What to Pack For a Month in South- East Asia.
So, you’re interested in elevating your travel game, and exploring the wonders of Southeast Asia? I can assure you you’re in the right place. I just recently returned home to Colorado with my roommate Pete after spending nearly a month backpacking South-east Asia, and it was life changing. Truthfully, we did our own research a prepared successfully, but there were some ways I could have enhanced my experience, and been more calculated in my packing. Below, i’m going to detail how to prepare for the trip of a lifetime assuming we’re packing one checked luggage, and one carry on.
I’m going to separate this into a couple main categories for those who only need help in one. To begin, I’ll focus my attention on clothing items that are suitable to travel with, and progress into the items that are necessary to make this expedition more convenient. Keep in mind, I am a male so my clothing choices are going to be centered around male outfits. Another factor to keep in mind is we traveled to an array of climates spanning five countries including South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Disclosure: By no means am I qualified to give advice, or certified to some degree. This is just my personal opinion; take it or leave it.
Step 1: Choosing The Ideal Travel Bag
To start, I want to emphasize we were backpacking Southeast Asia. Backpacking. Now that’s not to say that we didn’t stay in some incredible locations because we did, but this trip was not hyper-focused on luxury. So if you’re looking for information on an upscale trip this may not be the page for you. When traveling I had one larger osprey backpack that was checked, and one smaller carry on for our camera equipment. The argument I’d like to make here is that if you’re moving frequently in these countries a backpack will make your life much more convenient than lugging around suitcases, or abnormally shaped bags. But, if a suitcase is more your flavor there’s absolutely a way to make that equally possible.
Backpacking Bag: I would highly stress bringing one larger backpack as we did, and confining in a reputable company such as Osprey, LL. Bean, Cotopaxi, Gregory, REI, etc. It’s detrimental to find something that fit’s what you’re looking to accomplish while allowing you to disperse weight across your body. I suggest one of these reputable brands as they have flexibility in weather and predicate their designs around backpackers. Having backpacks allowed us to keep our hands free when it came to transportation to and from some of our larger ports, limiting the chance of misplacing something.
PACKING CUBES (4): Packing cubes allowed me to organize my backpack and separate clothing articles from one another.
Here’s an example of the bag I brought on our trip, along with the backpacking I had done in 2022.
Osprey Aether 65 Men’s Backpacking Backpack https://amzn.to/3UmqFbo
Day Bag: I’d also recommend making sure to have a carry on that’s durable and can be easily accessible on a day to day basis. The two of us we’re an odd exception packing multiple camera’s daily so we were predominantly focused on equipment mobility in concurrence with a spare set of clothes depending on our environment. To reiterate, I’d ensure this carry on backpack is durable as the countries are diverse in their weather patters, and terrain. We had them through unexpected rainstorms, sandy beach days, elongated bus rides, and cliffside hikes. The environment you’re likely to encounter place to place will very greatly, and depending on the time of year you visit these countries may experience prolonged rain showers. The silver lining is whatever you’re bringing with you daily ensure it has room for clothes to change, and can handle the elements.
Here’s an example of the carry-on camera bag I used daily.
Endurax Camera Backpack https://amzn.to/3uLwV40
Fanny Pack: Lastly. I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I’d recommend bringing a fanny pack/ purse with you for personal items needed handy. I ended up purchasing one from Bass Pro Shops days before our trip expecting to hate the decision, but it only provided ease of access, and peace of mind. Personal items were readily available, and for those worried about losing things, or pickpockets this should provide comfort.
Step 2: What Clothes Should I Bring?
For South- East Asia I highly recommend light-weight clothing as the weather can be humid and quite hot. Wearing lighter clothing will allow breathability, ease of transport, and the added benefit to packing more clothes. Temperatures on our trip generally ranged between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit with the exception of Seoul, South Korea. Keep in mind these clothes may return with some wear on them as we had frequent days with sunscreen, dirt, sand, and sweat. I say this with the intent to inform that it may be within the best interest to bring clothes that you are not fully attached to. It may be advantageous to leave room within your suitcase or backpack in case you have the inclination you’d like to purchase clothing. Under packing with the availability to add to the wardrobe upon arrival gives flexibility to your trip.
T-shirts: 8 shirts was enough to keep myself feeling clean. This might seem like overkill, but I rarely found myself wearing long sleeves and constantly changed after days out in the sun hiking/ or meandering through city streets.
Tank Top: 2 two tank tops/ cut off shirts can be extremely useful for days that get overly humid. I occasionally broke out cutoff t-shirts throughout our trip, and let me tell you when I did it felt like a treat.
Long Sleeve Shirt: 1 shirt will be enough in case temperatures swing like they did for us in Vietnam.
Shorts: 5-6 pairs should suffice. Short’s are going to be a daily norm, and if you’re more comfortable in pants you’ve got a higher tolerance for heat than I do. I brought sweat-shorts which were perfect for days of travel, whereas sport-shorts were applicable to most of our days that revolved around movement.
Pants: 1 set of pants is plenty on a trip like this, especially with how overbearing the heat can be. I can count on my hand the amount of times I actually wore these pants. It might be nice for an occasional nice dinner, or if the weather does happen to chill a bit. I took one pair of jeans with me, and it was perfect for nights out, and more brisk conditions. As a reminder, some of the temples require coverage below your knee’s to visit and is deemed proper etiquette.
Sweatpants: 1 set of sweatpants provides comfort, and an essential for flights to and from countries.
Underwear: 7 pairs was enough with consistent washing of cloths on a weekly basis.
Bathing-suit: 2 suits should be more than enough, so long as regular washing is taking place. We utilized our bathing-suits often as we visited a plethora of beaches, and completed our PADI-Open Water course.
Socks: 6 Pairs was enough to prepare for a month of active exploration. At times I’ll admit this felt a bit too little, but the more space preserved the better.
Sweatshirt: 1 should be enough considering mine was worn sparsely in rare conditions. It was comforting to have during times of transit, and for downtime. A sweatshirt can be a security blanket to rely on if you happen to get sick as well, all reasons why I advocate to bring one along. If this item isn’t one found within your wardrobe, I’d suggest bringing something similar and to change your preferences.
Rain Jacket: 1 was a prerequisite that I took with me over half the days traveled. This ensured that if sporadic rain showers began, I was covered, and my camera equipment had a backup plan to avoid any major issues.
Baseball Hat: 1 baseball cap should do. I’d suggest something that shades your face, and looks fashionable too. My roommate Pete rocked a bucket hat some days which spiced up the fit.
Step 3: Proper Footwear
Listen carefully. It is detrimental that you don’t overpack footwear. Less is more. And as I listed above, you can always buy new footwear in Asia. A good example of this was when myself and two of my best friends Jake, and Pete hiked Kilingking beach in Nusa Penida, Indonesia. Pete had been wearing Tiva’s that had lost their tread to say the least, when a strap attached to the base ripped at the bottom of the hike. Mind you, this hike is cliffside nearly 90 degree’s top to bottom. Luckily Pete is an engineer, and fixed them up with some ingenious maneuvers. Needless to say that night we went downtown in Ubud, Bali to find him a revised version of his Tivas. The markets will always have reasonable prices, and products that will last you the rest of your trip.
Flip Flops/ Slides: This is a must. Especially considering a majority of the time spent in South- East Asia you can expect to wander off the beaten path, or end up on a beach oasis. Slides were also fantastic for me when we wanted to run down the road and could quickly throw something on.
All Purpose Shoes/ Tivas: I’d suggest that if you’re to bring one pair of shoes they’re durable, comfortable, and can handle the elements. I brought a pair of Nike running sneakers with me, and they were perfect. Chef’s kiss. I wore these almost every single day, especially when preparing for an entire day sightseeing. They provided support for epic hikes, and gave me long term durability throughout the city streets. My roommate wore his pair of Tiva’s which also checked all the boxes, and gave him breathability which mine lacked. Either will suffice.
Water Shoes: If you’re nervous about the seafloor, it may be worth purchasing a pair of water shoes. I didn’t bring any with me to maintain storage space and was just fine. I never had any issues with rough surfaces on the beaches, but it’s worth looking into depending on the destination.
Step 4: Toiletries
Below is what I’d personally recommend, and used along my travels. Feel free to include your own personal items that you deem necessary. Something to note; most airbnb’s/ hostels/ hotels will have soap and shampoo that you can take along with you. And if you’re lucky like we were in Cambodia maybe they’ll even provide you a comfy pair of slippers or a bathrobe.
Travel Sized Shampoo: (3.4 Ounces, or 100 Milliliters) 1 Shampoo bottle should do just fine. Again, you can always restock unless you’ve got the perfect shampoo that just can’t be changed.
Deodorant: 1 deodorant stick should also be plenty, unless you’re one to sweat through the wardrobe.
Toothpaste: 1 travel sized bottle of toothpaste.
Toothbrush: 1
Floss: 1-2 rolls of floss
Q-Tips: You make that call
Feminine Hygiene products: 1
Razor/Shaver: 1 with shaving cream
Chapstick: 1-2. Not a fan but you do you.
Hygiene Kit: Including nail clippers, tweezers, nail filing, nail cleaners, etc.
Eye care: Whatever is necessary, contacts, glasses, solution, eye drops, etc.
Medical Kit: It may be smart to have a few bandaids or disinfectant / anti bacterial on you in case you rent motor bikes and fall off or get into an accident. Not saying that happened.. Be careful out there folks.
Step 5: Accessories And Additives
Here’s some miscellaneous items that I felt made a positive impact on my trip/ will bring the next time I visit.
Sunscreen: A Must, I wore tons of this stuff and genuinely still came out some days with a burn
Sunglasses: A fundamental considering the weather more often than not is gorgeous filled with lots of sunshine.
Combo- Lock: In case you’re staying in hostels I highly recommend bringing a lock for your valued possessions.
Water Bottle: Reusable, and durable. I’d suggest buying filtered water at stores and pouring it into your reusable bottle
Insect Repellent: We packed small bottles of Promethrin to dab on our clothes, and body which was scent free and repelled bugs.
Crisp Dollar Bills: I say this on the off chance Cambodia is on your list. To receive your Visa on arrival they’re a bit more picky ($30 USD)
(On that note- I highly recommend you fill out your VISA for Vietnam 1-2 months in advance ($25 USD) to prevent issues arising).
FEIC Thailand App: If your plan is to fly a drone in Thailand I recommend getting your insurance, and license through this app which is all inclusive and taken care of together. It does cost roughly ($80-120 USD) But I preferred being insured, rather than risk my luck and end up in Thai Prison.
International Data Package: Sim cards are easily available in each city/ immediately upon arrival, but I purchased one international plan through AT&T which cost ($100 USD) for the month and it did perfect. Granted everyone’s cell provider may be different, but it’s worth looking into.
Vaccines: Prior to our exploration in Asia, I had been recommended to take Typhoid, and Polio. Rabies comes in two doses and is completely discretionary, just avoid getting bit by monkeys or strays. I was also prescribed malaria pills for the month which was effective. If you do begin to feel nauseous at any point, charcoal pills helped us absorb bacteria and relinquish any unsettled stomachs.
Passport: Don’t forget this one, and maybe make some copies while you’re at it.
Step 6: What Is Necessary In My Day Pack?
Here’s some suggestions of things I had daily with me in my day pack.
DEBIT CARD: BRING A DEBIT CARD. If you’re interested in why I’m preaching this I’ll leave a link to my youtube video in Bangkok where we were put into quite the bind.
Camera Equipment: I always had all my camera equipment handy, with multiple spare batteries inside my backpack linked below: https://amzn.to/3uLwV40
Sunscreen
Water Bottle
Portable chargers
Adapters/ Phone Charger
Pants (For Access To Temples- Etiquette)
Headlamp + Batteries
Spare Change
Extra Socks/ T-shirt
Rain- Jacket
Gameboy + Pokemon
SNACKS- you don’t want to get caught somewhere and get hangry.
I hope this has been informative and makes a lasting impact on a trip of a lifetime for you, and whomever is joining. Best of luck along your travels, bring a debit card (At least do it for my conscience). Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to share how your trip went!
- Hunter
