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Southeast Asia

Charlie Weatherill

For some, Southeast Asia may represent the first stage in an overland journey, for others it may be a crucial leg from Europe on the way to Australia. Either way, cheap living, great climate, food and scenery, a fascinating culture and amazing beaches and islands, as well as easy-going hosts all combine to make Southeast Asia one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. It’s all here from the isolated Angkorean temples deep in Cambodia’s mountainous jungle; the untouched western ranges of Thailand; the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and Vietnam or Malaysia’s rugged and relatively unspoilt east coast.

The region has been well and truly discovered, and as a vehicle-bound overlander the thought of slugging it out with hordes of backpackers and package tourists might not sound too appealing. But having your own transport opens up numerous adventures off the beaten track in Southeast Asia, far beyond the reach of the average tourist. With a vehicle you’ll have no difficulty avoiding Thailand’s heaving beaches and the tourist tramlines of Chiang Mai, or skirting the mass tourism trails of Cambodia as well as picking and choosing your remote jungle destinations in Laos.

 Southeast Asia comprises seven mainland countries and three island nations. On the mainland, all except Vietnam and Myanmar are straightforward and rewarding countries for vehicle-dependent overlanders, though Singapore can get complicated and expensive. For the time being at least, Myanmar’s land borders with everywhere except China all remain firmly shut and this situation is unlikely to change with the current regime (see p518). Meanwhile Vietnam still doesn’t officially permit entry to foreign vehicles, unless they’re from neighbouring Cambodia, Laos or China. Whilst some overlanders have managed to plead or bribe their way in, right-hand vehicles without prior high-level governmental approval are a definite no-no for the time being, so why bother, there’s plenty to see elsewhere. Of the island nations, Indonesia is the easiest to reach, although the numerous ferry rides can become tiresome.

Consequently this section focuses primarily on the four easy overlanding countries: Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos, and explains briefly what’s involved in getting into some other countries. Like Japan out of South Korea, you’ll find Singapore and the other five countries including Myanmar more easily visited as a regular tourist without your vehicle.

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