<p>I just got back from Cambodia… loved Angkor Wat, highly, highly recommended. Cambodia in general is very budget-friendly; at Siem Riep (gateway to Angkor Wat & pleasant tourist town) we stayed at a nice, centrally located hotel for $25/night (booked via hotels.com). Hiring a tuk-tuk to see the ruins is very pleasant, an also inexpensive. (I think we paid $18 for 5 hours) There are cool floating villages to see outside of town. Also, all the tourists we met raved, raved about Vietnam and Laos. I haven’t been there, but DH has, and likes both very much - maybe slightly more than Cambodia. (Which he really, really likes too.) So, between these 3 you can’t go wrong. All three are meccas for young budget travelers; OP’s son is likely to meet and make friends with 20-somethings from all over the world. </p>
<p>Thanks for all of the replies. Bumping this back up based on a report of a potential itinerary: flight from Taipei to Vietnam; travel somehow (I think the plan is a bus?) to Cambodia; another bus (?) to Thailand, and then a flight from Bangkok back to Taipei. First two weeks of February.</p>
<p>All general and specific advice is welcome.</p>
<p>Regional airlines are cheap. Consider flying within SE Asia rather than taking s bus.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in Southeast Asia for 20 years and have traveled pretty extensively in the region. (Haven’t been to Laos yewt though.) I would advise @MathildaMae’s son and friends to add Indonesia – especially Java and Bali – to their list of potentials. The dollar is very strong right now and the Indonesian currency very weak so Indonesia is an especially good value. February is a bit rainy and bargains abound.</p>
<p>I think for 2 weeks three countries is pushing it. I would narrow in on the destinations with opportunities of day trips, more so if the kids are thinking of overland travel. My preference would be
Angor + Bangkok + maybe another place in Thailand
Java + Bali + maybe Lombok
Just Vietnam</p>
<p>Be aware that Tet / Lunar New Year is a huge holiday in Vietnam. Check into how travel, prices and getting around. will be affected. Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Thailand though I don’t think it’s as disruptive as it is in VN. It’s not that significant in Cambodia or Indonesia.</p>
<p>Air Asia is terrific and would be my first choice wherever possible. Fodors Travel Forums are a reliable source of information of all sorts.</p>
<p>Book ahead of time. Chinese New Year, or spring festival is a major travel time in Asia. My S lived in China for a few years and always traveled in SE Asia during that time. One of his favorite trips was going on some sort of river expedition in Borneo with a guide where he saw wild orangutangs. Vietnam was another that he liked, especially Hanoi, with the historical tie ins. </p>
<p>Air Asia is so reasonable in cost, and if there are doubts about luggage weight, just check it in and pay. But there are competing discount carriers, some of which may actually give you a a drink and snack. </p>
<p>I’ve been to Viet Nam (Hanoi & Ho Chi Men City were bases, but we did day trips to project sites). I loved both places. The people were wonderful and appreciated Americans - they even tried to speak English, unlike my experience in China; the food was excellent, both fresh and inexpensive; the culture & sightseeing was great. I would recommend it to anyone.</p>
<p>Have also been to Malaysia (KL & side trips) and Indonesia (Jakarta & Papua). Both were interesting, but I would recommend Viet Nam over either. </p>
<p>I have not been to Thailand, but have heard mixed reviews. Diving in Phuket is on my bucket list. </p>
<p>I LIVE for the food in SIngapore. If this is a high priority for you, it is the maybe the best place in the world for varied, fantastic, inexpensive tastes. And you can eat every kind of street food, raw food, etc., without a moment’s concern about safety.</p>
<p>I don’t fly much, but I think Emirates is my daughters favorite airline.
They use both Airbus and 777’s.
You can take a shower?
<a href=“http://www.emirates.com/english/flying/cabin_features/cabin_features.aspx”>http://www.emirates.com/english/flying/cabin_features/cabin_features.aspx</a></p>
<p>Emirates doesn’t fly intra-SE Asia. It only flies to int’l destinations via Dubai.</p>