Two weeks. Southeast Asia. A budget. Where do you start?

After a lot of trial and error (and one very bad overnight bus decision I’ll tell you about), here’s the route I’d recommend to anyone doing their first Southeast Asia trip.

Approximate total cost: $900–1,200 USD including flights, accommodation, food, activities and internal transport. Not including your international flight to Bangkok.

The Route Overview

Bangkok (3 nights)
  → Chiang Mai (2 nights)
    → Luang Prabang, Laos (2 nights)
      → Hanoi, Vietnam (2 nights)
        → Hoi An (2 nights)
          → Bali, Indonesia (3 nights)

Yes, it’s fast. This is an introduction, not an immersion. If you have more time, slow down anywhere along the route — Chiang Mai and Hoi An in particular deserve longer.

Days 1–3: Bangkok, Thailand

Arrive Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport. Take the Airport Rail Link to the city (45 THB).

Check into a hostel in Banglamphu — you want to be walking distance from the old city temples.

Day 1: Jet lag day. Walk Khao San Road (chaotic but worth seeing once), find a pad thai street cart, get an early night.

Day 2: Temples. Wat Pho in the morning (200 THB entry), walk to the Grand Palace (500 THB — yes it’s expensive, yes it’s worth it), Wat Arun across the river (100 THB + 5 THB ferry). Eat everything you see on the street.

Day 3: Chatuchak Market if it’s a weekend. Otherwise Lumphini Park in the morning, afternoon boat along the canals in Thonburi, Chinatown (Yaowarat) for dinner.

Budget: ~$35–45/day

Days 4–5: Chiang Mai, Thailand

Travel: Overnight train from Hua Lamphong station. Second class sleeper costs about 600–800 THB (~$18–23). Saves a night’s accommodation and it’s actually comfortable.

Chiang Mai is slower, cooler and cheaper than Bangkok. It’s surrounded by mountains and temples and has one of the best food scenes in Southeast Asia.

Day 4: Old City temples — Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh are free or minimal entry. Rent a bicycle (60–80 THB/day) and explore the moat area.

Day 5: Half-day Thai cooking class (~600–900 THB, includes market visit and you eat everything you make). Afternoon: Doi Suthep temple above the city — songthaew (shared truck taxi) up for 60 THB each way.

Budget: ~$25–35/day

Days 6–7: Luang Prabang, Laos

Travel: Slow boat from Chiang Khong to Luang Prabang — 2 days, but worth it for the scenery. Or fly direct (often under $50 on AirAsia). I’d fly on a 2-week trip.

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO heritage town on the Mekong. Extraordinarily beautiful, very easy to like. Slightly more expensive than the rest of Laos but still budget-friendly.

Day 6: Walk the main street, browse the night market (buy nothing, just look), watch sunset from Mount Phousi (20,000 LAK entry, ~$1).

Day 7: Wake up at 5:30am for the alms-giving ceremony (monks collecting food from locals at dawn — deeply moving, be respectful, keep your distance). Afternoon: Kuang Si Falls (25,000 LAK entry) — turquoise water, rope swings, and a bear rescue centre.

Budget: ~$30–40/day

Days 8–9: Hanoi, Vietnam

Travel: Fly Luang Prabang to Hanoi (Vietnam Airlines or Lao Airlines, ~$60–90).

Hanoi is chaotic, loud, and completely brilliant. The Old Quarter is a maze of streets each historically dedicated to one trade (the Silk Street, the Paper Street, the Tin Street) and the food is outstanding.

Day 8: Get lost in the Old Quarter. Hoan Kiem Lake. Eat bún chả for lunch (grilled pork and noodles, ~35,000 VND/$1.40). Bia Hoi corner in the evening — street beer for 5,000–10,000 VND (20–40 cents).

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (free, but closed Monday and Friday), Temple of Literature (30,000 VND entry), afternoon cooking class or street food tour.

Budget: ~$25–35/day

Days 10–11: Hoi An, Vietnam

Travel: Overnight sleeper bus from Hanoi to Hoi An (~$15–18, about 12 hours). Or fly for $25–40.

Hoi An is the most photogenic town in Vietnam. Yellow walls, lanterns over the river, exceptional food. Slow down here — it’s the best reason to wish you had more time.

Day 10: Old Town (combine ticket for ancient houses ~120,000 VND), walk the An Bang beach (free, 4km from town by bicycle), evening lantern release if you’re there for a full moon.

Day 11: Have something made. Hoi An is famous for tailoring — a custom shirt can be made in 24 hours for $15–25. White Rose dumplings and Cao Lau noodles for lunch — both are Hoi An specialities you can’t get anywhere else.

Budget: ~$30–40/day

Days 12–14: Bali, Indonesia

Travel: Fly Danang (nearest airport to Hoi An) to Bali via AirAsia. Often $40–70.

Bali is the end of the road — warm, beautiful, and endlessly photogenic. It’s more expensive than mainland Southeast Asia but still very affordable.

Day 12: Ubud. Rice terraces at Tegallalang (entry donation ~50,000 IDR), Ubud Monkey Forest (80,000 IDR), Campuhan Ridge Walk (free).

Day 13: Temple day. Tanah Lot at sunset (60,000 IDR entry), Uluwatu for the sunset Kecak fire dance (150,000 IDR — absolutely worth it).

Day 14: Beach. Seminyak or Canggu for the final afternoon. Get a massage on the beach ($10–12 for an hour). Eat one last nasi goreng. Catch your flight home.

Budget: ~$45–60/day

Total Cost Breakdown

Add $150–200 for comfort (private rooms more often, nicer meals occasionally) and you’re looking at $900–1,200.

What I’d change

If I did this route again with 2 weeks, I’d cut Hanoi and go straight to Hoi An, then spend an extra day in both Luang Prabang and Bali. Hanoi is brilliant but the transit time there and back eats into a short trip.

And I would absolutely not take the overnight bus from Hanoi to Hoi An. Just fly.

Questions about any part of this route? Drop me a message — this is one I know well.