Southeast Asia Trip Planning Checklist
Back to the Southeast Asia travel guide
A short, practical list to work through before you travel to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia or Cambodia. It is ordered by what needs doing first.
1. Check entry rules for every country
Visa rules change often and depend entirely on your passport. Some nationalities enter visa-free, some need an e-visa before departure, and some can get a visa on arrival. Before you buy flights, check visa requirements by passport for each country on your route.
Things that catch travellers out:
- Passport validity. All four countries generally expect at least six months left on your passport from the date you arrive.
- Onward tickets. Airlines may refuse boarding if you cannot show a ticket out of the country.
- Transit stops. A layover in a third country can need its own visa. JetlyGo has a separate transit visa checker for connecting flights.
- Overland crossings. Not every land border issues e-visas. Check the specific crossing, not only the country.
2. Pick your months
| Month | Vietnam north | Vietnam centre | Thailand | Bali | Cambodia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Cool, dry | Showers | Excellent | Wet | Excellent |
| Feb | Misty | Good | Excellent | Wet | Excellent |
| Mar | Warm | Excellent | Hot | Showers | Hot |
| Apr | Warm | Excellent | Very hot | Good | Very hot |
| May | Hot | Excellent | Rains start | Excellent | Hot, rains start |
| Jun | Hot, wet | Excellent | Wet | Excellent | Wet |
| Jul | Hot, wet | Excellent | Wet | Excellent, busy | Wet |
| Aug | Hot, wet | Good | Wet | Excellent, busy | Wet |
| Sep | Good | Rainy | Wet | Excellent | Wet |
| Oct | Excellent | Floods possible | Rains ending | Good | Wet |
| Nov | Excellent | Floods possible | Good | Showers | Good |
| Dec | Cool | Rainy | Excellent | Wet | Excellent |
There is no single best month for all four countries, which is why most long trips route around the weather. The multi-country itineraries are built with this in mind.
3. Book in the right order
- International flights. Compare flights to Southeast Asia and fly into one city and out of another if it saves backtracking.
- Anything with limited spaces. Liveaboards in Komodo and Raja Ampat, expedition caves in Phong Nha, and peak-season Ha Long Bay cruises.
- Accommodation for the first and last nights. Leave the middle flexible if you like.
- Day tours. Most can be booked a few days ahead, and weather-dependent boat trips are better booked once you are there.
4. Money
- Cash still matters. Markets, street food, tuk-tuks and small guesthouses are cash only in all four countries.
- Cards work in cities. Hotels, malls and larger restaurants take cards, often with a small surcharge.
- US dollars in Cambodia. Cambodia uses dollars alongside the riel, and prices are commonly quoted in dollars.
- Big notes are a problem. Break large notes at supermarkets; small vendors rarely have change.
5. Getting around
| Country | Best way between cities |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | Domestic flights for long hops; trains and sleeper buses for short ones |
| Thailand | Domestic flights, overnight trains, and ferries to the islands |
| Indonesia | Domestic flights between islands; fast boats from Bali to Lombok and the Gilis |
| Cambodia | Buses and minivans; flights from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh |
Ride-hailing apps such as Grab work in all four countries’ main cities and avoid haggling over fares.
6. Health and safety
- See a travel doctor around six to eight weeks before departure about vaccinations.
- Use mosquito repellent at dawn and dusk; dengue is present across the region.
- Buy travel insurance that covers the activities you plan, especially diving, motorbiking and trekking.
- Drink bottled or filtered water.
7. Respect local customs
- Cover shoulders and knees at temples and pagodas.
- Take your shoes off before entering a temple or a home.
- In Thailand, never touch someone’s head, and treat images of the royal family with respect.
- Choose wildlife experiences that do not involve riding or performing animals.
Ready to plan?
Put the whole trip in one place with the JetlyGo trip planner, then pick tours from the country guides: