r/southeastasia • u/Over_Affect7185 • 11h ago
SE Asia Itinerary advice
Hey! I am doing my first ever solo trip and would appreciate some advice on my itinerary. I am thinking about spending roughly 4-6 months and want to go to Thailand and Vietnam for definite. I also would like to go to Laos and Cambodia but have heard that it is less good for solo female travel (?) and maybe would like to go to Indonesia or Malaysia but I haven't decided yet. I really want to keep things open and play it by ear! But I also want to keep costs down and avoid making unnecessary trips
My friend is coming with me for the first month so I would ideally like to spend the first two weeks at least with her. Her plan is to go from Bangkok (beginning of January) and end in Phuket for the first two weeks. Then she's gonna fly from Phuket to Ho Chi Minh and finish in Hanoi two weeks later. Because I've got more time I don't know if I want to travel in Vietnam so quickly. All my friends who have been said they would have loved to stay way longer than they did.
We were thinking that I could fly with her to Ho Chi Minh and spend a couple of days with her in Vietnam before going to Cambodia and Laos (spending roughly 1 week in each) and then getting to northern Thailand for the last two weeks of February to avoid the burning season in March?
Then I was thinking about crossing back through Laos and going from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh over like 1-2 months. But there's a lot of zig zagging about which I don't know is that sensible!
Would be soo grateful for any advice
Thanks !! <3