20 days in Southeast Asia Itinerary

Discover the diverse history and culture of northern Thailand during a holiday in Chiang Mai, the largest and most significant city in the region.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Wat Ched Yot. Your inner history buff will appreciate Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan and Wat Phra Singh. Spend the 3rd (Fri) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. There's still lots to do: contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Wat Chiang Man, hunt for treasures at Night Bazaar, relax and rejuvenate at some of the top local wellness centers, and appreciate the history behind Three Kings Monument.

To see photos, other places to visit, ratings, and more tourist information, read our Chiang Mai vacation maker tool.

Chicago, USA to Chiang Mai is an approximately 22.5-hour flight. You'll lose 13 hours traveling from Chicago to Chiang Mai due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Chicago in November, things will get much warmer in Chiang Mai: highs are around 37°C and lows about 25°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sun) so you can fly to Bangkok.

Enjoy cultural, historical, and culinary exploration during your holiday in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand and the most populous city in the country.

Get some cultural insight at The Grand Palace and Jim Thompson House. Step out of the city life by going to Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex and Chao Phraya River. There's still lots to do: don't miss a visit to Wat Pho, take in the spiritual surroundings of Temple Of Dawn (Wat Arun), admire nature's wide array of creatures at SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, and browse the eclectic array of goods at Pak Khlong Talat (Flower Market).

To find ratings, reviews, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Bangkok journey tool.

You can fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in 3 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Chiang Mai in November, plan for somewhat warmer nights in Bangkok, with lows around 29°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Wed) to allow time to fly to Siem Reap.

Once a small village in northwest Cambodia, Siem Reap now serves as a gateway to the Angkor region's World Heritage-listed temple and other attractions.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm. Visit Bayon Temple and Banteay Srei for their historical value. Spend the 11th (Sat) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. There's more to do: steep yourself in history at Angkor Thom and admire the sheer force of Kbal Spean.

To find photos, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, you can read our Siem Reap day trip planning website.

Traveling by flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In November, plan for daily highs up to 36°C, and evening lows to 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Sat) early enough to fly to Kuala Lumpur.

A holiday in Kuala Lumpur, a modern metropolis and capital of Malaysia, reveals a place where colonial influences, Asian traditions, and modern aesthetics come together in urban architecture and street layout.

Start off your visit on the 12th (Sun): stroll through KL Bird Park, explore the fascinating underground world of Batu Caves, and then admire the striking features of Petronas Twin Towers.

For other places to visit, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Kuala Lumpur trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Siem Reap to Kuala Lumpur takes 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and train. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Siem Reap to Kuala Lumpur due to the time zone difference. In November, daytime highs in Kuala Lumpur are 37°C, while nighttime lows are 28°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 13th (Mon) so you can catch the flight to Singapore.

A Singapore vacation reveals the many charms of a leading city-state and regional hub of culture, retail, and tourism.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Singapore Botanic Gardens and Chinatown. Get some historical perspective at Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum and Sentosa Boardwalk. And it doesn't end there: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Singapore Zoo, have some family-friendly fun at Flight Experience, snap pictures at The Helix Bridge, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Thian Hock Keng Temple.

To see more things to do, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Singapore vacation planner.

Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In November in Singapore, expect temperatures between 37°C during the day and 29°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Fri) so you can fly to Ho Chi Minh City.

Formerly known in the West as Saigon and affectionately referred to as the "Pearl of the Far East," Ho Chi Minh City is a study of old and new, woven and piled together in a fast-paced urban hub.

Kick off your visit on the 17th (Fri): choose your vessel at Saigon Boat Company, pause for some serene contemplation at Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, then contemplate the long history of The Independence Palace, and finally get engrossed in the history at War Remnants Museum.

For ratings, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Ho Chi Minh City online road trip planner.

You can fly from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train, bus, and car. The time zone changes from Singapore Standard Time (SGT) to Indochina Time (ICT), which is usually a -1 hour difference. Expect a daytime high around 38°C in November, and nighttime lows around 28°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Sat) so you can fly to Hanoi.

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi has bounded back from the effects of war, and today serves as a bustling commercial and cultural hub bursting at the seams.

Kick off your visit on the 18th (Sat): get to know the fascinating history of Old Quarter, then contemplate the long history of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and then contemplate the waterfront views at Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake).

To find reviews, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Hanoi trip website.

Traveling by flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 19th (Sun) to allow time for the flight back home.