I currently take levothyroxine (T4) and liothyronine (T3) for hypothyroidism.

I’m planning extended travel throughout Southeast Asia and want to know where I can reliably obtain thyroid medication containing T3, including liothyronine, natural desiccated thyroid (NDT), or compounded T4/T3.

Has anyone personally purchased these medications in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali/Indonesia, the Philippines, or elsewhere in Southeast Asia?

I’m specifically looking for pharmacy names, medication brands, prices, and whether regular refills are possible.

I’m researching options to discuss with my doctor before future trips, not looking to change medication while traveling.
Thanks!

Hello everyone! Apologies in advance for the lengthy post!

I'm travelling to Bangkok at the end of October and considering spending about two weeks in Java after a week or so in Thailand, before ending my trip with roughly two weeks in Vietnam (mainly using Saigon and Hanoi as bases).

I'm generally interested in urban exploration, beautiful scenery and landscapes (not necessarily heavy hiking or volcanoes), photography, nature, and learning about local culture, customs, arts and crafts (considering doing some workshops in Java and Vietnam).

For Indonesia, my plan is to focus on West and Central Java: flying into Jakarta, then travelling by train to Bandung and Yogyakarta, relying mainly on public transport.

I have to say that other parts of Indonesia look mesmerizing as well, particularly Flores, Sulawesi and Karimunjawa, though I wouldn't want to rush it this time. I'd like to incorporate a little escape to the coast though, just to look at the ocean for a while. I know Java has beaches, and there's Karimunjawa, but they seem a bit complicated to reach (I might be wrong though).

Based on my interests, and considering that I'm travelling solo, does this itinerary sound feasible to those who've explored the region?

It's my first trip to Southeast Asia, I've been reading plenty of guides, and I'm getting a little overwhelmed by the options and logistics. The date is approaching and the clock is ticking *palms are sweaty*

I'm also open to alternative suggestions for the trip as a whole. Maybe it would make more sense to save Indonesia for a separate trip and focus on Thailand and Vietnam this time?

TIA for any recommendations or advice!

Hi there, planning my first big solo trip. Aiming for SE Asia - Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos. Thinking of going mid march 2027 til end of April/may. Depending of experience, expenses and other plans.
My case is that I want to keep working at my current position while solo travelling, because it is a work from home position, flexible and don’t want to lose it if I disappear for 1-2 months. I’m from Bulgaria and checked that with the office hours here (and considering that my job any takes me 4-5 h a day) I’ll still have half of the days free + some time off that I’ll plan accordingly.
I’m looking for any type of recommendations: Which country to start/end, hostels (that are work nomad friendly I guess), your experience if you’ve been through trip like this. Also it that time of the year good for the trip, how’s the internet situation, etc.
Also which parts of the country would you suggest? I don’t aim for the most touristy places, but also not the most secluded one.
Any help is welcomed and appreciated. Thank you!

About to travel to SEA for 2 months (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia). I was planning on getting a local SIM, then thought about eSIM, and then found out that my phone can't accommodate a second SIM or an eSIM (confirmed by the provider and carrier). Unfortunately I only found this out the day before I leave (Stupid of me, I know, but too late to change it. Didn't even think to check if my phone could handle it). I have a few options: I could just get a local SIM and swap it out for my normal one, but I'm scared of holding on to my SIM for 2 months just lying around, plus I don't like loosing access to my normal number for that long. I could also get a second phone for cheap for just this trip, but I don't know about speed or cost. If anyone has suggestions please help.

Hi there, planning my first big solo trip. Aiming for SE Asia - Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos. Thinking of going mid march 2027 til end of April/may. Depending of experience, expenses and other plans.
My case is that I want to keep working at my current position while solo travelling, because it is a work from home position, flexible and don’t want to lose it if I disappear for 1-2 months. I’m from Bulgaria and checked that with the office hours here (and considering that my job any takes me 4-5 h a day) I’ll still have half of the days free + some time off that I’ll plan accordingly.
I’m looking for any type of recommendations: Which country to start/end, hostels (that are work nomad friendly I guess), your experience if you’ve been through trip like this. Also it that time of the year good for the trip, how’s the internet situation, etc.
Also which parts of the country would you suggest? I don’t aim for the most touristy places, but also not the most secluded one.
Any help is welcomed and appreciated. Thank you!

If you had to choose between Krabi and Phuket for a 4–5 day trip to Thailand, which one would you pick?

Krabi seems ideal for dramatic limestone cliffs, quieter beaches, island-hopping, and nature escapes. Phuket has a wider mix of beaches, nightlife, restaurants, and activities.

I’ve also put together an infographic featuring 15 things to do in Krabi, from island-hopping and kayaking to exploring local markets and relaxing at hot springs, for anyone considering Krabi.

Would you choose Krabi for the scenery and slower pace, or Phuket for more variety? And if you’ve visited both, which one would you go back to?

Impossible ranking really but going to give it a shot.

Keep in mind that I’ve stayed for a month in some spots and only maybe two days in other spots and that I actually liked every single one of these spots as a tourist.

1 El Nido

2 Krabi

3 Uluwatu

4 Ubud

5 Boracay

6 Chiang Mai

7 Phuket

8 Da Nang

9 Sapa

10 Siem Reap

11 Puerto Princesa

12 Cebu City

13 Manila

14 Bangkok

15 Hanoi

Hey guys, I am researching how travelers decide where to go and how long to stay. I am also interested in people who wing it and do not build a detailed itinerary.

Thinking about your last multi-stop trip:

1. How much did you plan before leaving?
   • Almost everything
   • Only the main stops
   • Only arrival and departure
   • Almost nothing
2. What is one decision you made during the trip? For example, staying longer somewhere, leaving early, adding a place, skipping a place, or changing your route.
3. What caused that decision? Friends, weather, cost, transport, tiredness, a recommendation, or simply how you felt?
4. Looking back, would you travel with the same amount of planning again? Would you plan more, plan less, or keep it the same?

I am researching how travelers build their itinerary and if they usually gets satisfied with the itinerary/trip after the trip is done. This is not related to AI actually, is more related on how people build itinerary and if the itinerary is usually at least satisfactory for whoever travelled after the trip

Short answers are welcome. You do not need to describe the entire trip.

Was planning to travel SEA this dec but just wanted some advice. Was meant to be going with a friend but that has fell through and I’m still really eager to go as I have been planning and saving for nearly 2 years!

Please can anyone that’s even reassure me about making friends and safety eg. I don’t know anyone who’s been but I imagine lots of people are in the same boat over there but is it really as easy to meet people as it seems??

Also any other advice is welcome !

Thank uuuu

Hi everyone and thank you in advance for taking the time to read and maybe respond to this. I am currently doing an exchange in Singapore at the end of which i'll have around 22 days (1st-22nd of december) to travel, i have to be back in Singapore the 22nd to take my flight back to italy.

My initial plan was to do a whole trip of thailand, starting from Bangkok then going north to chang mai and from there going down with buses (skipping phi phi and phuket due to too much tourism) and slowly visiting it finally arriving to singapore by bus crossing malaysia. However, i recently went on a soo trip to china where i some guy suggested me to go to Laos since it is not yet that touristy while thailand is already kind of ruined and i'll be the same.

To clarify, I am really someone not picky when travels i take overnight trains to save money and i do all the things possible to safe money while doing the experience i wanna do. I like to interact with local people and find my self in lost places.

The thing is that in Laos i would have to take 2 flights, also to come back to singapore and also i am not sure what the thing is, cuz both countries seem pretty amazing. Thus, i really would like to hear what you guys think about this, and more than open to suggestions. Thank you all.

I have no idea which sub to ask in but hoping the hive mind can point me in a direction.

We will be taking a cruise starting in Hong Kong and heading to Singapore with stops in the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Thailand. It sounds like most taxis and buses are exempt. It also sounds like there are stricter rules around babies than toddlers.

I've been trying to look up rules in the individual countries but they're not actually super clear/I'm finding conflicting information.

Help? Thank you!

I have a 5 hour and 25 minute layover at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, from noon to 5pm. Any recommendations for a VIP lounge with excellent food? I’d love to enjoy a good meal while waiting for my next flight.
Thanks so much

I’m a US passport holder planning to fly from LAX to Siem Reap, Cambodia, with a self transfer at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) airport. My itinerary is:

Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City: Cathay Pacific. I have a 3 hr, 35 min layover. My baggage will be checked through, so I won’t need to collect or recheck it upon arrival.

Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap: Air Cambodia. I have a 2 hr, 25 min layover. This is a separate ticket, so I’ll need to collect my baggage, clear immigration, and check in again for my Air Cambodia flight.

My questions:

1. As a US passport holder, will I need a Vietnamese visa to enter Vietnam’s immigration zone, retrieve my checked baggage, and recheck it during this international self transfer at SGN, even though I don’t plan to leave the airport?
   
2. Is 2 hrs and 25 mins enough time to clear immigration, collect my baggage, check in for my Air Cambodia flight, and go through security?

I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has done a similar self transfer at Ho Chi Minh City airport. Thank you

I'm finishing my Malapascua trip and heading to Moalboal for the sardine run on Nov 2nd, 2026.

Looking for 1–3 other divers/travelers who want to split a private/shared van:

Maya Port → 🚐 direct to Moalboal

Ideally leaving Maya in the morning.

Solo traveler here, happy to split the transport cost equally.

If you're doing the same route/date, let me know!

Hello, I am planning on visiting borneo region of Sabah next April. I would like something authentic and not very touristic, with focus on borneo wildlife. I have read about different places like Kinabatangan river and Danum Valley, but also Imbak Canyon or Deramakot Forest. Any recommendation? also about local guides or website to contact for organising the trip?

Hey everyone! Just wondering about getting by Vientiane to Vang Vieng and vv via train.

First time going to Laos and I’ll be arriving by train in Vientiane at 9 am from Bangkok. I would want to catch the LCR train going to VV the same day.

I know the LCR is in a different area from Khamsavath and was wondering what’s the easiest way to transfer between the two stations. I heard there’s a bus but couldn’t find much info about it.

I also see many recos to do a shared minivan instead of the train but unsure if there’s one from Khamsavath that goes straight to Vang Vieng.

Also what’s the local equivalent of Uber/Grab in Laos that foreign tourists can use? I might probably use that to get to/from the train stations if that’s any easier.

Appreciate any insights and tips on getting around Laos! 🙏

So depending when I can get this last duck in a row is gonna determine when i actually leave, but whatever month it is next year is gonna determine my route as i avoid rainy season in all the countries.

I plan on traveling SEA for a full year before I comeback to america. Im curious how others have done this or what they did with the stuff they bring while bouncing around countries. I have a pretty large loosly planned itinerary of things to do and how to do them, but i havent figured out the packing part.

Do you pack super light? have a station you stay at like a homebase so you can meneuver better? money isnt really a problem for this trip either. im in my early 30s if that matters in yalls advice.

hihi! im loooking into travelling to thailand and vietnam for around 5 weeks next spring. i'm canadian for context and was wondering (excluding flights to thailand and back to canada), would 3k-3.2k be enough for all expenses ? my possible itinerary is this.

Ciao, sto programmando un viaggio nella regione del Sabah, nel Borneo, per il prossimo aprile. Mi piacerebbe vivere un’esperienza autentica e non troppo turistica, con particolare attenzione alla fauna selvatica del Borneo.

Ho letto di diverse località, come il fiume Kinabatangan e la Danum Valley, ma anche dell’Imbak Canyon e della foresta di Deramakot. Avete qualche consiglio?

Avrei anche bisogno di informazioni su guide locali o siti web da contattare per organizzare il viaggio

Hey everyone,

I’m planning a trip through Southeast Asia for around 26 days from mid-December to mid-January. I’ll be flying into Hanoi and out of Bangkok.

I’ve narrowed it down to two rough itineraries and would love to hear what you would do in my situation.

Option A – Vietnam only

Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Ninh Binh → Hue → Hoi An → Da Lat → Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta → Phu Quoc → Bangkok

The idea here is to see Vietnam from north to south and get a mix of cities, nature, culture, mountains, the Mekong and some beach time in the south.

Option B – Vietnam + Cambodia

Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Ninh Binh → Siem Reap / Angkor Wat → Phnom Penh → Koh Rong → Kampot → Phu Quoc → Can Tho / Mekong Delta → Ho Chi Minh City → Bangkok

This option means less time in central Vietnam, but adds Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s south coast and Koh Rong.

One practical question for Option B: since I would enter Vietnam twice (Hanoi → Cambodia → Phu Quoc), do German passport holders need a visa for this, or does the 45-day visa exemption also cover two separate entries?

If you were planning this trip, which route would you choose and why?

I’m particularly interested in opinions from people who have travelled through these areas in December/January. Would you prioritise staying in Vietnam, or would you take the Cambodia loop?

Also very open to modifying either route if you think there’s a better combination of destinations.

Thanks!

Hello, I am planning on visiting borneo region of Sabah next April. I would like something authentic and not very touristic, with focus on borneo wildlife. I have read about different places like Kinabatangan river and Danum Valley, but also Imbak Canyon or Deramakot Forest. Any reccomendation? also about local guides or website to contact for organising the trip?

Hi, first time solo female traveller here! I'm currently planning a two week trip to the Phillipines for early next year. I would love any help/advice I can get for planning my itinerary/ making friends/ any general tips! Here's some other things specific to my situation:

• Ill probably be flying from Brisbane, Australia. At the moment, the cheapest flights are to Cebu so I'll likely start my journey there.
• I dont even drive a car in Australia, so probably best to avoid scooters lol
• I'm looking for a mix of sightseeing (beaches, waterfalls, wildlife, nature in general) and culture (history, art, food etc and general learning)
• as mentioned, this is my first time travelling solo (female if that's relevant)
• early PhD student so might have to bring my laptop *cringe*

Thanks in advance for your help!

P.S let me know if you're in the Phillipines in Feb and wanna be friends :)