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Bangkok, Thailand
*Floating Market
Bangkok is the most obvious place to start backpacking in Southeast Asia. For
starters, it’s a major airline hub so it is very easy to get to. Flights also
tend to be more reasonably priced than ones to other Southeast Asian cities
which often pass through Bangkok anyway. It is one of the most westernised
cities in the region so the culture shock is less than if you landed straight
into Vietnam or Laos. It also offers you a chance to stock up on anything you
may need for your trip with prices much cheaper than back home but still with
great choice. Bangkok is very much base camp for travellers in Southeast Asia.
Love it or loathe it, chances are you’ll be back again before too long.
- Lumphini Park (สวนลุมพินี)
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Ayutthaya, Thailand
An ancient city and the former capital of Siam. Ayutthaya is effectively an
island in the middle of three rivers. History buffs will love it and for
everyone else it makes for a nice stop on the way to the north of Thailand.
- Wat Maha That (วัดมหาธาตุ)
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Lopburi, Thailand
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Phitsanulok, Thailand
Not on the regular hit-list for people backpacking in Thailand, but it is
somewhere to break up the train or bus journey between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Perhaps the best thing to do in Phitsanulok is to explore the nearby Sukhothai
Historical Park. There are also a few temples and small museums in town.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
The northern city of Chiang Mai is an intellectual kind of place with an
alternative vibe and many travellers prefer it to Bangkok. It’s a good spot to
study traditional Thai practices such as massage and meditation. It is also the
best place to base yourself for exploring or trekking into the jungle and ethnic
minority villages near the city.
It’s also a good place to hang around for a few months if you fancy living in
Southeast Asia as opposed to merely travelling through it and it has grown into
one of the world’s most popular digital nomad destinations. It features in our
article on cheap places to live in Asia with the cost of living (and indeed cost
of travel!) very low.
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Chiang Khan, Thailand
Right on the border with Laos, Chiang Khong has a real Southeast Asia backpacker
vibe to it with people heading in both directions. It is in the Golden Triangle,
a famous opium growing region which covers areas of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
Chiang Khong is also a market town which brings in local hill tribes such as the
White Hmongs.
Take some time to explore the mountainous surroundings, visit some of the other
villages and learn about the opium trade which still thrives in parts of the
region.
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Houay Xay, Laos
For a border town, Houay Xai is very pleasant and it may be worth hanging around
for a day or so to adapt to the chilled out Lao lifestyle and enjoy sitting on
the banks of the Mekong or consider visiting the nearby Bokeo Nature Reserve.
It’s a decent spot to psych yourself up for the long journey to Luang Prabang
(Backpacking in Laos isn’t as easy or anywhere near as comfortable as in
Thailand thanks to some dodgy roads and a relatively basic transport system).
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Luang Prabang, Laos
French and Indochinese culture met here and resulted in an enchanting city, one
of the highlights of Laos. The Old Quarter on the banks of the river is home to
an array of temples and museums. Meanwhile the night market is another big draw
for travellers. There are also plenty of companies offering trekking, biking and
kayaking opportunities.
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Vang Vieng, Laos
This is another hugely popular backpacking destination in Southeast Asia, or at
least it was. This is where you can hop on a rubber tube and make your way
leisurely down the river. There used to be a lot of bars, rope swings and slides
along the way too but the tubing is not as crazy or dangerous as it once was
thanks to a government crackdown following lots of injuries and some fatalities.
It remains the main attraction here but there’s plenty of other adventurous
stuff you can do around the ramshackle town of Vang Vieng, which has a real
chilled out backpacker vibe.
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Vientiane, Laos
A capital city it may be but don’t let that deceive you. Vientiane is about as
friendly and laid back a place as you’ll find anywhere. Set on the Mekong River,
this French influenced town is pleasant and picturesque and the perfect place to
chill out for a few days. Be sure to visit and support COPE Laos which helps the
country’s many people with mobility related disabilities.
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Tha Khae, Thailand
A small town with a large market selling all sorts of weird stuff and dishes
based on a variety of meats including snake, squirrel and frog. Its main use for
travellers is as a base for exploring the Phou Hin Boon National Park. Don’t
miss the giant Konglor Cave, which is basically a river beneath the surface that
can be navigated on boat trips. You can also visit the Tham Nong Pafa Cave
discovered as recently as 2004 and home to 200 mysterious Buddha statues.
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Savannakhet, Laos
This may be the second biggest city in Laos, but again it feels pretty small and
is very chilled out with both French and Lao influences. Things to do here
include a visit to the Dinosaur Museum which exhibits various dinosaur remains
found in the area (it has received mixed reviews). There’s also a museum about
the problem of unexploded bombs from the Vietnam War that still litter the
eastern side of the province. The city also hosts many different festivals
throughout the year which you may be lucky enough to catch.
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Dông Hà, Vietnam
Vietnam is very different to Laos and it will take a little time to adjust to
the increased pace of life here. The main sight near Dong Ha where the buses
from Savannakhet arrive is the former de-militarised zone (DMZ) which used to
separate North and South Vietnam. You won’t want to stay in Dong Ha more than a
day though and many travellers head straight to Hue.
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Hue, Vietnam
Hue is an ancient city on a musty coloured river with dragon boats. There are
lots more Vietnam War sites nearby and a pretty decent traveller scene. It’s a
good place to try Vietnamese food but again you won’t need too much time here.
It’s also worth noting that it rains a lot in this part of Vietnam with
torrential downpours common from September to December.
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Hội An, Vietnam
This riverside town is pretty damn cool. It’s the place where backpackers buy
tailor-made clothes of all varieties and then prance around like fools in their
bright, new and utterly impractical purple suits. The beach is a short moto-taxi
ride away and is one of the finest in the country. There are also some
surprisingly cool bars here catering to a variety of music tastes. It’s a nice
spot to hang around for a few days and there are loads of cheap places to eat in
Hoi An where you can enjoy local or international food.
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Nha Trang, Vietnam
Nha Trang is Vietnam’s “beach resort” city and has a fairly seedy traveller area
and a dirty beach but there are a few positives. A surprisingly peaceful temple
near the bus station provides a contrast to the rest of Nha Trang and is home to
a giant white Buddha. There used to be some good bars and decent beach clubs
that served cheap cocktails and stayed open late (many drinking joints are
forced to close by 11:00 p.m. in Vietnam). However many closed down during the
pandemic so it’s unclear what the nightlife scene is like now. By day, there are
some decent water sports on offer here too.
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Dalat, Vietnam
1500 metres above sea level, Dalat has a distinctly different feel to the rest
of the main places to visit in South East Asia. With a temperate climate that
makes nights chilly, it comes as a refreshing change and with lakes, forests and
waterfalls that surround the town, it is a paradise for fans of the great
outdoors. Hiking and cycling opportunities aplenty here and there’s a few tribe
villages nearby that are worth heading out to.
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Mũi Né, Vietnam
The nearby sand dunes are good fun if you can stand the heat. There is one road,
it’s very long and runs parallel to the 20 km or so long beach which is largely
deserted and one of the best on this Southeast Asia backpacking route. It’s a
good place to unwind but there is not much going on in terms of socialising or
partying.
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Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
HCMC (AKA Saigon) is the biggest city in the country and has by some
considerable margin the largest backpacker scene in Vietnam. Hit the Pham Ngu
Lao traveller area and you will find numerous cheap places to eat, sleep and
drink. The area is busy until late and has cuisines from literally all over the
world.
The moto drivers here will compete for your business non-stop so it’s easy to
get anywhere else in town. Ho Chi Minh City also has lots of sights relating to
the war such as the Cu Chi Tunnel but the modern day city centre is also a quite
unique, although often overwhelming experience with crazy traffic and very busy
neighbourhoods.
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Phnom Penh, Cambodia
On the surface Phnom Penh is a pleasant, aesthetically pleasing and surprisingly
peaceful capital city with lots of monks. Dig a little deeper and it’s an often
lawless, poverty stricken place where just about anything goes. Welcome to
Cambodia.
It’s easy to lose yourself in Phnom Penh and in the past you would hear all
sorts of bizarre stories of everything from backpackers supposedly blowing up
cows with rocket launchers, attending cock fighting matches and taking easily
available drugs. The infamous lakeside district where many backpackers used to
stay is no more and the city has calmed down a little as a result from a
traveller’s perspective.
It is though, still a place with a dark history and you can spend some time
reflecting and trying to understand the horrors that took place here all too
recently during the days of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge by visiting the Killing
Fields and a former prison where unimaginable horrors took place. There are also
some stunning temples and palaces which could grace any of the finest cities on
the planet. Inequality is everywhere in Cambodia and Phnom Penh demonstrates it
better than anywhere else.
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (The Killing Fields) (មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍ជើងឯក)
- The Royal Palace (ព្រះបរមរាជាវាំងនៃរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា)
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Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Wild bars and beaches are the order of the day here. It’s a bit like some of the
Thai beach destinations would have been like before they became commercialised,
although Sihanoukville is heading that way too with much more organised tourism
here now. Depending on your scene and idea of the perfect beach destination, you
may prefer to head out to islands such as Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem which
feature in our Cambodia backpacking itinerary.
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Koh Rong, Cambodia
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Battambang, Cambodia
Travelling to Battambang from Sihanoukville is a mission and likely to involve
going back to Phnom Penh and changing buses. The city is full of statues and
interesting Wats and has plenty of river based activities to entertain
travellers.
Once you’re done, hop on a boat north to Siem Reap. It may be worth checking the
estimated length of the journey as it depends on water levels and can take up to
12 hours, in which case you may well prefer the less scenic but faster bus
route.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap has grown from nothing into a thriving little town thanks to its
proximity to the country’s main pride and joy, the magnificent Temples of Angkor
Wat, an essential stop for anyone backpacking in Cambodia or indeed Southeast
Asia as a whole.
If you’re a fairly well travelled person, you’ve probably been to some ancient
ruin that was in all the guidebooks and been left thoroughly disappointed at the
crappy little pile of rocks that you paid to go and see. Angkor Wat however is
in a different league with hundreds of impressive ruins spread out over a large
area of jungle. In short, it’s a pretty amazing place. In Siem Reap itself there
are few sights but some decent bars on Pub Street and plenty of great food.
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Bangkok, Thailand
Kick back on the Khao San Road for a few days or head south depending on how
much you enjoyed the city first time around. Having completed the big loop
around the north of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, it’s time to hop on a
night train and head for the beach paradise of Southern Thailand.
It is also possible to fly from Bangkok to Southern Thailand but note that
domestic flights don’t typically go from Suvarnabhumi, rather the city’s other
major airport – the older Don Mueang which features in our list of the most
dangerous airports in the world (it’s not quite as bad as it sounds!).
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Koh Samui, Thailand
A large and very westernised island that tends to attract more mainstream
tourism than people travelling in Southeast Asia on a budget. Hat Chaweng and
Hat Lamai are party central for many visitors but there are plenty of quieter
spots to explore with a vast choice of beaches to choose from and you may have
to pass through here to get the boat to Ko Pha Ngan anyway.
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Ko Tao, Thailand
Express boats travel the 45 km between Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao, taking around two
hours. This is the place to come to delve into the ocean and experience diving
or snorkelling in beautiful clear waters with lots of marine life. It almost
goes without saying that this is also another great island to soak up the sun
and laze around on the beach all day. Hat Sai Ri’s bars are the centre of the
drinking action, but Ko Tao’s nightlife is nowhere near as lively as that on Ko
Pha Ngan or Ko Samui.
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Krabi, Thailand
Back on the Thai mainland and now the Andaman Coast, hit the popular beaches of
Ao Nang, Tang Sei and Rai Leh. Crash out in a cheap guesthouse or bungalows on
one of the beaches. There are also more opportunities for the active traveller
here so if you’re bored of lazing around all day, try your hand at rock
climbing, a popular activity on Hat Ton Sai and Hat Rai Leh AKA Railay Beach,
another favourite spot with anyone backpacking Southeast Asia.
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Penang, Malaysia
A small island off the west coast of Malaysia that is well worth visiting. Hit
Georgetown, for a taste of British colonialism in this part of the world. Also
be sure to check out Penang’s famous markets and religious sites of various
faiths. Elsewhere on the island there are some pleasant beaches and plenty of
quaint little fishing villages.
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Ipoh, Malaysia
There are lots of cool sights in Ipoh and even the train station is something of
an architectural masterpiece. It is a mysterious kind of place, home to haunted
castles, secret passages, weird statues and spooky caves. You can also go
trekking in the surrounding jungle, visit nearby hot-springs, enjoy a day at the
water park or for the adventurous, try your hand at caving and white-water
rafting.
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Malaysian capital is a developed modern city. There is some excellent
shopping and lively nightlife here in the Golden Triangle, home of the iconic
Petronas Twin Towers, two of the tallest buildings in the world. It is more
expensive than most places on the route but still very cheap by Western
standards. Read about the cost of travel in Malaysia to compare costs here to
other countries in the region and beyond.
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Malacca, Malaysia
Another World Heritage Site, Malacca is considered one of the backpacking
highlights in Malaysia. It’s a rather old city having been founded over 600
years ago but there’s still plenty of buzz about Malacca today. There are plenty
of interesting, centuries-old streets and squares to kick back in, and there’s a
good choice of local dishes and drinks to try.
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Singapore, Singapore
The glamorous city state of Singapore is full of flashy skyscrapers and is a
complete contrast to most of Southeast Asia. The city is very multi-cultural and
has lots of fascinating districts to explore and foods to taste. The law here is
famously strict so behaviour that seems to often be considered perfectly
acceptable in Cambodia and Laos could be punished by the death penalty so don’t
take any chances. Even chewing gum is illegal here!