Southeast Asia is undeniably one of the most exciting and beautiful regions in the entire world – the islands of countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines are bursting with wondrous natural sights and plentiful culture unparalleled anywhere else in the world.
If you’re planning on a visit, there’s some things you should know to ensure a trip goes as smoothly as possible. Here are 5 tricks to help you get around Southeast Asia with ease.
Learn about the culture
One thing you’ll quickly realise about Southeast Asia is the prominence of culture. Whether it be through the architecture, the food or the customs, you’ll be struck by how diverse each country is in almost every way.
You’ll want to learn about each culture before you arrive so you don’t risk any faux pas – for example, in Thailand it’s important you take your shoes off before entering certain buildings. So long as you’re respectful and considerate of the cultural norms in each country, you’ll get along with ease – and probably learn a thing or two along the way.
Be ready to haggle
There’s pretty much no way to explore Southeast Asia without having to haggle at least once. Whether it be in marketplaces, restaurants or even in taxis, opportunistic vendors will recognise you as a potentially clueless tourist and attempt to get more money out of you than they should.
When haggling, it’s important you remain confident and set on a certain price throughout the exchange to get anywhere. However, don’t be overbearing or threatening, and don’t get exasperated when it’s a bit harder than you thought it would be – many people in Southeast Asia aren’t fond of bad energy. If you’re successful you could be saving up to 50%, according to TINZ.
Stay vigilant constantly
Although Southeast Asia is generally a very fun place to explore, you’ll still need to remain safe and vigilant throughout your stay. Things such as bag snatching are becoming increasingly frequent in certain areas, so it’s more necessary than ever to be absolutely careful.
So long as you’re generally sensible and street-wise, you’ll get through your Southeast Asian adventure with ease. Consider a cross-body bag to prevent any chances of the aforementioned bag-snatching, and don’t flaunt any important, expensive valuables in public – you never know who’s watching.
Avoid the traffic on your own
It has to be said that the roads in Southeast Asia aren’t exactly the safest. Dangerous driving and busy roads make for a bad combination, with hundreds of people passing away in fatal collisions every week.
To avoid any nasty accidents, don’t try and brave the roads unless under strict supervision. Motorbike crashes are the most frequently occurring incident, and healthcare isn’t cheap – a hospital stay after a collision could set you back thousands.
Try the street food
One of the most important things to do when travelling in the US is trying the almost-always delectable street food. Whether it be a traditional bowl of Vietnamese pho or a challenging portion of balut in the Philippines, you’ll be immersing yourself in the culture whilst simultaneously enjoying some of the best food the region has to offer.
Do you have your own tips for travellers embarking on a Southeast Asian adventure? Leave them in the comments below.
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