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Bangkok, Thailand
-infamous Khao San Road attracts plenty of backpackers
-papaya salad, pad kra pao (Thai basil stir-fry) Khao kha moo (pork leg rice) and the classic Thai dessert, mango sticky rice.
-Chinatown - classic Thai dishes as well as authentic Chinese cuisine
Day 1: Grand Palace (500 Baht entrance fee, dress code), Wat Pho (100 Baht), ferry to Wat Arun (100 Baht), ferry to dinner in Chinatown
Day 2: Chalermla Park Street Art (Accessible via tuk-tuk, taxi or by ferry. If you take a ferry make sure you get off at Hua Chang (Siam Square).),
Art and Culture Center (bus via BTS National Station) Walk too... , Jim Thompson House (200 Baht), walk to... Lumphini Park, Wat Saket.
https://www.wheregoesrose.com/2-day-bangkok-itinerary/
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
The city of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is one of the temple capitals of the world with over 300 in a small radius.
-top temples like Wat Chiang Mai, the oldest in the city with beautiful elephant carvings; Wat Chedi Luang known for its huge serpent statues; and Wat Sri Suphan carved entirely from silver.
-For temples further afield, hike the Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat in the middle of the forest and visit the King and Queen Pagodas in Doi Inthanon National Park.
breakfast cafe in Chiang Mai is Blue Diamond down a quiet side street near Wat Chiang Man Temple.
Tha Phae Gate: there are four gates at each corner of Chiang Mai but this is the most impressive, dating back to the 13th century when it protected the Lanna Kingdon from invasion from the Mongol Empire. There are lots of street food stands here and on Saturday evenings, a live band plays.
Khao soi is served everywhere in Chiang Mai but my personal favourite was at Khao Soy Khun Yai, a modest restaurant set inside the grounds of Wat Khuan Khama temple. They’re only open from 10am-2pm but it’s worth fitting around their schedule to try this spicy, rich dish topped with crispy fried egg noodles. You’ll only pay 50 baht.
one of the cheapest places in the world for massages but better yet, the money supports local livelihoods and worthy causes. While you can get a cheap massage anywhere in Chiang Mai, why not add a prison inmate massage to your Southeast Asia bucket list?
Wait, say what? Yes, you read that right – a massage from an inmate. Due to the harsh Thai justice system, women are frequently imprisoned for minor crimes and find it hard to assimilate back into life after their sentences. By going for an amazing and cheap massage at this famous salon, you are supporting the rehabilitation programme which helps equip the women with employable skills.
Find the Training Center Of Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution on the corner of Ratvithi and Jhaban Road. Because it’s so popular, it’s advisable to swing by first thing in the morning to book a massage for later the same day.
Fahtara Cafe – this pretty coffee shop in a garden is a relaxing place to drink iced coffee and Thai tea.
Day 2 – Doi Suthep and cooking class (morning)
Getting to Doi Suthep from Chiang Mai
Private taxi: arrange this at your accommodation.
Day tour: several companies will take you to Doi Suthep and combine other locations in the area. Book a tour on GetYourGuide.
Songthaew: board one for 60 baht outside Chang Phuak Gate Night Market. The market won’t be there in the daytime but you can use the Google pin location to find the location outside the 7-Eleven.
Evening – catch some jazz
A fun and different evening activity in Chiang Mai is to watch talented young jazz artists at The North Gate Jazz Co-Op. All you need to do in order to watch jazz all night is buy a drink at this atmospheric bar where people spill out into the open air.
More Chiang Mai nightlife
Whether you want swanky rooftop bars or cheap beers with the locals, Chiang Mai has a range of nightlife options.
For the ultimate night out, Zoe in Yellow has been an institution for years (I remember going as far back as 2015). It’s popular with backpackers and plays chart and hip-hop music.
Finally, Chiang Mai’s Ladyboy Cabaret Show beside the Night Bazaar is always a classic. With singing, dancing and audience participation, it’s always a lively night!
Day 3 – The Monks Trail & Nimman
Today we’ll be exploring a lesser-known temple that requires a hike to reach. Although it’s uphill, the relatively easy hike to Wat Pha Lat, translating as Monastery at the Sloping Rock, is along a beautiful, peaceful track with impressive views out over Chiang Mai. - To reach the hidden jungle temple, simply follow orange strips of robe tied to trees.
The hike takes about an hour and will bring you out at Wat Pha Lat where you can explore temple buildings, Buddhist statues and a naga serpent staircase. The peaceful setting owed to its hidden location puts off many travellers; good news for those who make it!
Getting to the start point: Take a taxi or, for a cheaper and more adventurous option, board a songthaew. I paid 60 baht to get dropped at the start of the hike beside Chiang Mai Zoo.
Tip for Wat Pha Lat – bring a sarong or coverup for your legs and shoulders because there’s nowhere to hire one when you arrive.
article includes alternatives such as waterfall (1 hr drive) or elapahnt sanct
Chiang Mai hostels:
The Islander is a fun, social hostel run by an ex-pat and a Thai local who know exactly what makes an amazing hostel. There’s a bar, rooftop area and daily activities. Rooms start from $11.
Pakping Hostel is in the heart of town close to all the attractions. There are small and large dorms, private rooms and free breakfast from $9 a night.
1948 Hostel is a cosy, family-run where you can relax in the comfy lounge areas but still meet people.
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Pai, Thailand
Pai Canyon, Tha Pai Hot Spring and Mo Paeng Waterfall.
hippie cafes, a delectable night market serving everything from Thai street food to sushi
Hostel- Nola Hub, Pai Circus School.
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Luang Prabang, Laos
This gorgeous three-tier waterfall just outside of Luang Prabang is one of the best you’ll visit in Asia. With shallow temperate pools, it’s almost like a refreshing bath! You can catch a songtaew (shared local taxi) from Luang Prabang and spend half a day climbing the falls and relaxing in the water.
Ever eaten Laos food before? One of the most iconic dishes, which can also be found in Thailand, is larb, a rich meat salad flavoured with lemongrass, chilli and mint. You can eat it all over the country or do what I did and make it from scratch during a Laos cooking class.
Another bucket list item for foodies is visiting Luang Prabang Night Market. There’s affordable food galore served buffet-style.
Na Meo border checkpoint
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Vang Vieng, Laos
A little tubing still goes on in Vang Vieng but most of the bars have closed down after several tourists died as a result of mixing alcohol with risky river rapids.
Luckily, tourism in Vang Vieng didn’t dry up with the tubing scene. There are plenty of amazing locations for eco-tourism thanks to Nam Song River and the many limestone caves and mountains.
Activities include rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, trekking and kayaking. Don’t miss Kaeng Nyui Waterfall, Pha Ngeun viewpoint, Tham Chang Cave and the Blue Lagoon.
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Hanoi, Vietnam
Sure, you’ll see other travellers in Hanoi Old Quarter but there’s enough local life to feel the mad rush and charming chaos that is Vietnam. As the name suggests, this area is the oldest part of the capital with over 2,000 years of history.
Originally a collection of 36 artisan guilds, the streets sell the same items today. Hang Gai Street is known as the place to buy silk clothing while Hang Ma sells paper products and Lan Ong Street sells herbal medicines.
You’ll get lost wandering Hanoi Old Quarter but that’s half the fun. The other half is grabbing lunch at Bahn Mi 45 and sipping coffee in one of the many Hanoi cafes. Other adorable neighbourhoods to discover afterwards include Ngoc Ha and Truc Bach.
If you don’t get your fill of mountainous islands in Ha Long Bay, a second fantastic destination for your Southeast Asia bucket list is Ninh Binh. This gorgeous natural region just a couple of hours south of Hanoi is most famous for Tam Coc, a series of striking limestone cliffs that can be cruised through by small rowing boat.
Other things to add to your Ninh Binh itinerary include hiking to the Mau Caves viewpoint (pictured), visiting Bich Dong Pagoda and taking a second boat cruise at Bai Dinh, the quieter and less touristic version of Tam Coc.
The food in Hanoi is some of the best in the world thanks to dishes like bun cha (smoky pork in a tangy broth with noodles and crispy spring rolls), pho noodle soup and banh mi baguettes. Take a Street Food Hanoi Gastronomy tour to experience it fully.
Na Meo border checkpoint
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Sa Pa, Vietnam
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Hanoi, Vietnam
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Cao Bằng, Vietnam
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Hanoi, Vietnam
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Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam
After visiting Ha Long Bay twice, I would recommend spending longer than one night in the region. By choosing a boat cruise that includes a second night on Cat Ba Island, you’ll get deeper into the bay and leave the other tourist boats behind, observing floating villages and fishing farms en route.
Take a 2-day Ha Long Bay cruise including return bus travel to Ha Long port.
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Hà Giang, Vietnam
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Ninh Bình, Vietnam
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Hue, Vietnam
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Hội An, Vietnam
You can spend 5 days in Hoi An exploring not just the Old Town’s heritage houses, Japanese Bridge, sampling Hoi An street food and night markets, but travelling further afield to An Bang Beach, Tam Thanh Mural Village and Tra Que Vegetable Garden.
You can also take day trips to the Cham Islands, My Son Temples and Marble Mountains in Da Nang.
crumbling yellow UNESCO Heritage Centre
sandboarding in Mũi Né. This city on the south coast of Vietnam is known for its golden dunes which you can ride in the early morning before the sand gets too hot. Other things to do in Mũi Né include watching sunrise over the dunes and visiting the magical Fairy Stream.
Nha Trang may not be the nicest city in Vietnam but most travellers pass through to break up the long journey between Hoi An and their next stop of Da Lat, Mũi Né or Saigon. Luckily, there’s one very cool attraction in Nha Trang: mud spas!
Hire a private egg-shaped bath for 100 VND (less than $5 USD) at 100 Eggs Spa and wallow to your heart’s content in oozy mud.
In Hoi An, don’t miss white rose dumplings, Mi Quang noodles with pork, prawn and quails eggs, and famous cau lau noodles made by one local lady with the recipe. There are also some great vegetarian restaurants in Hoi An.
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Thành phố Đà Lạt, Vietnam
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Mũi Né, Vietnam
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
One of the most important things to do in Southeast Asia is learn about the war that shaped much of the region. Not only was Vietnam devastated by the 1955-75 war with the US, but neighbouring countries, Cambodia and Laos were heavily bombed to halt supply of smuggled goods and weapons.
In Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh, you can visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an intricate maze of narrow tunnels where Vietnamese soldiers lived for years. You can also visit the War Remnants Museum, one of the most powerful and heartbreaking museums in Southeast Asia
The best foods in Saigon include com tam (smoky pork with rice and a gooey fried egg), bun riêu (crab noodle soup) and some of the best banh mis in Vietnam.
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Phuket, Thailand
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Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
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Koh Tao, Thailand
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Koh Phangan, Thailand
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Koh Samui, Thailand
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Krabi, Thailand
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Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand
Visit reggae bar at night and watch fire show at freedom or slinky bar in evening, scuba
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Koh lanta, Thailand
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Singapore, Singapore
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Phuket, Thailand
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Canggu, Indonesia
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Nusa Penida, Indonesia
Sick beach I heard of in podcast
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Ubud, Indonesia
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Lovina Beach, Indonesia
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Kabupaten Karangasem, Indonesia
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Sanur, Indonesia
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Amed, Indonesia