-
Bangkok, Thailand
VISAS:
No visa required for 60 days
Complete a Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours of arrival - can complete through the Thai government website or the Thai pass app - show the QR code on arrival at immigration
Hostels:
Bed station hostel
Khao San Road
Lamphu Tree Hotel
Day activities:
Chao phraya express boat - stops at most major tourist attractions
Wat Sam Phran (aka dragon temple)
Grand palace
Wat Arun temple
Taling Chan floating market (there's 4 different floating markets - a free bus on weekends does a loop of them all)
The artist house bangkok cafe and making bracelets
Mekong railway market
Ancient city - open air museum
Chatuchak weekend market
The One Ratchada market
Wang Lang market
Pattivakorn market
Lumphini park - like jurassic park apparently
Shinjuku chain for thrifting
Chatuchak market
Night activities:
Skybar Bangkok
Octave
Escape
Tuchuca sky bar
Havana social
Chinatown
Red rose restaurant and jazz lounge - has live music
ICONSIAM food market - free light and water show every night
Food:
Chinatown - streetfood
Coffee shops - white dragon, KAYY coffee, mother roaster pratu phi, snooze coffee house, elefin coffee, lemoncurd
The artist house cafe
Puppy cafe...
Mango sticky rice from K.Panich
Transport:
Sleeper train or flight to Chiang Mai
-
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Hostels:
Mad monkey !! - organise activities and very social but chilled - have yoga and gym but also pub crawl etc
Hidden garden hostel - very nice but not very social
The yard hostel - social but not party
Khun Luang hostel - coffee shop downstairs - very nice but not social at all
Chiza hostel - free coffee and fruit - beds and bathroom not great
Day activities:
Yoga in Nong Buak hard public path - every morning at 9am
Muay thai boxing
Sticky waterfalls
dantayvada waterfalls and cafe
Pha chor canyon
Nature park elephant sanctuary or Chang chill elephant sanctuary
Bamboo rafting
Jing jai market
Baan Kang Wat Artist market
Wat phra that doi suthep temple
Land of angels waterfall park
Lantern festival?? - check if it's on
Cooking class - Zabb-e-lee cooking school or rainy garden cooking
Quad biking
Hike monk's trail
Chiang Mai old town
King and queen pagodas
Coconut market
Wachirathan waterfall
Kew Mae Pan trail
Night activities:
Night Bazaar
Lana square night market
Sunday night street market
Stamps pub crawl
North Gate Jazz Co-op
Food:
Khao Soi
Good Kitchen for food
Carp cafe
Dash restaurant
Sun rays cafe for breakfast
Transport:
Bus to Pai
-
Pai, Thailand
Hostels:
Twin hut - not a hostel but breakfast included and hammock with each hut - rural vibes and outdoor toilet
Atlas central hostel
Pai Chao Kha Resort - can book a tent option (20 min walk or 5 min drive to centre of Pai)
23 Pai house boutique
Day activities:
Meditation / yoga
Tipsy tubing
Pai canyon
Bamboo bridge
Big buddha
Yun lai viewpoint
Night activities:
Two huts or Pai canyon for sunset
-
Chiang Rai Province, Thailand
Hostels:
Mercy hostel in Chiang Rai - good place to book slow boat to laos - offer a Chaing Rai day tour
Day activities:
Boat trip along Mekong River
Night Bazaar
Long Neck village
Khun Korn waterfall
Beeruka thrift store
Choui Fong tea plantation
Wat Rong Khun temple (white temple)
Wat Rong Suea Ten (blue temple)
Wat Tham Phra (buddha cave temple)
Baan Dam museum (the black house)
Wat Huay Pla Kang
Golden Triangle viewpoint and sitting Buddha in a boat
Golden triangle - Hall of Opium museum (owned by Thai Royal family Foundation) or House of Opium museum (owned by one woman - more personal)
Food:
Lalitta café
Travel:
Slow boat along Mekong river to Luang Prabang
-
Pak Beng District, Laos
Travel via slow boat from golden triangle and then by slowboat onto Luang Prabang
-
Luang Prabang, Laos
Hostels:
Sunrise Riverside Pool hostel - social but not party vibes - easy to book trips and excursions
Downtown hostel
Mad monkey hostel
Day activities:
Kuang Si Falls - go early in morning - visit bear sanctuary park - climb steps to 'the view' bar and pool to take a private bamboo raft to origin of falls
Jewellery making class - garden of eden (dm on insta night before)
River cruises
Monk processions at sunrise
Phou Si hill for views over whole city at sunset - can speak with monks at top and see them pray on way down
Walk along rice terraces
Traditional Laos massage
Nong Khiaw - camp above the clouds
Tad Fane waterfall zip line
Night activities:
Night market
Bowling alley - turns into a club later
Mekong sunset cruise - book through obama coconut bar
Food:
Secret Pizza (tue and fri from 6pm)
2 little birds cafe - brunch
Night market (street food)
Saffron coffee
Popolo Italian restaurant
Transport:
Bullet train to Vang Vieng - no aerosols over 100ml - only 1 hour - book through baolaos
-
Nong Khiaw, Laos
-
Vang Vieng, Laos
Hostels:
Mad monkey - views look insane!
Day activities:
Rent a bike
Freshwater swimming holes
Hot air balloon
Nam Song River - float in an inner tube
Go kart buggy to visit lagoons - lagoon 3 and 4 are best
Climb Nam Xay to viewpoint for sunset
Cave trips
Zip lining
Night activities:
Jungle party every Friday
Pull Mind cafe to watch sunset
Food:
Big Mamas - opposite full moon bar
Miss Aon
Restaurant bakery
Travel
-
Vientiane, Laos
Hostel:
Petit espace hostel
Travel:
27 hour sleeper bus to hanoi...
-
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hostels: stay in old quarter
The One hostel - in China town
Buffalo - breakfast included
Old quarter view
Hanoi central backpackers hostel
Day activities:
Train street
Ba Dinh square
Lots of cheap clothes!!
Vietnamese women's museum
Evening activities:
Beer street
The One Hostel pub crawl
Food:
Hidden gem coffee
The note coffee shop
Eat at 'The Met' for traditional vietnamese food
Get banh mi from banh mi 25
-
Hà Giang, Vietnam
Stay in ha Giang night before tour
Bong backpackers or jasmine tour for ha giang loop
4 day 3 nights
-
Alpine Coaster Sapa, Vietnam
Hostels: stay at a homestay
Sapa Hmong Bungalow homestay - wooden cabin next to his house - can eat with them and they take you on tours
lala_sapa_trekking - look at TikTok has WhatsApp number to text
s plus bungalow - bit pricey
Day activities:
Lots of hikes - alpine style village
'Mama's' - tour guide - can do overnight trips and stay at homestays
Cat cat village
Climb Fanzipan mountain to see cable car views
-
Hanoi, Vietnam
-
Cát Bà Island, Vietnam
Hostels:
Buffalo hostel - they organise a boat trip that takes you to Ha Long bay - kayaking, swimming - good buffet breakfast and beer hour - very social
Lotus cruises - 2 nights along ha long bay
Day activities:
Alternative to Ha Long bay - can book an overnight stay in the bay through Cat Ba Ventures
Cruise along Ha Long Bay - boujie budget tour from 'aqua of the seas' book via getyourguide
-
Ninh Bình, Vietnam
Hostels:
Banana tree hostel - more like a resort its massive - book in advance
Tam coc serene bungalow
Stay in Tam Coc not Ninh Binh centre
tam Coc Koi homestay - brekky included
Thung Nham Resort for 1 night?
Day activities:
Trang an boat tour - rowed in a traditional boat and see caves
Cycle to Buffalo cave
Mua Cave - more quiet at sunrise
Dam sen Hang mua hike to the viewpoint and Mua caves
Hoa Lu Old Town
Thung Nham bird garden - rent bikes to explore
Hike Hang Mua
Pho Co Hoa Lu old town - beautiful temple on the water
rent bikes to explore everywhere
Bich Dong Pagoda
Climb dragon mountain
Night activities:
Double decker bus bar
Food:
An Tam Coc
Chookie's beer garden
Tam Coc noodle soup restaurant
Cham tam coc
Na's cafe and cocktail house
Sisterfields - brekkie
Langs salad tam coc
toan ton restaurant
-
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
Hostels:
Central backpackers hostel - nice buffet breakfast and beer hour - social - free BBQ every sunday
Day activities:
Duck leading
Paradise cave and Son Doong cave (largest cave in the world)
Me bang national park
-
Hue, Vietnam
Day time activities:
Abandoned water park
Rent bikes
Visit Imperial city within citadel
Visit Citadel start at NGO Mon gate
Khai Dinh tomb
Incense village
Food:
Nook Eatery
Cafe Muoi- founded salt coffee
-
Da Nang, Vietnam
20 mins from Hoi An
Hostel:
rom casa - close to beach and nice cafe opposite
Day activities:
Rafting
Hot spring park
Marble mountain
Khe beach
Han market
Ba Na Hills - giant hand bridge
Lady buddah
Son tra marine - greek village - can see lady buddah at same time
Non nuoc stone carving village
Lunetta thrift
Night activities:
Bikini bottom express - cocktails
Cross dragon bridge at night - fire show on fri, sat, sun at 9pm
Food:
Lighthouse coffee
Bread and butter bakery
Pizza 4ps
-
Hội An, Vietnam
Hostels:
Nest hostel
Riverside Dolphin Hostel
Bed station hostel
Ihome
Day activities:
An bang beach town
Dolphin kitchen and bar - free sun lounger if you get a drink
Coconut boats - if you book a cooking class they're included
Lantern boat ride
Tailor clothes
Rent a bike - cycle through padi fields
Jewellery making class - ring making at The Silver House
Thanh ha pottery village
Golden hand bridge
Vintage shopping - 421 Cua Dai
Coffee making class - Faifo factory
Old town
Tit2hand vintage shop
Rusty vintage
Night activities:
Mr Bean Bar
Mezcal Cocteleria Bar - good cocktails
Night market - near Cam Nam bridge
Barconcu bar
Food:
Try Cao Lau noodles, egg coffee, salt coffee, coconut coffee
reaching Out Tea House - vietnamese coffee tasting - staff have hearing/speech impairments and encourage visitors to enjoy the silence
Rosie's cafe - smoothie bowls
Good morning Vietnam - Italian
Com linh - Vietnamese food
A little kitchen restaurant
Uncle Huan coffee
DA NANG
Hostel:
rom casa - close to beach and nice cafe opposite
Day activities:
Rafting
Hot spring park
Marble mountain
Khe beach
Han market
Ba Na Hills - giant hand bridge
Lady buddah
Son tra marine - greek village - can see lady buddah at same time
Non nuoc stone carving village
Lunetta thrift
Night activities:
Bikini bottom express - cocktails
Cross dragon bridge at night - fire show on fri, sat, sun at 9pm
Food:
Lighthouse coffee
Bread and butter bakery
Pizza 4ps
-
Dalat, Vietnam
Hostel:
Family hostel - only 93p a night
Day activities:
Alpine coaster
Mario Kart
Ride an ostrich
Giant swing - part of your ticket for mario kart
Clay tunnels
Crazy house
Vintage shop - Pan Si 2hand
Night activities:
Maze bar
Mic karaoke
Bowling
-
Mũi Né, Vietnam
Only need 24 hours
Hostel:
Ihome
Day activities:
Sandboarding down sand dunes
Walk through fairy stream barefoot
Local fishing village
Pink Jeep tour
White sand dune quad bike excursion
Red sand dunes for sunset
Food:
Dong vui food court
may bowls - smoothie bowls
-
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Day activities:
Cu Chi tunnels
War museum (2-3 hours)
The Cafe apartments - good thrifting stores inside too
Book street
Thrifting: 80s Saigon, angel thrift shop, joe thrift, mayhem vintage
Saigon central post office - send a postcard home
Nguyen Hue Fountain
Ben Thanh Market - oldest surviving market in HCMC - lots of fakes
Saigon skydeck
Street food scooter tour - book via Klook - sample 12 things and explore city
Night activities:
Telephone bar
Bui Ven Walking street - similar vibe to Khao San road
STIR - modern classic cocktail
Bloom - cocktail and whiskey bar
Dot bar drinkery and kitchen
Food:
Little HaNoi - best egg coffee in the city
Ben Thanh street food market
Man Moi
Banh Mi Huynh Hoa
Madam Quyen
Banh Mi Me In
Bun Bo Ganh
Anan Saigon
Kong coffee - five floors of thrift stores in the same building
-
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hostels:
Oneders hostel
Mad monkey - very social
Day activities:
S21 museum
Killing fields
garden city water park
Food:
Brown coffee
Transport:
Use Giant Ibis buses
-
Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia
BRING CASH
Hostels:
Nest hostel - very loud and intense
Lost Boys hostel
Onderz hostel - social but chilled
DO NOT STAY AT MAD MONKEY
Don't go too far north!
Day activities:
Boat trip to north of island
Bioluminescent plankton
Motorbike around island
Preak Sweay village
Lonely beach
Night activities:
Nestival - every saturday - arrive before 3pm for olympic games - don't bring shoes - buy ticket when you arrive - buy 40 tokens between 2 people -
Travel:
Overnight bus to Siem Reap - Larryta is nice
-
Koh Sdach, Cambodia
Hostels:
Mad monkey - just opened a hostel here - more like a resort has a gym, pool, steam room etc - maldives of cambodia
-
Battambang, Cambodia
Hostel - The Place (do their full day tour - includes wine and food tasting, bamboo train, killing caves and killing fields)
Night activities:
Battambang caves at sunset - see thousands of bats coming out
-
Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
Hostels:
Onederz hostel
Mad monkey - very social - lots of evening activities - 2 pools
Lub d
Day activities:
Angkor watt temple at sunrise - mad monkey run a tour that includes transport and a guide - apparently free entry after 17:30 - geko tours? - park at 5:00
Angkor muscle gym
Floating villages - mad monkey also offer a tour
Rats that detect landmines
Botanical gardens
Go karting
Kulen mountain
Evening activities:
Phare circus
Pub street
Food:
New York bagel
-
Bangkok, Thailand
-
Kanchanaburi, Thailand
-
Bangkok, Thailand
-
Koh Tao, Thailand
Hostels:
Savage hostel
Taco shak - diving programme linked to it so if you book the padi you get free accom
Big Blue Diving school also good
Day activities:
PADI
Scuba - la bombona diving - book through their insta link to get 10% off
Mango bay
Shark point
The lookout
Koh nang yuang island - get taxi boat
Yoga class e.g living juices
Ta tao beach
John suwan viewpoint
Freedom beach
Fire show
Sairee beach for sunset
Jansom bay
Sai thing beach
Night activities:
Jungle party - book tickets at revolution - 500 baht free taxi
Fish bowl bar
Pool party
Queens cabaret
Pub crawl - happens twice a week - starts at sports bar
Food:
Fancy restaurants - whitening, sand bar, barracuda, charcoal
Food stools outside pharmacy on main strip - get cheesy chips!!
-
Koh Samui Nature Reserve, Thailand
Hostels: stay in chaweng beach
Lub
Socialtel
Ubox
Day activities:
Get a ped to explore the island - overlap stone, big buddha, grandma and grandfather rock
Zip line through jungle
Ang Thon marine park boat trip- hike up to see islands
Boat trip to pig island - try get taxi boat instead of full day trip
Fisherman's village walking street - boutiques
Fisherman's village market - food and souvenirs
Chaweng market
Night activities:
Lub d pub crawl
Ark bar
Food:
Ikigai health cafe
-
Koh Tao, Thailand
-
Koh Samui, Thailand
-
Singapore, Singapore