Backpacking Southeast Asia, solo or in any other case, is an unbelievable expertise and you need to attempt it, at the least as soon as.
Observe, in fact, that not all Southeast Asian international locations are the identical (duh) so don’t anticipate behaviors which are okay within the Philippines, for instance, to be additionally okay in Singapore.
To your reference, the eleven international locations in Southeast Asia are Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
I wholeheartedly advocate to do some readings earlier than going — whether or not on journey guides, journey blogs, authorities web sites, and magazines. This helps you put together and know what to anticipate.
These backpacking Southeast Asia ideas are extra relevant to some international locations than others, particularly Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
1. Discover out in regards to the wanted visas and their charges
Bear in mind to learn in regards to the visa necessities!
Totally different international locations in Southeast Asia have totally different visa necessities, and the visas have totally different prices relying on the passport you’ll have. For instance, People want a visa to Vietnam, which may be obtained on-line earlier than touring. Figuring out the value of the visa will assist to keep away from some border scams.
Be sure that to additionally verify if there may be any particular requirement for the passport.
2. At all times have journey insurance coverage
Sure, I do know, lots of people don’t suppose they want journey insurance coverage. It may be costly, particularly if you happen to travel long-term.
Nevertheless, examine the price of the journey insurance coverage with the potential prices you would possibly want you probably have an accident. Too many vacationers forgo having insurance coverage and find yourself establishing a GoFundMe after they crash their motorbikes in Bangkok or slip from a cliff in Bali. Imagine me: a journey insurance coverage is a should. Prioritize getting one earlier than you allow.
3. Take an image of your passport and different journey paperwork and electronic mail it to your self and/or a buddy/household
Be sure that to maintain your paperwork protected if you end up on the transfer. To be on the protected aspect in case all precautions fail, scan your passport (or take a pic) and ship a duplicate to your self and to a trusted particular person (which, for me, is my sister). This can make the method of getting a brand new passport, in case you lose yours, a lot simpler.
One other tip is to all the time carry a number of spare passport pictures. They’ll come helpful for visas and it’s a very helpful factor to bear in mind when backpacking Southeast Asia.
3. Plan to cowl the longer distances by aircraft
Backpacking Southeast Asia normally means a lot of bus and prepare journey. However…does it actually should be?
Site visitors in Southeast Asia is horrible, and except you’re getting a sleeper bus, touring may be actually uncomfortable and tiring, with shuttle buses which are packed to the brim with individuals and their baggage, and the driving completely mad (honking is the rule in some international locations, for no matter motive). It’s means higher to cowl longer distances by aircraft, particularly as it’s simple to get cheap flights.
4. Don’t trade forex on the airport, and all the time rely the precise change
For no matter motive, exchanging forex on the airport prices far more than doing it at another place within the metropolis. Moreover, it’s not unusual that even in banks the attendants who trade the cash “neglect” to provide the complete quantity anticipated.
At all times rely the cash on the spot, and demand the entire quantity if something is lacking. It’s a necessary lesson to be taught when backpacking Southeast Asia.
While you do determine to trade your cash on the airport, be sure that to maintain your luggage in entrance of you! I used to be very busy counting the lots of of hundreds of Vietnamese dong that I used to be given within the Saigon airport and didn’t notice two ladies had taken my baggage cart, with ALL my luggage in it, together with my laptop computer. They have been already going out of the arrival space after I realized it. I didn’t know I may run that quick!
A associated tip: Get a colourful baggage to make your luggage simple to identify. I had two luggage, and certainly one of them was vivid crimson. It made it simpler for me to see from the forex trade counter. Think about if each my luggage have been black?
6. At all times carry a couple of debit and bank card
The very last thing you need when backpacking Southeast Asia (or wherever else, actually) is to be left with no card and no approach to get money.
You see, typically banks block playing cards, or ATMs received’t settle for yours (occurred to me as soon as). Playing cards can get misplaced, stolen (I had my two bank cards stolen in a hostel in Bangkok) and even de-magnetized with all of the touring.
So, be sure that to hold a number of playing cards, protecting them separate in order that you’ll nonetheless have one if thieves get the opposite. Carry one with you, one in your day pack, and one in your backpack, fastidiously hidden.
7. Carry spare money
Money is king when backpacking Southeast Asia!
Carry an honest quantity of US {dollars} wherever you go, protecting it in other places. Give choice to US {dollars} as they’re broadly accepted. In case of emergency, having some money will imply you can simply get a meal, a mattress, and at the least native transportation, and name your loved ones to wire you some cash till you possibly can kind issues out.
8. Don’t e-book excursions upfront — they price a lot much less regionally
Backpacking Southeast Asia means touring roughly spontaneously and reserving issues on the go.
You absolutely anticipate excursions to be a bit cheaper when purchased regionally, however in Southeast Asia the distinction may be as much as 4 instances much less. I’ve been on a tour of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam the place individuals who purchased the bundle on-line, from house, paid one thing like US$160 and people who purchased them regionally paid solely US$40.
Don’t be afraid to not discover a tour or to not have time to rearrange the whole lot regionally. Something is feasible in Southeast Asia. A tour will all the time pop up, and native operators will play their magic to discover a appropriate answer — and there will likely be appreciable financial savings.
9. Pack gentle and use a backpack
Backpacking Southeast Asia may be really uncomfortable and having the appropriate journey gear is a requirement. Shuttle buses typically don’t have a trunk and place the luggage in between seats; a lot of price range lodging don’t have elevators and you’ll have to hold the luggage all the best way to the highest ground; and when doing boat journeys in Ha Lengthy Bay, it’s typically vital to hold luggage on and off the boat.
All of that is a lot simpler when carrying a backpack fairly than a suitcase; even higher in case your backpack is definitely gentle. Choosing the right backpacking gear is a key issue when touring in Asia.
10. Go for stable toiletries
Figuring out what to pack when backpacking Southeast Asia is important. Strong shampoo correctly positioned in a tin, stable conditioner, and a bar of excellent cleaning soap as an alternative of bathe gel are means lighter than their liquid equivalents, and occupy much less room within the backpack. There’s even stable sunscreen and stable insect repellent.
Strong toiletries assist to pack lighter and can be packed in a stick with it. There’s additionally much less danger of getting your stuff moist if the bottle breaks or opens! (Private expertise. Not enjoyable!)
11. At all times carry a rest room roll in your day pack
I’ve discovered from a few years of touring that, particularly in creating international locations, bogs don’t normally include rest room paper. Make it a behavior to pack up a rest room roll in a sandwich bag — higher but, a pack of moist wipes! — and maintain it in your day pack. It comes actually helpful particularly throughout lengthy bus journeys.
12. Do carry medicines and first assist package
It’s fairly widespread to get sick when touring. Crowded buses and trains and even planes are recognized to be glorious automobiles for viruses. You may as well get diarrhea, which is NOT good once you’re in a bus touring for hours!
Vital: Test the nation’s rules relating to prescription drugs. Some international locations in Southeast Asia are actually strict about medicine.
What I all the time have with me: medicines for migraine and diarrhea, paracetamol, painkiller, and antihistamine.
13. Eat native meals
Meals in Southeast Asia is sweet and low-cost just about wherever. Even after a month there, you received’t miss Western meals in any respect, as a result of native delicacies is so tasty. The very best locations to eat are literally on the road, as I’ve discovered in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh.
You possibly can establish a superb place to eat once you see a superb quantity of individuals consuming (and probably even forming a line). Their meals might be tasty, low-cost, and extra importantly, fit for human consumption.
14. Be taught to cross the road
Site visitors is mad in lots of cities in Southeast Asia. There are many vehicles, and, within the case of Vietnam, tens of millions of scooters. In Ho Chi Minh, for instance, the important thing to crossing the road is to — actually — by no means cease to look. Simply step off the curb, stroll slowly and confidently, and scooters will keep away from you.
Don’t do that within the Philippines! We have now buses and jeepneys which are all the time in a rush to choose up passengers and so they might not see you shortly sufficient to brake. Use the pedestrian lane and overpass (an overhead bridge) when crossing main roads.
15. Ask to make use of the taxi meter
Taxi drivers typically attempt to set a flat price, however the worth they recommend is usually increased than the one passengers ought to anticipate to pay in any other case. For instance, after I arrived in Hanoi, the motive force recommended a flat price of 400,000 Vietnamese dong to take me to my lodge. I paid 310,000 with the meter.
In Saigon, the motive force recommended a flat price of 300,000 to take me from the airport to the backpackers space, however I learn beforehand that it shouldn’t price greater than 150,000. I demanded to pay by the meter and ended up paying solely 120,000. It’s best to do the identical.
Observe, although, {that a} actually widespread rip-off in Southeast Asia is a quick taxi meter. I’m definitely an skilled traveler and nonetheless acquired scammed by a taxi driver in Hanoi as a result of I didn’t concentrate quickly sufficient to see how briskly the meter was going. After solely a few streets, the meter was exhibiting at 500,000 dong. I couldn’t get out of the taxi sufficient!
So, discover out which taxi firm is dependable within the nation you’re visiting or if there are ride-sharing apps. The latter is extra dependable. Within the Philippines, for instance, obtain the Seize app. You should use it for transportation and meals supply, amongst others.
16. Deliver ear plugs
Site visitors by no means stops in Southeast Asia, and in some international locations, individuals have an actual ardour for honking. They honk to get others out of their means, they honk to get the visitors shifting, they honk simply to say they’re driving by. In case you can’t stand the noise of visitors if you end up making an attempt to sleep be sure that to hold a pair of ear plugs to put on at evening.
In addition to, if you happen to’re staying in hostels (dorms in Vietnam are very inexpensive, from US$5 and up), you are taking the chance of getting a roommate who snores. Imagine me, being saved awake by somebody loud night breathing is unquestionably an expertise you received’t get pleasure from!
17. Don’t essentially belief on-line evaluations
It typically occurred to me that tour operators, accommodations, and eating places which have glowing evaluations have been a complete disappointments. I requested myself the way it was doable that such poor companies had unbelievable evaluations. It’s fairly easy: these evaluations are sometimes pretend. A touch into understanding that the 5-star evaluations are pretend is when the reviewer has solely left that one overview.
Do verify who’s leaving the overview earlier than trusting it. Moreover, be suggested that accommodations, eating places, and tour operators can (and can) pay to take away dangerous evaluations and get good ones.
18. Carry a journey towel
Hostels have a tendency to stint on towels, or friends should pay to lease one. A journey towel is an effective answer, as this can be very gentle and it dries shortly, and it can be used within the seashore.
A very good various to deliver is a sarong. You should use it as a towel, a costume, a seashore mat, a blanket, and so forth.
19. Put on flip flops within the bathe
I typically see individuals strolling round barefoot in hostels, together with to go to the bathroom. I could also be a neat freak however I’d fairly keep away from getting athletes’ foot or different form of pores and skin points. Getting within the bathe with flip flops is an effective approach to defend your self in opposition to nasty stuff.
20. Ask permission to take pictures
Individuals in Southeast Asia like to pose for photos, a lot in order that at any time when they see a foreigner take a photograph they’d truly cease you and ask you to take certainly one of them too. Some might even ask you to pose within the picture with them! No matter that, asking for permission to take a photograph is all the time well mannered and appreciated.
Do you may have another ideas for backpacking Southeast Asia?
