Southeast Asia (1 Viewer)

[Jill Hives]

Has anyone travelled Southeast Asia? Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, etc?

If so, any tips, info on amazing things not to miss or perhaps skip on purpose would be appreciated. I'm just starting to plan a trip (I have never been before) and I want to hop around a bit.

 

[pete]

Has anyone travelled Southeast Asia? Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, etc?

If so, any tips, info on amazing things not to miss or perhaps skip on purpose would be appreciated. I'm just starting to plan a trip (I have never been before) and I want to hop around a bit.

Singapore - I’ve been twice and would go back. Would recommend - thought it was really nice there.

Hong Kong - was there for a few days. Only really got out to see the place after dark, apart from one lunchtime trip up to the peak. Definitely going back at some point.

Bangkok - been once, only got to see one tiny area of the city but that had shopping centres with Ferrari and Ducati showrooms + red light district + extreme poverty and rats in the street.

Also Tokyo. Would love to go again and try to see more of Japan.

 

[pete]

Also all of these places are obnoxiously hot.

 

[Reets]

I can get my Dad to call you about it, if you want travel tips? He's pretty much planned out a similar one for me for the end of 2025.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

I went to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (about 15 years ago) in June/July/August, killer heat and humidity. Malaysia was mostly an unbelievable amount of shops, not unpleasant, not wildly exciting but it was nice. I loved Indonesia, I had a 60-day visa and stayed for all, I'd have renewed for another 60 except i was running out of money. Beautiful islands, beautiful beaches with coral reefs just right there off the beach to snorkel, nice food, friendly people, ferries, volcanos, komodo dragons, delicious fish etc. Went from there to Singapore and it seemed a bit tame, just a city with Starbucks and electronic gadget shops, nice food. Didn't go to Thailand or anywhere further north

 

[pete]

I went to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (about 15 years ago) in June/July/August, killer heat and humidity. Malaysia was mostly an unbelievable amount of shops, not unpleasant, not wildly exciting but it was nice. I loved Indonesia, I had a 60-day visa and stayed for all, I'd have renewed for another 60 except i was running out of money. Beautiful islands, beautiful beaches with coral reefs just right there off the beach to snorkel, nice food, friendly people, ferries, volcanos, komodo dragons, delicious fish etc. Went from there to Singapore and it seemed a bit tame, just a city with Starbucks and electronic gadget shops, nice food. Didn't go to Thailand or anywhere further north

Sim Lim Square

Sim Lim Square is Singapore’s Largest IT & Electronics Shopping Marketplace

simlimsquare.com.sg

A little slice of heaven. An entire 6 floor shopping mall of IT stuff.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Sim Lim Square

Sim Lim Square is Singapore’s Largest IT & Electronics Shopping Marketplace

simlimsquare.com.sg

A little slice of heaven. An entire 6 floor shopping mall of IT stuff.

I think I went there, my hotel was down the street. But I was more interested in the food in little India nearby. Mango lassis...

 

[pete]

Getting the cable car down to Sentosa Island for a walk around is good. I didn’t have time to go to Universal Studios there, plus I was on my own anyway….

 

[seanc]

Went to Kuala Lumpur. I think we failed on that, every food place we went to terrible. I think she wanted to find the "real KL", but we just ended up getting lost and hungry.
We joined up up with some fellow travellers that we know from here and had lovely North African food. Western prices.

Then to Vietnam. Hanoi was amazing, the weather surprised us, Like Ireland almost, pervasive cold dampness in January. The food, everywhere was amazing. Actually, we tried KFC on day one because we were scared. That was terrible. But every local run place was a revelation. Spent a night on a boat on them dragon islands. Amazing.

15hour coastal train ride to Hoi An. Much smaller place, less options but food was still uniformly brilliant. Hoi An is famous for it's tailoring. Bought the coolest shirt. Met other westerners who were there to buy wedding dresses and stuff. It was new year, lots of other places to visit nearby.

Then Saigon. Seedy, expensive and busy. Not for me. The museums are really amazing though. We did have an amazing dinner, $23 each, in a restaurant where we were served 15 courses by the same waiter who served George and Barbara Bush years earlier. Pics there for proof. So good bits and bad bits.

Then the Mekong and Phu Quoc island. I loved it. Again, incredible food everywhere, except for the Valentines day dinner at The Four Seasons hotel. That was filth. It was the Four Seasons though!!!


Not been anywhere else in SE Asia. But obviously I'm recommending Vietnam.

 

[Cormcolash]

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[ann post]

I've never been there but if steer clear of Myanmar probably

 

[Jill Hives]

I went to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (about 15 years ago) in June/July/August, killer heat and humidity. Malaysia was mostly an unbelievable amount of shops, not unpleasant, not wildly exciting but it was nice. I loved Indonesia, I had a 60-day visa and stayed for all, I'd have renewed for another 60 except i was running out of money. Beautiful islands, beautiful beaches with coral reefs just right there off the beach to snorkel, nice food, friendly people, ferries, volcanos, komodo dragons, delicious fish etc. Went from there to Singapore and it seemed a bit tame, just a city with Starbucks and electronic gadget shops, nice food. Didn't go to Thailand or anywhere further north

Good stuff. Thanks.

 

[Cornu Ammonis]

It was the Four Seasons though!!!

 

[Jill Hives]

Went to Kuala Lumpur. I think we failed on that, every food place we went to terrible. I think she wanted to find the "real KL", but we just ended up getting lost and hungry.
We joined up up with some fellow travellers that we know from here and had lovely North African food. Western prices.

Then to Vietnam. Hanoi was amazing, the weather surprised us, Like Ireland almost, pervasive cold dampness in January. The food, everywhere was amazing. Actually, we tried KFC on day one because we were scared. That was terrible. But every local run place was a revelation. Spent a night on a boat on them dragon islands. Amazing.

15hour coastal train ride to Hoi An. Much smaller place, less options but food was still uniformly brilliant. Hoi An is famous for it's tailoring. Bought the coolest shirt. Met other westerners who were there to buy wedding dresses and stuff. It was new year, lots of other places to visit nearby.

Then Saigon. Seedy, expensive and busy. Not for me. The museums are really amazing though. We did have an amazing dinner, $23 each, in a restaurant where we were served 15 courses by the same waiter who served George and Barbara Bush years earlier. Pics there for proof. So good bits and bad bits.

Then the Mekong and Phu Quoc island. I loved it. Again, incredible food everywhere, except for the Valentines day dinner at The Four Seasons hotel. That was filth. It was the Four Seasons though!!!


Not been anywhere else in SE Asia. But obviously I'm recommending Vietnam.

Vietnam now high on list. Thanks.

 

[seanc]

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It's true!

Pho is a light cheap meal, not a massive bowl of flavourless coriander that costs a tenner!

 

[hugh]

Spent a couple of weeks on Thailand once. Loved it. Super cheap and I think Italy is the only country I've been to that has better food. People say Bangkok is a smelly hole but we really liked it and ended up spending more time there than planned. One of the great things about Thailand is that it seems that you can buy a ticket to travel more or less anywhere in the country (by bus/boat/whatever) from anywhere else in the country. It's really easy (and cheap). Though the overnight bus from Bangkok down south was a bit of a nightmare. Didn't go up north but swanned around the islands (Ko Phi Phi, Ko Phang Nam .... I could be getting the same of that one wrong .. it's the one that's famous for raves on the beach but it's actually lovely if you avoid the part with all the assholes, Ko Samui briefly ...). Also stayed in a beautiful place along the southern coast (Krabi) which I would recommend.

Never been to Vietnam but by all accounts its even better.