Two Month South East Asia Travel Itinerary

Two incredible months travelling through this part of the world

South-East Asia is a well-beaten backpacking route. It’s fairly easy to travel between different countries, and most places have facilities for tourists.

I spent the most incredible nine weeks travelling here this summer. It was so fun to explore completely new cultures and countries. Especially after two years of being island-bound, it was exciting to try new foods, hear different languages, and discover new places.

I’ve put together our complete itinerary below, in case you’d like some inspiration!

Bangkok, Thailand — 6 days

We were visiting a friend here, hence the extended stay, but if you’re just passing through I don’t think you would need as long.

There is plenty to do within the city itself, including Lumphini Park, Asiatique Pier, Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and Chinatown. We also took advantage of public transport and did day trips to Ayutthaya (former capital, now in ruins) and Erawan National Park (home to a seven-waterfall hike).

Siem Reap, Cambodia — 2 days

We travelled from Bangkok to Siem Reap by bus, which took most of the day. Siem Reap is home to the renowned Angkor Wat temple complex, which was built in the early 12th century. We went at sunrise, and it was an incredible experience.

For the most part, you’re permitted to explore the temples at your own will, and there’s something very special about walking along corridors built nearly a thousand years ago.

The town of Siem Reap is very tourist-friendly, with lots of pubs and cafes. We also attended the Phare Circus, which I would highly recommend.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia — 2 days

The Cambodian capital: Phnom Penh. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary here, so our day was jam-packed with an ATV tour through rice fields and villages, the Killing Fields (a memorial to the victims of the horrific Khmer Rouge), a river cruise tour, Wat Phnom Daun Penh, the Night Market, and a fantastic dinner in a fancy restaurant.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — 2 days

This city is renowned for its motorbike traffic, and crossing the road can feel like a brush with death. There is little regard for pedestrian crossings or green lights — motorbikes are seemingly exempt from these rules. The best tip I can give is to be confident and keep going.

Our greatest motivation for coming here was the history, and the sites did not disappoint. The War Remnants Museum gives an important insight into the Vietnamese experience of the American-Vietnam War. We also joined a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, which were used by the Viet Cong to combat the American-backed forces.

Mui Ne, Vietnam — 2 days

Mui Ne is a beach town in south Vietnam. We could definitely still see the impacts of the pandemic there, as many of the tourist facilities (like watersports and restaurants) were closed. However the greatest allure of Mui Ne — the white and red sand dunes — were still accessible and a lot of fun to explore.

Da Lat, Vietnam — 2 days

Da Lat is a mountain town in South Vietnam, locally renowned as a popular honeymoon destination.

We stayed within the city itself and there’s plenty to do.

The 100 Roof Bar and Crazy House both have a similar theme of eccentric architecture to explore. The Valley of Love is a fun garden park to explore.

The Datanla Waterfall was a great spot to visit — stunning waterfalls, good walking paths, local stalls, and an Alpine coaster. We also went to the Truc Lam Pagoda, which is one of the newest temples in Vietnam.

Hoi An, Vietnam — 5 days

This was one of my favourite destinations on the trip.

Hoi An is a beach-side town with an impressive and well-preserved Ancient Town (designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It used to be a trading town for Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese traders, and you can see these influences reflected in its architecture.

Many hostels and homestays provide bikes which are an ideal way to explore the surrounding area, including An Bang beach which makes for a great beach day out.

We also cycled out to the coconut groves, east of Hoi An, where we did one of the iconic basket boat tours.

There are plenty of museums within the Ancient Town. An Ancient Town ticket will grant you access to five different museums/attractions on their list. We went to: Old House of Tân Ky, Museum of Folklore, Hoi An Traditional Art Performance Theatre (show included!), the Japanese Bridge and the Minh Huong Communal House.

We also visited the Reaching Out teahouse, which has an incredible mission to celebrate the silence that deaf and mute people live with, and employs people with these disabilities.

Finally, Hoi An is renowned for its tailoring industry. We went to TaTa Tailor in Hoi An Fabric Market, and got items made to measure, which was a great experience.

Hue, Vietnam — 2 days

We travelled by motorbike via the Hai Van Pass to the city of Hue. Top Gear fans might recognise this journey — it featured in their Vietnam Motorbike Special.

It’s well worth doing the trip by motorbike for the incredible views (most traffic goes through the mountain tunnels). We went with a guide, so I could ride on the back and my husband drove himself. It took a full day to get to Hue.

The next day, we explored the citadel, which encompasses an imposing and impressive palace that used to be the seat of the Nguyễn dynasty.

Ninh Binh, Vietnam — 4 days

Another highlight of our trip! The scenery is absolutely stunning, with incredible karst limestone mountains rising up over rice fields and rivers.

We rented bicycles one day, and a motorbike the next to explore the area.

Notable attractions include Bich Dong Pagoda, Trang An boat tour, Hang Mua viewpoint, and Cuc Phuong National Park. A word of warning — be on guard for parking scams here; we encountered a few.

Hanoi, Vietnam — 3 days

Hanoi was a very enjoyable city to explore. You can clearly feel the pull between east and west. The streets are narrow and crowded with motorbikes, but the skyscrapers are high, and there are many facilities for tourists.

We attended a traditional puppet show at the Thang Long Water Theatre, which was a fun way to experience local culture. The Old Quarter was filled with shops and places to eat, and Hoan Kiem Lake was a refreshing change from the motorbike traffic.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam — 2 days

This place is sometimes referred to as ‘Ninh Binh by the sea’ because it has the same karst limestone cliff landscape. Located on the north-east coast of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay is popular for its cruises.

We spent a day and a night on one of these ships. However, I think a day of cruise activities would be enough. The night was a nice treat but I’m not sure it was worth the money. The cruise included activities such as kayaking, squid fishing, and cycling around one of the islands.

Sapa, Vietnam — 4 days

An absolutely incredible spot! If you’re going to Vietnam, don’t pass this by. Sapa is a city nestled up in the mountains of northern Vietnam. The roads to get there are rough (I highly recommend bringing motion sickness tablets) but the views are worth it!

We stayed about thirty minutes drive outside of Sapa town at Comlam Eco House. This was the perfect place to unwind. We had a wonderful view of the terraced rice fields (a typical sight of Sapa) and the surrounding mountains. Our hosts organised a tour with a local guide which was a brilliant way to see the surrounding area.

Pai, Thailand — 3 days

This wasn’t part of our original plan. However, because of visa restrictions, we decided to skip Laos and spend some extra time in northern Thailand. A couple we met in Ninh Binh had recommended we visit Pai and I am so glad we did! It was one of the best twists to our trip.

Another mountain town, it does require a stomach-twisting bus ride to get there, but if I can do it anyone can!

Pai is a small town with plenty of tourist facilities but it manages not to feel commercial. It was also one of the most affordable destinations of our trip. Highlights included Pai Canyon, the white Buddha temple, Tha Pai hot springs and Yun Lai viewpoint. A motorbike is key to getting out to all these spots.

There are also street food, craft and clothing stalls that pop up in the evening, and make for an enjoyable stroll down the main street.

Chiang Mai, Thailand — 3 days

This is one of the biggest cities in northern Thailand but it didn’t feel as chaotic as some of the other cities we were in. There was plenty to do here, and we could easily have stayed another few days.

We did a day trip to an elephant sanctuary, visited the Sticky Waterfall, drove up to Don Suthep for an incredible view of the city, and went to lots of markets. We did quite a bit of souvenir shopping here, as we knew it would get more expensive as we went south. We visited Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Kalare Night Market, Anusarn Market, and Chiang Mai University Night Market.

Krabi, Thailand — 6 days

A popular beach destination for tourists and locals alike, our Krabi experience, unfortunately, coincided with the wettest weather of our trip.

We stayed three nights on Tonsai Beach. This is a gorgeous spot, but there’s very little to do here if the weather’s not good. Many bars and hostels closed down during the pandemic, and the area has not yet recovered. It was a somber reminder of just how devastating the pandemic was for tourism-dependent areas. Railay Beach is accessible at low tide or by jungle trek, and has more facilities available like shops and laundry services.

We spent the second half of the week in Ao Nang, the beachside town on the mainland. This had even more selection of shops, restaurants and cafes. Most notable however, was the Monkey trail, which is a short trail to a secluded beach with lots of monkey friends to see along the way!

Penang, Malaysia — 3 days

Our first stop in Malaysia, and honestly what a fantastic introduction to the country!

Penang is an island off the northwest coast of Malaysia, and is brimming with things to do. George Town is the main city, and we stayed there for our whole stay in Penang. The British colonial influence is clear in some placenames, food and architecture.

We did a self-guided tour of George Town to see all its landmarks, then rented a motorbike the next day to see more of the island. We visited Entopia Butterfly Farm, the Tropical Spice Garden, the beach at Batu Ferringhi and Penang Hill.

Penang is famous for its food scene and we weren’t disappointed. It was exciting to sample a new selection of cuisines from the different cultures that call Penang home.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — 2 days

We could feel the increased Western influence here. It does feel like it’s a city with two sides, but for the most part, we appreciated the clean streets and punctual public transport. We took the train to the Batu Caves, home to the photogenic, colourful steps you’ll see on all Malaysia travel blogs.

We also visited the Petronas Towers, which are iconic to KL. There is a shopping mall, park and cinema located around it which made for a nice evening out.

Melaka, Malaysia — 2 days

We didn’t spend long here, but it was worth the flying visit. Melaka is a picturesque town about two hours south of Kuala Lumpur. It has lots of cute cafes and restaurants. There’s a river running through it, which makes for a lovely place to walk, and the town is steeped in history (it has colonial influence from Portugal, the Netherlands and Great Britain). We ended our day at the Jonker Street market for food, drinks and souvenirs.

Singapore — 3 days

Our final stop! After a whirlwind nine weeks, we had so much fun spending our last three days with a friend who lives here.

Singapore was by far the most ‘Western’ destination of our trip, but it was also incredibly unique. It’s a young country (they had just celebrated 57 years when we were there) and its culture is defined by the melting-pot of nationalities who call Singapore home. This is very exciting to observe — not least because of the myriad cuisine options.

Notable excursions included Gardens by the Bay, the Marina Sands Bay area, Sentosa Island and Arab Street. It’s a really cool city, unlike any place I’ve been before.

I think three days was exactly enough time there, especially considering how much more expensive it is than the other countries on this list.

That’s it! Five incredible countries in two months. I had such a wonderful time travelling here this summer, and I’m immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to go. It was exactly the refresh my soul needed.

I hope this article was helpful if you’re planning a trip to SE Asia. If you have any questions, please drop them in the comments!