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).

You are unfortunately going to find train and bus travel very difficult in a wheelchair - they are often not set to to cater for wheelchair users. I would suggest flying between countries, hiring a driver for longer trips within countries. In city public transport in Singapore, KL and (to a degree) Bangkok is fine.

What time if year? Weather (rainy season and for northern Thailand, burning season) will impact where you go.

Next spring but what month?

Actually, I guess it’s winter. We’re thinking of February.

Thanks for the transportation tips.

Footpaths in many SE Asian cities can be tricky even for able bodied. They are often higher than in European cities (monsoon flooding) and they frequently dont have a ramp to the road. So you step up and down a lot. There is also a lot of activity on the footpaths- food prep and stalls etc. Trains and buses will be varied and may not have disabled toilets or very wide corridors. And apart from Singapore and KL you may not be able to count on there being a lift at stations. KL is very developed and has great areas with different flavours in each. Penang is really great too and can be reached by train. Best food in the world IMO! I love VN but am trying to think about it with mobility issues. Stick to either Hanoi/ Hoi an (top half) or HCM city and maybe a beach reachable by a single bus trip. Have been to Bangkok a few times but find it very crowded and everything seems to take a long time to do.

With thise dates I'd avoid Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand in general - it is burning season and the air quality is likely to be very bad.

Note it's Chinese NY in mid Feb, that will affect costs etc (plus some closures) in Singapore and Malaysia.

“ Actually, I guess it’s winter. We’re thinking of February.”
Dry season in the Southern part of Vietnam (Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City as a hub).
Tet holiday, Lunar New Year falls in early February next year and it can make an impact on your trip .

Thanks for reminders about National holidaysand burning season.
What month do you think is best for SE Asia?

It really depends where in SE Asia (conditions vary widely from Indonesia in the south through to Vietnam in the north- even within Thailand, weather can be very different), and what you plan on doing. If you're planning beach time, don't come during wet season. If it's more city that you're wanting, it doesn't matter so much.

In general, Feb is fine if you avoid Chinese/Lunar NY (mainly impacts Singapore and Malaysia, plus Tet in Vietnam). For example, the weather will be great for Penang (as suggested above), but over Chinese NY airfares and hotels will be sky high, and some shops/food places will be closed. Probably best to aim for early Feb.

If you are afraid of the burning season (Usually start from Feb), consider doing Vietnam in Dec/ Jan; Phu Quoc island is a good place for beach at that time of the year.

The 2-3 weeks leading up to Tet will be much busier and more expensive. Families travel back to their parents' home to celebrate so planes, trains and busses will be filled with Vietnamese folks and lots of luggage filled with gifts. Lots of businesses will be closed later in this period and normal schedules will be set aside.

I have been to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Absolutely loved Singapore. Thailand and Malaysia were nice.
One thing that I didn't like about Thailand, we were walking down the street, my ex-wife and I and people came up to me with photos of attractive women asking if I wanted "a date," amazing. The sex industry is widespread. If you are on a group tour, you shouldn't be approached.

What geovagriffith has described is NOT widespread in Thailand - he may have had a bad experience (which is a shame), but it's not at all common. Phuket and Bangkok both have red light districts, but they are easily avoided. Those tiny areas certainly don't reflect the country as a whole.

One thought is to travel overland through Maylasia to Thailand.

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

As a student in 1981, I travelled with two friends by train from Bangkok to Singapore and back. We stopped at various points (incl. Kuala Lumpur). Back then it was amazing ... old fashioned slow (ish) trains, great service, sleeper cars, and dirt cheap. On the way back we stopped at some convenient station in Thailand and then took a boat out to Koh Samui island (then a sleepy backwater; today, served by an international airport and luxury resorts).

My very quick summary from my memories - Thailand was amazing and exotic; Malaysia was relatively boring, and Singapore was like LA! I was an impoverished (and idealistic) student back then; I suspect I'd be far more impressed by Singapore and Malaysia these days. I presume you are ready for the heat? I was in Bangkok (and Vietnam/Cambodia) again in April 2024 and I vowed I'd never return, it was just too hot. My tolerance for heat as a student has evaporated now I'm in my 60s! I was staying in luxury hotels this time, but it didn't matter - the heat was just overwhelming as soon as you stepped outside. And the crowds ... trying to visit any of the major temple complexes in Bangkok was a challenge. I just read that Malaysia has overtaken Thailand in terms of number of visitors, so wherever you go, it's going to be crowded!

A quick Google search would suggest you can still do the train journey, but it sounds like it is less convenient now (or hasn't improved any); having to change trains at the borders, use multiple booking systems, lack of coordination of schedules, etc. And it's going to take days (which is fine if you aren't in a rush).

As for wheelchair use - A quick Google search suggests Singapore is excellent for wheelchair access, while Thailand and Malaysia are 'improving'. Modern shopping malls are 'good', but sidewalks (esp. in Thailand) sound problematic, and public transit can be a challenge. Vietnam sounds much worse for accessibility, and Cambodia even worse than Vietnam.