Backpacking Southeast Asia: full 3-month route

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia: the classic 3-month backpacking route. Budget €1500-€2500 incl. flights.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Route overview (3 months)

The classic Southeast Asia route starts in Bangkok and follows a logical loop by bus, train, plane or boat without doubling back. From Amsterdam, KLM flies direct to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi; return flights start from around €434 when booked early. Via hubs such as Dubai, Doha or Singapore you may find cheaper options (€350-€480) with one stop.

Plan your trip to Bangkok: flight, hotel and total price in one go→

Recommended order: Bangkok (3-4 days) → Chiang Mai (4-5 days) → Pai or the Golden Triangle → Luang Prabang, Laos (4 days) → Vientiane (2 days) → overland to Hanoi → Ha Long Bay cruise (2 days) → Hoi An (3-4 days) → Ho Chi Minh City (3 days) → Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2 days) → Siem Reap/Angkor Wat (3 days) → back to Bangkok. Total: 10-12 weeks.

Split option: 6 weeks Thailand+Laos, 6 weeks Vietnam+Cambodia. Add Bali by flying from Singapore or Bangkok with a budget carrier (AirAsia) for €30-€60. Total budget including flight: €1,500-€2,500 for 3 months.

Best time to go

Rainy season (May-September): 30% cheaper on everything, fewer tourists, but daily rain showers of 1-2 hours (often sunny again afterwards). This is the sweet spot for budget backpackers: accommodation is easier to find and all major sights are open.

High season (November-February): best weather on the mainland, but 30-40% more expensive and popular hostels fill up quickly. Angkor Wat in Cambodia draws up to 10,000 visitors per day in December. Book at least 2-3 weeks ahead. Shoulder season (March-April): still fine weather in Thailand and Vietnam, but prices start rising before Songkran (Thai New Year, mid-April).

Daily budget by country

Expected daily budget per country (excluding inter-country flights, including accommodation, food and local transport):

Night buses (€10-€20) count as transport and save a hotel night simultaneously. Attractions such as Angkor Wat (€37/day) or temple entry fees in Bangkok fall outside the daily budget. Budget an extra €200-€300 for special activities across the whole trip.

Visa guide 2026

Major update: Vietnam expanded its visa-free stay for EU passports to 45 days from August 2025 (previously 30 days). You no longer need an e-visa for a first visit if you stay less than 45 days. For longer stays or multiple entries, an e-visa is still required.

Always verify current visa rules on the official embassy website or via government travel advisories, as rules can change.

Vaccinations

Book a travel health appointment at least 6 weeks before departure: some vaccines require multiple doses spaced weeks apart.

Essential: Hepatitis A (Hep A+B combination is slightly more expensive but convenient), typhoid, tetanus (if not up-to-date). Recommended: DTP booster (diphtheria/tetanus/polio), rabies if you plan to handle animals or visit remote areas. Malaria prophylaxis: not required everywhere, but essential for Northern Thailand (Golden Triangle), Cambodia and the Mekong Delta. Total cost: €80-€200 depending on the combination and your existing vaccination history.

Backpacker gear checklist

Backpack: 50-65L is the sweet spot. Smaller (40L) if you travel light or keep trips short. Larger (70L+) becomes too heavy and is no more practical. Brands: Osprey, Deuter, or Decathlon Forclaz (budget). Choose a model with a hip belt: after 3 months of carrying you will feel the difference.

Essentials: dry bag for laptop and documents, universal plug adapter (or region-specific), head torch, microfibre towel (dries quickly), LifeStraw or Sawyer water filter (saves tens of euros on bottled water), lightweight rain jacket. Clothing: 3-4 sets of lightweight, quick-dry clothing.

Everything can be washed locally for €1-€2 per kilo. Total gear budget: €400-€600 if you are starting from scratch; you can save significantly via Decathlon or similar budget outdoor retailers.

Safety and common scams

Southeast Asia is generally safe for backpackers, but some scams appear everywhere. Bangkok tuk-tuk scam: the driver offers a cheap tour and detours you via shops or temples where they earn commission.

Always decline and use Grab (the regional Uber). Closed attraction scam: someone tells you the temple or museum is closed today due to a holiday. It is not. Check at the entrance yourself. Siem Reap, Cambodia: watch out for people claiming Angkor Wat is closed the next day to redirect you to pricier alternatives.

Practical tips: use dorm lockers for valuables, do not wear expensive jewellery, photograph your passport and bank cards and save to cloud, and always carry some local cash for emergencies.

Food: what to eat (and skip)

Street food is safe if you pick the right stalls. Rule of thumb: eat where there is a long queue of locals, the food is freshly prepared on the spot (not pre-cooked), and the area looks clean. Street food in Bangkok, Hanoi and Penang is among the best in Asia at €1-€2 per meal.

Avoid: raw meat or fish at cheap stalls (risk of stomach problems), pre-made juice pouches on the street, ice cubes at unknown locations (often made from tap water). Safe: fresh fruit you peel yourself, cooked food, bottled water or filtered water. Pack paracetamol, ORS sachets and imodium for the inevitable first stomach upset - almost every backpacker gets one.

Internet + SIM

Buy a local SIM as soon as you land: almost every regional airport has SIM sellers right in the arrivals hall. Prices: €8-€15 for 10-15 GB data (enough for 3-4 weeks). In Thailand: DTAC or TrueMove; Vietnam: Viettel or Mobifone; Cambodia: Smart; Laos: Unitel. You will need to buy a new SIM in each country unless you use an international eSIM.

Alternative: Airalo eSIM (€10-€25 for 5-10 GB valid across Southeast Asia) is more convenient if you switch countries frequently. Activate your eSIM at home before departure so you have immediate connectivity on arrival. Free hostel Wi-Fi exists everywhere but is often slow and unreliable for video calls.

Money saving

The biggest savings come from transport and logistics. Night buses and overnight trains (€10-€20) are the most efficient option: you save on accommodation and travel at the same time. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, or from Hanoi to Hue, a sleeper train costs €15-€25.

More tips: prepare your own breakfast at hostels with a kitchen (saves €3-€5/day), book activities via the hostel noticeboard rather than travel agencies (20-30% cheaper), share a private tuk-tuk or taxi with 3-4 travelers from your hostel (€30/person instead of €80 solo), book inter-country flights (e.g. Bangkok-Bali) at least 3 weeks in advance via AirAsia or Scoot for €30-€80.