29 Reasons Why You Must Travel Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is the ultimate travel destination.  It’s packed with culture, stunning landscape and temples, delicious food, friendly people, and it’s very safe and easy to travel.  Southeast Asia has some of the most beautiful beaches, waterfalls and sunsets in the world, as well as volcanoes, jungles, caves, unique animals, lively nightlife and some of the best scuba diving in the world.  And it’s the ultimate budget traveler’s destination because it’s very affordable to travel.  Southeast Asia really is the full package.

As a solo female traveler, I’ve traveled Southeast Asia for 5.5 months over 4 different trips.  I’ve explored Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore and Siem Reap in Cambodia.  Southeast Asia is one of my favorite regions in the world.

In no particular order, here are 29 reasons why you need to travel Southeast Asia:

IT’S PERFECT FOR YOUR FIRST TRAVEL ADVENTURE

 

Southeast Asia is fun, beautiful, cheap, safe and very easy to travel which is a great formula for your first travel adventure.  And it’s great for backpacking.

Southeast Asia definitely attracts a younger crowd, particularly in Thailand.  The most popular backpacker trail is Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, as well as Bali in Indonesia.

 

IT’S GREAT FOR SOLO TRAVEL

 

As a solo traveler, it’s so easy to meet other travelers, so you’ll likely never be alone, unless you want to be.

 

IT’S FUN AND CAREFREE

 

Southeast Asia is one of the most carefree places you can travel.  It’s impossible to not have the time of your life and be happy when you travel Southeast Asia.

However, that being said, don’t let go of your common sense just because you’re on vacation.

It’s very easy to go with the flow and wing it during your travels in Southeast Asia.  So don’t plan too much so you can leave room for spontaneity.

Female travelers will find Southeast Asia freeing because they can ditch the hot hair tools and embrace their wavy/curly hair.  And they can give up or cut way back on makeup because it’s so hot and humid.  Beachy hair and a sun-kissed glow is all you need.

 

THE NATURE

 

The landscape in Southeast Asia is stunning and so varied between countries and even within each country.  There’s the expected and the obvious scenery like jungles and beautiful white sand beaches with turquoise water, but there’s also lush green rice fields and mountains, vast caves, turquoise waterfalls, active volcanoes and more.

 

THE PEOPLE

 

Southeast Asian people are some of the most cheerful, welcoming, warm and friendly people in the world.  And how the locals treat you as a traveler has a major impact on your experiences in a place.

 

THE FOOD

 

When you travel Southeast Asia, you will taste some of the best food in the world.  It’s sure to be a highlight of your trip because Southeast Asia is the ultimate foodie’s paradise.  You can expect lots of tasty rice and noodle dishes, flavorful spices and sauces, fresh tropical fruit and much more.  Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia all have world class cuisines.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to eat well in Southeast Asia.  Forget the fear mongering and what you’ve heard about avoiding street food because the best and most authentic food in Southeast Asia is street food and it would be a hate crime to avoid it.  Street food and the dishes from very modest hole-in-the-wall restaurants only cost $1-2US per meal.  The night markets have the best street food.

The same rule also applies to the fresh fruit and fruit juice.  You’ll be fine.  But also, take Dukoral (which protects against traveler’s diarrhea) before your travels.  I always take Dukoral and indulge in street food and fresh fruit.  And I accidentally ate undercooked chicken in Malaysia and I was fine.

Thailand  –  pad thai, pad see ew, khao soi, green papaya salad, mango sticky rice, and all the curries and soups

Vietnam  –  banh mi, cao lau, bun thit nuong, pho, mi quang, banh xeo, goi cuon

The Philippines  –  chicken adobo, pancit, kinilaw, lechon, halo halo, lumpia

Malaysia  –  nasi lemak, char kway teow, hokkien mee, laksa, Indian food (there’s a large Indian population), the street food in Penang

Indonesia  –  nasi goreng, beef rendang, gado-gado, soto tangkar, ayam goreng

Singapore  –  char kway teow, chili crab, satay, laksa

Myanmar  –  mohinga, tea leaf salad, Burmese curry, Shan rice, sweet snacks, tea shop meals

Cambodia  –  amok, bai cha, kway teow

Laos  –  laap, nam khao, sticky rice, green papaya salad

Brunei  –  nasi katok, ambuyat, pulut panggang, penyaram, bamboo chicken and all the fruit!

Taking a cooking class is a fun, cheap and useful activity to do in Southeast Asia 🙂

See 17 Must-Try Food and Drinks in Vietnam

 

IT’S BUDGET FRIENDLY

 

Think you don’t have enough money to travel?  Think again.  The majority of Southeast Asia is ridiculously cheap to travel.  Bangkok is one of the cheapest places to fly into from anywhere in the world.  And if you’re a budget traveler, hostel dorm rooms cost $3-7US/night (or $15-20US+/night for guesthouses, which can be split between two people), meals cost $1-3US, and scooter rentals cost $3-5US/day (which can also be split between two).  And beer is dirt cheap at $0.50-1US for the local brew.

In many places in Southeast Asia, you can live on $15-25US per day, depending on where you stay and how much you drink/party and shop.  That’s only $450-750US/month, which is most likely significantly cheaper than the cost of living for one month in your home city.  And if you’re on a super budget, it’s possible to travel Southeast Asia for even less than $15US/day if you’re into couchsurfing.

However, Singapore is the exception to this as it’s more expensive, but it’s certainly not impossible to travel on a budget.

See How To Save Money For Travel, How To Plan Your Travel Budget and How To Save Money While Traveling.

 

IT’S SAFE

 

Southeast Asia is a very safe region to travel.  However, this doesn’t mean you should let your guard down because petty crime does exist.  Most importantly, use your common sense, don’t make things easy for people and don’t act like you’re invincible and you should be fine.

For tips on how to stay safe and avoid dangers and scams, see How To Stay Safe in Southeast Asia.

 

IT’S EASY TO TRAVEL 

 

Southeast Asia is very easy to travel because it’s very well-connected with buses and quick, cheap flights.   For most trips between towns, you take a bus.  However, if you have a longer distance to cover and if you’re short on time and not on a super budget, you can find a cheap, quick flight instead.  Air Asia is like the RyanAir of Asia, except it’s not trash.  And there are loads of other low cost airlines in Southeast Asia as well.

 

THE ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES

 

You can go tubing inside a cave in Laos, rope swinging at waterfalls, caving in Laos and Vietnam, hiking active volcanoes in Indonesia and the Philippines, canyoneering in the Philippines, surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling and more!

Tubing inside a cave in Vang Vieng, Laos

 

THE WATERFALLS

 

The majority of the waterfalls in Southeast Asia are turquoise pools in stunning lush, green settings.  Indonesia and the Philippines have some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

 

THE VOLCANOES

 

There are some really amazing active volcanoes that you can hike in Indonesia and the Philippines (I promise it’s not as scary as it sounds).  Active volcanoes are some of the most beautiful and fascinating nature you can see.

My second favorite volcano in the world is Ijen in Indonesia, where you can see the blue fire (my first favorite is the Acatenango hike to see Fuego volcano erupt, which is in Guatemala).

You can visit Pinatubo and Taal in the Philippines and Bromo, Kelimutu, Batur, Rinjani and Merapi in Indonesia.

 

FEELING COLD BECOMES FOREIGN

 

As someone who hates the cold and thrives in the warm sun, this is very exciting.  The majority of Southeast Asia is very hot and very humid so it’s like summer all year.  However, there is a chance you will find yourself in a cooler place, which may take you by surprise.  The northern/mountainous areas of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines can get near freezing at times, depending on the time of year.  So make sure you bring a sweater or two and a pair of pants or leggings, which you’ll also need for overnight buses.

For tips on how to survive the heat and humidity, see How to Deal With Heat And Humidity While Traveling.

 

THE HOSTELS

 

If you’re a backpacker or budget traveler in Southeast Asia, the hostels are the best!  And they’re an unbelievable value at $5-7US/night for a dorm room.  At the best hostels, this price often includes breakfast, tons of free and fun activities, events, a bar, parties and sometimes a pool.  Having a great time and meeting fun people is guaranteed.

 

YOU NEVER HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOURSELF AGAIN

 

Because Southeast Asia is so cheap, you can forget about doing your own laundry, cooking and cleaning.  The hostels typically don’t have communal kitchens, so cooking for yourself isn’t even an option because you can get a delicious fresh meal for $1-2US.

And often when you book a bus to another city through your hostel, a tuktuk will pick you up and take you to the bus station.  You don’t even have to cut your own fruit because someone will do that for you too.  It’s a really nice and appreciated break from all the chores and errands that take up a ton of your time in every day life at home.

 

THE FRUIT

 

The fruit in Southeast Asia is amazing!  You’ll find all your basic but delicious tropical fruits like bananas, mangoes and pineapples, but you’ll also find loads of funky and alien fruits like jackfruit (one of my favorites), rambutan, mangosteen, longan, starfruit, dragon fruit, rose apple, custard apple, passion fruit, and the infamous durian.

Borneo gets even more extra with its alien fruit selection.  This is where you’ll find the best and most unique fruit in Southeast Asia.  Some people travel to Borneo purely for the fruit.  You’ll find chempedak and terap, which are close relatives of jackfruit (and two of my favorites), as well as many different kinds of durian and much more.  See here for more unique Bornean fruits.

The fruit can be a highlight of your trip, so try them all!

 

THE DRINKS

 

Imagine all the fresh fruit listed above, but in juice and smoothie form.

You also must try fresh coconut water straight from a coconut, which is also great for replenishing electrolytes.

Thai iced tea is very refreshing on a hot and humid day.

Teh tarik (milk tea) in Malaysia is delicious hot or cold.

Coffee lovers will love Indonesian and Vietnamese coffee.

And of course there’s the adult beverages like the notorious buckets in Thailand (literally a beach bucket full of alcohol and a soda mixer), cheap rum in the Philippines, and the cheap local beer.

 

THE MARKETS

 

The markets are so full of life, culture, tradition, color and delicious, authentic food.  The night markets are lively and the best place for street food.

Observe, eat and buy souvenirs, clothes, textiles, art, jewelry and more.

 

THE BEACHES

 

If you’re traveling to Southeast Asia, the beaches are likely high on your list and they do not disappoint.  You’ll find the best beaches in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

 

THE SUNSETS AND SUNRISES

 

 

THE SCUBA DIVING AND SNORKELING

 

It’s a beautiful and very different world underwater and Southeast Asia is spoiled when it comes to underwater scenery and beautiful sea creatures.

Koh Tao in Thailand is one of the best and cheapest places in the world to learn how to scuba dive.  The Perhentian Islands in Malaysia, Komodo in Indonesia, Sipadan in Malaysian Borneo, and Malapascua Island in the Philippines are also great places to scuba dive and snorkel.

 

LEARNING HOW TO CROSS THE STREET IS A RITE OF PASSAGE 

 

Forget Angkor Wat and Halong Bay.  The most impressive sight in Southeast Asia is watching pedestrians cross the hectic streets of the busy cities as hundreds of motorbikes speed toward and around them in every direction.  If you’re a fresh off the boat traveler and you see a pedestrian crossing a busy street in these big cities, it legitimately looks like that person is committing suicide because traffic is coming at them from all directions.  And there aren’t always traffic lights or crosswalks.

The trick is to walk into the traffic at a steady pace because the drivers are very experienced, so you have to trust that they’ll drive around you.  If you panic and stop, that’s when accidents can happen.  You can follow locals crossing the street until you feel comfortable crossing on your own.

 

THE MASSAGES

 

$7US one hour full body massages are a thing in Southeast Asia.  The best massages are in Thailand, but many of the other Southeast Asian countries try to copy the Thai massage.  Don’t forget to tip your masseuse.

 

THE ORANGUTANS

 

These sexy gingers only exist in Southeast Asia, specifically in Sumatra in Indonesia and in Borneo.  However, sadly, they are endangered, but there are conservation efforts to help.  See what it’s like to visit them in the wild (and get chased by one) in Sumatra, Indonesia here.

 

THE TEMPLES

 

Due to the varied religions in Southeast Asia, you’ll find very diverse temples as well.  And the architecture is so beautiful and ornate.

THE BEST TEMPLES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Malaysia  –  Kek Lok Si, Thean Hou, the Batu Caves and the many beautiful mosques

Myanmar  –  Bagan, Shwedagon, Hsinbyume, and Kyaiktiyo

Thailand  –  Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Wat Rong Khun (the white temple), Doi Suthep and the many temples in Chiang Mai

Cambodia  –  Angkor Wat

Singapore  –  Sri Mariamman and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Indonesia  –  Borobodur, Prambanan and the many temples in Bali

Vietnam  –  Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Jade Emperor Pagoda

Laos  –  Pha That Luang, Xieng Khuan (Buddha Park) and the many temples in Luang Prabang

Brunei  –  Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

The Philippines  –  Philippine Chinese Spiritual Temple

Men and women need to dress with covered shoulders and knees to visit the temples.  Some popular temples will have coverings you may borrow.

 

THE ELEPHANTS

 

You’ll have many encounters with elephants in Southeast Asia and they’re some of the sweetest animals.  But please do not ride them because it’s animal cruelty.

 

THE NIGHTLIFE

 

Aside from Myanmar, Brunei and the quiet small towns, Southeast Asia has a great nightlife scene and it’s a lot of fun.  And unless you’re visiting fancier upscale places, the bars and clubs aren’t pretentious so there’s no dress code or lineups, which is so refreshing.

Aside from Thailand, which is party central, you can also find great nightlife in Cambodia, Vietnam, Bali, some islands in the Philippines and most of the big cities in Southeast Asia.  In Kuala Lumpur, many of the bars have ladies nights where women get free drinks.

 

THE SHOPPING

 

Oh the shopping 😍   Southeast Asia is one of the best places in the world to buy clothes, textiles, spices, decor, art and more.  I love shopping at the local markets when I’m traveling because all of the unique treasures you buy will remind you of your travels and adventures once you’re back home.

 

THE COLORS

 

The colors in Southeast Asia are so vibrant and cheerful.  Almost everything is colorful- the food, fruit, art, clothing, textiles, scenery, temples, and buildings, etc.  It’s an instant mood booster 🙂

 

MORE ON TRAVELING SOUTHEAST ASIA

 

Southeast Asia – Everything You Need To Know Before You Go

What to Expect While Traveling in Developing Countries

Vietnam – Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Myanmar – Everything You Need To Know Before You Go

Indonesia – Everything You Need To Know Before You Go

The Ultimate Guide To Singapore on a Budget

How To Stay Safe in Southeast Asia

Responsible Travel in Southeast Asia

Etiquette in Southeast Asia

20 Popular Scams to Avoid in Thailand