town near Angkor Wat to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It’s possible to undertake this journey in tuk-tuks, and a public bus, with a walk across the border itself. From there it’s another tuk-tuk and then either a bus or a train to Bangkok. However, you’ll take an inordinate amount of time doing this. You won’t save much in terms of money either.

Much better to opt for the bus company that takes you all the way to Bangkok’s Mo Chit bus station. You will still need to carry your own bags across the border though, although it’s not a difficult walk. This is the easy route from Siem Reap to Bangkok. While here is a guide from Bangkok to Ayutthaya for domestic travelling around Thailand.

• Travel time: 8 hours. Leave Siem Reap at 09.00, arrive at Mo Chit Bus station in Bangkok at about 16.00. Mo Chit to Khao San 60-90 minutes in a local bus depending on traffic.
• Bus price: from Siem Reap to Mo Chit Bus Station Bangkok US$28. Mo Chit to Khao SanUS$0.20
• Recommended bus company: Nattakan Bus Company – BOOK HERE
• Border Control: leaving Cambodia is outside and a scrum. Separate lines for westerners = bigger scrum than ever. Immigration into Thailand is air-conditioned, marble and delightful.

Contributed by Sarah of ASocialNomad

KOTA BHARU – SUNGAI KOLOK (Malaysia to Thailand)

If you’ve been visiting the Perhentian Islands on Malaysia’s east coast and are heading to Thailand, then crossing the border on the east is a simple affair. The towns at the border are Rantau Panjang in Malaysia and Sungai Kolok in Thailand. Most people will make their border run from Kota Bharu in Malaysia, it’s the nearest big town with facilities.

Kota Bharu is Malay for New Castle and is infamous for being the location where the Japanese first made landfall in Asia in World War II. A local bus runs from Kota Bharu to the border at Rantau Panjang, where it’s a short walk across the border to Sungai Kolok. You’ll find hotels and places to eat here and also a train station with direct trains that run through to Bangkok. This is an easy border crossing on the east coast of Malaysia to Thailand.

• Travel time: 2 hours – 1 hour from Kota Bharu to the border, immigration time and a 1km walk in No Mans Land, then 20 minutes walk in Sungai Kolok to the train station.
• Bus price: 5 RM
• Recommended bus company: Cityliner Aduan SPAD (local bus company) from Kota Bharubus station
• Border control leaving Malaysia – easy, simple procedure
• Border control arriving in Thailand – simple, may have further questions if you’re a frequent traveller

Contributed by Sarah of ASocialNomad

MALACCA – SINGAPORE CITY (Malaysia to Singapore by bus)

Probably one of the easiest land border crossings is the one between Melaka and Singapore City. I booked the ticket online, the next day I took an Uber (but Uber is not available in Southeast Asia anymore, try Grab or simply a regular taxi) to the bus station. I showed my online ticket to the right window (make sure to find the ticket window for your bus company) to check-in 15 minutes before we leave, the bus pulled in and we get on.

Once we reached the border, we got off the bus, took our backpacks and head to the immigration office for an exit stamp for Malaysia. Then went through the next building to get our entry stamp for Singapore. It can be busy, it took us about 30 minutes before it was my turn. I showed my passport, a fly out of a ticket from Singapore. I was asked usual questions like how long am I staying, what purpose of my visit, and where I will be staying.

After that, we got on the bus again and continued our journey. We were drop off right close to the city centre of Singapore. People speak English and cafe have free WiFi if you need to connect to find your way around. Check this guide if you are travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.

• Bus price: $12 US
• Bus Company: Delima (the cheapest)
• Travel time: 4 hours
• Border control leaving Malaysia: easy
• Border control entering Singapore: long wait but easy

I must say that one of my favourite about Southeast Asia is the fact that you can travel around easily, there are a lot of ways to cross the border between countries.

I would like to thanks all the amazing travel bloggers who contributed to this article.

Have you crossed any of these borders? Do you have any tips? Share it in the comment section below.

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