It seems like both south and north of Thailand are worth visiting- So..

[Guest]

Hi guys! So I would have about 5 weeks to visit S-E Asia during February/march 2024. With what I read, I know it would be better to choose 2 countries and to stick to them. I thought about landing in Bangkok, visiting Thailand and choosing another country besides it. BUT, it seems like both south and north of Thailand are worth visiting. If I go north first, I would then probably cross Laos and go to Vietnam after. But then, I would need to go back to take my returning plane in Bangkok, so what should I do?

Because I'd still want to do island hopping south of Thailand...

So should I do that first and then head north? Should I go south and continue further down and leave Laos and Vietnam for another trip?

Is there another place for landing that would be better?

THANK YOU SO MUCH !

[Andrew]

3 days in Singapore is the go awesome place to do over multiple trips because the train and bus system is just so efficient.

I booked in 7 days at the hostel but after 3 days I'd done majority of what I wanted to do the first trip around so I could squeeze in Penang.

Malaysia, I didn't want to leave. So, it got most of my days.

I did 4 countries in 4 weeks.

If you have a pick of 4 you can say you'll have 3 days in Singapore and 4 days of buses planes and trains 2 places per week is realistic. Go one end of the country to the other end. When you are there you can decide where it is in the middle you want to go and for how long for.

Don't miss: Want to stay in Bangkok, Thailand fir 4 nights in Jan 2024 – Suggestions Please!

[Jaimee]

If you’re willing to apply for the 60 day visa I’d just spend the whole time in Thailand.

My first time in Thailand I did that and didn’t leave until the day my visa ended. I’ve been back twice since and I will go back in the future too.

You’ll barely scratch the surface of the country in 5 weeks.

[Gia]

Vietnam and Thailand are amazing but 5 weeks I recommend one country, otherwise you’ll be constantly moving trying to get everywhere. If u go Thailand make sure u visit pai and Koh Tao, phi phi, and Bangkok.

For Vietnam Hanoi, ninh binh, ha giang loop, hoi an.

[James]

Consider maybe spending the entire 5 weeks in Thailand, there’s many places to see.

[Jaśmina]

Well you can have a returning flight from another place than the arriving place, of that helps.

I would say it's a good idea to for example go north from Bangkok, cross to Laos, see Laos, cross back to Bangkok (there is a night bus from Vientiane) and go to sea the south of Thailand. Same can be done with Cambodia.

You can also go north from Bangkok, but then return south and go to Malaysia and Singapore and maybe fly from there?

Explore these too: Is Koh Phi Phi worth the hype?

[Caroline]

I went for 6 weeks and what I did was booked return flights to Bangkok, then did a 10-day tour of Cambodia leaving from Bangkok with GAdventures which brought me to South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) as last stop.

I then travelled from South to North Vietnam in 3 weeks and flew back into Bangkok from Hanoi and then booked a flight to Krabi to see some of the islands for a week before flying back to Bangkok then for my flight home.

[Linn]

I did 45 days in Thailand in Feb-march, started with a few days in Bangkok, then two weeks north (Chiang Mai, pai and Chiang Rai) then flew south and did Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Krabi for three weeks I had limited time so chose to just do one country.

I Def met a lot of people who were traveling towards Laos and Vietnam in northern Thailand so that is Def a well travelled route, but depends on what you want from your trip!

Also, check out: Northern Vietnam, Thailand and Laos – Please give me advice

[Brenda]

Vietnam is huge and really needs a month in order to get the best out of it.

Same with Thailand.

If you decide to take the slow boat to Luang Prabang in Laos (it’s stunning) then you can go to Vientiane where a night train goes to Bangkok for the islands.

[Natali]

I had about 6 weeks when I went backpacking SE Asia for the first time. I did Bangkok, north Thailand, a slow boat to Laos, Laos, back to Bangkok, and then the south - Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, and finally flew out of Bangkok.

I spent more time than needed at some places (a week in Pai and 6 days in Vang Vien...) so if you adhere to a strict itinerary you might have time for more islands in the south of Thailand!

[Adrian]

You may land in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and then head north. Flights in SEA are cheap and plentiful, especially if you plan to fly out from major cities like Bangkok.

Don't have to worry about it being out of the way.

[Peter]

Fly into Bangkok, go north, take the slow boat down the Mekong, fly back from Udon Thani to Bangkok take the train or fly to Surat Thani get the ferry across to Koh Samui or Koh Phangran get the bus across to Phuket and fly back from there.

Internal flights in Thailand are cheap.

[Stanley]

Thailand is great followed by Vietnam.

If you think you will travel soon again, keep Vietnam for a next direct visit, otherwise you can still visit the cream of both countries, but I will fly both ways or at least one way between Thailand and Vietnam instead of back tracking on land.