Packing List for Southeast Asia

For our honeymoon, we traveled for 20 days to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam and it is still the best trip we’ve ever taken. Whether you have tickets booked or you’re still saving up, check out my packing list for ideas of what to bring.

An exceedingly ticklish pedicure on the streets of Siem Reap, Cambodia

When we went: December. Weather in these countries is consistently warm (around 80 degrees Farenheit) throughout the year, with Bangkok being the hottest city we visited (feels like was in the high 90s) and Hoi An in Vietnam being a little cooler and cloudier, but still in the mid-70s and humid.

I recommend eschewing rolling luggage in favor of a travel backpack for Southeast Asia. You’re likely to experience unpaved roads and bumpy tuk-tuk rides and to me a backpack is easier to maneuver in those situations. Check out my post on investing in a travel backpack for everything to consider before you buy. I bought my 65 liter pack seven years ago and still love it. There are 24-hour wash and fold spots that will do your laundry in every city, so you don’t have to worry about running out of clean underwear 🙂

My mindset for this trip was mix-and-match and what can be packed very tightly without wrinkling too badly. I started with a few lightweight cotton shirts and basic tanks. I like J Crew’s Artist tees because the fabric is super breathable. Also how cute is this animal tee from Wholesome Culture? You can feel good about your purchase too, since they donate 10% of their profits to animal welfare and environmental nonprofits. I also brought a couple of dresses. The black tank dress was good on it’s own or with a colorful sarong wrapped as a skirt, and it could be rolled up very small.

For bottoms, don’t bother bringing leggings, opt for lightweight and breathable options to stay comfortable in the heat and humidity. Elephant pants are ubiquitous in Southeast Asia, you can find them at every market so no need to buy ahead of time. They are a little overdone but very comfortable and good for temples, a yoga class, or just lounging. In the photo above, I’m wearing a bright green pair of linen drawstring shorts from J Crew, this season they had a great burnt orange color. Those are currently sold out, but I found a similar pair in chambray at Old Navy. In addition to these, I brought a pair of denim shorts and synthetic hiking shorts, like the ones below from Patagonia. Lastly, I packed a couple flowy cotton skirts, which are great for photos and staying cool.

The only outerwear you’re likely to need is a rain jacket, especially in Vietnam we had a few rainy days. The jacket I linked comes in 10 different colors. If you’re cold-natured like me, bring a sweatshirt for the plane.

If you’re doing Southeast Asia right, expect to walk a lot. I didn’t have a need for anything other than sandals; when you’re backpacking extra shoes add a lot of weight and take up space. The best walking sandals I own are Crocs, which I know have a bad reputation for being ugly but they are so light weight, easy to clean, and more subtle than the typical trekking sandals. They are a cult favorite among frequent adventure travelers. I have two pairs of the style I linked (from the Isabella line), black and gold and both have served me well. Crocs don’t come in half sizes. I usually wear a 7.5 but sized down to a 7 and they fit perfectly. Alternately, Chacos and Keens are popular options, I like the adjustable straps. I also brought my tried-and-true leather sandals, you’ll see a lot of Birkenstock-style sandals on the hostel crowd. Whatever shoes you bring, be sure to break them in before your trip. The last thing you want is blisters.

I always have my cross-body bag, which is plenty large for wallet, phone, chapstick, etc. But if you’ll be out and about for the day it’s good to have something with more capacity but not so heavy that you get tired of lugging it around. The Swedish brand Fjallraven has mini backpacks in an incredible 59 color options. I picked up a knock-off mini North Face backpack in Chiang Mai that worked perfectly to hold my camera and a change of clothes. And it may be tempting to bring that round ratan bag that every blogger has (guilty), but it is honestly not worth the space in your pack and is more likely to get damaged than be of much use. I also brought a large, lightweight scarf that could double as a sarong, bathing suit cover-up, or to cover my shoulders at a religious site.