Packing List For Southeast Asia 3-Week Trip

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Travelling around Southeast Asia is very interesting. This region has so many features that packing can be a challenge. I remember the first time I went to Southeast Asia, I packed a backpack and a small day pack.

My main backpack was about 10 kg (22 lbs), which was a carry-on. At that time, the carry-on weight limit was 10 kg, so I actually had enough clothes. But today, the 7 kg (15.5 lbs) limit makes it so hard to pack.

If you were like me at that time, I didn’t care much what I looked like, so repeating my clothes and forgetting about fashion worked fine.

But, if you prefer packing a bit more, wearing something nice, and having enough space to bring more than just a pair of sneakers, then this packing list for Southeast Asia 3-week trip can really be helpful.

FREE TRAVEL ITINERARIES FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TRAVELLING TO SOUTHEAST ASIA

4 images - top left is a women wearing blue shirt and a hat in the middle of bazaar in Asia. Top right is a woman wearing white shirt, glasses, and a hat standing in front of a pagoda. bottom right are two white women sitting on a tuktuk. bottom left is a woman with brown hair and brown backpack looking at flight boards Packing List For Southeast Asia 3-Week Trip

There are a few things you should know and consider when packing for Southeast Asia. If this is your first international trip, some of these things might not cross your mind, but they are vital when deciding what to bring.

Before you start creating a packing list for Southeast Asia, it’s a good idea to read the following information first:

Season

Most parts of Southeast Asia are humid and hot places. So, in general, you should pack light weight, breathable, and comfortable clothes.

Fabrics that are easy to dry, don’t wrinkle too much, and have a flexible style. Think of clothes that you can wear for hiking, city sightseeing, visiting sacred sites, and even for a night out.

However, there are parts of this region that gets cold. This includes northern Vietnam (Hanoi and Sa Pa), northern Thailand (Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai), highlands of Malaysia (Cameron and Genting), Vietnam (Dalat), the Philippines (Baguio and Sagada), and some parts of Indonesia (Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen).

Dress code

Southeast Asia is a diverse region when it comes to religion and culture. In the Philippines, it’s mostly Catholics/Christians, so expect to visit churches. In countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore, you will see temples and pagodas for Buddhism.

Then, you have Muslim and Hindu cultures in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Here, you will see more temples and mosques.

The thing that all these places have in common is the dress code. When visiting churches, temples, pagodas, and mosques, you must dress modestly. This includes covering your shoulders and knees. In some places, you will also have to cover your head.

Unless your plan is to visit as sacred places as possible, you don’t need to pack too many clothes that meet this dress code.

Instead, you really just need one or pack one big sarong and one smaller scarf. The sarong can be used as a skirt to cover from the waist down to the knees. Then, the small scarf for your shoulders or head.

Activities

You must also consider the activities you plan to do. Southeast Asia is known for beaches, which means you definitely want to bring swimsuits. Since these are small, you can bring one or two pairs.

If you’re doing hiking, remember that Southeast Asia has jungles. Hiking here is very different than hiking in Europe or North America.

We’re talking about thick jungles covered in mud with limited marked trails. If you’re doing this, you want to pack clothing that covers your legs and arms to avoid attracting leeches.

However, pack quick-dry and breathable hiking pants because you don’t want to overheat in these jungles.

Again, if you’re visiting sacred places, then you want to pack clothes that follows the dress code for these locations.

Avoid packing

There’s really no need to pack jeans or any thick trousers. They are heavy and thick causing you to just be hot the entire time.

Don’t pack too many footwear. The basics would just be a pair of sneakers (that has good grips for hiking, too) and flip-flops.

Items to buy in Southeast Asia

There are items that you don’t need to bring or pack, especially if you have limited space. Personally, I buy lotion, hair products, bar soap, mouthwash, toothpaste, raincoats, umbrellas, and sunscreen at my destination.

Let’s say you’re spending 3 weeks in Vietnam. During this trip, you pretty much don’t have to fly; you can take buses, trains, and private transfers. This means that heavy bags or suitcases won’t be a problem.

Consider buying some items when you land. In Southeast Asia, convenience stores live up to their name, and the prices are not times the usual cost. There are 711, Circle K, Alfamart – everywhere.

Of course, this only works if you don’t have sensitive skin.

Laundry in Southeast Asia

Most hotels will offer laundry service, but the cost is per piece. However, if you’re staying in a very touristy area, there are loads of laundry services.

These are full-service laundry. This means you will drop off your clothes; they will weigh them, tell you the price, and tell you when to pick up your clothes. Usually, it’s a 24-hour thing, but often, there are express services that are about 4 hours for an extra fee.

The common pricing starts at 5 kg (8 lbs) for $8, which includes washing, drying, and folding. Laundry in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, and the Philippines is in line with this price.

But for Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Myanmar, it’s a bit more expensive and is usually self-service.

FREE PRINTABLE PACKING LIST

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Having a packing list for Southeast Asia will help you a lot to avoid overpacking and help you stay organised. This checklist will be helpful regardless of the destination or season.

printable packing list

BACKPACK OR SUITCASE

If this is your first time in Southeast Asia or travelling on a budget or traveling solo or able-bodied, I will 100% recommend you to go with a backpack.

First, I’m not going to lie; a 7 kg pack might not cut it anymore. It was 2015 when I first went backpacking in Southeast Asia, and I just went again on a 3-week Southeast Asia trip this August 2024.

My friend chose a small suitcase, and she brought a lot fewer things. I went with a backpack and was able to bring enough. I only had to do laundry twice.

As a budget traveller, you will save lots of money by not checking in a suitcase and even with a cabin-sized suitcase, the suitcase alone weighs at least 1.5 kg – it’s just a waste of weight.

On the other hand, with a checked suitcase, you will have more clothes and have extra space for souvenirs.

There’s no right or wrong answer here. It’s all personal preference.

PACKING LIST FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA 3-WEEK TRIP

I feel that for Southeast Asia, it doesn’t matter which month you plan to go; this packing list should work in all seasons with some exceptions on visiting northern Vietnam and Thailand, where it can be as cold as below 8°C (46°F).

Women’s clothes for Southeast Asia

Clothing and footwear

  • 5 tops
  • 3 sports bra
  • 3 bras
  • 14 underwear
  • 6 pairs of socks
  • 2 cycling shorts/work out shorts/casual shorts
  • 1 pants (lightweight and loose)
  • 1 skirt
  • 2 dresses (maxi and mini)
  • 1 sneakers/walking shoes
  • 1 flipflops/walking sandals (ok to get wet)
  • 1 jacket/jumper/sweater (lightweight)
  • 1 small scarf (head or shoulder coverage)
  • 1 small sarong (beach towel or temple coverage)

Toiletries

  • body soap
  • shampoo and conditioner – bar
  • loofah
  • mouthwash – tablets
  • toothbrush
  • toothpaste
  • floss

Skincare and makeup

  • face wash
  • vitamin c
  • daily serum
  • night retinol serum
  • tretinoin cream
2 images - om the left is a black backpack with clothes folded in side. on the right is a woman wearing yellow shirt packing a suitcase.

Men’s clothes for Southeast Asia

Clothing and footwear

  • 8 shirts
  • 2 shorts
  • 1 pants (casual or for hiking)
  • 10 underwear
  • 6 pairs of socks
  • 1 dress shirt
  • 1 pairs of flipflops
  • 1 walking shoes/sneakers
  • 1 jacket/sweater/jumper

Toiletries and skincare

  • soap
  • shampoo and conditioner
  • loofah
  • mouthwash
  • toothbrush
  • toothpaste
  • floss
  • shaving cream
  • razor

Gadgets, documents and others

  • phone charger
  • power bank (no more than 20,000 mAh)
  • passport
  • visa – if needed
  • esim
  • headphones
  • extension cord
  • book/Kindle
  • small-sized tripod
  • perfume
  • hat
  • towel (especially if staying in hostels)
  • medication (and prescription letter)

Packs and suitcases

Since this is a 3-week trip, you might want to invest a little bit in your pack – whether that’s a backpack or a suitcase. Here are a few items that I personally recommend:

BACKPACKING SOUTHEAST ASIA PACKING LIST

If you decide not to go with a checked bag and do a classic backpacking style, then this list will help you narrow down what to bring and what not to bring.

This is what I normally bring in terms of clothing and footwear for a 3-week trip cabin bag only.

  • 3 tops
  • 2 sports bra
  • 2 bras
  • 1 lightweight jacket/jumper/sweater
  • 10 underwear
  • 7 pair of socks
  • 1 leggings/lose pants
  • 2 light dresses (mini and maxi)
  • 1 small scarf
  • 1 light, but big sarong
  • 1 pair of flipflops (usually Birkenstock)
  • 1 pair of sneakers (usually Brooks, Asics, or Altra)
  • body soap
  • shampoo and conditioner – bar
  • loofah
  • mouthwash – tablets
  • toothbrush
  • toothpaste
  • floss

I would carry a backpack that meets this size:

  • Height: 55 cm (21.6 in)
  • Length: 40 cm (15.7 in)
  • Width: 20 cm (7.8 in)
  • Range: 7 kg to 10 kg (15.5 to 22 lbs)

SOUTHEAST ASIA TRIP PLANNING TIPS

HOTELS
VISA
CAR RENTAL
TOURS
FLIGHTS
BUS (EU/US/CA)
TRAINS EUROPE
TRAIN/BUS (ASIA)
TOUR OPTIONS
TRAVEL INSURANCE
TOURS (ASIA)
HOSTELS
BIKE RENTAL
ESIM
AIRPORT PICKUP

FINAL THOUGHTS

Feeling ready to go? Packing for a trip can always be an exhausting or daunting task because there are a lot of things you have to remember. Not to mention that when you get to the packing part, it means you’re either leaving tomorrow or in a few hours.

I hope that my little list of things that you can bring has been helpful. Enjoy your trip and don’t forget to make the most out of your holiday.