Southeast Asia Trip (Singapore, Johor, KL, Hanoi, SaPa)

So the plan was to visit Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. We planned to visit from south to north or vice versa. However, due to our issues, it didn’t go as planned. Skip the sad story, Alhamdulillah, we could make it to three countries and six cities. I’ve visited all of them, and it was good to recall some memories. Let’s hear my story..

Singapore

We decided to start with Singapore because of its location. We planned to travel by land as much as possible, so it was better to start with Singapore because it's super easy to move into Malaysia, and it's convenient if you want to do backpacking. Also, because it is a small country, so 2 or 3-day trip is enough. If you are new, I suggest starting with Jewel, Marina Bay, Fullerton area to see Merlion, and then Clark Quay, it's a great area if you only have a day trip. But if you have time, don't forget to visit Little India, Kampung Glam, and hawker food is a must. I visited Maxwell Hawker, Nasi Hainan is definitely must try in this hawker, it’s super worth it. You can also visit Coney Island or another park to enjoy the nature of Singapore.

Here is a glimpse of my 4-day trip in SG. We do slow travel here. Just try to recall some memories, visiting friends, and running in the Marina Bay area 

Accommodation in Singapore is quite expensive, well, after COVID, everything is expensive 😭.

We stay in the Cube boutique hostel in Kampung Glam. We chose this hostel because of its location. The price is around $41 per night or Rp. 670,000 for 1 capsule female in a shared bathroom. Super expensive for hostel prices, but it's Singapore 😢 What do you expect?

Hostel Booking - Cube Boutique Hostel
**By using our links when you book, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission. This allows us to produce free articles that help you travel cheaper and better**

💡Travel Tips: Want to save money while backpacking?
Stay in the city center so you don’t have to spend extra time getting around. It might be a bit pricey and crowded, but if you’re okay with that, hostels are a great budget option — and there are plenty right in the heart of the city.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Johor was only our layover, so we only spent a night catching up with some friends. We moved to Malacca the next day using a bus. Previously, I took a bus to travel from SG to Johor, but it took approximately 2 hours, so now we have decided to try the train. It only took 5 minutes in total. The immigration was fast, and directly after SG immigration, we got into Malaysian immigration. Board the train, and voila, with only 5 minutes, the train arrived in Johor and we freely to go outside.

Just a little peek into my day trip in Johor✨
Crossed the border by train for a Johor day trip — here’s what it looked like🚊

Move forward, time to leave Singapore, oh hello Johor!

Malacca, Malaysia

Malacca is a historically old city, and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. It's a great place if you want to feel the nostalgic charm. You can visit Dutch Square, St. Paul’s Church, and the A Famosa fort ruins, and stroll around Jonker Street to enjoy the riverside area. Don’t forget to try es cendol here.

Since we arrived in the afternoon, and my friend was sick, we decided to take a rest and jump into Kuala Lumpur the next day.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We had originally planned to visit places like Penang and Terengganu, but those plans ended up getting cancelled. So instead, we spent quite a bit of time in Kuala Lumpur. We were also supposed to go to Vietnam, but we didn’t realize it was Têt (the Lunar New Year) at the time, so that didn’t happen either. I can’t remember exactly, but I think we ended up staying in KL for almost a week.

Hanoi, Vietnam

We landed in Hanoi on the third day of Têt, and the city is quite empty. I was here once around 2018 (I guess), and it was crowded, but during Têt, I finally had another experience in Vietnam. Luckily, I got new friends here so they can show me around and answer my questions about the situation. During Têt, I didn’t see many foreigners as our movement and everything was limited. Stores, restaurants, and markets are closed. I suggest you book everything in advance and prepare to stock your food if you want to come during Têt. Honestly, it was best because it was super calm and there was no traffic at all, but if it was your first time, I would not recommend you to visit during Tet because there is not much you can do.

— Read this if you want to know more about Têt.

Two days later, we decided to head to Sa Pa. By then, it was already the fifth day of Têt, so some shops and restaurants had started to reopen, although only for limited hours.
We took an overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then continued by minibus to Sa Pa. Since it was February, the weather in northern Vietnam was quite chilly. It was the season of the northeast monsoon (cold, dry air from Siberia and northern China was sweeping down, making the region feel even colder). The high altitude in the north of Vietnam also contributed to the drop in temperature.

Actually, during my stay in Kuala Lumpur, the weather in Hanoi was bad. It was super windy. Thank god, when I was there, it was getting better, slightly chilly, but manageable. I bring one hoodie and one puffer, and that’s more than enough.

Some snapshots from my day trip to Hanoi
— Hanoi Itinerary
— Moments captured from Hanoi
— Thang Long

Sa Pa, Vietnam

From Lao Cai to Sa Pa, about 1.5 hours by Minibus. The midnight train from Hanoi took 6 hours, so we arrived in Lao Cai around 5 AM. If I’m not mistaken, I was in Sa Pa around 7 AM. We were greeted by thick fog. Here, the fog disappears quickly and reappears just as fast, with limited visibility. Just a little heads-up—if you're visiting Sa Pa in winter, keep in mind that most hotels don’t have heaters in the rooms. They usually only provide an electric blanket. Honestly, taking a shower here is something I dread because of the cold, even though there’s hot water.

We spent 4 days in Sa Pa, first day we just chilled in the hotel and went for a walk in the city. Second day, I decided to walk to Cat-Cat Village. After googling everything and asking the local guide and hotel staff, the best way to get to Cat-Cat is on foot. Why? because it was Têt and the road was super crowded, congestion everywhere.

With Fog and traffic jams, honestly, I don’t know where I'm going. I just follow some people who also walk to Cat Cat Village hehe. At the beginning, I almost booked the local guide, but the price was quite expensive, and after reading several reviews that it is possible to explore Cat Cat by yourself, I decided to challenge myself as an adventurer😎. Got lost a little bit because of the crowd, I couldn’t find the entrance gate, and was too shy to ask hehe (I’m an introvert).

Long story short, on the third day, I went to Fansipan Mountain, which is the highest peak in Vietnam and all of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), often called “The Roof of Indochina.” In here, it was super chilly. I wore 3 clothes and it was nothing. It was freezing to the bone, I can’t even imagine how it feels when it snows here.

This is a must-visit place, even though it’s full of tourists, but who can say no to this view?

Snapshots from Sa Pa: fog, cold, and quiet charm
— Sa Pa📸
— Sa Pa, Lao Cai
— Cable Car to Fansipan
— About Fansipan
— Sleeper Bus from Sa Pa to Hanoi

Et voilà, that's my story. This trip wasn’t all smooth sailing, despite what it may look like on social media. But every challenge is part of the journey, helping me understand myself better and discover the kind of traveler I truly am.

Last but not least, see you in the next story 😊!

If you are visiting KL, these are a few places I recommend visiting.
First stop: KLCC. Why?
Because I love shopping, and they have Kinokuniya, one of my favorite bookstores! Plus, I can relax and enjoy the park nearby.
You can also check out Pasar Seni for local crafts. I got a bracelet there once. I’ve been to KL several times, so I don’t have a long list of must-sees. I usually just stroll around, visit bookstores, hop between cafés, and enjoy a plate of nasi lemak.

But if this is your first time, try to visit Batu Cave, Dataran Merdeka, or Bukit Bintang.