In all of my travels throughout Southeast Asia, I’ve been privileged enough to visit and live in some of the most beautiful parts of the region, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been a few stinkers along the way. Often places that have been hugely advertised and marketed to the ends of the Earth (pun intended!) unfortunately ended up being for myself and others some of the most overrated places in Southeast Asia, while other cities that receive nearly as much hype proving to be a much better fit for tourists and expats alike, looking for their personal paradise.
While each city below on this list has its reasons for appealing to the masses, unfortunately most soon find that the grass isn’t really greener on the other side, but it could have been had they thought a little bit harder about going somewhere same, same, but different, in an adjacent way that gives all the benefits you’d be looking for in a holiday destination or overseas move, but with far less negatives to go along with it.
Luckily, you don’t have to do much thinking though – let someone whose lived it and done it give you his humble opinion on what works and what doesn’t work in this part of the world. Though there are many great (and not so great) places in this part of the world, let me draw your attention to these top 5 most overrated places in Southeast Asia, so you can avoid the crowds, negativity, and headaches, and go somewhere nicer and less hyped instead!
Overrated: Singapore
Though the Lion City has its many benefits, especially for its wealthy denizens, aristocrats, and businessmen in suits who seem to be gleefully running the free market and global banking sectors from this futuristic city state, the negatives for most seem to be outweighing the cons these days.
Part of what makes Singapore one of the most overrated places in Southeast Asia is the fact that one of its greatest strengths on paper – it’s clean, safe, well-kept image, that is well-manicured to be absolutely perfect…is, well too perfect. Things feel too scrubbed, almost too manipulated – it has the unfortunate effect of feeling quite akin to being dropped into your own personal ‘Truman Show’, where you feel everything in the world around you is fake, cold, unreal.
This is partially due to the way that Singapore has since its inception kept an iron-clad grip on many aspects of their society, and though the visionary father of the country Lee Kuan-Yew, who implemented many draconian practices during his time, was indeed able to help the Lion City rise from the swamps to become a truly world-class nation in the space of a generation, this has led to Singapore feeling less like a real country, and more like a theme park – Disneyland with the death penalty, so to speak!
As such, the massive adherence to the rule of law, the constant state of policing and surveillance, and a populace now far and away use to this kind of government intrusion into their lives, and you have the perfect recipe for a nation that is spotless and safe, but devoid of spontaneity, deep cultural creations, and an organic feeling of joy.
Ultimately, Singapore just feels very boring to most people who come here to live, either for work, business or pleasure, and mixing in the fact that most of the city-states major attractions can be seen within a day or two tops, makes the Lion City unfortunately an overrated, and over-hyped place, that seems to get by more for its street-cred for its business freedoms and English-speaking ability, then for its personal freedoms and entertainment options on the whole.
Better Option: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This incredible city has everything that Singapore has, but far less governmental control, much more culture, many more things to see and do, English is just as widely spoken, the food is way better, and it is six to seven times cheaper. It’s really a no-brainer actually, KL is by far-and-away a better overall version of Singapore on every level, and far more deserving of your tourist dollars, property investments, and being used as an expats new home base, than its southeasterly neighbor at the tip of Malaysia.
Overrated: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ah, yes. Chiang Mai, the digital nomad mecca, the hot-spot for Thai curry and Thai babes. Many young expats, wanting to step their feet into the water of Southeast Asia have for years been convinced by many travel bloggers and Youtube vloggers over the years about the supposed benefits of living in this little corner in north-west Thailand, and to their credit, there is some truth to their claims.
For instance, it is true that property prices can be extremely cheap, and rentals with roof-top pools can still be had for $200-300 USD a month. But despite the vast community of nomad guys and gals who have made this place their home, Chiang Mai I have found to not be all that it’s cracked up to be.
For starters, the air pollution in the city is off the charts brutal, due to the nearby forest burning and waste burning that are so common in this part of Thailand, and as a result Chiang Mai is severely effected by the smoke due to it being inland, and far from the ocean breezes that would blow the low-quality air away. This leads to a high degree of pollutants that make it hard to breathe clean air.
Additionally, Chiang Mai itself was often over-run with expats and tourists, to the point where the local Thai government and people started actively being aggressive towards the foreigners, demonstrating a lack of welcoming nature towards the cities newest inhabitants (albeit, this is not fully unique to Chang Mai, as most of Thailand is now becoming less friendly to the digital nomad crowd).
Essentially, with Chaing Mai, you get what you pay for, which ultimately isn’t a whole lot – the city itself is also not the most spectacular, and is honestly bordering on depressing at times. If you’re still drawn irrevocably to Thailand, then there are much better options (Krabi in the south for starters), but if you’re looking for a place to make as your new digital nomad home base, than I’m afraid to say that Chaing Mai is no longer what it used to be, and is now one of the most overrated places in Southeast Asia.
Better Option: Ubud – Bali, Indonesia
If you’re looking for a better version of a hilly, jungle environment that is a digital nomad hub, with all the conveniences you might be accustomed to, then instead of Chiang Mai I would personally recommend Ubud, which is situated inland on Bali. Though Bali also has its many drawbacks, Ubud is still somewhat removed from the carnage of Kuta, and along with Uluwatu, are the two places on the island I still recommend to expats and tourists alike. This lush, green city is a far more relaxing, enjoyable place than it’s equivalent in Thailand, with much friendlier people, far better food, and a great community that makes Ubud really shine.
Overrated: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Oh dear, how to start with Ho Chi Minh. Vietnam’s largest metro area, situated in the south of the country, this city once named Saigon (and still often referred to as such by the locals) is a hectic, bustling grid of out-of-control traffic, noise, and all around craziness that makes my head hurt just talking about it.
Mostly attracting expats over tourists, usually in search of well-paying English teaching jobs, of which Vietnam is known to actually pay a very decent wage most of the time, Ho Chi Minh is the center of the countries commerce sector, and though business opportunities can certainly be found here, there is a whole lot of pain that goes along with that.
This is partially due to the fact that Vietnam is still a developing country, and with the recent economic boom leading to the old charms of thousands of bicycles on the streets being replaced with loud motorcycles, the traffic has become that much more untenable, as well as hazardous to pedestrian health. I can’t tell you the amount of times I had to run across the streets, praying I wouldn’t get hit by an oncoming stream of vehicles, and those were the times I could get across the street at all!
Though there are some areas of the city that are more relaxed than others, Ho Chi Minh is still an unorganized urban sprawl that makes it hard to get from one place to the next in a reasonable amount of time. There are few cities I’ve been in where you really feel like an island unto yourself, in the midst of major city, quite like I did in Ho Chi Minh – cut off from the rest of the world.
Coupled with the fact that I personally found the people in Ho Chi Minh to not be the friendliest, in Southeast Asia, let alone in Vietnam, and you have the perfect recipe for a lonely expat life. Life in the big city can be had in this region, but to try and do it Ho Chi Minh, is not really worth the juice or the squeeze, in one of the most overrated places in Southeast Asia.
Better Option: Manilla, The Philippines
Yes, I know, Manilla has probably the worst traffic in the world, so how could it be better than Ho Chi Minh? Bear with me – for those looking for economic prosperity and opportunities, the capital of The Philippines still far outweighs Vietnam’s largest city, as does its infrastructure in upscale neighborhoods like Makati, which are absolutely world-class, as well as centralized – so you won’t need to travel much through the city anyway. Add in amazing food, far friendlier people, and lack of language barriers for English speakers, and it quickly becomes apparent that Manilla is the far better big-city option for those looking to move to Southeast Asia.
Overrated: Jakarta, Indonesia
Continuing the trend of cities suffering from terrible traffic, let me introduce you to the gridlocked hell-scape that is Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta! While at least cities like Ho Chi Minh has some kind of sidewalks here and there, Jakarta gives absolutely no qualms to the thoughts of pedestrians – if you live in Jakarta, you will need a car, and you will suffer for it.
Sadly, part of the reason why the cities traffic is so terrible is how densely packed and overcrowded Jakarta has become over the years – in fact, it is the second largest urban agglomeration on the planet, and boy, does it show. In fact, the amount of people cramming so tightly into the city has actually contributed to Jakarta being one of the fastest sinking places on the planet – 6.7 inches a year, due to excessive groundwater pumping!
In fact, so bad has the sinking problem become, that even Indonesians don’t want to live in their capital city anymore – they’ve actually decided to try and move their capital to a new city to be built into the jungle on the island of Borneo! But for the vast majority of the population stuck to living in the old capital, Jakarta will still have to deal with literal collapse of their city, inch by inch, year after year, making them prime candidates to be terribly effected by natural disasters like flooding and earthquakes.
Most people move to Jakarta for business opportunities, and though they are plentiful here, as well as some steps forward to trying to make the city a modern powerhouse in the fourth-most populated nation on Earth, the city still suffers from a lack of conveniences, and overall infrastructure that neighboring Kuala Lumpur and Singapore offer just next door.
All in all, Indonesia is a vast, sprawling, beautiful country, filled with opportunity for a happy, wholesome lifestyle. But Jakarta unfortunately does not provide the kind of lifestyle most expats would like to enjoy, and thus this capital city must be rated as one of the most overrated places in Southeast Asia.
Better Option: Taipei, Taiwan
Although technically not in Southeast Asia (this country is located a bit more in proper East Asia), Taiwan is close enough to the region as a whole that it would be a crime for me not to offer it up as a solution and an upgrade to anything you’d find in Jakarta. Also a capital city, a bustling metropole, and filled with economic opportunity, Taipei is an amazingly cool, friendly place, which I find offers everything Jakarta does, but with better infrastructure, better climate, better safety, and lower traffic – definitely an alternative to consider if wanting to move to this part of the world!
Overrated: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Moving down to smaller cities, one of the more hyped towns in recent years has been the third largest city in Cambodia, and gateway to the world-famous ancient ruins of Angkor Wat – the town of Siem Reap. While I must say that after living for two years in the Khmer Kingdom, I would admit that at least in the country proper, Siem Reap would be my favorite city in Cambodia to move to and visit, on a regional scale, the city just quite frankly doesn’t meet up to all the hype.
Angkor Wat not withstanding, the actual present day city of Siem Reap is actually kind of underwhelming for the most part, having some really cool little funky bars and cafes for about two or three city blocks, often notoriously known as Pub Street, but other than that, not really offering much in the ways of a real lived-in town, with things to see and do.
For those looking for the absolute quiet, village life, the outskirts of the city can fulfill those requirements nicely, as can it be enjoyable for a few days tops for tourists using it as a base, as they clamor to see the amazing Angkor Wat ruins (and pay a pretty penny to do so, with $60 USD the daily figure charged for entry to the park!). But the town otherwise suffers like many over-touristy locales, without the infrastructure to back it all up.
The city can get very crowded in the summer and winter seasons (pre-and assumingly post-Covid), and with the draw of the tourists comes a rise in local scams, beggars, and price gouging. Though most tourists come and go, and are able to shake off this kind of treatment, if you’re a prospective expat looking for a new home, be prepared to be treated as no better than the greenest backpacker daily, if you choose to live in Siem Reap.
All in all, for a few days trip, its worth enduring the obvious pitfalls that Siem Reap has in order to enjoy one of the great wonders of the ancient world, as you stroll through near mystical abandoned temples, claimed by the overgrowth of an even older forest. But any longer than that, for tourists and expats alike, this Cambodian town will grate on even the most patient of hearts, and fattest of wallets, and for that reason Siem Reap has become one of the most overrated places in Southeast Asia.
Better Option: Penang, Malaysia
For a far better livable, and dare I say touristic experience as well, set in a smaller sized city (though bigger than Siem Reap, I must add), a comparable sort of destination would have to be Penang, in Malysia’s north-west corridor to the Malacca Strait and the Andaman Sea. Strolling through the UNESCO-protected old colonial town of Georgetown, eating some of the best food on the planet, perusing the streets filled with unique street art, and enjoying a day at the lovely beach are just a few of the things that Penang fits into a bite-sized package, and is a far more livable, happy place to choose to visit or move to, than Siem Reap.
So there you have it, the top 5 most overrated places in Southeast Asia, and where you can go instead! Have you been to any of the destinations mentioned above in the region, whether to work, live, see, or play? What were your experiences with the cities I wrote about? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!