SEA - Mosquito nets?

Not necesarrily. But, please don't forget your own underwear.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to carry a net because in the "hovels" nets are often torn or otherwise disfigured. A net weighs almost nothing, and it's a good idea to pack a few little nails as well for hanging it. A rock makes a great hammer.
Tuck said net under mattress when you go to bed. I still have a skeletal beetle (he's called Ringo) in my ear from the time I forgot to do just that about 6 years ago.

this is what i had in africa, and it was wonderful.....

ordered bymail and it came within a week.. easy to pack, and you didn't have to find a hook to hang it on...

We have spent many months travelling in the countries you mentioned (one trip was 6 months). We didn't bother taking a mosquito net and found the very cheap accommodation had reasonable enough nets. Nor did we bother in India where again we spent a long time where accommodation particularly in small towns is "interesting".

Although nets don't weigh much we try to minimise the gear we carry. Thus we definitely needed to carry insect repellent and used it for those few times nets were a problem.

I lived in China and traveled around Asia for years with my two daughters and husband. We never took our own nets and always found them when we needed them. And yes, we stayed in hostels/guest houses.
Here's a good website to peruse.
Tales of Asia
The webmaster has an excellent guest house in Siem Reap, The Two Dragons.
In Bangkok we loved staying here
Suk 11 Guest House
Have a look at Ian's pictures of our time in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand AND ask Lor for her travel stories about Laos.
travel photos

I have been over to Asia twice. Both trips were about 1/2 year in length. I never bothered with the nets and I'm still alive and well at the fine age of 61 and still counting. I did take mosquito repellent but never used it. I guess it all boils down to how lucky you think you are. The bad mosquitos are out after dark so I tend to stay indoors during that time. Some people take all sorts of things with them and still get sick. Others wear shorts and run all over the place doing all sorts of things and nothing seems to happen to them. At our age it pays to be careful. If you are the nervous type then I would say take the netting and feel safer. However, the next time I go over there I wouldn't be taking any netting since I believe in packing very light. Good luck. Travel slow, enjoy the trip, don't try to see it all and be sure to send some reports back to us. Cheers.

I have never bothered with a net either, over several trips and over several years, including the area you are questioning. If a net would give you peace of mind then by all means take one, particularly if it is easy to pack, such as that suggested by Canayjun. In fact, I am returning to SE Asia again in a few weeks and will continue to rely on mosquito coils. I'll stock up on them upon arrival in Bangkok. In fact, over those several trips previously, I have always been able to find the coils, and all around the region, including your route (hang onto the metal holders!). It's a noxious smell, yes; but, it does the job! Note also, you may well find that basic a/c (double) rooms will not be that expensive anyway, and worth the extra comfort!

We took our kids for four months and never used a net
We used coils a few times in the evening also,

I bought Canayjun's free-standing mosquito net from her for my 4 month trip thru Thailand, S India, Sri Lanka and China. As I prefer not to have noxious scents burning in the night, whenever I thought that it looked like there would be mosquitos, I took the few minutes to put up the net, and was happy to have it.

There was one place in Fort Cochin when one of my travel companions woke up covered in bites, and I didn't. In my case, I know that the mosquitoes love me, and I end up with severe reactions, often requiring anti-histimines if I have many bites. I vote for carrying the light weight net!