Where to go? That is the question. Our general advice is always that less is more. Open an atlas and Southeast Asia looks kind of small, so it can be very tempting to try and see a lot, but distances can be deceiving. With than in mind, here's some advice on designing an itinerary. If you want to see a few countries and don't want to fly much (if at all), then Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia fit together perfectly. If you have more time, add Thailand or Burma . More interested in working south? Add Malaysia and Singapore instead. Both geographically and logistically, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore are the logical hubs to fly into. They are all well integrated with the other countries in the region through a network of low cost flights, trains and buses. Because of its size, length of visa

In the event of an emergency, be it an accident, a natural disaster, or a crime of some sort, it pays to keep a few things in mind as you work to get everything back in order. Keep your head At risk of stating the obvious, check everyone involved is okay. If somebody has been injured, get them in a stable position (assuming it is safe to move them). Be aware of your belongings--the confusion immediately after an accident can be a gift to an opportune thief. Ask for help In situations where you are going to need the police or an ambulance, ask a local for help. If you have a phone, offer it to them to make calls. Depending on the situation, your needs may be obvious, but ideally you'll be wanting a local who can speak at least some English to assist. We would say contact the police only if

While there is no denying Southeast Asia's reputation for corruption is well-earned, it would be a mistake to assume all police are corrupt and not interested in helping you. Generally speaking, we try to keep our interactions with police and immigration officers to an absolute minimum, but when we have needed their assistance, they have mostly obliged. Here are a few points to keep in mind. Always keep your head and be polite Losing your temper and screaming at any person of authority will most likely hinder rather than help your case. Always be polite. Need it be said, never ever get into a physical confrontation with a police or immigration officer. Don't be surprised if you are asked for money If you're involved in an incident (say while riding a scooter-- you have insurance right? ) d

Every year another round of final-year results arrive and another year's worth of students decide to take a year off before hitting university--many of them aiming for a stint in Southeast Asia. You'd be mad not to be fitting in a sojourn in the region as a part of your journey, so here's some advice to get the most out of your time here--and perhaps find somewhere you'd not heard of before. Vietnam Double your time in Hanoi and get licensed Over and over again, people complain that they ran out of time in Hanoi. There is a shedload of things to do, the street food is fabulous and the booze super cheap. Double however long you've allowed there. If you're planning on travelling by motorbike, get a motorbike license in your home country and read your travel insurance policy very, very carefu

Food and drink Southeast Asia is home to some of the most delicious food in the world. While every country offers various wonderful dishes, in our opinion, Thailand and Vietnam, with Malaysia coming a close third, are the standouts in the region. Of course, what makes for good food is a very personal thing--for example, we're in the minority (it seems) in loving oily, rich curries of Burma--but in both Vietnam and Thailand you'll really struggle to have a bad meal. It would be a mistake to think of cuisines existing in distinct, strictly nationwide blocks, as there are regional and even provincial variations on staple dishes. The above represents very broad strokes, with a few highlights. This is just the beginning! Vietnam Hanoi , Hue and Saigon , the Vietnamese triumvirate, offer an asto

One of the most commonly asked questions by first-time travellers to Southeast Asia is "Should I take malarials?". It's a simple question, with a complicated answer, best summed up as "it depends". Here's ten pointers that we hope will help you make a more informed decision regarding malarials and travel to Southeast Asia. 1) Talk to a travel doctor. Malaria is a serious disease which kills over one million people every year , and the best place to start is with a doctor who is a travel specialist. Your local medical practitioner or family doctor may not have the expertise nor experience to give you an accurate opinion on what you should be doing. " Traveller's Medical Centres " are a growing niche which you should avail yourself of. If you talk to your doctor, mention Asia and they lunge

Even if you're just on a short short trip, learning the super basics of a foreign language can be an easy step to get a little more out of your trip--even if it's just a polite smile as you stumble your way through "thank you" in Khmer. While many local students study English at school, the level they leave with is often rudimentary at best, and as few foreign travellers study any Southeast Asian languages at school, it's not at all unusual to come up against language barriers over and over again while travelling. The simplest way to get around this kind of problem, not surprisingly, is to learn some of the local language. It's not as difficult as you may think to pick up the basics, and, as with any language, once you've got the basics down, the more you use them the more you'll learn. Le