chloedickensonLast Updated on 15th December 2023
This post about the ultimate 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary contains affiliate links.
Backpacking Southeast Asia has become more and more popular over the years with the increase in accessibility and availability to travel to the likes of Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam on a budget.
We spent almost 7 months travelling Southeast Asia and during that time we visited 7 different countries, and while it was incredibly challenging at times, it was also such a rewarding trip.
I think a backpacking trip around Southeast Asia is a definitive experience in any traveller’s life and whether you travel for 6 weeks, 6 months, or 6 years, it’s still a place that I think needs exploring at least once in your life.
This guide is pretty extensive and includes details about everything you need to know about the best Asia travel route, including a thorough itinerary of each country/city plus all the best things to know when planning a backpacking trip in Southeast Asia!
6 months backpacking Southeast Asia tour highlights
Planning your 6-month backpacking trip to Southeast Asia? Here’s a quick summary of the top tours and attractions I’d recommend!
- Day Trip to Nusa Penida, Atuh & Diamond Beach from Bali
- Snorkelling Tour of the Gili Islands
- El Nido Tour A – this was one of my favourite experiences in the Philippines!
- Bohol Island Day Tour – a great option if you don’t want to hire motorbikes
- Batu Caves Tour from Kuala Lumpur – one of my favourite places in KL!
- Universal Studios Singapore – definitely worth a visit!
- Wat Pho and Grand Palace Tour in Bangkok
- Island Hopping Day Trip to Phi Phi Islands
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Day Trip from Siem Reap
- Cu Chi Tunnels Day Tour
6 month Southeast Asia itinerary summary
- Indonesia – 1 to 2 months
- The Philippines – 1 month
- Malaysia – 2 to 4 weeks
- Singapore – 1 to 2 weeks
- Thailand – 1 months
- Cambodia – 2 to 4 weeks
- Vietnam – 1 month
How much money do you need for 6 months in Southeast Asia?
Now, I know the first question that’s gonna be on your mind is how much did we spend in total while backpacking Southeast Asia?
While I didn’t keep track of absolutely every single purchase, since we returned home, I’ve combed through our bank statements meticulously to find out a very close estimate of how much we spent…
We spent £5,550.03 each during our 7(ish) months in Southeast Asia. This works out to approximately £792.87 each per month.
Of course, we spent more in some countries than others (Singapore for example, was pretty expensive, whereas we spent significantly less in Cambodia and the Philippines), but a good estimate of how much you’re likely to spend backpacking Southeast Asia is between £700 and £800 each, each month.
This will depend entirely on exactly which countries you’re travelling to and the type of travel you plan on doing – e.g. extreme budget, mid-range or luxury travel.
Our expenditure is a very accurate representation of a low to medium-range budget.
Read more: How Much Money We Spent Travelling NZ, Australia & Southeast Asia
Indonesia – backpacking Southeast Asia route
Length of stay: 1-2 months
Where to go in Indonesia – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Before we flew to Indonesia, I had no idea just how big the country is – it’s frigging enormous. In the grand scheme of things, we barely scratched the surface of places to go in Indonesia and I’ve mentioned it before, but it really isn’t my favourite place in the world.
While we did enjoy Gili T and Nusa Penida somewhat, Bali just didn’t live up to the incredibly high expectations I had of it from all the hype I’d heard on Instagram and from other travellers. However, I still think it’s a place that’s worth seeing for yourself, especially if you’re planning on doing an epic trip around Southeast Asia.
We spent two months in Indonesia as we travelled very slowly, spending weeks at a time in most places. However, you could easily spend just one month there, depending on where you want to go and how much time you want to spend in each place.
Here are a few recommendations of where to go in Indonesia.
Read more: My Top 13 Favourite Experiences in Indonesia
Bali – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
My relationship with Bali really is an odd one as, at the time, I was kind of mega frustrated with how much I wasn’t enjoying it when all I’d heard were good things about the little island.
However, so many travellers absolutely adore Bali and my opinion of it really isn’t gospel so I would still always encourage you to decide for yourself.
We spent almost two full months in Indonesia as we extended our visas (if you’re from the UK, you’re only entitled to spend 30 days in Indonesia unless you extend). I’ve written a comprehensive guide on how to extend your visa in Indonesia here.
Top things to see/do in Bali:
- Ubud Monkey Forest – book a guided tour here
- Tegallalang Rice Terraces
- Mount Batur
- Lempuyang Temple (read about what I really think of it here!)
- Agro Santi Coffee Plantation
Read more: Why I Didn’t Love Bali As Much As I Thought I Would
Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida was possibly my favourite island in Indonesia. It was much quieter than Bali or Gili T (although this might not always be the case) and it’s an absolutely stunning place.
The island is pretty easy to get around as it’s not huge and many travellers hire scooters to get around. However, we decided against hiring a scooter as the roads aren’t exactly in the best shape and we didn’t feel comfortable riding a scooter at the time so we hired a private driver to take us around on the day trips instead.
Top things to see/do in Nusa Penida:
- Diamond Beach (absolutely stunning beach)
- Kelingking Beach
- Angel’s Billabong
- Thousand Islands Viewpoint
- Broken Beach
Read more: Nusa Penida Day Tour – Diamond Beach, Kelingking Beach & More!
Gili Islands
The Gili Islands comprise of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno and all three islands are just a short (albeit often very rocky) boat ride from Bali.
We spent 10 days in Gili T and then did a brief boat trip that took us to Gili Meno as part of a snorkelling trip. There aren’t an awful lot of things to do on the islands and you definitely don’t need to spend 10 days on Gili T in order to see everything; we only spent that much time so that we could relax for days on end.
Top things to see/do in Gili Islands:
- Snorkelling
- Scuba diving
- Cycling
- Bar Crawls with the Irish Bar
- Bingo Night at Lava
- Jiggy Boat party
Read more: An Epic 10-Day Travel Itinerary for Gili Trawangan
Philippines – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Length of stay: 1 month
More guides to the Philippines here!
Where to go on a Southeast Asia backpacking route in the Philippines
We spent pretty much one full month in the Philippines and I think that’s a good amount of time to see a fair bit of the expansive country.
As the Philippines is so huge and is home to more than 7000 islands, it can be hard to narrow it down to just a few places to spend time in while you’re there. While we did visit numerous islands/cities during our time there, we still barely even scratched the surface and I’d definitely like to go back one day.
Here’s some inspiration for the top places to visit in the Philippines during your Southeast Asia backpacking route.
Read more: 1 Month Philippines Itinerary: Coron, El Nido, Cebu & More!
Manila
Manila is the capital city of the Philippines and it’s the place that we flew into from Bali. It’s also one of the worst places I’ve ever been and even though we were only there for around 6 hours, it’s a place that I never want to have to return to.
Many travellers we met agreed with us and said they hated Manila too, so if you can, I’d recommend just passing through there if you have to fly in or out of Manila.
Coron
After the brief 6 hours in Manila, we took the overnight ferry to Coron; the ferry was an experience to say the least and not necessarily one that I’d particularly love to embark on again.
The little area of Coron itself isn’t really up to much but it is home to some fabulous islands that you can take day trips to see. I’d highly recommend spending at least a day or two in Coron so that you can see the beautiful islands, corals and beaches for yourself.
Top things to see/do in Coron:
- CYC Sand Bar
- Siete Pecados Marine Park
- Calachuchi Beach
- Kayangan Lake
- Coral Eden
- Hidden Lagoon
Read more: The Ultimate Coron Island Hopping Day Tour Itinerary
El Nido – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary and route
El Nido was a place that I wanted to visit for many years, even before we started travelling and I think it definitely lived up to my expectations.
Again, while it’s not necessarily the most beatific place itself, it’s surrounded by the most incredible islands, ocean and beaches and the day trips you can enjoy from El Nido are unlike anything you’ll have likely experienced before.
There’s also a great backpacking scene in El Nido itself, with plenty of hostels, cheap bars and many affordable places to eat.
Top things to see/do in El Nido:
- Big Lagoon (somewhere I was desperate to see and enjoyed every minute of)
- Small Lagoon
- Seven Commandos Beach
- Shimizu Island
- Miniloc Island
- Nacpan Beach
- Secret Lagoon
- Matinloc Island
- Helicopter Island
Read more: Ultimate El Nido Tour A Island Hopping Day Trip Itinerary
Cebu
After El Nido, we headed down to Puerto Princesa to catch a flight to Cebu where we spent a couple of days.
Cebu isn’t really somewhere you need to spend a long time in as there aren’t tonnes of things to do, but it is a good place to base yourself for a day or two for getting around the Philippines.
Top things to see/do in Cebu:
- Taoist Temple
- Fort San Pedro
- Cebu Westown Lagoon
Bohol/Panglao
From Cebu City, you can take a short ferry ride to Bohol Island and Panglao. Panglao was actually probably my favourite place in the Philippines; we stayed there for a good few days, at a tiny hostel just 100m from the beach.
Panglao was also the first place that we hired and rode a scooter for the first (and only) time while travelling as everything is pretty spread out across the adjoining islands.
Bohol and Panglao are absolutely stunning places and I’d highly recommend adding them to your Philippine itinerary while you’re backpacking Southeast Asia.
Top things to see/do in Bohol/Panglao:
- Libaong White Beach
- Bohol Chocolate Hills
- Alona Beach
- Bilar Man-made Forest
- Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary
Read more: 5 Things To Do In Panglao/Bohol
Malaysia – backpacking Southeast Asia itinerary
Length of stay: 2-4 weeks
Where to go in Malaysia – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
If you’ve followed me on Instagram since we were travelling, you’ll know just how much I adore Malaysia. In fact, within just a few days of being there, I decided that it was one of the best countries I’d ever been to.
Many people overlook Malaysia when backpacking around Southeast Asia and usually only view Kuala Lumpur as a layover city, but it definitely isn’t; I really think it’s a place that you need to spend some proper time in.
We spent almost 6 weeks in Malaysia in total and split our time between Kuala Lumpur and George Town.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur was the first place that we visited in Malaysia and I absolutely fell head over heels in love with it. While many people brush it off and use it only as a stopover when travelling around Asia and beyond, I personally adored it.
It was never somewhere that crossed my mind to visit, as no one I knew really raved about it, but we spent three fabulous weeks there and we’ve already talked about moving there for a couple of months one day.
From the food (SO good), to the people, to the beautiful architecture and things to see and do, KL is undoubtedly one of my favourite cities in the world.
Top things to see/do in Kuala Lumpur:
- Batu Caves
- Petronas Towers
- Wilayah Mosque
- KLCC Park
- Tapak Urban Street Dining
- KL Eco Forest Park
- Jalan Alor Night Market
- KL Tower
Read more: 17 Best Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
George Town/Penang
After our incredible experience in Kuala Lumpur, I really didn’t think I could love anywhere in Malaysia as much but George Town proved me wrong yet again and it also turned out to be one of my favourite places we visited while travelling.
It’s the cutest little town, filled with so much incredible food (seriously, the food markets here are to die for) and stunning street art; George Town is 100% a place that you need to add to your Southeast Asia backpacking itinerary.
Top things to see/do in George Town/Penang:
- Love Lane
- Kek Lok Si Temple
- Street Art
- Kapitan Keling Mosque
- The Top at Penang
- Antarabangsa Enterprise
- Chew Jetty
- Penang Hill
Read more: 10 Best Things To Do In George Town, Penang (Malaysia)
Singapore – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Length of stay: 1-2 weeks
It’s no secret that Singapore is incredibly expensive so it’s a place that a lot of travellers avoid when backpacking Southeast Asia, however, it is still possible to visit Singapore on a relatively strict budget.
We actually spent Christmas and New Year in Singapore which definitely wasn’t cheap at all, especially for accommodation, but there are still ways to save money in the famed city.
We found some of the food in Singapore some of the cheapest we ate in Southeast Asia as there are a tonne of Hawker Markets and street food stalls that not many people seem to realise.
My point is, if you really want to see Singapore but you’re worried it’s going to be too expensive, then you just need to come up with more inventive ways to save money while travelling.
On our second visit to Singapore in December 2023, we spent two nights at the YOTEL Orchard Road hotel branch which is one of the best and more affordable accommodation options located right in the heart of Orchard Road!
Top things to see/do in Singapore:
- Gardens by the Bay
- Marina Bay Sands Hotel
- Universal Studios
- Singapore Flyer
- ArtScience Museum
- Clarke Quay
- Merlion Park
- Stay at YOTEL Singapore Orchard Road
- Haji Lane and Arab Street
- Southern Ridges
- Little India
Read more: 25+ Best Things To Do In Singapore
Thailand – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Length of stay: 1 month
Where to go in Thailand – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Thailand is synonymous with being a backpacking haven for travellers from all over the world, and while many parts of it is great for backpackers, it wasn’t quite as impressive as I was expecting it to be.
Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed our time in Thailand and it’s an amazing country, but it just wasn’t quite as cheap as everyone told us it would be.
We spent roughly a month travelling around Thailand and during that time we saw and did an awful lot of awesome stuff. Here are some of the top places I’d recommend visiting in Thailand during your Southeast Asia backpacking trip.
Read more: The Ultimate 1 Month Backpacking Thailand Itinerary & Guide
Bangkok – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Bangkok is often cited as the pinnacle mecca of backpacking life in Asia and from the amount of other travellers you’ll inevitably meet there, it’s easier to see why.
However, you’ll soon have to become accustomed to a much quicker pace of life in Bangkok as it’s without a doubt one of the craziest and busiest cities I’ve ever been to. It’s also not quite as affordable as you might think; especially down the world-famous Khao San Road – expect to see a lot of scantily-clad women too!
Top things to see/do in Bangkok:
- Wat Arun Ratchawararam
- Khao San Road
- Muay Thai at Baan Chao Praya Gallery
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse rooftop bar
- Wat Pho
- The Grand Palace
- Wat Anongkharam Worawihan
- Erawan Shrine
Read more: Three Days In Bangkok – What To Do, See & Eat
Phuket
We actually started our time in Thailand in Phuket as we flew there from Singapore just after New Year’s.
We spent around five days on the island and while I definitely don’t think you need to spend that long there, as we were travelling pretty slowly compared to most other travellers, we didn’t see the harm in being there for a little while.
Phuket is renowned for being quite a rambunctious party island and we definitely experienced that side of things, but it’s also filled with awesome cultural excursions too that you shouldn’t miss out on.
Top things to see/do in Phuket:
- Island hopping day trip to Phi Phi Islands
- Big Buddha
- Phuket Old Town
- Wat Chalong
- Promthep Cape Viewpoint
- Karon Viewpoint
Read more: Phuket Island Hopping Day Trip To Phi Phi Islands
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta was an island that I really wanted to visit after hearing a few fellow travellers rave about it and I have to say, it really is a fab little place.
There aren’t a tonne of things to see and do there, but it is the perfect place to base yourself for a few days if you want to do little else apart from eat, drink, lay on the beach and watch endless beautiful sunsets.
Our little homestay was situated just a 2-minute walk from the beach so we headed there every evening for sundowners and to watch the most magical sunset over the ocean.
Top things to see/do in Koh Lanta:
- Mu Ko Lanta National Park
- Old Town
- Pra-Ae Beach
- Island hopping
- Beach days
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is situated at the very top of Thailand and is another great place for backpackers. We took the overnight bus there from Bangkok which isn’t exactly the most enjoyable journey, but it’s very cheap and pretty easy to embark on.
I really enjoyed Chiang Mai and I think it’s definitely a place you need to have on your Thailand travel itinerary.
Top things to see/do in Chiang Mai:
Read more: Blue Daily Elephant Care Sanctuary Chiang Mai
Kanchanaburi
Famed for being the home of part of the Death Railway and the Bridge on the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi is unfortunately often a place that’s overlooked in Thailand, with most backpackers sticking to places like Bangkok, Phi Phi and Phuket.
However, we spent a couple of days in Kanchanaburi largely just to see the Death Railway and I’m really glad we did because it was an awesome, albeit slightly harrowing experience. We actually rode the train along the railway all the way to Nam Tok where the tourist route ends.
Aside from the River Kwai and numerous bars and restaurants, there’s not much to do in Kanchanaburi itself, unless you take a few day trips. It is remarkably easy to get to and from Bangkok however, so many people just opt to take a day trip there.
Top things to see/do in Kanchanaburi:
- Bridge on the River Kwai and Death Railway
- Erawan National Park (day trip)
- JEATH War Museum
- Tiger Temple
Read more: Death Railway and River Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi – Ultimate Guide
Cambodia – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Length of stay: 2-4 weeks
Where to go in Cambodia – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
The next place on our Southeast Asia backpacking route and a place that’s very easily accessible from Thailand was Cambodia.
Cambodia always receives such mixed views and opinions from various travellers; one girl we met claimed it was her favourite place in the entire world, whereas other backpackers have said that it really wasn’t up to much and would happily never go back again.
I think I’m somewhere in the middle. Some places we visited in Cambodia were pretty cool such as the Angkor Wat Temples and a little city called Kampot. Whereas the capital city, Phnom Penh, wasn’t up to much and the southern coastal city of Sihanoukville was undoubtedly The Worst Place On Earth.
I’m always a huge advocate for people forging their own opinions about a place and I would never tell you not to visit anywhere, but I think it’s a good idea to note that Cambodia isn’t the best place in the world, in my opinion, at least.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide To Backpacking Cambodia On A Budget
Siem Reap – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Siem Reap, the home to the world-famous Angkor Wat temples and the city that is often mistaken for the capital city of Cambodia is a place that pretty much every backpacker visits if they’re in the country.
It’s a great little city for backpackers as there are plenty of affordable hostels and cheap eateries and the nightlife is great, especially if you hop on one of the many pub crawls (like we did).
Of course, it’s most famous for Angkor Wat and all the surrounding temples which are definitely worth seeing for yourself as they’re so unbelievably otherworldly.
Top things to see/do in Siem Reap:
- Angkor Wat
- Angkor Thom
- Ta Prohm (my personal favourite temple)
- Bayon Temple
- Pub Street (literally what it sounds like)
- Phare, The Cambodian Circus
Read more: The Ultimate Angkor Wat Guide – Ta Prohm, Ta Keo & More
Phnom Penh
The capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, was actually pretty anticlimactic and we really didn’t do an awful lot there apart from visiting the incredibly harrowing S21 Prison (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum).
Phnom Penh is home to an awful lot of horrific history surrounding Cambodia so it felt like a pretty sad place to be. However, I do think it’s worth spending a few days there, even just to learn more about the happenings at the Killing Fields, S21 and the history of the Khmer Rouge.
Top things to see/do in Phnom Penh:
- Royal Palace
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Killing Fields
- Central Market
- Wat Phnom
- National Museum of Cambodia
Koh Rong/Koh Rong Samloem
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen me talk in great depth about the coastal city of Sihanoukville in the south of Cambodia.
Once famed for being the gateway to the Cambodian islands, Sihanoukville is now a city that’s in a perpetual state of construction since Chinese investors overtook it and built hotels and casinos at an impressive speed. The entire city is now a derelict construction zone and quite frankly, it’s not an enjoyable place to be. In fact, I’ve often cited it as The Worst Place On Earth.
However, being avidly curious travellers (and because I had to travel there for a company I was working with so I could write about it), Matt and I headed to Sihanoukville for two nights before heading on to Koh Rong Island.
I’ve written more about Sihanoukville in my Cambodia itinerary post and I would seriously advise you to undertake your own research on the city to determine whether you think it’s worth visiting, just to get to the islands.
If you do decide to make your way there, check out a few of the top things to see and do on Koh Rong/Samloem.
Top things to see/do in Koh Rong:
- Koh Toch Beach
- Sok San Beach
- Royal Beach
- Pagoda Beach
- M-Pai Bay
- Koh Rong Samloem Lighthouse
Kampot
Aside from seeing all the incredible Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap, I think Kampot was my favourite place in Cambodia and it’s a place that I’d encourage you to add to your Southeast Asia backpacking route, largely just for the abundance of awesome places to eat that you’ll find in Kampot.
We ate so well while staying in Kampot and there are dozens of restaurants, cafes and bars in this tiny little city. It didn’t feel too touristy at all, but I loved that it did still cater to tourists in terms of food, bars and the fact that the locals spoke pretty good English.
Kampot isn’t exactly teeming with exciting activities or excursions, but it’s a lovely little place to spend a couple of days just walking around, eating as much yummy food as possible and experiencing some of the local culture.
Top things to see/do in Kampot:
- Eat lots of food
- Salt Fields
- Watch the sunset on the river
- Durian Roundabout
- Preah Monivong Bokor National Park
Read more: The Best Places To Eat In Kampot, Cambodia
Vietnam – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Length of stay: 1 month
Where to go in Vietnam – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
The final country on our Southeast Asia backpacking route and a place that I would recommend to everyone is Vietnam.
We originally planned to spend a full month in Vietnam so before we even travelled there, we extended our visa from 14 days to 30 days (you have to do this online before you travel to Vietnam). However, due to the bloody awful COVID-19 pandemic, we had to cut our travels short and fly home much sooner than we’d intended.
Anyway, we still spent a good few weeks exploring Vietnam and we travelled pretty much the full length of the country; from Ho Chi Minh City, all the way up to Hanoi, with multiple stops in various cities in between.
I really loved Vietnam and I’m excited to head back hopefully one day soon to finish off the things that we missed out on.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Ho Chi Minh City was the first place we visited in Vietnam as we took the bus all the way from Phnom Penh in Cambodia to HCMC.
We were there for a full week and as we were there over Matt’s birthday, we splashed out somewhat on a slightly fancier Airbnb apartment that provided us with the perfect base for our time in Ho Chi Minh.
HCMC is a fab place in Vietnam and I would 100% recommend adding it to your 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary.
Top things to see/do in Ho Chi Minh:
- Cu Chi Tunnels
- Cafe Apartment Block
- Tan Dinh Church
- Bitexco Financial Tower
- Ben Thanh Market
- Bui Vien Street
- War Remnants Museum
Read more: 3 Days In Ho Chi Minh Itinerary – Best Things To See & Do In Ho Chi Minh
Da Lat
After Ho Chi Minh, we headed to Da Lat which is a cute little town in the mountains.
There are lots of great day trips to enjoy from Da Lat, and we created some of my favourite Vietnam memories there.
Top things to see/do in Da Lat:
- Cable Car
- Datanla Waterfall
- Datanla rollercoaster
- Hành Trình Trên Cao High Ropes
- Crazy House
- Maze Bar
Read more: Top Five Fun Things To Do In Da Lat, Vietnam
Nha Trang
Nha Trang was probably my least favourite place in Vietnam. It was a nice enough place but it was absolutely overcome with tourists, particularly Russian tourists and even though we were there just as the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to outbreak, it was still very busy everywhere.
On the plus side, there are lots of great places to eat in Nha Trang, in order to accommodate the many tourists so you won’t struggle to find a plethora of amazing restaurants!
Top things to see/do in Nha Trang:
- Long Son Pagoda
- Ponagar Tower
- Vinpearl Water Park
Hoi An – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Hoi An, on the other hand, is an absolutely fab place and it’s definitely somewhere you should have on your 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary!
While there’s not a crazy amount of “big” activities to do in the city itself, it’s a truly beautiful place to spend a few days. Hoi An is famed for its abundance of lights and lanterns that make the city come magically alive at night.
Top things to see/do in Hoi An:
- Japanese Covered Bridge
- Hoi An Night Market
- Ancient Town
Read more: Hoi An Photo Diary – 20+ Photos To Inspire Your Trip To Vietnam
Da Nang
Da Nang was the last proper place we explored before we had to head straight to Hanoi to catch our flight home back to the UK.
Da Nang is such an incredible place with lots to see and do and it’s definitely somewhere that I’d go back to again.
From the world-famous Golden Hands Bridge to the Sun World theme park, to the beautiful beaches, Da Nang is somewhere you need to include in your Southeast Asia itinerary.
Top things to see/do in Da Nang:
- Golden Hands Bridge
- Sun World at Ba Na Hills
- Marble Mountains
- Dragon Bridge
- My Son cultural heritage site
Hanoi – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
The last proper place we “visited” in Vietnam and consequently the last place we were before our world trip came to an abrupt end, Hanoi is somewhere that I was longing to visit for a long time and it was such a shame that we weren’t able to stay there very long.
Unfortunately, we only managed to stay in Hanoi for 12 hours before we had to catch a flight home so we literally didn’t do anything there apart from spending 4 hours in McDonald’s…
I’ve still collated a few ideas of the best things to see and do in Hanoi to give you guys inspiration in case you head there yourself.
Top things to see/do in Hanoi:
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Temple of Literature
- Thăng Long Imperial Citadel
- Hoàn Kiếm Lake
- Ta Hien Beer Street
- Tran Quoc Pagoda
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral
And there you have it! A fully comprehensive 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary and backpacking route!
Related posts:
- Backpacking Southeast Asia Ultimate Packing List
- 12 Best Bahn Mi In Hanoi, Vietnam
- The Ultimate Vietnam Backpacking Guide
- A Guide To Backpacking Cambodia On A Budget
- The Ultimate 1 Month Backpacking Thailand Itinerary & Guide
- One Month In The Philippines Ultimate Itinerary
Pin for later – 6 month Southeast Asia itinerary
Which places are on your Southeast Asia backpacking route? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.
Wow, this whole trip looks like it was amazing! I didn’t expect it to meet a COVID-19 ending (SUPER sad) but it looks like you had a wonderful 7 months!
Thank you so much!
This looks amazing, and so useful for a good guide! What month you started your 6 months?
Thank you! We arrived in Indonesia in August.
Super useful guide!! Thanks Chloe. I’d also suggest a good tip on money in SE Asia. Atms are a good way of getting cash and you can use apps like ATM Fee Saver – it helps finding the fee-free and lower fee ATMs in the region along with withdrawal limits for foreign card holders. worth adding to your list of tricks!