Asia has tons of places and beaches to enjoy from luxury to budget friendly towns, which is why it receives numerous backpackers/tourists every year. If you are planning to visit Asia, I would suggest to please make a thorough research before booking your flights. And I suggest that you go to the place that really captures your interest not just because someone else told you to visit because they say that the place is nice. You can also check the backpacker index of your destination just to be aware if it is safe, affordable and friendly for solo travelers.
Below are my top countries in Southeast Asia according to my experience, safety, affordability and at the same time countries with really beautiful places to offer.
Vietnam
Photo: Adobe Spark
It is a country of Indochina Peninsula and can be found beside China, Cambodia and Thailand. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the most populous city but the capital city is Hanoi. Hanoi is the cheapest city in Southeast Asia that is why nowadays it is crowded of tourists. Vietnam used to be a French colony and up until now you can still see buildings with traces of French architecture. Tourism is really alive because the country receives about 6 to 12 million of international tourists (2017 statistics in Wikipedia- Tourism in Vietnam).
Vietnam has the following international airports:
Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City
Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi
Other busy airports are Da Nang International Airport, Cam Ranh International Airport Cat Bi International Airport. You can travel by bus (night bus or sleeper bus), train or plane. Most tourists travel by bus.
Currency: Vietnamese Dong
Popular food: Pho and Banh mi
Popular place: Halong Bay
What to do in Vietnam/Unique Experience:
Eat their famous local food- pho everyday and everywhere at the cheapest price.
Try cooking class or learn cooking through homestay.
Spend a night in a cruise in Halong Bay and jump off the boat to swim.
Try driving a motorbike with locals (with extra care please)
Dress up for an event in the Opera House in Saigon.
Drink snake's venom and bile shots and est snake in Hanoi.
Visit the remnants of the war in Saigon.
Crawl through a tunnel in Cu Chi, a see their community underground.
Ride a traditional boat in Mekong Delta River.
Eat your dinner and drink at the side street of Saigon.
Buy and wear their traditional hat everyday.
Dining Options: Looking for a place to eat with good food is not a problem in Vietnam. Here you can find their local food which is more on fresh veggies mixed with some traditional French cuisine at a very affordable price. Simple single meal is roughly 40,000 Dong or 2 USD . Mid-range is around 200,000 Dong or 8-10 USD.
Interesting travel fact: Being loud is considered rude but not in Vietnam. Motorbikes- the national vehicle of Vietnam and crossing the street may be scary but just cross the street and every motorbike will try not to hit you ( be safe ).
Climate: Summer season is May to October but the country experiences the heaviest rainfall during these months. The rest is winter but dry and temperature can drop to approximately 15 degree Celsius.
Thailand
It used to be Siam and now it is called Thailand. This country is really famous to all travelers. Bangkok is the capital city and the most populous city in the country. The country is also known for numerous temple scenery. It offers quality transportation for tourists-train, bus (night bus) , city boat and plane. The people love football and Takraw is their national sport (similar to football but with the use of rattan ball).
Thailand has 11 international airports and the ones in Bangkok are the busiest- Don Mueang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Planning to fly to different parts of Thailand? No worries, because the other famous tourist places have their own airports like Chiang Mai , Phuket, Krabi and Samui etc.
Currency: Thailand Baht
Popular food: Tom Yum Goong (Spicy shrimp noodle)
Popular place: Floating market in Ratchaburi or in Bangkok
What to do in Thailand/Unique Experience:
Eat exotic food like bugs, scorpion etc.
Flight of Gibbon in Chiang Mai, a six-kilometer zip line in their ancient forest.
Learn Muay Thai, Thai's way of kick-boxing.
Clubbing at the rooftop of the buildings in Bangkok (Like the one in Hangover movie).
Join the Songkran Festival
Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai
Feed, bathe and be an elephant care taker for a day in Chiang Mai.
Try being with vendors in their floating markets.
Ride a Tuktuk.
Dining Options: When in comes to dining, food is never a problem. Their local varieties of food is awesome and you won't have to spend much. A single simple meal in the streets of Thailand would cost you approximately 60 baht or 2USD. Mid-range is approximately 300 baht or 9USD
Interesting travel fact: It has approximately 35,000 temples. Showing off skin (legs and shoulder) is not allowed so dress appropriately, no sleeveless, no short shorts. Shoes and slippers are not allowed inside the temples.
Climate: Wet and dry season only. November to February is the best time to visit, the temperature is a bit cool. April is rainy month, March to June is dry season.
Philippines
Photo: Adobe Spark
The Philippines is compose of 7641 islands in between the South China Sea and The Pacific Ocean. The country is one of the most populous city in the world and often congested by heavy traffic. It is on the Pacific Ring of Fire and situated near the equator. The country used to be a colony of Spain for about 333 years. The country has several beautiful beaches to offer but because the islands are situated a bit far from each other, the best way to travel is by plane. In some areas you can travel by bus or by boat.
The famous international airports are
Clark International Airport in Pampanga
Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila
Mactan-Cebu International Airport-Cebu
Davao International Airport-Davao
Some airports were also opened for international flights like the Kalibo Airport, Puerto Prinsesa. Laoag Airport etc
Currency: Philippine Peso
Popular food: Lechon
Popular place: El Nido, Palawan
What to do in Philippines/Unique Experience:
Eat exotic food food like Balut, Day-old etc
Ride a jeepney.
Limestone cliff climbing in Taraw Cliff in El Nido.
Swim with the Whale Sharks in Oslob, Cebu.
Dine in a waterfall restaurant in San Pablo City, Laguna
Visit to see the hanging coffins in Sagada and the sunken cemetery in the ocean of Bonbon Camiguin.
Get a relaxing spa while being cooked in a Kawa in Tibiao, Antique.
Light up your night by watching thousands of fireflies in Puerto Prinsesa.
Dining Options: Philippines has several varieties of cuisines. From Filipino food to Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and even European cuisine. Simple single meal is about 150 to 200 PHP or 4 USD. Mid-range is approximately 400 to 500 PHP or 10 USD
Interesting travel fact: Bowing their heads whenever they have to say "excuse" in public. Filipinos love cockfighting (rooster fighting game). If you love shopping, Manila has the best and huge shopping malls.
Climate: The climate is best described as humid and tropical rainforest. March to June is summer and the rest is dry with heaviest rainfalls and typhoons.
Photo: Adobe Spark- Lantern Festival in Thailand
