Southeast Asia advice 

• Dress for humidity – pack light clothes that can easily be washed as it is likely you will sweat every time you head outside.
• You can’t drink the water in Southeast Asia and shouldn’t even use it to brush your teeth. Some complimentary bottled water is often provided at hotels and bottled water is very cheap to buy from local stores.
• Change money before leaving a country as some of the currencies are quite weak, so the money can be hard to exchange. It is worth changing it into US dollars before you leave the country. 
• Insect repellent is a must as mosquitoes are prevalent in many areas, especially so in more coastal areas. There are some more remote areas of Southeast Asia with malaria so be sure to research this before you leave or check with your doctor to see if anti-malaria tablets are recommended. 
• Learn how to barter as it is expected in many markets in Southeast Asia. Ask the seller for the price and then start to negotiate. Don’t be afraid to walk away if you aren’t happy with the price and you may even find this helps the bargaining.
• Always carry some US dollars or Euros as these are easy to exchange if you can’t find an ATM.
• Be respectful when visiting temples by taking off your shoes and dressing appropriately. Many will at least require ladies to have their shoulder covered so a shawl can come in handy and some will also require your knees to be covered for both men and woman. 
• Unfortunately scams are quite common in Southeast Asia so use common sense and research attractions before you visit them. It is common for people to tell you an attraction is closed when it isn’t so they can try to take you to a shop or different attraction, if this happens just ignore them or say ‘no thanks’ and walk away.

Climate

Southeast Asia’s climate is tropical and largely hot and humid all year round with plenty of rainfall. Most regions experience two seasons wet and dry due to the southwest monsoon which is from early June to late September — this can differ by a month or so dependant on which part of Southeast Asia you’re in. The only regions which are different are Northern Vietnam and the Myanmar Himalayas which have a subtropical climate and experience cold winters and snow.

Thailand

Also known as the ‘Land of Smiles’ Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. There are mountainous regions in the north, the bustling city of Bangkok and the many idyllic islands in south. Check out our Thailand travel guide for more information on this beautiful country.

Vietnam

This beautiful country has lush mountains, buzzing cities and stunning beaches to explore. This is a resilient country that is rapidly expanding with ancient wonders and an up and coming modern edge. Check out our Vietnam travel guide for more information on this fascinating country.

Singapore

A small island city-state off southern Malaysia with modern attractions, great public transport, amazing shopping and the iconic Sky Garden. Singapore is clean and easy to navigate, with a tropical climate and a huge array of food choices. Check out our Singapore travel guide for more information on this modern metropolis.

• Angkor Wat in Cambodia is the largest religious temple in the world.
• Vietnam is 1,031 miles (1,650 km) from north to south, but is only 31 miles (50 km) across at its narrowest point.
• Indonesia is the world’s biggest archipelago with over 17,000 islands.
• After Brazil, Vietnam is the largest exporter of coffee.
• The average South East Asian’s diet is 60% rice.
• There are more than 700 living languages in Indonesia.
• All the countries in South East Asia have red in their flag.