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Southeast Asia Backpacker
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30 days · 3 countries Updated Apr 2026

Southeast Asia Backpacker

Bangkok → Hanoi → Saigon → Bali

"The classic backpacker route through three regional heavyweights."

Cheap, hot, photogenic, life-changing. A month is enough to do each country justice without burning out, and the budget airline links between them are some of the cheapest international flights in the world.

Best season

November–March (dry season across all three)

Budget

$45–80 per person per day

Pace

Fast-paced — keep moving, sleep on overnight buses and trains

Best for

First-time long-haul backpackers, gap-year travellers, couples on a sabbatical

Highlights

Headline experiences

  • Cooking class in a Chiang Mai farmhouse
  • Overnight on Halong Bay among the karsts
  • Mekong Delta day-trip from Saigon
  • Sunrise hike up Mount Batur, Bali

Gallery

A taste of the route

Wat Arun at dusk, Bangkok
Wat Arun at dusk, Bangkok
Golden Buddha temple, Bangkok
Golden Buddha temple, Bangkok
Hoi An lanterns and Vietnam coast
Hoi An lanterns and Vietnam coast
Tegallalang rice terraces, Bali
Tegallalang rice terraces, Bali

Day by day

  1. Days 1–7

    Thailand

    Thailand

    Bangkok temples plus a street-food tour. Sleeper train or short flight north to Chiang Mai for a cooking class and ethical elephant sanctuary.

  2. Add-on

    Andaman islands (Krabi & Phi Phi)

    Andaman islands (Krabi & Phi Phi)

    Cheap one-hour flight from Bangkok to Krabi. Longtail boats to Railay Beach, a day trip to Phi Phi or the Hong Islands, snorkelling at Maya Bay early before the day-tripper crowds arrive. Two or three nights makes it worth it.

  3. Days 8–17

    Vietnam

    Vietnam

    Hanoi old quarter, Halong Bay overnight cruise, Reunification Express train south via Hue and Hoi An, fly to Saigon, day-trip to the Mekong.

  4. Days 18–30

    Indonesia

    Indonesia

    Cheap AirAsia flight to Bali. Ubud rice terraces and yoga, Canggu surf, Gilis snorkelling, optional Mount Batur sunrise.

Connectivity

The eSIM + VPN combo for this trip

eSIM

Saily

Saily's Asia regional plan covers Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia on one eSIM — the cheapest way to stay connected across the loop.

Check Saily

VPN

NordVPN

Useful for hotel Wi-Fi privacy and accessing your home streaming services. No major content blocks in any of the three countries.

Check NordVPN

Countries on this route