South East Asia is a popular travel destination for Indian travelers due to its proximity and affordability. The region offers a diverse range of experiences, from bustling cities to pristine beaches and ancient temples. It’s rich culture, stunning natural beauty, friendly locals, and delicious cuisine make it an irresistible destination for travelers from all over the world. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a cultural experience, there’s no doubt that Southeast Asia has something for everyone. From the bustling cities of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City to the serene beaches of Bali and Phuket, there is something for everyone in this vibrant part of the world.
One of the main reasons people love to travel to Southeast Asia is its rich culture and history. With a long and complex history, Southeast Asia is home to many ancient civilizations and cultures, and travelers are often drawn to the region to explore the fascinating history and traditions of these countries. For example, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, with its ancient temples and ruins dating back to the 12th century. Similarly, the Royal Palace in Bangkok is a testament to Thailand’s rich history and culture, with its intricate architecture and stunning interior. In addition to its cultural attractions, Southeast Asia is also known for its stunning natural beauty. With white-sand beaches, lush rainforests, and picturesque rice paddies, the region offers a diverse array of landscapes that are sure to take your breath away. Thailand’s Phuket and Bali’s beaches are some of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, where travelers can enjoy crystal-clear waters and sunshine all year round. Meanwhile, the mountainous regions of Vietnam and Laos offer trekking opportunities and breathtaking scenery that are ideal for adventure seekers. From the street vendors to the hotel staff, locals are renowned for their friendly and welcoming nature, making visitors feel right at home. This hospitality, coupled with the region’s affordable prices, makes it an attractive destination for budget-conscious travelers. With its mix of flavors and cuisines from different cultures, the region offers an exciting culinary experience that is not to be missed. From the famous street food of Vietnam and Thailand to the seafood in Indonesia and Malaysia, there is something for everyone’s palate in Southeast Asia. Here’s how you can plan an Asian trip with minimal expenses and abundant fun.
Detailed Itinerary for a budget Asian Holiday:
India to Singapore
Take a flight from India to Singapore and spend 4 days in the country visiting Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa Island, Universal Studios Singapore, Merlion Park, Marina Bay Cruise, Singapore Flyer, Chinatown Market, Little India, Singapore Zoo and local street market.
Days to Spend in Singapore: 2 Days
Singapore to Malaysia
You have multiple options to fly from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Either take a bus (cheapest option), cab (expensive option) or a flight (economical option) to reach the capital of Malaysia. The borders are quite easy to cross even if you’re crossing by road and the travel time usually depends upon the traffic at the borders which might get closed after 6 PM so you need to ensure that you’re leaving early and reaching before time. Flight is by far the best option as it takes only 1 hour to reach the capital from Singapore and its not even expensive at all. Spend 2 days in Kuala Lumpur visiting Batu Caves, Petronas Towers, Genting Highlands, Bukit Bantang streets etc. You can even take a flight to Langkawi/Penang from Kuala Lumpur to visit the serene beaches of Malaysia. I would recommend Langkawi because of the natural beauty it has to offer and more activities to do as compared to Penang.
Days to Spend in Malaysia – 3 Days
Malaysia to Cambodia
Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Cambodia. Only two major cities are there in Cambodia namely Siem Reap and Phnom Penh where flights from Kuala Lumpur arrive daily. Spend 2 days in each city to cover the major tourist attractions including Angkor Wat Temple, Angkor Thom, Fountain of the Land, Grey sand beaches in Phnom Penh and the local street markets.
Days to Spend in Cambodia – 3 Days
Cambodia to Vietnam
Cambodia and Vietnam are connected by numerous routes so crossing the border is not that difficult here. You can either take a bus to travel to Vietnam border and then cross the border by a quick walk and take a cab to Ho Chi Minh City after completing the immigration. This process might prove to be an expensive one as the corruption is a real thing across the borders and you might get asked to pay more for a successful immigration. Another hassle free route is flight that takes only 1 hour and is pretty smooth. After arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, you can spend a few days exploring the city and then travel to Hanoi to explore the Northern part of Vietnam.
Days to Spend in Vietnam – 4 Days
Vietnam to Laos
There are daily flight from Hanoi to Vientiane or you could cross the border by road that is a time taking process. After arriving in Laos, spend 3 days here exploring the culture, sight seeing and local food and then proceed on your journey towards Thailand.
Days to Spend in Laos – 3 Days
Laos to Thailand
Fly to Bangkok from Laos (Vientiane) or if you’re crossing the border by road, then you might need to spend a day in Udon Thani on the Thailand side after crossing the immigration. Crossing the border by road is a fairly simple process in Laos and you won’t get asked too many questions provided you have all the supporting documents to show. After arriving in Thailand, spend 2-3 days in Bangkok then head off to Pattaya. Spend a few days in Pattaya and come to Bangkok again. You can travel to Phuket/Krabi from Bangkok to experience the most fun side of Thailand and spend a few days there at leisure. Phuket has a lot more things available as compared to Krabi and even a week is less here to explore.
Days to Spend in Thailand – 5 Days
Thailand to India
Fly back to India with happy memories and an extremely extravagant trip to Asia within a crazy budget that you might have thought is unimaginable.!!!
Total Days Required for a Trip – 20 Days
Detailed Expenses Breakup:
Transport:
Below transport cost majorly includes flight travel but you can cut down these expenses even more in those countries where you can cross the borders by land and could travel in public buses or rickshaws. The only drawback is that you would spend more time in crossing the border by land and sometimes the immigration officers are not too friendly so you might end up paying a good amount of bribe to get a permission from them. Anyway flight travel is also not too costly so you can refer the below table that might help you plan your trip.
From | To | Transport Cost |
India (Any City) | Singapore (Singapore) | 8000 INR (One Way Flight) |
Singapore (Singapore) | Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) | 4000 INR (One Way Flight) |
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) | Malaysia (Langkawi) | 2500 INR (One Way Flight) |
Malaysia (Langkawi) | Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) | 2500 INR (One Way Flight) |
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) | Cambodia (Siem Reap) | 4000 INR (One Way Flight) |
Cambodia (Siem Reap) | Cambodia (Phnom Penh) | 1000 INR (One Way Bus) |
Cambodia (Phnom Penh) | Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) | 1500 INR (One Way Bus) |
Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) | Vietnam (Hanoi) | 3000 INR (One Way Flight) |
Vietnam (Hanoi) | Laos (Vientiane) | 1500 INR (One Way Bus) |
Laos (Vientiane) | Thailand (Udon Thani) | 1000 INR (One Way Bus) |
Thailand (Udon Thani) | Thailand (Bangkok) | 600 INR (One Way Train) |
Thailand (Bangkok) | Thailand (Phuket) | 2000 INR (One Way Flight) |
Thailand (Phuket) | India (Any City) | 8000 INR (One Way Flight) |
Visa:
Getting a visa to all these countries for an Indian Passport holders is not too difficult. While most of them provides visa on arrival but you can get your visa approved beforehand to avoid all the hassle. I have listed down the visa cost for all the countries and documentation required is pretty much the same.
Documents required for Visa:
Apart from the above, no other document is required for all the countries listed above. Speaking from my personal experience, this is pretty much the list unless you really have a black mark on your profile back home like criminal records, unnecessary stay beyond your visa limit in your previous visits or if you don’t have a job. Anyway I did not face any problem and was never asked by embassy to provide more documents apart from the above.
To Apply for a Singapore Visa, use this link – https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/esvclandingpage/save
To Apply for a Malaysia Visa, use this link – https://malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my/evisa/vlno_register.jsp?type=register
To Apply for a Cambodia Visa, use this link – https://www.evisa.gov.kh/application
To Apply for a Vietnam Visa, use this link – https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/apply-online/
To Apply for a Laos Visa, use this link – https://laoevisa.gov.la/apply
To Apply for a Thailand Visa, use this link (Go for On Arrival Visa for Thailand as it’s cheap and easier)
Total Visa Cost of 6 countries from India = 19000 INR approx.
Hotels:
Singapore
Malaysia
Cambodia
Vietnam
Laos
Thailand
Total Accommodation Cost for 20 days in 6 countries = 14000-20000 INR approx.
Food:
Asian countries are famous for their street food savories and serves the best food anywhere in the world. The cost of street food can vary depending on the type of food and location, but generally, it is considered affordable and budget-friendly. Hawker centers, which are open-air food courts featuring various food stalls, are popular places to enjoy street food in all these countries. Prices for a typical dish can range from USD $1 to USD $8 (approximately 300 INR per meal), with some dishes costing more or less depending on the ingredients and preparation.
Some popular street food dishes and their average prices in these countries include:
Approx Cost of food: 15000 INR – 20000 INR
Total Expenses Cost for 6 countries for 20 Days:
Transport (40000) + Hotels (15000) + Food (16000) + Visa (19000) + Other Misc Expenses (10000) = 100000 INR
Please note that this data is based upon the travel in 2019. Things may have slightly from then but there is no significant difference apart from the airline fares which keeps increasing/decreasing based on the season and popularity of the place.