Looking for ideas for places worth spending 1+ weeks in SE Asia

So you are going on a month long trip and want places to spend 1-ish weeks each? Or you only have a week?

I did a SE Asia tour that hopped between Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. I could have easily spent a week (with day trips) in Bangkok, Hoi An/DaNang, and Hanoi. If you are going all that way including some time in Cambodia (Angkor Wat) is not a bad idea (it was a bucket list item for me). Depending on when you go in "spring" it is insufferably hot - I went in late March and it was steamy.

I was in Vietnam for five weeks and never got tired of it! I started in Hanoi for more than two weeks - plenty to see and do. Part of that time I was volunteering with Global Volunteers. Then I joined a tour that spent a few more days in Hanoi and also went to Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Dalat and Saigon. I was also able to go to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

I have also been in Malaysia I would love to go back and see more. You can also easily go to Singapore from there. I was in Bangkok for a few days and will be returning for a more extensive visit in December.

As you can see, I’m a fan of SE Asia. So I don’t think you can go wrong!

We plan ro be on a 4-5 week trip. Sounds like you all enjoyed your trips. Anywhere in particular you especially loved?

Sounds like you all enjoyed your trips. Anywhere in particular you
especially loved?

Angkor Wat and the temples all around it, Hoi An city, cooking classes in Hoi An and Bangkok. But it really depends on what you like doing.

Penang
Hanoi
Luang Prabang
Chiang Rai
Singapore
Jogjakarta
Ubud

Thanks for all the suggestions.
We’re hoping to only take one flight from our gateway which will probably be Singapour. One thought is to travel overland through Maylasia to Thailand.
Another thought is to fly to Hanoi and travel south through Vietnam.
We hadn’t thought about Bali.
Because I travel with a wheelchair, to help go distances, we are hoping to travel between most destinations by train or bus.

Sounds like you all enjoyed your trips. Anywhere in particular you especially loved?

I liked Hanoi more than Saigon, although there’s lots of great things to do in both. Hoi An is very touristy, but so much fun and beautiful! Our tour included Dalat, a somewhat unusual destination for western tourists and one I really enjoyed.. It is away from the coast (where most tourists stay), up in the mountains/highlands. It actually reminded me of Switzerland as it is situated around a lake and surrounded by mountains. That’s not so surprising since the area was developed by Europeans trying to escape the heat of lower elevations.

Malaysia also has lots to offer. I only was able to spend a couple days in Kuala Lumpur and would like to go back as there was a lot I missed. I was able to spend a weekend in Malacca which has a very interesting history, a fun night market and more. I have also heard that Georgetown is another great location in Malaysia. Really, I think Malaysia is an underrated destination. Its diversity of ethnicities, religions, and languages make it fascinating.

I love Singapore and can fill up days and days there. It’s an easy destination for Americans because English is one of their four official languages and the subway is easy to use. There’s ethnic diversity with areas like Little India and Chinatown, great museums, amazing architecture, botanical gardens, terrific food, etc., etc.

The only thing about these destinations is the hot, humid weather they experience pretty much all year round, although northern Vietnam has a cooler “winter,” My Vietnamese manicurist recommends February as the best time to visit - that’s when she goes!

Because I travel with a wheelchair, to help go distances, we are
hoping to travel between most destinations by train or bus.

This is really important info for those giving you recommendations, as many of mine are not on point to your situation. You may have some access challenges in Vietnam even in cities as curb cuts and the like are not ubiquitous. Hiring a private driver (with an air conditioned vehicle) is quite affordable compared to other parts of the world. Train and bus travel are possible but may not be efficient to cover large distances (Vietnam in particular is a long country). I also second the recommendation to go earlier than spring time for more pleasant temperatures, though I would avoid Tet (usually in early February).