90 days · Digital nomad / solo professional
7 Days as a Digital Nomad in Southeast Asia — US Hours Edition
A practical 7-day country-hopping itinerary across Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore designed for remote workers on US West Coast hours (working until 2–3am local time). Each day is structured around a late-wake, daytime-adventure rhythm — with coworking cafes, afternoon social scenes, and evening meals before the laptop opens. This isn't a typical tourist sprint; it's a blueprint for living well while working remotely across three of Southeast Asia's most nomad-friendly cities. This preview covers the first 7 days of a 90-day trip — claim it to build the full itinerary with Voyaige.
Built for digital nomad / solo professional spending 90 days in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, with focus on Jakarta, Thailand, Vietnam)
Budget Estimate
$665
~$95/day for 90 days · USD
Before You Go
Book flights between Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore at least 2–3 weeks in advance — AirAsia, Scoot, and VietJet routes fill up and prices spike close to departure.
Vietnamese citizens and most Western passport holders get 45-day visa-free entry to Vietnam; confirm your country's eligibility at the Vietnamese embassy website before travel.
Singaporeans and most Western passport holders get 30-day visa-free entry to both Thailand and Singapore; check your specific passport's requirements on the official government portals.
Download Grab (Southeast Asia's Uber equivalent) and create your account before leaving home — it works in Bangkok, HCMC, and Singapore and you'll use it daily.
Book accommodation in Bangkok near BTS Sukhumvit Line (Asok, Phrom Phong, Thong Lor, Ekkamai stations) to maximize day productivity and nighttime work options.
Book accommodation in Singapore at least 3–4 weeks ahead — the city is expensive and fills up fast; budget hotels in Chinatown or Little India offer the best value-to-location ratio.
Set up a portable wifi hotspot plan or confirm your home phone plan's international data rates before departure — never rely solely on cafe wifi for client video calls at 2am.
Create a simple timezone converter shortcut on your phone (PST/PDT to local time) — a sticky note or widget showing 'PST 9am = Local 1am Bangkok/HCMC, 2am Singapore' will save daily mental math.
Tell your team your working hours clearly before you leave — frame it as 'I'm available starting 9pm local time for sync calls' to set expectations rather than apologizing later.
Purchase travel insurance that explicitly covers remote work equipment (laptop, external drives) — standard travel policies often exclude professional equipment above $500.
Download Speedtest, Google Maps offline (Bangkok, HCMC, and Singapore individually), and XE Currency apps before departure.
Good to Know
Wake up at 10–11am rather than fighting it — your late work schedule demands this, and pretending otherwise just creates exhaustion.
Use the 6–9pm window every single day as your protected social hour; treat it like a meeting you can't cancel.
Southeast Asian street food eaten standing up before 8pm is cheaper, fresher, and more interesting than any restaurant open past midnight.
Cafes in Bangkok and HCMC often have better wifi than your hotel — scout your neighborhood's best late-night option on day one.
Keep a consistent sleep target (e.g., 3:30am–11:30am) across all three countries rather than adjusting per destination; your body adapts to a rhythm, not a timezone.
Singapore costs roughly 3x Bangkok and 4x HCMC — recalibrate your spending expectations when you cross the causeway.
The MRT in Singapore and BTS in Bangkok are so reliable that planning around stations is more useful than planning around neighborhoods.
Noise-canceling headphones are your most important piece of work equipment on this schedule — hostel walls are thin at 2am.
The loneliest hours are 11pm–2am when everyone back home is asleep and locals are asleep — build a small late-night routine (podcast, walk, game) to make it feel less isolating.
Day by Day
Arrive Bangkok — Settle In, Find Your Rhythm
Check into Sukhumvit Accommodation
Arrive at your hotel or serviced apartment in the Sukhumvit area, ideally near BTS Asok or Phrom Phong. This neighborhood has excellent BTS access, coworking spaces, cafes, and an international expat crowd.
$30–70/night mid-rangeGrab a Thai SIM at 7-Eleven or AIS Shop
Pick up an AIS or DTAC tourist SIM from any 7-Eleven or carrier shop — 30-day unlimited data plans run around 299–399 THB. Reliable 4G is essential for video calls at 2am.
$9–12 USDExplore Benjakitti Forest Park
Walk or rent a bike around this recently expanded urban forest park — it's calm, green, and a great antidote to jet lag. The elevated walkways over the lake are genuinely beautiful and far less crowded than Lumphini.
FreeScout Your Coworking Cafe for the Week
Walk over to Hubba-TO or RISTR8TO near Asok to test the wifi speed and ambiance — you'll be returning here during the day all week. Many Bangkok cafes have fast wifi, unlimited coffee menus, and stay open until midnight.
Free (coffee ~150 THB)Dinner Before the Work Block
Eat a proper meal at Thong Lor or Ekkamai restaurants before logging on — this becomes your daily ritual. Set a hard dinner alarm so work doesn't swallow your evening.
$8–15 USDRemote Work Block (US West Coast Hours)
Log on from your room or a late-night cafe like Rocket Coffeebar on Silom — Bangkok has dozens of 24-hour spots. US West Coast morning standup at 9pm local, deep work until 2–3am.
Free (coffee optional)Where to eat
Terminal 21 Food Court (Pier 21), Asok
One of Bangkok's best food courts — every dish is 40–80 THB. Try the boat noodles or pad see ew. It's air-conditioned, fast, and right above the BTS.
Supanniga Eating Room, Thong Lor
Upscale-ish Thai that won't break the bank — the crab curry and smoked fish dishes are excellent. Book ahead or arrive by 6:30pm to avoid a wait.
Bangkok by Day — Temples, Markets, Social Time
Wake Up + Late Breakfast Ritual
Accept that waking up before 10am is counterproductive on this schedule — protect your sleep. Build a morning routine with coffee and a 20-minute walk before anything else.
FreeVisit Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin, then a river ferry to Tha Tien pier — the entire journey is scenic. Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's most impressive temples and takes 60–90 minutes to explore properly.
200 THB (~$6 USD)Walk Across to Wat Arun
The iconic Temple of Dawn is a 3-minute ferry ride from Wat Pho — climb the steep prang for a great river view. Late afternoon light is prettier but midday is far less crowded.
100 THB (~$3 USD)Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market Browse
Walk 15 minutes to this sprawling flower market near Memorial Bridge — it's colorful, fragrant, and unlike anything in the West. Best light for photos in the afternoon.
Free to browseReturn to Sukhumvit via Chao Phraya Express Boat
Take the express boat north to Asiatique or Saphan Taksin pier and BTS back — skip the taxi during peak traffic. The boat ride itself is a Bangkok experience.
15–30 THBDinner + Early Social Hour at Thong Lor
Thong Lor (Sukhumvit Soi 55) has Bangkok's best mix of expats, digital nomads, and locals in a walkable strip of restaurants and bars. Use this 7–9pm window as your daily social hour before work.
$10–20 USD with drinksRemote Work Block
Work from your room or a nearby 24-hour cafe — Insomnia Cafe in Ekkamai and many branches of Amazon Cafe stay open late. Keep work to a dedicated space so your bed stays mentally for sleep.
Free–$3 USD coffeeWhere to eat
Roast Coffee, Ekkamai
Bangkok's best third-wave coffee chain — get the cold brew and a croissant. Opens at 8am if you're up early, great ambiance for a slow morning.
Tha Tien street vendors near Wat Pho
Eat where the longtail boat operators eat — pad kra pao with rice and a Thai iced tea for under 80 THB total.
Wattana Panich, Ekkamai
Legendary beef noodle soup that's been simmering since 1945 — order the large bowl with extra tendon. Cash only, arrive before 8pm.
Ready to make it yours?
Save this itinerary, swap activities, add hotels and flights — free to start.
Free · no credit card needed
Bangkok Deep Work + Chatuchak Weekend Browse
Chatuchak Weekend Market (If Day 3 is Saturday or Sunday)
The world's largest weekend market has 15,000 stalls — go straight to Section 2–4 for vintage clothing, Section 7 for ceramics, and Section 26 for plants. Arrive before noon before the heat peaks.
Free entry, budget $20–40 for shoppingOr: MOCA Bangkok (Museum of Contemporary Art)
If it's a weekday, skip Chatuchak and go to MOCA instead — it's genuinely world-class and almost always empty. Five floors of Thai contemporary art in a cool, air-conditioned space.
280 THB (~$8 USD)Coworking at HUBBA-EKK or The Hive Ekkamai
The Hive Ekkamai is a proper coworking space popular with Bangkok's nomad community — day passes around 350 THB. The daily pass crowd is social and often up for after-work drinks.
350 THB (~$10 USD) day passEkkamai Neighborhood Walk + Street Food
The streets around Ekkamai BTS have some of Bangkok's best street food carts setting up from 5pm — grilled meats, som tam stalls, and fresh fruit vendors. Walk and graze.
$3–6 USDRooftop Drink Before Work — Octave Rooftop Lounge
Marriott's Octave on Sukhumvit 57 has 360-degree Bangkok views and happy hour until 8pm — one drink here at sunset is worth it. This is your reward ritual before the laptop opens.
$10–15 USD for 1–2 drinksRemote Work Block
Work from your accommodation — by night 3, the routine should feel more natural. Use Freedom or Cold Turkey app to block distractions during deep work hours.
FreeWhere to eat
Kanom Jeen vendor near your hotel
Thai rice noodles with fish curry sauce — a proper Thai breakfast that costs 40–60 THB from any morning cart. Ask locals where they go.
Chatuchak Market food stalls (Section 26/27)
Pad thai, grilled corn, mango sticky rice from market vendors — budget $4–6 total and eat while you walk.
Sühring, Sathorn (splurge option)
German-Thai fine dining run by twin chefs — if you're going to splurge once in Bangkok, this is it. Book well in advance; tasting menu is $80–100 but extraordinary.
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City — Settle into the Hustle
Morning Flight Bangkok → Ho Chi Minh City
AirAsia and VietJet run multiple daily flights — the journey is about 1.5 hours. Factor in 2 hours at Suvarnabhumi and you'll need to leave your hotel around 6–7am for a morning departure.
$40–80 USD booked in advanceArrive Tan Son Nhat, Take Grab to District 1
Skip the airport taxis — open Grab immediately after landing and book a GrabCar to District 1 (Pham Ngu Lao or Bui Vien area). Cost is around 150,000–200,000 VND and completely reliable.
$6–8 USDCheck In and Test Your Viettel or Vietnamobile SIM
Buy a SIM at the airport arrivals hall — Viettel is most reliable, 30-day data plan runs around 100,000–200,000 VND. Test your connection speed before committing to work that night.
$4–8 USDWalk the Bui Vien Backpacker Street Area
You'll hear mixed things about Bui Vien, but during the afternoon it's surprisingly calm and great for people-watching. The real HCMC nomad cafes are the streets parallel: Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham.
FreeBen Thanh Market and Surroundings
Don't buy much inside Ben Thanh — prices are tourist-inflated. Instead, walk the streets around it (Nguyen Trai, Phan Chu Trinh) where the local vendors sell the same things at half the price.
Free to browseRooftop Happy Hour with City View
Chill Skybar at the EON Helibar in Bitexco Tower has stunning views and is one of the better value rooftop spots in HCMC — cocktails around 180,000–250,000 VND. Good for meeting other travelers.
$7–12 USD per drinkRemote Work Block
HCMC is on the same timezone as Bangkok (+7), so your schedule is identical. Find a 24-hour cafe or work from your room — The Workshop on Ngo Duc Ke is a nomad favorite with excellent wifi.
Free–$4 USDWhere to eat
Pho Hoa, District 3 (or nearest branch)
Classic HCMC pho that's been running for decades — large bowl with extra tendon and brisket, add bean sprouts and hoisin. About 75,000 VND.
Oc Dao Seafood, near Nguyen Thi Minh Khai
Get a table of Vietnamese snail dishes — co thi, oc len xao dua, and grilled scallops. Locals eat here and it's half the price of tourist spots. Budget 200,000–300,000 VND.
Ho Chi Minh City — History, Cafes, and the Nomad Scene
Cafe Apartment Building Browse and Coffee
The old French apartment building at 42 Nguyen Hue has been converted into 9 floors of independent cafes, boutiques, and creative spaces. It's one of HCMC's most photogenic and social spots.
Coffee ~50,000–80,000 VNDWar Remnants Museum
One of the most powerful and sobering museums in Southeast Asia — budget 90 minutes. The photography floor is particularly affecting. This is not a fun activity, but it's important context for the country you're in.
40,000 VND (~$1.60 USD)Lunch at Huynh Hoa Banh Mi Then Co-work at The Workshop
Grab the most famous banh mi in HCMC from the Huynh Hoa stall on Le Thi Rieng — there's always a line, it's worth it. Then head to The Workshop Cafe (Ngo Duc Ke) for afternoon focused work.
Banh mi 50,000 VND + coffee 80,000 VNDReunification Palace Walk-Through
The former South Vietnamese presidential palace is frozen in 1975 and genuinely eerie — the underground command bunkers are the highlight. It's a 10-minute walk from The Workshop.
40,000 VND (~$1.60 USD)Nguyen Hue Walking Street at Dusk
HCMC's main pedestrian boulevard fills up at dusk with families, street performers, and locals — walk it south to north toward the Opera House. Good energy and completely free.
FreeDinner at a Nomad-Friendly Spot Then Work
Eat dinner, then transition to your work block — HCMC has a large expat and nomad scene, especially around Thao Dien (District 2) if you want a change of scenery later in the week.
$8–15 USDWhere to eat
Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu, District 1
Broken rice with grilled pork, fried egg, and pickled vegetables — the quintessential HCMC breakfast. Under 60,000 VND and served all morning.
Huynh Hoa Banh Mi, Le Thi Rieng Street
The undisputed king of HCMC banh mi — overstuffed with pork, pate, and pickled veg. Get two; you'll want seconds.
Nha Hang Ngon, Pasteur Street
A beautiful colonial villa serving dishes from all regions of Vietnam — great for trying multiple things. A bit touristy but the food quality is consistently high. Budget 200,000–350,000 VND.
Fly to Singapore — The Organized Counterpoint
Morning Flight HCMC → Singapore Changi
Scoot, Jetstar, and Singapore Airlines all fly this route in under 2 hours. Arrive at Changi and take the MRT directly to the city — it's one of the best airport transit systems in the world.
$60–120 USD depending on airlineCheck In Near Tanjong Pagar or Chinatown MRT
Singapore is expensive — aim for a hostel private room, a budget hotel, or Airbnb in Chinatown or Tanjong Pagar for best access to food, MRT, and the CBD. Budget S$80–150/night for mid-range.
$60–110 USD/nightGet an EZ-Link Card and Orient Yourself
Buy an EZ-Link card at any MRT station — it works on all trains, buses, and even some taxis. Singapore's transit system is genuinely world-class and makes the city feel very small.
S$12 (includes S$7 credit)Gardens by the Bay — Free Outdoor Sections
The Supertree Grove and outdoor gardens are free to walk — only the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest domes cost money. Late afternoon here is beautiful with the towers reflecting the golden hour light.
Free (outdoor) / S$28–53 for domesMarina Bay Sands Observation Deck or Walk the Promenade
The SkyPark observation deck is S$26 but the view is extraordinary — or just walk the Marina Bay promenade for free and get the same photos from ground level. Either works as a Singapore arrival ritual.
Free walk / S$26 SkyParkDinner at Maxwell Food Centre (Hawker Centre)
Singapore's hawker centres are world-famous for a reason — Maxwell has Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (the one Anthony Bourdain called perfect) and dozens of other stalls. Budget S$5–10 for a full meal.
$4–8 USDRemote Work Block — Note Singapore is +8 (1hr ahead of Bangkok)
Singapore runs on SGT (+8), meaning your US PST workday starts one hour earlier — 9pm SGT instead of 9pm BKK. Adjust your alarm, brief your team. Wifi everywhere in Singapore is excellent.
FreeWhere to eat
Yakun Kaya Toast, any location
Singapore's iconic breakfast: kaya toast with butter, soft-boiled eggs with soy and white pepper, and thick local coffee. Under S$7 — the correct way to start a Singapore day.
Food Republic at VivoCity or Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre
Lau Pa Sat in the CBD has excellent satay stalls that set up outside from 7pm — go for the char kway teow and grilled skewers.
Maxwell Food Centre, Chinatown
Get Tian Tian chicken rice (stall 10, expect a line), then finish with a bowl of tau huay (silken tofu dessert) from the stall across the way.
Singapore Fully — Nomad Cafes, Culture, and Reflecting on the Week
Tiong Bahru Neighborhood Walk
Singapore's hippest neighborhood is a mix of 1930s Art Deco public housing, independent bookshops, specialty coffee, and brunch spots. BooksActually on Yong Siak Street and Tiong Bahru Bakery are essential stops.
Free to walkSpecialty Coffee at Nylon Coffee Roasters
One of Singapore's best independent roasters — small, intimate, and excellent. A proper single-origin espresso or filter here is a far cry from the 7-Eleven you've been fueling yourself with all week.
S$5–9 per coffeeHaw Par Villa (Underrated Singapore Weirdness)
A bizarre, free Taoist theme park with thousands of hand-painted statues depicting Chinese mythology and the Ten Courts of Hell — you've never seen anything like it. A fascinating 90-minute wander.
FreeHead to Kampong Glam (Arab Quarter) for Late Afternoon
The area around Haji Lane and Arab Street is Singapore's most photogenic neighborhood — pastel shophouses, boutiques, and the golden dome of Sultan Mosque. Ideal for a slow afternoon walk.
Free to walkFinal Week Reflection at a Rooftop Bar
Loof Bar on Orchard Road or 1-Altitude near Raffles Place — treat yourself to a sunset drink and think through what worked and what didn't about this week's nomad schedule. Iterate for next week.
$12–18 USD per drinkFarewell Hawker Dinner at Newton Food Centre
Newton is livelier than Maxwell in the evening — a classic open-air hawker experience. Try the BBQ stingray with sambal, Hokkien mee, and a Tiger beer. Come here for the ambiance as much as the food.
$10–18 USDFinal Work Block and Week Wrap-Up
Final work night of the trip — use the last 30 minutes before logging on to write a brief journal entry about your schedule, what surprised you, and whether you want to extend this lifestyle. These notes are genuinely valuable.
FreeWhere to eat
Tiong Bahru Bakery, Tiong Bahru
French-trained baker making croissants that rival Paris — get the kouign-amann and a flat white. A luxurious slow breakfast after a week of eating on the run.
Bismillah Biryani Restaurant, Dunlop Street
Singapore's Indian-Muslim food scene is extraordinary — this Dunlop Street institution serves rich, saffron-laced biryani that's worth the slightly longer MRT ride to Little India.
Newton Food Centre, Newton MRT
Go directly to the BBQ stingray stalls at the back — negotiate slightly on price if they quote high, it's expected. The Hokkien mee from the western side of the centre is also exceptional.
This is just the beginning
You've seen 7 days of Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, with focus on Jakarta, Thailand, Vietnam). Use this itinerary and Scout will help you refine every detail — swap activities, add flights, book lodging, and plan the parts this preview didn't cover.
or start fresh with any destination
Free to start — no credit card needed