South East Asia Packing List + Free Printable Checklist

Best Backpacks and Day Bags for South East Asia

• Water Resistant Anti theft Travel Backpack
• Zomake Ultra Lightweight Foldable Backpack
• Travelon Anti-Theft Messenger Bag

For more day bag options, check out the best travel sling bags for men and women.

Best Options For Backpacking South East Asia

• AmazonBasics Internal Frame Hiking Backpack with Rainfly
• Teton Sports 4000 Explorer 65L Backpack

Best Suitcases For South East Asia

If you do choose to take a suitcase with you to Asia, choose one with sturdy spinner wheels so you have less of a struggle over the potentially bumpy sidewalks and curbs.

A soft case is our preference if you are planning to do any cruising in SE Asia or bus tours, as they will take up less room than hard cases. If you are unlikely to need to roll your suitcases far or if you are staying in only one or two places, a hard case is fine.

• American Tourist Softside Spinner Suitcase
• Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner
• Kenneth Cole 3-Piece Lightweight Hardside 4-Wheel Spinner Luggage Set

Best Packing Cubes for South East Asia

If you have not yet used packing cubes for your travels, it is time you started! These are the single most important thing for us when it comes to staying organised on any holiday. Even just a weekend away.

It means each type of clothing has its own compact storage, making it super easy to find what you are looking for.

This is also how we manage to only need one or two suitcases for every trip we take. Including for our Vietnam packing list, fitting everything in our suitcases for us and our toddler for a 2-week trip.

• Shacke Pak Set of 4 Packing Cubes
• Bagail 6 Piece Packing Cubes

Here are the Southeast Asia travel essentials:

• Purse/wallet
• ID and passport
• Visa if required
• Spare suitcase padlock
• Travel wallet / Passport cover
• Spare passport photos
• Packing cubes – they deserve a second mention!
• Compact flashlight
• Ziplock bags (useful for keeping items separate or storing wet/soiled clothes)
• Mini sewing kit
• Water bottles
• Sleeping bag (if camping/hiking)
• Micro-fibre towels
• eSim

Southeast Asia Packing List For Women

• Tops – Tank tops are good for staying cool as well as some sleeved t-shirts that cover your shoulders in case you are visiting any spiritual or conservative sites during your visit. Choose lightweight fabrics such as cotton that are breathable and help you to stay cool.
• Bottoms – Comfortable shorts, with at least one pair suitable for active days if you plan on doing anything other than lazing about a resort. Skirts are also fine so long as they are not too short. Maxi skirts are something I wore a lot of during our South East Asia travel. It is also useful to pack at least one pair of long pants if you are not fond of maxi skirts, as this will allow you to cover up appropriately at temple visits.
• Dresses – A dress or two are an easy option for staying cool during warm days, for a swimsuit cover-up or if you plan to go anywhere a little dressier, such as a nice restaurant or bar.
• Lightweight jacket or cardigan – You may find yourself feeling cool while in transit or when indoors in air conditioning, so always pack a lightweight cardigan or shawl that you can use for some extra warmth if needed.
• Raincoat or poncho – If you are doing any hikes or backpacking in South East Asia, you will want something waterproof so a proper raincoat is ideal. If not, a plastic poncho would suffice just in case you have unexpected rain during any day trips and excursions.
• Socks – Pack a pair of warm socks just in case you get cold during flights. This is something I so often forget when travelling to warm destinations so I don’t want you to make the same mistake of suffering cold tootsies!
• Swimsuit – There are some glorious beaches and resorts in Asia and after a hot day of exploring, you will appreciate the chance to cool down in the water so make sure you pack your swimsuit or two.
• Sarong – A sarong up is a great option for moving between your room and the pool or as a backup for providing some extra coverage when you are visiting any conservative areas. It’s amazing what you can do with a sarong!
• Hat – Whether you prefer a cap or a wide-brimmed sun hat, be sure to pack one! A cap packs easily but a sunhat provides extra sun protection if you have the room.
• Sunglasses – Don’t spend your holiday squinting! Good quality sunglasses are a must, although you may consider leaving your really expensive pair at home for more budget-friendly ones. I’ve broken more than one pair of sunnies while travelling!
• Underwear – And let’s not forget those essentials… underwear and bras. Make sure you bring comfy options. Once again, choose non-synthetic fabrics like cotton where possible.
• PJs – What you would normally wear at home in the summer would be suitable unless you are backpacking, in which case you may not bother bringing any.

Southeast Asia Packing List For Men

• Tops – Bring a mix of T-shirts and tank tops for your trip. Be mindful of any logos or images on your shirts that may cause offence if you are in a conservative part of Asia. You will be able to stock up on plenty of beer-branded and novelty shirts when visiting too if you run short.
• Bottoms – A few pairs of shorts that are comfortable for all weather are ideal, plus a pair of long pants for going out or visiting sacred areas. Choose light material for your pants and leave the jeans at home.
• Rain jacket or poncho – A rainproof, lightweight jacket if you plan on doing any Asia backpacking route or hiking. If not, a plastic disposable poncho for emergency bad weather is a cheap and easy option for wet weather days out.
• Swim shorts – Don’t forget your swimming gear, whatever that looks like for you. Board shorts, speedos, sun vest. Essential for those beach and pool chill out sessions!
• Hat – Bring a cap or wide-brimmed hat to keep your head and face protected from the sun. A bucket hat may be an easy option since they fold down small and provide all-round protection compared to a cap.
• Collared shirt – A dressy shirt for when you go out for dinner somewhere nice, to a trendy bar or even just to visit a sacred site is a must. Go for one that doesn’t crinkle too badly in your luggage as you may not always have access to an iron.
• Socks – A pair of warm socks are useful for flights in case you get cold with the air conditioning during long haul travel. Always handy to have, even if you plan to spend the majority of your time in flip flops. If you are backpacking or doing hikes, you will want several pairs of good quality socks.
• Underwear – Bring comfortable cotton underwear in your preferred style. If you purchase new underwear for the trip, make sure you road test them first because you don’t want to arrive only to find them really uncomfortable and annoying!
• Sunglasses – A pair of good UV protection sunglasses. If you have a spare pair, bring your backup rather than your expensive ones from home just in case!

Southeast Asia Packing List For Children

• Tops – Cotton T-shirts and tank tops that are easy to wash and wear. Go for darker prints and avoid white, as we all know how messy kids can be! While you will be able to wash during your trip, being able to rinse out a kids top in the sink and hang over the bath can be a great option too.
• Bottoms – Comfortable shorts in a variety of lengths are ideal, with at least one pair of comfortable, loose-fitting long pants.
• Dresses – For little girls, you may wish to pack one or two sundresses for day or night wear and for easy cover-up while at the beach or pool.
• Swimmers – Swimsuits, sun vests and any other essentials your kids may need for swimming. This may include arm floaties or vest and goggles.
• Hat – A hat that offers good sun protection such as a bucket hat style or one with a flap at the back.
• Socks – Kids get cold pretty easily, so make sure you pack them a pair of socks that can go in their carry on for keeping feet warm during flights or on cold floors.
• Waterproof jacket or poncho – A rainproof jacket if you are doing a lot of hikes as a family, or just a plastic disposable poncho to throw over their clothes for rainy weather.
• Underwear – Plenty of comfortable underwear. Make sure they are well-fitting before you leave. Kids with wedgies are not happy kids!
• PJs – Cotton PJs are perfect. Something light and comfortable.
• Toys – Keep it compact and simple but make sure you pack a couple of small items that will keep your child entertained during your travels.

We always pack our kids’ travel activity packs and this tends to keep them happy for the majority of the trip, always including a colouring book and pencils/crayons. You can also pick up some super cute handmade toys around Asia too which make a nice souvenir for kids.

Ladies leave the high heels at home. In many places, the footpaths are not really heel-friendly (or even stroller friendly), so stick with sandals you can dress up.

I love Sanuk Yoga Sling sandals because they are super comfy plus you can dress them up with a maxi dress pretty easily, for day to nightwear.

Here is your packing list Southeast Asia for babies:

• Nappies – You can get nappies and diapers in most places around South East Asia, however, they will likely not be the brands you are used to, so if your child is prone to irritation when you use different brands, or if you’d rather just not have to worry, bring enough to last you for your entire trip. We always pack enough to cover our average per day for the duration. The best thing is that when you use up the nappies, you have space to fit your shopping! HA yes… it’s a great bonus!
• Nappy rash cream – Don’t forget this! A new environment means your baby may be more prone to diaper rash than usual, and there is nothing worse than trying to track down a tube in an unknown country!
• Nappy bags – I don’t mean the big bulky bag you carry all your baby paraphernalia. No I mean the plastic bags you use to dispose of stinky nappies to reduce the smell and potential mess. Bring them! You may not always be able to pop down the hall at your hotel to dispose of in the garbage chute so this will reduce some of those smells.
• Baby wipes – There isn’t much you can’t use baby wipes for so even if you are travelling with older kids or no kids, baby wipes are always useful!
• Bottles & feeding related items – If your baby is breastfed, you won’t need a lot. A nursing cover will give you a little extra privacy and as a whole, most parts of Asia are quite accepting of breastfeeding mothers so long as you are discreet. If your baby is formula-fed, aim to bring enough to cover your trip as well as any bottles or sterilisation items you need to feed your child. The quality of formula you buy overseas may not be the same as back home, which is why we recommend taking enough for your stay.
• Baby food – If your baby has started solids, you will need to bring baby food with you too. Yes, you can absolutely get baby food in Asia! However, it won’t be the brands you are used to if you use pre-made baby food. Also if you are travelling for more than a couple of days, you may want to take supermarket baby food with you instead of homemade for convenience. Bring enough for your whole trip. The pouches are easier to pack than jars!
• Bowl & spoon – Bring the items you need for feeding your baby while on the move so you don’t need to worry about not having anything suitable when you arrive.
• Pacifier – If your child uses one, take at least one back up, if not 2. They are easy to lose!
• Bibs – We actually took disposable bibs with us during our Asia and European travels with toddlers. This means not having to worry about messy bibs while travelling, but if you do decide to take them from home, you can wash them in hotel sinks and hang to dry.
• Swaddle/wraps – Bring light to medium swaddles or wraps to keep your baby comfortable for sleep and settling.
• Onesies/Outfits – Cotton onesies that you can easily wash and wear. Leave the heavy fabrics at home so baby doesn’t get too hot. Bring enough for an outfit a day plus a couple of spares, unless you know you have washing facilities where you are staying.
• Socks – Keep those tiny toes warm during transit and at night.
• Swim nappies – If your baby is joining you in the pool or beach, make sure you are prepared! Swim nappies can be either washable or disposable.
• Swimsuit – Keep little arms and shoulders safe from the sun with an all in one swimsuit, ideally with long sleeves and 3/4 legs to prevent little ones from getting too much sun exposure.
• Hat – A soft flap style hat that protects their face and the back of their neck.
• Baby carrier – A carrier is definitely the better option rather than a stroller when travelling through Asia. No need to worry about uneven sidewalks or dodging motorbikes! Plus it keeps your baby nice and close too. We love the Ergo carrier and it was our choice for travel when our girls were young. So many benefits for babywearing in SE Asia.
• Portable high chair – While most resorts will have high chairs for feeding older babies, most smaller hotels and restaurants will not. Take a portable one instead. There are a few different options. We used a fabric chair sling style high chair, or you can get Booster seats that sit on a chair. These are larger so make sure you have the room in your luggage.
• Car seat – If you will be travelling via car you can request a transfer with a car seat, however, the quality is not always wonderful! We had to install one ourselves when we arrived in HCMC with a 1-year-old!

And of course, make sure your electronics are safely packed to avoid damage if packing into your checked luggage. Keep valuables in your carry on where possible, and keep them with you at all times!

• Universal adapter
• Phone & charging cables
• Tablet & charging cables
• Headphones or earphones
• Camera
• Memory cards (take at least 1 back up)
• Powerbank
• GoPro waterproof action camera & accessories

Stay connected from the moment you land with an eSim. There’s no need to swap physical SIM cards. It takes just a few minutes to set up before you leave. We always use an eSim from Airalo.