3-4 Week Trip Route/Advice Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, etc.!!!

Hii, this is my first time making a post so forgive me if I ask too much! I tried looking through the searches already too but I sincerely appreciate all the help!!

OK SO, I am currently on a student exchange in Singapore and once the semester is over (early May), my friend will be visiting me and we're planning on backpacking to a few countries for about 3-4 weeks then flying back home to Toronto from Singapore. We are students so our budget's a bit tight and why we can't do much longer but we were thinking to do Indonesia (spec. Bali and maybe surrounding islands like Gili and Java) for about 10 days, Philippines, Vietnam, and maybee a short couple day stops in Thailand Cambodia or Malaysia (if too much which places would you cut out?) I know we won't be able to truly experience the countries but looking for a nice intro to Southeast Asia and hopefully in the future I can do a really long backpacking trip, so please dont suggest doing only one place we know we don't have that much time/money to do longer :( BUT for now:

I was wondering if anyone can give advice on a rough itinerary/best route from which country to what (we'll be flying to Toronto from Singapore at the end) or how long to stay in each!??? Honestly any advice even on must sees/don't bother with some places, recommended hostels, cheap travel tricks?

ALSO, I have already been around Thailand but my friend really wants to go so she may go earlier than me for a short trip & I may just meet her there to start off our journey instead of from Singapore. BUTTT we heard about the full moon party, & it would be around the 19th of May so near the middle of our travelling so would it be an inconvenience/ruin the flow of the route to go just for that, any insights??

Sorry for all the questions once again! It's my first time doing all this so any tips are really appreciated! Thank youuu:)

Even if you can be in SEA on a budget, if you move between a lot of countries with a limited timeframe, it will be more expensive than with a limited (and maybe more pleasant) itinerary.

Michel

Far too many countries. But you can do it with more than 1 if you plan it right. If it was me ( and I can be a bit of a cheapskate) I would go where its cheapest with Air Asia. Or you can go overland.
Eg, Indonesia , quick flit into Thailand for FMP then into Cambodia, back to Singapore. Some of us don't mind moving fast if needs must.

Agree, too many countries.
You could fly from Singapore to Bali, bus through East Java to Yogyakarta, fly to KL, then bus up via Penang and maybe Krabi to Bangkok, then on to Angkor in Cambodia. From there fly back to Singapore, or if still have a few days, continue to Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam and fly back from there.

Seems the purpose of going to Thailand is FMP and that means Koh Phangan.

Thanks for the info everyone!! I don't mind moving fast like Westwood said haha but I know what you all mean! Would it be realistic/possible to visit Philippines too? I know my friend is set on Philippines but now I'm thinking it might be too out of the way and not enough time? Or is it a place that I should definitely make time for while I'm in the area? Does this sound possible or realistically not going to happen: 3 days in Cambodia (Siam Reap) to Vietnam for 7 days (to Bali and East Java 12 days and then Philippines for 8 days? Or should I scratch out Philippines and make Vietnam 2 weeks instead? I'm just conflicted on which places to take out! Thanks everyone so much!!

If you still decide on Vietnam, the LP guide book had sample itineraries in it. Split north, south, central, one week, two weeks.
You need to remember anything is possible, up to you to make it happen. You also have to fit in travel time. I always found it easier to work out itineraries from the end to the start, adjusting as necessary. Oh, and don't forget its your trip. So long as you make any booked flights, the rest will fall into place. See if you can find the LP South East Asia on a shoestring.

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