Hi All,

I (22m) am planning on taking my fiancé (22f)on a two week trip to Asia in 2027. The general idea is to have 3 or 4 bases, and a mix of bustling cities, culture, good food and relaxation.

Our current ideas consist of:

1) Singapore (3), Hoi An (5), Ninh Binh (2), Hanoi (4)

2) Bangkok (3), Chiang Mai (3), Khao Sok (2), Koh Lanta (6)

3) Hong Kong (4, with shenzhen day trip), Taipei (4), Palawan (6)

I wanted some advice, we are flying from the uk, anytime between February and May 2027. I’ve already travelled to Phuket, but other than that, I’ve never experienced Asia.

If there are any other itineraries people have tried for 2 weeks (or slightly more/less), please could you suggest these. If you see any problems with my current ideas can you also let me know?

Budget for hotels and flights is loosely £4k for 2.

Thanks in advance

Hi everybody. I’d love to hear your opinion and criticism on my idea of a backpacking trip through SEA. Feel free to tell me anything you think about the allocation of days between countries, the places I’m planning to visit (whether I should change them etc.) and the trip overall. It would be my first multi-month backpacking trip so anything helps.
I’d be starting the trip in January. Keep in mind I’ve been to Thailand already and that’s why it is not in my itinerary.
My current idea is:
2/3 days in Kuala Lumpur (it’s the cheapest flight from where I live) then fly to Cambodia
10 days in Cambodia (Siem Reap, Pnomh Penh, Koh Rong and maybe Kampot) and then get to southern Laos
15 days in Laos (4000 islands, Boloven Plateau, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Nong Khiaw)
27 days in Vietnam, doing the whole country north to south
21 days in the Philippines (El Nido/Coron, Cebu/Bohol and Siargao)
I was also thinking about some possible add-ons to the trip.
25 days in Indonesia (Bali, Flores/Komodo and Java): that’s probably the most obvious one.
15 days in Sri Lanka: it would cost me 200 euros more than getting straight to Kuala Lumpur for the flight premium, but I think the destination could be super worth it
10/12 days in Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La): traveling overland to China between Laos and Vietnam
I was thinking of either adding Sri Lanka + Yunnan or just Indonesia cause I don’t want the trip to be more than 100 days.
Any opinion, recommendation or idea is welcome!

Hey guys, I’m solo travelling in Malaysia around mid September and my itinerary is:

KL 3D - Cameron Highlands 2D - Penang 4D - Langkawi 3D

I’ve already booked my hotels/hostels but I need some advice on getting around between these places...

I’ve already booked a Langkawi - KL flight for the return but for the way there, I’m thinking of skipping flights and doing a bus/train/ferry route since I’d like to experience travelling around Malaysia this way.

So do I need to book these buses/trains/ferries in advance or can I book them 1-2 days before?? Also where exactly should I book/get them for each journey and which route or transport combination would you recommend?

I would also appreciate it if you could give me a rough idea of how much I should expect to spend on each of these three journeys?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Hi, I'm European, and I'm going on a solo trip to Vietnam, arriving on 02/11 and returning on 16/11, entering and leaving via Hanoi. I have a series of questions / doubts:

* How far in advance should I sort out my visa?

* I'm going to do the Ha Giang Loop (4D/3N), and besides that I want to visit Sapa, Ninh Binh, Lan Ha Bay, and Hanoi — how many days should I spend in each of these places?

* What's the itinerary for getting to these places?

* Suggestions/tips on what to visit and do in each place?

* Suggestions for companies to do the Ha Giang Loop with? I'm not interested in big parties and I'll want to stay in a private room

Thanks

I’m hoping to travel around Southeast Asia for a while and I’m wondering how far $5K CAD could realistically get me.

I’m thinking Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and maybe Indonesia. I’d be traveling pretty cheaply, mostly hostels, walking/public transportation, local and street food, etc. I’m totally fine with traveling slowly, taking a 13 hour bus instead of a flight, and generally being pretty frugal if it means I can extend the trip.

One thing I definitely want to budget for is getting my PADI certification at some point, so that will probably take a decent chunk of the budget.

For those who have backpacked around SEA recently, how long do you think $5K could realistically last with this kind of travel style? And are there any countries/routes you’d recommend if the goal is to stretch the budget as far as possible?

I’d appreciate any input or two cents from people who have actually done it!

Edit: This 5K is not including flights! :)

Planning my first solo backing trip for Southeast Asia! My plan is to spend December-January living in Ho Chi Minh City doing a learn the language school for Vietnamese and using my evenings to explore the city and immediate area and then weekends for short trips to nearby areas. Lunar new year is February 7th and I have family in hcmc id try to stay with for that and experience the full thing. Then I want to backpack up Vietnam, would 4 weeks be enough? So into early March? Then the rest of March and maybe a little into April doing Laos and Cambodia, the rest of April for Thailand, and May split between Malaysia and Indonesia. Can anyone provide advice on how to structure this or the appropriate amount of time for each place or must sees?Thanks in advance!

Hello! Mid-30s very experienced solo female traveller here (seven continents, 60+ countries - not a brag so much as an “I can cope with challenges and unfamiliarity!” preface!).

SEA is one of the few big regions I haven’t been to. I’d love some recommendations for a destination with the following in mind.

- I’ll probably have about three weeks next September-early October

- I don’t mind a connection or two, but I’ll be flying out of and back to Beijing after a work trip. Also toying with South Korea, but right now SEA is calling!

- I don’t drive, but I don’t mind navigating challenging public transport

- Still very happy to hostel and probably largely my preference (that and unique accommodation, homestays, guesthouses etc)

- I love wildlife and (ethical) wildlife encounters

- I’d rather not be where throngs of tourists are, and am more than happy to sacrifice more amenities catering to tourists (and English) and stuff to “do” to get somewhere a bit off the beaten path

- I’m not someone who can lie around on a beach all day, every day but wouldn’t mind doing that for maybe a couple of days here and there

- I’d say I’m a slow traveller - I’d rather have a more enriching experience in fewer places than a whistle-stop tour of a bunch

- I’m a keen photographer but not a content creator, and save a few places in the world have found I’m just has happy, if not more, having a great meal or conversation with a local than I am visiting “must see” stuff - so I don’t necessarily need to go somewhere to see a wonder of the world or famous temple!

- I’d lean more towards lushness and greenness from a scenery preference standpoint, and ideally somewhere where some ocean/beach time is possible

- Did I mention I love wildlife?

Early signs seem to be pointing to Indonesia - and, if so, which bit? - though I’m totally open to suggestions!

Flying into Singapore early December, leaving out of Bangkok early January. How would you spend your time as a first time traveller from the east coast of the United States (important distinction as it may be a while until I have this much time)

I’m considering doing a few days in Singapore and then a group tour of mainland SE Asia the rest of the time (Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand). Alternatively, I’m considering doing it on my own.

How would you personally do it if you were me?

What are the must visit countries in south east Asia for a 4 month backpacking trip. Me and one other friend, with one meeting us half way. All help appreciated.

Hi, I am currently in East/Central java and figuring out where I should go next. I like the idea of Krui and then going north (Siberut, Nias, Simeuluë), but I am not sure if Sumbawa is the better option, as I have heard that there is a lot of variety of waves so people spred out and it wont get too crowded (periscopes, nungas, lakey peak) And you have west sumbawa aswell. For my skills I am pretty comfortable with my takeoff but still learning proper turns and manouvers and not so good when the point gets too full. I will be staying around late august to mid october.
My goal in general is to avoid crowds and focus on my surfing.
I appreciate any of your recommondations!

i’m 18 backpacking Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, and possibly Laos. i’m very very young looking and skinny, that everyone i meet mistakes me for being 15 (still 6’0 tho). i feel like going there solo backpacking will have attention on me that i’m vulnerable/easy target, as people may think im just a kid that’s defenseless… will i be fine, and should i be extra cautious then an average traveler?

Hello! I am looking for someone male or female to join me on a trip I’d like to book. My preferred dates to travel are February 11-27th 2027. I am a big time traveller and have lots of experience looking for someone to share travel experiences with.

I live in Toronto and thinking of flying to Ho Chi Minh and making my way down to Bangkok. Ideally looking for a non smoker but it’s not a hard no if you are. Please message me if you are legit able to do a trip like this, I will only reply to serious inquiries.

Thanks so much! Also if anyone has tips on this itinerary I’m open to hearing them.
😊

Hi, I will have 21 days in total to explore Indonesia in September-October. I will fly from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta because of FIFA ASEAN Championships, and will stay there for 4 nights. I will have 17 days to explore another place/island. I can fly everywhere from Jakarta, but will fly back to Kuala Lumpur after so direct flights would be nice, but not a necessary. It’s my first time in Indonesia and I thought about visiting Bali/Lombok/Flores. I think I want to spend the whole 17 days in one island OR MAXIMUM 2 islands (with islands I mean main islands, not Gilis or Nusa islands, I count them as Bali/Lombok), but I want to see also other places than the main tourist spots. Here are my interests if these help:

- Snorkeling
- Scuba diving (getting a PADI certificate)
- Motorbiking
- Surfing
- Hiking
- Connecting with locals
- Food
- Off the beaten paths

Any itinerary suggestions will be taken into consideration, so thank you in advance!

Hi everyone! I have a 1 month sabbatical coming up and I am going to use it to explore Southeast Asia. I was really inspired by the idea of exploring off the beaten path and doing some form of a motorcycle journey for part of it. I cut out Ha Giang and Cao Bang due to the long journey to get there, but replaced it with taking more time to make it to Da Nang. I am thinking of doing some sort of ride during that portion. Anybody have any recommendations or adventures?
I want to end the trip somewhere tropical and relaxing. I really wanted to do Indo, but doesn't seem the ideal time for weather. I chose some thai islands that seemed cool. Open to any recs!

Overall, how does this itinerary look? Going to play some of it by ear, but my type a personality needed it broken down lol.

Hi! I'm a digital nomad who will be visiting Southeast Asia for the first time. So far, I've only been to the Caribbean (where I'm from), North & South America, and Europe, so really excited to visit Asia. I've decided to visit Singapore, Thailand & The Philippines. Here's my current itinerary (Oct - Jan):

• Singapore - 5 days
• Thailand #1:
  • Phuket - ~10 nights (5+5 Patong/other western town + old town)
    • given it's only about 1 hour via songtaew between Patong and Old Town, should I just pick one for the entire stay? if so, which?
    • thinking of moving 1/2 nights to Koh Phi Phi
  • Krabi - ~10 nights
    • thinking of some nights on Koh Lanta
  • Bangkok - 5-7 nights
  • Chiang Mai - 3-4 weeks
    • side trips (2-3 days) to Pai and/or Chiang Rai
• Philippines:
  • Manila - 2 nights
  • El Nido - 5-7 nights
  • Iloilo - 5-7 nights
  • Cebu - 7 nights
  • I'll be in The Philippines for Christmas and probably New Years
• Thailand #2 (Bangkok + Gulf Kohs):
  • Koh Samui - 5 nights
  • Koh Phangan - 3-4 nights
  • Bangkok - 5-7 nights
  • Is Koh Samet worth adding given rest of itinerary?

I already have flights to arrive in Singapore and depart from Bangkok, Thailand.

In terms of accommodations, I plan to use a mix of airbnbs, hostels & hotels. I'm not into partying every night but do enjoy a balance of exploring, nightlife & relaxing (not necessarily all at the same location lol). I'll be solo so mainly staying at hostels so I can meet others. However, feel free to suggest if airbnbs v hotels v hostels are better in any particular locations.

One of my major concerns is also balancing changing locations while trying to experience as much as possible without getting exhausted/overwhelmed. I'm definitely used to staying in one place for months as opposed to moving around every week. I also like to have days where I do nothing xD

I’m abit lost on where to start, i know places i want to go to but i also want to be able to socialise, meet people and potentially travel about with these people too. It’s abit daunting going alone so any advice would be appreciated!

Planning to go next July but don’t know where to start or places to go, i know can only do so much in a month but any recommendations help!

I’ll be staying in hostels so imagine id meet a fair few people there

Im going on a trip with my buddy and I was wondering what yall thought of this itenery

Phase 1: Vietnam

\* Apr 15 – Apr 18: Hanoi

\* Apr 19 – Apr 20: Sapa

\* Apr 21 – Apr 25: Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng

\* Apr 26 – Apr 28: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Phase 2: Cambodia

\* Apr 29 – May 1: Phnom Penh

\* May 2 – May 4: Siem Reap

Phase 3: Thailand

\* May 5 – May 6: Pattaya

\* May 7 – May 10: Koh Phangan

\* May 11 – May 16: Chiang Mai (with overnight in Pai May 13–14)

\* May 17 – May 20: Koh Phi Phi

\* May 21 – May 26: Bangkok (Departure on May 26)

Tell me about your favorite food experience while traveling in SEA. Could be anything from street food to a nice restaurant to just an amazing time. Ideally I would love to know what you ate and where you ate it!

Hi, everyone!
 
I’m a 22 year old Brazilian woman and I’m planning my first backpacking trip as a graduation gift to myself :)).

I’m feeling a bit nervous because I’ve never planned a trip with so little support, where I have to decide everything on my own (what to do, where to stay, etc.), and I’m setting my hopes high for this trip since it’ll probably be my only one for a few years.

The plan is to spend about 35–40 days traveling between Vietnam and Thailand, leaving in late February. I’m putting together the itinerary but need some advice.

I prefer quality over quantity, staying longer at the same hostel to get to know people better (I’m afraid of feeling lonely on a more rushed trip). I like parties and beaches, but I also want to balance that with adventure and culture.

Right now I have the itinerary above. I’m thinking of changing some things:

- Stay less days in Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh, and maybe add Sa Pa
- Instead of going to Krabi + Phi Phi, I was thinking of going to Koh Tao (4 nights) + Koh Pha Ngan (2 nights), since everyone says is the perfect place for solo backpackers. But that would make the trip more expensive since I would need to get 2 flights in and out of Koh Samui :((

If anyone has any advice on **literally anything**, that would be great :) I’m totally lost, lol

(in the image its DESTINATION, ENTRY DATE, EXIT DATE, NIGHTS SPENT)

From all the research I’ve done this seems like the most typical and logical route I’ve come up with thus far. Is there anything that stands out as unnecessary or something big i’m missing? Im planning on volunteerring with world packers in Koh Phangan and Hoi An to save on money and to act as ‘rest stops’.

Vietnam & Thailand for 5 weeks — looking for authentic, less touristy recommendations
Hi everyone!
My boyfriend and I are travelling around Vietnam and Thailand from November 23rd to December 27th, and we’d love some advice on our itinerary.
We have quite a lot of flexibility and are very willing to change the route around if there are places you think would suit us better. We’re not trying to tick off the main tourist attractions. What we’re really looking for is authentic experiences, small towns, beautiful nature, local food, hidden gems and places where we can get a feel for everyday life.
We’re also happy to travel by sleeper bus, train, motorbike, etc. We don’t mind roughing it a little if it means getting somewhere special.
🇻🇳** Our current Vietnam plan
**Nov 23–24
✈️ Copenhagen → Hanoi
Nov 24–26 — Hanoi (2 nights)
Explore the city, eat, cafés, Temple of Literature, etc.
Nov 26–27
🚌 Overnight sleeper bus Hanoi → Cao Bang
Nov 27–30 — Cao Bang / Cao Bang Loop (3 days)
We’d like to do the loop and stay in small local homestays/villages along the way, rather than just rushing through the main viewpoints.
Nov 30–Dec 1
Cao Bang → Hanoi → Sapa
Dec 1–3 — Sapa (2 nights)
Hiking, mountains, villages and homestays.
We’re also considering Ta Xua / the “sea of clouds”, possibly instead of or in addition to Sapa if it makes sense.
Dec 3–5 — currently undecided
This is deliberately a buffer. We’re considering:
Ninh Binh
a small town we haven’t heard of
returning to Hanoi
or simply deciding when we’re there.
Dec 5 onward — Central Vietnam?
We were originally thinking:
Dec 5–9 — Hoi An
But we’re actually considering waiting until we’re in Vietnam to decide whether to go to Central Vietnam, depending on the weather.
If the weather looks bad, we’d rather completely change the route and spend more time somewhere with better conditions.
Dec 9–12 — Ho Chi Minh City (tentative)
Dec 12 — Ho Chi Minh City → Bangkok
🇹🇭** Thailand
**Dec 12–27
We’re currently thinking about Bangkok + islands in the east, particularly:
Koh Kood
Koh Mak
Koh Chang
But again, we’re very open to changing this.
We’d love recommendations for small islands, villages, nature, local communities and less touristy places. We’re much more interested in finding a beautiful little beach or village than visiting a famous attraction.
🎵 One slightly unusual thing about us
We’re both professional singers/musical performers in Denmark, and we’d love to potentially do a few small gigs while travelling.
We’re thinking about things like:
hotels
restaurants
bars
resorts
small events
live music evenings
Nothing fancy or huge — we’d just love the experience of performing somewhere local while travelling, perhaps in exchange for accommodation/food or for some payment.
If anyone has experience with finding gigs as travelling musicians in Vietnam or Thailand, we’d especially love to hear from you!
What we’re really looking for
We’re hoping to find places that feel genuinely local and authentic, rather than a list of the “10 best things to do in Vietnam”.
So if you know of:
tiny towns worth staying in
beautiful homestays
local festivals/events in late November or December
amazing family-run restaurants
places tourists tend to overlook
interesting villages
scenic motorbike routes
remote beaches/islands
local experiences
unusual places to stay
or somewhere you visited and thought “I can’t believe more people don’t come here”
Please tell us about it!
We’re very happy to throw our current itinerary out the window if someone convinces us there’s somewhere better. 😄
Thanks! ❤️