In July 2022, we travelled to Bangkok (via Doha) with Qatar Airways and moved our digital nomad base from Europe to Southeast Asia. It was the first time we truly experienced this part of the world. It was a huge change, especially taking our whole lives with us. But we ended up staying for months on end and found so many places we absolutely fell in love with. We continue to return to the region even to this day.
Cambodia. Indonesia. Laos. Malaysia. The Philippines. Singapore. Thailand. Vietnam. We’ve made so many great memories and had unforgettable experiences in each of these countries. Now, we want to share our favourite places (so far) in Southeast Asia for working remotely as digital nomads. Here’s our top 10 list, in no particular order.
Nusa Ceningan, Indonesia
Squeezed in between Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, both of which are found off the east coast of Bali, Nusa Ceningan provides a calm and beautiful environment for settling down for a while and discovering this small, quiet island. From Incredible beaches to cafes overlooking the island from high up, you’ll quickly find out why we enjoyed staying here.
Additionally, there’s a bridge connecting Nusa Ceningan to Nusa Lembongan, so you’ve got another island to explore on your motorbike (the easiest way to get around). Plus, the popular Nusa Penida is just a short boat ride away. You’ll actually pass through Nusa Penida to reach Nusa Ceningan when coming from Bali.
All in all, Nusa Ceningan gave us the breather we needed, especially after spending time in Bali, which can get pretty hectic in popular areas like Ubud. This little slice of paradise across the Strait of Badung is ideal for slowing things down, exploring at your own pace and focusing on your latest work tasks.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Where do we even start with Kuala Lumpur? It’s hands down one of our favourite capital cities in the world. We’ve stayed here a few times now, and it never fails to impress. Laying eyes on the Petronas Towers and Merdeka 118 as we roll in on a Grab from the airport always makes us smile.
The Malaysian people. The food (roti canai is our go-to every time!). Pavilion shopping mall. Bukit Bintang. The endless selection of places to stay. Rooftop bars. You really can’t go wrong with KL.
We always feel welcome and find it easy to settle here. It’s got that big city buzz we crave from time to time, and we always seem to find ourselves coming back for one reason or another. And hey, don’t miss exploring more of Malaysia. Try Pangkor Island, just a few hours away from KL!
Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia
The beautiful Koh Rong Sanloem. Not your usual spot for remote work, especially with the lack of decent Wi-Fi on the island. However, there is one place we found that delivered the goods – Eden Beach Resort by EHM on Saracen Bay Beach. Solid, stable internet. We had no problems here.
The island itself. Wow. Blue, calm waters, sandy beaches and just a vibe that had you wanting to put the laptop aside and just enjoy the moment. Trust us. We loved this little paradise and are aiming to go back at some point in the future.
If you’re wondering where this island is on the map, it is just off the coast of Sihanoukville, right next to its big brother Koh Rong. To reach this paradisal destination, you’ll need to make your way to Sihanoukville to catch a boat. It’s definitely worth it.
Hanoi, Vietnam
The crazy amount of motorbikes (don’t worry – you’ll quickly get the hang of crossing the road!). The hustle and bustle. The night markets. Hanoi is certainly chaotic, but we managed to find our own little pace in Vietnam’s capital.
I think what truly helped us in Hanoi was our accommodation (Hanoi Emerald Waters Hotel Valley) and the Vietnamese hospitality. Everybody went out of their way for us, even when they didn’t have to, which we appreciated every single time.
And then there’s the food. A proper banh mi, anyone? We loved the little stalls on the streets selling banh mi. And then there’s everything else. We couldn’t help but indulge. This city has certainly earned a special place in our hearts.
Bali, Indonesia
We did mention earlier that Bali can get a little hectic, but that didn’t stop us enjoying our stay in one of the world’s digital nomad hotspots. There’s so much to explore. You don’t even need to stay in the busy spots to find beautiful spots. Virgin Beach near Candi Dasa was a personal favourite of ours.
Of course, the infrastructure is well-developed here, making it the perfect place to set up a remote work base. And then there’s the endless number of cafes and co-working spaces. You could easily stay here for a very long time.
It’s one of those places that really has to be experienced to fully appreciate everything it has to offer. We can certainly see why it became so attractive to digital nomads, and it will no doubt continue to draw more in the years to come.
Ko Phangan, Thailand
Ko Phangan has so much more to offer than just the infamous Full Moon Party. Head to the northwest of the island, and you’ll notice a completely different vibe. We based ourselves next to Hin Kong Beach, and it was absolutely perfect for us. A tranquil setting, surrounded by like-minded people. And a shoutout to our favourite food spot on the beach, Mama Kop!
Then when you travel further up, you have some unreal beaches. Haad Yao and Chaloklum Beach (our top pick!). You can also go to Mae Head Beach and take a walk across a sandbar to Koh Ma. Not every day you walk from one Thai island to another.
Overall, the Wi-Fi speeds at our accommodation (Nitchanan Villa) were spot on. The location was perfect, and honestly, we couldn’t fault anything. We even wished we had booked a longer stay because we could’ve easily spent more time on Ko Phangan. We’ll definitely be back.
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
After a brief time away from Southeast Asia, we soon found ourselves returning to that side of the world. This time, we kicked things off in George Town, Penang, and we can confidently say it was an excellent choice.
This diverse city has a lot going for it, from its vibrant mix of cultures to its incredible food scene. Every time we closed our laptops and stepped outside our apartment, something new awaited, whether it was a fresh area to explore or a traditional experience to enjoy.
Then there’s the rest of Penang, like Batu Ferringhi, which is great to visit, especially for the beach (can you tell we love beaches?). On the whole, George Town was a perfect place to knuckle down with work and truly absorb the local vibe.
Vientiane, Laos
We weren’t sure what to expect from Vientiane when we first flew in from Vietnam. However, we quickly realised that – despite the extreme heat – it was a place we could comfortably stay for a while.
Basing just a short distance away from the Mekong River (hello, Thailand across the way) we found ourselves in a decent area – staying at the Viryla Boutique Hotel – to really make the most of our time in Laos capital. Close by were cafes, places to eat and night markets. In fact, we found many great cafes – with solid Wi-Fi – during our stay.
I mean, Vientiane isn’t typically a place you hear about as a digital nomad hotspot. But there were clear signs of a growing infrastructure, and we really appreciated the city’s raw, authentic vibe – something we certainly connected with.
Bangkok, Thailand
The city we can never get enough of – Bangkok, Thailand. If there’s one place we always recommend, it’s here. From neighbourhoods like Ari and Thonglor, Bangkok is a city that’s impossible not to love. You can read about the best areas in Bangkok for digital nomads by clicking here.
Bangkok is pretty much set up for the digital nomad lifestyle. The average Wi-Fi speed in the city is great. Cafes and co-working spots are in abundance. The food scene is on a different level. There are plenty of things to do once work is done. We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve based ourselves here.
You’ll encounter a whole community of digital nomads and expats here, which says everything you need to know about how great this place really is. We’re definitely missing Bangkok now after writing about it.
Panglao, Philippines
And lastly, one you might not have expected to see. Panglao, located in the Bohol province of the Philippines, gave us an unforgettable experience when we decided to stay there for several weeks at Moravian Apartments.
Panglao checked a lot of boxes for us. From endless motorbike rides (two hours to see cloud-covered Chocolate Hills – that one didn’t work out for us!) and beautiful beaches to affordable meals and an overall vibe that just kept drawing us back, it really won us over. And the people there. So friendly and welcoming.
We met a few other digital nomads whilst we were based there, and they actually decided to settle in Panglao for the long term. They certainly couldn’t resist the pull. It’s undoubtedly an underrated gem for remote workers.
Overall, as you can probably tell, we absolutely love working from Southeast Asia. From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the laid-back charm of Nusa Ceningan, the region offers endless options for the perfect remote work setup. Whatever vibe you’re after, you can no doubt find it here, and that is exactly what we love about this part of the world. We’ve enjoyed many more places in Southeast Asia, including Cebu City, Sapa and Tioman Island, but the ones above are our ultimate favourites, and we wanted to keep the list to ten, so here it is. We hope you love them as much as we do! And if you haven’t visited any of them yet, be sure to give them a try. There are still plenty of destinations for us to visit in the region.
