Planning a trip to Southeast Asia? Let me help you pack for your trip! As someone who’s spent the last several years exploring Southeast Asia, from Vietnam to the Philippines, to Indonesia, and everywhere in between, I hope this packing guide can help you know what to bring, what to leave at home, and what to pick up when you get there.
If you’re a serial overpacker or it’s your first time in Southeast Asia, trust me, this guide is for you. And while you’re in the habit of trusting me, you need a lot less than you think. Whenever I’m in Asia, I just end up wearing the same three things over and over again, which means my suitcase is 70% diving gear, 15% stuff I need, and another 15% stuff I definitely don’t need but also don’t want to get rid of. So learn from my mistakes and pack smarter, not heavier.
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I’ve retired my backpack for a much more comfortable roller bag that I know will protect (and fit) all my diving gear. And when I’m not diving, I’ve retired my backpack for a much smaller, but still convenient roller bag that won’t make me a sweaty mess by the time I’ve arrived at the hotel.
Yup, you’ve read it here first. The backpack is retired. I love the convenience of having a suitcase; I love not having sweat constantly dripping down the front and back of me while physically carrying all of my belongings on my person at all times. What can I say? I’m in my 30’s now.
What I don’t love, though, is my inability to stop overpacking. To hold myself accountable and help you plan your trip, here’s my Southeast Asia packing guide.
What to Pack for a Trip to Southeast Asia
Now here’s the thing, it doesn’t matter if you’re going to Thailand for a week or to five different countries over the span of 6 months. What you need remains the same, because for the 6+ month trip, you’re just going to do laundry and stock up on the essentials as and when you need them.
This is the packing guide I wish I’d been holding myself to until now. This is the packing guide that I promise I’m going to follow next time I leave on a trip. And this is the packing guide you need before you leave for your next trip.
So, let’s get packing, my friends.
The Boring Essentials: Passports, Wallets, Visas
- Passport
- Visas (if you need a visa for anywhere you’re going, make sure to have that before you leave)
- Wallet (If you don’t already, sign up for a checking account with Charles Schwab. They reimburse you for all of your ATM fees around the world)
- Cash (I always travel with some USD and EUR)
- Any prescription medications that you need
At the end of the day, the only things you really need to travel with are your boring essentials. As long as you have your phone, passport, and wallet (plus any required visas), you’ll be set to go anywhere you’d like. I’m not saying those are the only things you should travel with, but they are technically the only essentials.
Bits in my Purse
There are a few things that I always have in my purse, no matter where I go in the world. I thought I’d share them as an extra in this Southeast Asia packing guide, because they are technically things I always travel with and are some of the things I would never leave home without (similar to my boring essentials but slightly less ‘essential’).
- Tide to go pens. I always have at least two of these with me on every trip.
- Metal straws. I have a little bag with metal straws in it that lives in my purse.
- Foldable, reusable bags. I keep one of these Baggu bags in my purse at all times, and I usually travel with at least 2.
- A small notebook and pen (trying to be more analogue as a full-time travel girlie)
- Headphones (these noise-cancelling headphones have changed my life)
- Earplugs. I actually love these earplugs from Loop. I bought them for festivals, and I now take them everywhere. They even help me sleep when I’m on an overnight bus or in a noisy area.
- Chapstick
- Regular Glasses & Sunglasses
- Tigerbalm (it cures all aches and pains)
Clothing
This is where stuff is going to start to get interesting. Because I’m telling you (and myself) that you need a lot less than you think. It’s going to be hot, but I recommend taking something lightweight to cover your arms/legs, because if you want to go inside many temples, you’ll need to dress modestly.
I’m honestly always wearing the same few outfits over and over again when I’m in Southeast Asia, so even though I pack more, there’s still stuff I hardly wear.
- 2x t-shirts
- 3x tank tops
- 1x linen long-sleeve top
- 2x shorts
- 1x lightweight dress
- 1x workout set
- 1x lightweight pair of pants
- 3x swimsuits (two bikinis, one one-piece)
- 1x rash guard (and if you want, 1x swim leggings)
- 1x rain jacket
- 1x hat
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 4 pairs of socks
- 1x Sneakers
- 1x Sandals
Honestly, that’s it. That’s all you need. With that, you could travel in Southeast Asia for a week or for 6 months. Am I currently traveling with nearly double that? Yes. Do I regret it? Absolutely. Take it from me, you need a lot less than you think.
Electronics
- Phone
- Camera (if you have/want one)
- Extra batteries and memory cards
- Computer / iPad
- Kindle (I use the Libby App to rent library books from back home!)
- Headphones (noise cancelling headphones have changed my life)
- Charging cables and plug adapters
- External battery charger
As I’m traveling and working, my electronics are a pretty vital part of my travels. I’m currently traveling with an iPad and a computer, an underwater camera, a land-based camera, an Osmo, and a small point-and-shoot film camera. Is it over the top? Absolutely. You do not need to be traveling with this much tech, I promise you it’s more stress than it’s worth.
Toiletries (and medications)
I don’t bring many toiletries or medications with me. You can buy anything you need where you are going, so I choose to travel without most of that. I also don’t wear makeup when I’m in Southeast Asia, so I learned on my last trip that I don’t need to drag it around.
Here’s what I bring with me:
- Toothbrush (I buy toothpaste when I arrive, usually)
- Hair mask (I travel with this because it’s ocean-friendly, and I do a lot of scuba diving; if you don’t dive, you don’t need this)
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Detangling hairbrush (I actually use this mini one from Olivia Christensen Salon. I’ve never found a brush that detangles my post-diving hair this well)
- Moisturizer and lip balm
- Hair ties
- Vitamins (I like to take B12 and vegan omega 3 – which you can’t always get everywhere, so I do bring that from home)
- Any extra medications that you need
Things like paracetamol, electrolytes, and Dramamine can be purchased when/if needed. I don’t worry too much about bringing any of that stuff from home. I also never bring shampoo, conditioner, or anything like that because you can pick that up if and when you need it.
While traveling, especially if you’re going away for a long time, you’re going to have a different routine than when you’re at home. So don’t stress about all your skincare, your skin is going to be so happy to be in the sunshine and the sea. Just give it a good wash with some soap each evening, and you can get back to your regular routine when you’re home.
Miscellaneous extras
Some of these are repeats from my ‘Bits in my Purse’ section, but these are the otherwise miscellaneous extras that are coming with me on every trip.
- Dry bag
- Sarong (I always travel with a sarong, you can wear it to the beach, sit on it when you get to the beach, and use it to protect yourself from the sun. They have a million uses, and they’re the best)
- Quick-dry towel
- Reusable water bottle. You can refill water in so many places these days, it’s such a great way to cut down on plastic.
- Metal straws. This is another thing we’ve started traveling with that’s been great to help us say no to plastic.
- Reusable bags. I travel with two Baggu foldable bags (they’re my favorite brand), and I really love keeping one in my purse at all times.
- Journal
- Playing cards
- Film (for my little camera)
- Laundry detergent sheets
And that’s it, really. Anything else you don’t need. Trust me on that one. Not only could you buy anything you want once you get to your destination, but you might find that you want to buy a few things. So it can be helpful to make sure that you leave enough space in your bag for that.
If you want to know a trick I’ve used for years to help me pack. Here it is: Lay out everything that you want to take with you. Then remove half of it. Then, when you’re finished, remove half of it again and repeat this until you’re left with about as much stuff as I’ve added to this list.
You’ll be so grateful to yourself for not overpacking. I know whenever I manage to pack only what I need, I’m way happier. It’s stressful having to carry stuff around that you wish you’d left at home, but that you also don’t want to get rid of.
What would you add or remove from this list? Also, if you’re going scuba diving and traveling with your own gear, this list is only the beginning! Make sure to read my liveaboard packing guide next.
Finally, don’t forget that you can get 10% off your own Level8 Luggage when you use my code (JUSTYNJEN10) at checkout. I’ll keep you posted, but so far, I love these suitcases. Find your own here.
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