How to Plan an Extended Trip in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia has long been a major
stopping point for backpackers around the world. Exotic destinations,
beautiful beaches and mountains, bustling cities, fantastic food,
friendly people, a well trodden tourist trail, and super cheap prices
all contribute to one of the top regions in the world for traveling.
From
the smiling faces and pristine beaches in Thailand, to the incredible,
fresh food in Vietnam, to one of the most impressive sites in the world
in Cambodia, to the sleepy, still undiscovered lands of Laos, Southeast
Asia is ripe for the picking if you love to travel.
What to expect
Expect
stunning scenery, historical site after historical site, fantastic food
that is as cheap, fresh, and as good as you’ll find anywhere in the
world, and ease of travel.
Sure, you
may not always be comfortable (hello, minibuses in Laos), but what you
give up in comfort you get back in the wallet. One of the most
surprising things about travel in SE Asia was just how easy it truly is.
Unless you really get off the beaten path, the language barrier is
pretty much nonexistent as most everyone, especially those involved in
tourism, speaks English. Because the region has been a popular travel
destination for the better part of 50 years, they have it down and know
how it’s done, so enjoy the ride!
Planning your trip to Southeast Asia
A
lot goes into planning your trip to Southeast Asia – how to get there,
how to get around once you are there, best time of the year to go, which
vaccinations you need, and what the visa situations are.
Getting around
Getting
around SE Asia is pretty easy (though it may not be the epitome of
comfort all the time), with many options depending on your budget.
- Air- Air Asia is the main budget airline in the region, and if you are flexible and on top of things, you can get dirt cheap flights between major cities (Bangkok, Saigon, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, etc.).
- Bus- Bus quality varies from country to country and even city to city. Thailand and Vietnam have some decent buses, some of them the sleeper variety, but some flat out suck, too. Be sure to check the information below to see specifics on overland travel in each country.
- Minibuses- While not the most comfortable transport in the world, minibuses are in all Southeast Asian countries in some form or another (costing practically nothing). The unifying factor amongst bus transport is that it’s dirt cheap.
- Train- Trains are available in all countries as well, with some really nice ones in Thailand, in particular. There are different types and different classes of seats, with sleeper compartments as well (that are really nice), so do your homework.
- Boat- One of the coolest modes of transport around Southeast Asia is by riverboat. Some slow boat trips (Thailand into Laos) are said to be pretty brutal, but others are amazing (Vietnam into Cambodia). Boat travel is becoming less and less common, though.
Costs
In
order to travel on a super, super cheap budget (think under
$20-25US/day), you’re going to have to rough it a bit in Southeast
Asia. While you can find beds for under $5/night, you get what you pay
for (think dorm beds, no a/c, and questionable cleanliness).
As long as you’re willing to eat street and market food (which you should as it’s the best),
you can eat like a king for a few dollars a day. A huge plate of pad
thai costs about $1US on the streets of Bangkok, a steaming bowl of Pho
in the alleyways of Hanoi about the same, and as long as you eat
locally, even in restaurants, it’s still not going to run more than a
few dollars for a meal.
But if you
have the money to splurge just a little bit (think $35-40/day), you’re
going to have nice, private rooms with air conditioning, you’ll be able
to splurge on a western meal you may crave every once in a while, and
you’ll be able to take a sleeper train and nice bus in certain
situations (sometimes a crappy minibus is your only option).
Thailand
and Vietnam are a little more expensive than Laos and Cambodia, but if
you plan on $35US/day for these four countries, you’ll be traveling well
most of the time.
Vaccinations
When
it comes to vaccinations, everyone has their own opinions, so how
careful or reckless you want to be is completely up to you. The best
advice we can offer is to go see your primary care doctor and/or a
travel physician and take his or her advice. According to the CDC, your
routine vaccinations of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), DPT (diphtheria,
pertussis, tetanus), and polio should be up to date, but they aren’t
required. Hepatitis A and B are also highly recommended. Typhoid and
Japanese encephalitis are also recommended, as is rabies.
When
it comes to malaria, everyone has an opinion. Some take some form of
malaria meds, some take none. Again, speak with your doctor about
vaccinations and do whatever you’re comfortable with. And if you do
decide to get any/all vaccinations, shop around as prices vary wildly,
particularly in the United States. Most malaria medication is extremely
expensive, and you can purchase them for a much cheaper price once
you’re in Southeast Asia. The problem is that most malaria meds advise
travelers to start taking them a few weeks before arrival. But you can
get some at home and then re-up once you’re there. We bought malaria
meds over the counter in a pharmacy in Vietnam when we were close to
running out.
Visas
For Americans, Vietnam is
the only country out of these four where you need to take care of your
visa before arriving. Travelers can get visas on arrival in Thailand,
Laos, and Cambodia. Visa rules are different, though, depending on how
you arrive. For example, if arriving in Thailand by land, it is
standard to only receive a 15-day tourist visa, but if you arrive by
air, you receive a 30-day visa. Laos and Cambodia both offer 30-day
visas upon arrival. It is recommended to have US dollars for visas, and
make sure they are crisp bills with no tears and little wear (I argued
for 15-minutes with a visa officer entering Laos because a few of my
bills weren’t in good enough condition).
Where to go
Southeast
Asia encompasses more than just these four countries, and we’ll get to
Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Phillipines, and Burma in a future
article. As far as where to go, we highlight many of the top
destinations within each country and offer some off-the-beaten-path
locations as well. Some travelers can blast through all four countries
in a month, seeing the highlights and moving fast. Others can take
months or even years to explore the region. It all depends on how much
time and money you have.
Thailand
Thailand
is a land the evokes many images for travelers. White sand beaches in
the south, one of the biggest, bustling metropolises in the world in
Bangkok, and peaceful hill stations in the north. There is a reason
Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations not only in
Southeast Asia but in the entire world. The beauty all over the
country is unmatched, the food absolutely mouth-watering, and the people
as friendly as can be. It’s not called the Land of Smiles for
nothing. While some may complain that it’s over-touristy, and there
are plenty of tourists, it still has an unmatched beauty that will have
any travel lover falling in love and wanting to return again and again.
Vietnam
Mountains,
jungles, beaches. History, culture, cuisine. It’s no secret why
Vietnam is becoming a top travel destination around the world. It
really does have it all, and with a well trodden tourist trail, travel
around this country is rather easy. The people may not be as friendly
as nearby Thailand or as laid back as neighboring Laos, and not everyone
has an affinity for travel here, but once you get used to the chaos,
Vietnam offers all travelers an unforgettable experience.
Cambodia
When
people think of Cambodia, they automatically connect it with one of the
world’s greatest wonders, Angkor Wat. Rightfully so, as it is one of
the most visited and spectacular sites in the world. While Angkor
steals the spotlight, there are plenty of other fantastic places to
visit in this beautiful Southeast Asian country.
Laos
After
being off the tourist radar for so long, Laos is quickly becoming that
next great destination for budget travelers in Southeast Asia. A
country that has been pounded by war and still seeing the effects, this
sleepy country is drop dead gorgeous. Laos has lots to offer for those
looking to get off the beaten path a bit. Don’t wait too long, though,
as the rest of the world is catching on, and it won’t be long before
Laos is just as popular as neighboring Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
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