Asia made easy

Are you looking for the top digital nomad hotspots in Asia? Or for destinations off the beaten track? Maybe you are budget-sensitive and you are looking for affordable but cozy destinations.

Browse through this list of places in Asia, organized by interest. From chilled beach extensions to the top trending destinations, here is our selection for easy travel planning for Asia.

🌱 Travel health insurance for Asia

👩🏼‍💻 Top digital nomad hotspots

• Bali in Indonesia
• Chiang Mai in Thailand
• Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia
• Hoi An in Vietnam

Bali in Indonesia

The island is a magnet for travelers, nomads, and escapists, a vibrant place for artists, musicians, and creatives. Digital nomad hotspots are in Canggu, Ubud, and Seminyak.

Bali for nomads

Do you plan to travel to Bali? Check out the entry requirements and get your health insurance now. Bonus: Health-related information on Bali.

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

You find hundreds of coworking and coliving spaces in Bali, laptop-friendly coffee shops, nomad events, retreats, festivals, and parties. One thing I heard from friends, traffic in Bali has increased a lot and traffic jams are common. The best time to visit Bali is May, June, and September.

Chiang Mai in Thailand

Beautiful Chiang Mai is the perfect spot for digital nomads due to its huge nomad community, events, meetups, and parties. Avoid Chiang Mai's burning season, which starts around January and can last until April.

Thailand for nomads

Do you plan to travel to Thailand? We inform about entry requirements, health-related topics, travel and health insurance.

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

A great coworking space in Chiang Mai is Punspace, which has 3 locations, community meals, and events. The best time to visit Chiang Mai is between September and December and leave before the burning season.

Hoi An in Vietnam

The small beach town of Hoi An lies beautifully between rice fields and just 5 km off the coast. Although Hoi An feels like living in a small fishermen's town, it comes with an international coworking space worth checking out. Hub Hoi An.

Vietnam for nomads

[Last update: February 16, 2023] Cycling along the coast of central Vietnam, camping in Halong Bay, hiking through the rice terraces of Sapa, or sipping a cocktail overlooking the skyline of Saigon - Vietnam is a colorful country. Vietnamese are brave and resilient people showing the world how to me…

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Although popular areas like An Bang beach might be a bit more pricy, it should be possible to rent an apartment in one of the tiny villages between Hoi An and the beach for 600 Euro a month. For this price, you might get a 2-bedroom place as well. Many apartments were newly built since 2019. The best time to visit Hoi An is between March and October.

Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia

For those digital nomads who prefer a modern city, or just need a break between visiting remote Laos, and quaint Thai islands, Kuala Lumpur makes a good spot. Kuala Lumpur offers multi-cultural city life, a diverse food scene, affordable accommodation, modern facilities and services, and a big digital nomad community.

Malaysia for nomads

Malaysia - a colorful and diverse country, combining the cosmopolitan magnet of Kuala Lumpur with its historic quarters, and busy food courts, with the tea plantations, and orchards of the Cameron Highlands, and the tropical islands of Sabah, Sarawak or Langkawi. Penang, known as the Pearl of the O…

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Favorite places to work from are VCR café, and Fikka café. Great neighborhoods to live in are the downtown area, Bangsar, and Desa Sri Hartamas. The best time to visit Kuala Lumpur is between May and July.

👙 Beach destinations for nomads

• Palawan in the Philippines
• Langkawi in Malaysia
• Koh Lanta & Koh Phangan in Thailand
• Hoi An & Phu Quoc in Vietnam
• Bali in Indonesia

Palawan in the Philippines

Between Mindoro island and Borneo, you find Palawan, one of the bigger islands of the 7,641 islands of the Philippines. Palawan has tropical moist rainforests, the most beautiful beaches, underground rivers, spectacular caves, lime karst formations, exotic lagoons, and gorgeous viewpoints.

Philippines for nomads

Palawan, Bohol, and Boracay are just three of many marvelous places in this exotic island paradise. Breathtaking volcano landscape, dense rainforests, and crystal clear waters on white-powdery beaches are just a few of the reasons why thousands of honeymooners travel to the Philippines every year.…

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah Kuhlemann

The Philippines is a good destination for a beach vacation. If you want to work, make sure you get a local sim card to help yourself with a hotspot. The internet speed can be an issue. Additionally, the infrastructure overall can be very basic. Better to keep work to the minimum. The best time to visit Palawan is between November and May.

Langkawi in Malaysia

Langkawi is a cluster of 99 islands in the north of Malaysia, and close to the Thai border. With a median internet speed of 15 Mbps and an overall cost of living of close to 2,000 Euro a month, Langkawi is best visited for vacation purposes.

Langkawi is known for its white powder sand beaches, colorful marine life, lush UNESCO-listed geoparks, and exclusive resorts. The best time to visit Langkawi is between November and April.

Koh Lanta & Koh Phangan in Thailand

Koh Lanta - "Lanta" is a small island close to Krabi and Phuket in southern Thailand with a lively digital nomad community and vibrant beach life. Koh Lanta is the ideal spot to combine beach holidays with coworking and coliving at Kohub. The best time to visit Koh Lanta is between November and April.

Koh Phangan - The small island is located close to Koh Samui and Koh Tao, two world-class dive spots. The island of Koh Phangan has the most hippie vibe, a coworking space, and all the tropical island atmosphere you are looking for. The best time to visit Koh Phangan is between December and June.

3 months Singapore - Thailand - Malaysia for digital nomads

Singapore - Thailand - MalaysiaSingapore - Chiang Mai - Koh Lanta - Kuala Lumpur The metropolis of Singapore is easily accessible from every corner of this planet. Continue to Chiang Mai, the nomad capital in South East Asia, and to the tropical island of Koh Lanta, near Phuket and Krabi

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Hoi An & Phu Quoc in Vietnam

Hoi An can be reached via Da Nang Airport (30 km), and offers beautiful beach time between March and October. Different from Thailand, the best season is during the summer months. You find many beach bars here, for example, Soulkitchen, and Soulbeach, but also beach restaurants, and cafés, such as Sound of Silence. Hoi An has one coworking space, that focuses on international digital nomads - Hub Hoi An.

Phu Quoc is a small island in the south of Vietnam. You find serene beach life here, a wonderful beach club called Sailing Club, a handful of bars, and restaurants, remote beaches in the south (Sao Beach) and in the north (Starfish Beach), and a lush jungle in between. You can live comfortably in Phu Quoc for less than 1,200 Euro a month. The best time to visit Phu Quoc is between December and March.

Bali in Indonesia

Canggu and Seminyak are two digital nomad hotspots in Bali. The beach towns offer all facilities digital nomads are looking for, including coliving and coworking spaces, cafés, artsy markets, meetups, and events.

Located at the beach, Canggu and Seminyak are ideal places to combine digital nomad life with beach vacations. Other nice beaches in Bali are Kuta (surfing), Nusa Dua, and Karangasem.

🤿 Best for water sports

• Snorkeling in the Gili islands in Indonesia
• Diving in Derawan islands in Indonesia
• Diving in the Myeik Archipelago in Myanmar
• Surfing in Hongkong
• Surfing in Sri Lanka
• Kitesurfing in Mui Ne in Vietnam

Snorkeling & diving in the Gili islands in Indonesia

The Gili islands are located just off the northwest coast of Lombok, an island just next to Bali. You have access to the 3 Gili islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air by ferry from Bali and/or Lombok.

The car-free Gili Meno is home to the famous Gili island wreck (Meno Bounty), which is a world-class snorkeling area. The waters around Gili Meno are home to rays, turtles, sharks, and more than 950 different species of fish.

Diving in Derawan islands in Indonesia

With a plane from Singapore, Denpasar in Bali, or Jakarta in Java, you reach Balikpapan on East Kalimantan Island. From Balikpapan, take a small plane to Tanjung Redeb in Berau (East Kalimantan), and then a boat to the Derawan islands.

Although the journey sounds exhausting, the Derawan Islands are one of the most remote and untouched dive spots. You find manta rays and giant tortoises here, as well as whale sharks and almost 900 different species of fish.

Diving in the Myeik Archipelago between Thailand & Myanmar

The Myeik Archipelago (also known as the Mergui Archipelago) in Myanmar is one of the best-kept secrets among divers. Access to the archipelago from the Burmese side is limited, also due to the inner-political conflicts Myanmar has experienced since February 2021, when the military junta took over.

Easier access gives Ranong in Thailand. However, you need to organize visas and permits in advance. The best time to dive in the Myeik Archipelago is between October and May.

Surfing in Hong Kong

When thinking of Hong Kong, you might think about the gigantic amount of people that live on a such small land. You think about one million delicious eateries, art galleries, exhibitions, technology hubs, and modern public transport. But you might not think about surfing in Hong Kong.

But, Hong Kong has 2 popular surf spots called Big Wave Bay and Shek O. Big Wave is the focal point of Hong Kong surfers' community and can get crowded in the summer months. You can rent a surfboard directly at the beach and enjoy a few hours away from the busy city life.

Surfing in Sri Lanka

A more obvious surf spot in Asia is Sri Lanka. The small island state offers numerous beaches that are famous among the surfers' community, for example, Hikkaduwa and Weligama.

Once a small fishermen's village, Hikkaduwa grew into a party town, that attracts backpackers, surfers, and budget tourists. It is the ideal surf spot when traveling on a budget. Weligama has good waves all year round, for both beginners and intermediate surfers. The best time to visit Sri Lanka is between December and April.

Kitesurfing in Mui Ne in Vietnam

Mui Ne is a smaller town close to Phan Thiet in the south of Vietnam. It is famous for its sand dunes, beaches, and kitesurfing community. The best time to visit Mui Ne is between October and April.

💎 Off the beaten track

• Southern Laos
• Mondulkiri in Cambodia
• Isan in Thailand
• Sumatra in Indonesia
• Inle Lake in Myanmar

Southern Laos

Located in the south of Laos, close to the Cambodian border, you find Pakse and the Bolaven Plateau with its tea and coffee plantations. When visiting Pakse (access via plane from Vientiane or Luang Prabang), choose to stay around the central market. Taxis and tuk-tuks are affordable. If you want to visit Tad Lo in the Bolaven Plateau or the Si Phan Don (4000 islands) area, book a private driver to take you around.

Laos for nomads

[Last update: February 20, 2023] Sabai dii in Laos - the land of one million elephants! The country that often looks like the film location of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book is covered by thick forests and it is home to some of Asia’s rarest species: The Indochine Tiger, the Asian

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Southern Laos is ideal for everyone looking for a peaceful nature and wildlife experience, for weekend hikes to waterfalls, serene river island life, and remote excursions. The best time to visit southern Laos is between October and April.

Mondulkiri in Cambodia

Most foreigners limit Cambodia to the temples of Angkor near Siem Reap, and the capital Phnom Penh. If you have more time, visit Bokor National Park, the small town of Takeo, and the tiny backpacker village of Kep. But if you have even more time and you are looking for a remote area with lush nature and wildlife, consider Mondulkiri.

The jungle is home to wild elephants and with some luck, the majestic giants might come out of the thicket.

Cambodia for nomads

Nestled in the southern part of the Indochinese peninsula lies the Kingdom of Cambodia. Surrounded by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, the old empire of Kampuchea is home to rare and wild animals and a very young population with a median age of 26 years. If you are patient enough, take

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Only 75 elephants are left in Cambodia. A group of 50 Asian Elephants lives in the Elephant Sanctuary in the jungle of Mondulkiri which you can visit and help the project to keep alive and safe the group from illegal poaching. No elephant riding. The best time to visit Mondulkiri is between October and February.

Isan in Thailand

With a size as big as Germany or the combination of England and Wales, the Isan is one of the most remote areas in Thailand. You find first-class Khmer temples in this region, as the Khmer (Cambodian) kingdom once counted this area as its territory.

Sights to visit are Phimai, Phnom Rung, and Khao Yai National Park. Khao Yai National Park is home to 200 wild elephants and a few wild tigers. The best time to visit Isan is between November and May.

Sumatra in Indonesia

Sumatra is one of the lesser visited Indonesian islands but one of the most mesmerizing. Visit Lake Toba, a volcanic lake surrounded by hills, cliffs, and jungle, or hang out with orangutans, elephants, and rhinoceroses in the Gunung Leuser National Park and the Bukit Lawang Orangutan Sanctuary.

Sumatra attracts not just nature and wildlife lovers but also surfers, for example on Mentawai island, divers, and snorkelers. You can reach West Sumatra (Bintan island) by ferry from Singapore (1.5 hours), or from Java. The best times to visit Sumatra are between May and June, and September and October.

Inle Lake in Myanmar

The Inle Lake in Myanmar's Shan state is the second biggest freshwater lake in the country, and home to iconic ethnic minorities, such as the Intha, Pa-O, or Shan. The Inle Lake can be best discovered in one of the long wooden boats that bring you to workshops, markets, and swimming gardens. The best time to visit Inle Lake is between November and May. Please note that sunny winter months are the coldest months, and temperatures can drop down to 10 to 15Pen degrees Celsius at night.

Although Myanmar is open to tourism, be aware that the military junta took over the regime in February 2021 after a coup d'etat. Since then, Myanmar faces times of "domestic unrest" (or war). The conflict is not solved, former president Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi got sentenced to more than 30 years of prison, and diplomatic relationships with the rest of the world are on hold. Traveling to Myanmar might be better to be postponed to a later time. If you are interested in Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese noble prize winner and former president, watch The Lady and Beyond Rangoon.

💶 Affordable destinations

• Penang in Malaysia
• Phnom Penh in Cambodia
• Luang Prabang in Laos
• Hoi An in Vietnam

We dedicated an entire article to affordable destinations in Asia. You find a handy overview of the monthly cost of living.

Asia on a budget: 6 destinations for less than 1,200 Euro a month

Updated: 2022, Dec 7th: While it is getting autumn in the northern hemisphere, it is time to think about where to spend the winter. If you are dreaming of white powdery beaches, artsy cafés, and delicious street food, but you are on a budget and you struggle to decide on

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

📅 Ideal cities to stay for 1-month

• Osaka in Japan
• Bali in Indonesia
• Hoi An in Vietnam
• Koh Lanta in Thailand
• Chiang Mai in Thailand
• Penang in Malaysia

Osaka in Japan

Osaka is one of the coolest cities in Japan, thanks to its lively music, art, student scene, and intercultural mix of expats, digital nomads, and local Japanese. The best time to visit Osaka is in spring from March to May and in autumn between September and November.

Japan for nomads

From the pink-colored countryside during the cherry blossom, snow-peaked Mount Fuji, or flickering neon signs of Tokyo - Japan is a mesmerizing country. Japan is for foodies, nature and outdoor lovers, culturally interested travelers, tech enthusiasts, and those seeking a spot where history and mode…

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Bali in Indonesia

Bali is an ideal 1-month or longer destination as the digital nomad scene is established and you can choose to either hibernate in one of the lesser frequented areas of the north or to join the buzz in Canggu and co.

As the traffic has increased drastically in the last 2 years, it might be worth consider to stay in one area. The ideal time to visit Bali is in May, June, and September.

Hoi An in Vietnam

The small beach town of Hoi An lies beautifully between rice fields and just 5 km off the coast. Although popular areas like An Bang beach might be a bit more pricy, it should be possible to rent an apartment in one of the tiny villages between Hoi An and the beach for 600 Euro a month. For this price, you might get a 2-bedroom place as well. Many apartments were newly built since 2019.

When visiting Hoi An, make sure to sign up for Hub Hoi An coworking space.

Koh Lanta in Thailand

You find 1-month accommodation in Lanta, either on Airbnb or at Kohub. This coworking and coliving space offers bungalows, workspaces, and a loyal digital nomad community. Regular events, meetups, celebrations, and excursions make it easy to stay on the island for a month. Or longer.

3 months Thailand - Laos - Vietnam for digital nomads

Thailand - Laos - VietnamBangkok - Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang - SaigonStarting the trip in Bangkok gives you all the possibilities of diving into food, nightlife, shopping, and events, before traveling to smaller towns. Chiang Mai is a popular nomad hotspot, for some the nomad capital of Asia. Make

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Chiang Mai in Thailand

A nomads' favorite in the northern mountains of Thailand. Chiang Mai is a wonderful place to spend a month in, especially from October to January, the time before the burning season. You can find 1-bedroom apartments for around 500 Euro a month, and the price might go down in the low season.

Penang in Malaysia

Historical Georgetown has grown into a larger digital nomad community during the last few years. The good news though, is that you can afford to live here with less than 1,190 Euro a month. Due to the island’s small size, transportation is easy with local busses, scooters,s or bicycle rentals. The dry season in Penang is between November and February. During the wet season, from May to October, the island counts fewer tourists.

3 months Singapore - Thailand - Malaysia for digital nomads

Singapore - Thailand - MalaysiaSingapore - Chiang Mai - Koh Lanta - Kuala Lumpur The metropolis of Singapore is easily accessible from every corner of this planet. Continue to Chiang Mai, the nomad capital in South East Asia, and to the tropical island of Koh Lanta, near Phuket and Krabi

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

📸 Best stop-overs in Asia

• Singapore
• Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia
• Bangkok in Thailand
• Seoul in South Korea

Singapore

Today's Singapore celebrates its rich cultural heritage in Little India, China Town, or Kampong Glam, and at the many cultural festivals held in the city. Multi-cultural influences are represented by the food scene, which is one of the best in the world with famous street food vendors and fine Michelin-star diners.

Singapore for nomads

[Last update: October 20, 2022] Singapore, founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819 as a trading hub for the British Empire, counts a total of 63 islands and islets plus the main island. The island state lacks natural resources and a hinterland, which led the city to develop an extensive

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Areas to stay in Singapore are, for example, Little India or the Marina Bay area (more expensive). The best time to visit Singapore is between December and June.

Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia

Within this bustling area, the center of Kuala Lumpur is a shopping, commercial, and entertainment district all at once. You find many business centers, coworking spaces, shopping malls, and boutiques as well as sites within walking distance. This district is for everyone who wants to stay central, busy, and with quick access to things. A fully furnished 1-bedroom apartment is around 700 Euro per month.

Malaysia for nomads

Malaysia - a colorful and diverse country, combining the cosmopolitan magnet of Kuala Lumpur with its historic quarters, and busy food courts, with the tea plantations, and orchards of the Cameron Highlands, and the tropical islands of Sabah, Sarawak or Langkawi. Penang, known as the Pearl of the O…

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Great places to work from are VCR café and Fikka café. Good neighborhoods to live in are the downtown area, Bangsar, and Desa Sri Hartamas.

Bangkok in Thailand

The cost of living for expats is around 900 to 1,500 Euro a month. Bangkok is a huge city, and it depends on where you stay and what you find obviously. The cost of living for expats is a lot more than for locals, and as shorter, you stay as more you will pay. One of the most expensive ways to rent a place is by booking through Airbnb.

Seoul in South Korea

Seoul is the world's leading smart city, integrating innovative technologies for its citizens, businesses, and environment that go align with the urban and regional planning policy. Arty districts in Seoul, e.g. the student district of Hongdae or Itaewon and Gangnam are the perfect base in the city.

South Korea for nomads

Describing South Korea in only three words would include service, soju, and smartness. The technology-driven state in the southern part of the Korean peninsula is delivering superb quality of service and innovation directly extracted out of the gigantic Seoul’s Digital Media City, a former landfill.…

Genki Guide for Digital NomadsSarah

Describing South Korea in only three words would include service, soju, and smartness. The technology-driven state in the southern part of the Korean peninsula is delivering superb quality of service and innovation directly extracted out of the gigantic Seoul's Digital Media City, a former landfill. The best times to visit Seoul are in spring from April to June, and in autumn, between September and November.

💡 Summary