To be so stressed out by daughter's plans for travel in South East Asia

[MrsKeats]

Daughter (23) and her boyfriend are due to go travelling in September.
She is going to Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
They are both sensible but I'm freaking out about Cambodia especially seeing it described as the 'Wild West of the region' on some traveller sites.
They are going for eight weeks.
Anyone been through this?

I used to live in SE Asia… all those places will be fine. Singapore is really boring and very expensive though. If it’s for a convenient flight I’d go to HK instead

I visited all of those countries when I was 20. No issues with safety, you just have to watch out for the occasional scammer in the same way you would on any holiday. I didn't like Thailand because of the laddish "brits on tour" culture around Bangkok and some of the islands but that was the tourists, not the local people. I'm surprised you've seen Cambodia described as the Wild West. It's been about 15 years since I was there but it's a bit of an extreme change if it's true. I returned to Vietnam more recently and it was as stunning as I remembered. More backpackers than before and a bit of a drinking culture in the cities but that was easy to avoid if you wanted to do more cultural things.

This!

I went twice. First time when I was 21 both time on my own for 3 months. Very safe places with very helpful people. I’d safe safer than uk for travelling tbh. They’ll be fine

It’ll be fine. The worst that’ll happen is they’ll probably wildly overpay for taxis and stuff till they find their feet. I did it at their age with a female friend 40 years ago. My mum worried. So much easier to keep in touch now!

id echo skipping Cambodia in favour of Laos. Not that Cambodia isn’t safe friendly etc…and Angkor watt is amazing.

I backpacked round SE Asia for a couple of months as an extremely naive and unstreetwise 19 year old solo female. That was nearly 20 years ago (god that makes me feel old!) and even then it was soooo easy.

Those countries are extremely well set up for tourists - there are internet cafes and travel agents etc everywhere, plenty of easily available accommodation and tourist buses etc as well as organised trips and tours. Most locals in the touristy areas speak some English and it's also very easy to find like minded backpackers going in the same direction to tag along with. She'll have a brilliant time!

Those saying Singapore is boring must have been to a different Singapore to the one I love! I will admit it is a bit expensive though.

I would have thought all these places listed above would be fine. I wish I’d gone to them when I was younger - I went down the west coast of Africa instead, and civil war broke out while I was there. That was a bit hair raising in hindsight. I still have Angkor Wat on my bucket list, as well as much of the rest of the region.

Absolutely fine. Did them all myself when I was 19, some parts with friends, some parts solo. Singapore I did with a female friend for a weekend. It was incredibly safe (and found it quite boring tbh - but it could have changed though!)

Agree about simply impressing upon them not to do extreme sports, helicopters, get on motorbikes etc. Be careful with getting valuables nicked; male friend got bag stolen within hours of arriving in HCMC and it had passport in it. Can only imagine what a logistical nightmare that would be right now. Other than that they will likely have an amazing time - to be young again!

They're adults. Chill.

Much safer and friendlier than the UK. Luang Prabang in Laos is arguably the nicest place in the world. Relax, she will be fine. It’s not Magaluf.

I thought you were going to say it was a gap year thing and she was 18/19 (same age as my dd). That would worry me especially if she was planning to go alone. But at 23 with a partner I think she’ll be fine! It will be an amazing experience.

DDs friends a currently backpacking in South America including Colombia, they are having a ball. I wouldn’t be worried about Cambodia. It will be full of other backpackers sharing tips.

She is 23……
With respect op you need to let your dd live her life. Why on earth are you researching where she is going?! Wish her well and ask for regular updates.

Completely understand worrying, especially if you haven't been to these places so can't imagine them. Hopefully this thread reassures you.

My own mother used to worry so much she put me off ever travelling as a gap year or big adventures in uni holidays, working abroad in my early 20s etc. I know why- she hadn't been to these places so panicked and assumed they were unsafe. Now as an adult I went to lots of these places in my late 20s and early 30s. You realise there are clear routes all very set up for backpackers and packed with other 18-25 year olds from Europe doing exactly the same. It is also an absolutely incredible experience and opens your eyes to the world. I will be encouraging DC to explore as much as possible when they are older. Yes with lots of lectures about safety and common sense, what to do if X happens on the side!

Its very safe and she is with her boyfriend. They will have a great time.

Agree with previous poster to tell her to miss out Singapore. It is very expensive and not very interesting...just a big city.

At age 23 and especially with a
boyfriend in tow she’ll be fine. I went to all of those in my early/mid twenties by myself.
safer than some European cities IMO

Ps Singapore is great fun. But will def take up significantly more budget than anywhere else.

My daughter is doing exactly that right now at the age of 19. Flew there solo and met up with a tour, is having the time of her life. Don't worry. It's a great opportunity.

If you had a look at the crime statistics around where you live, you'd probably never feel safe! Bare information doesn't accurately reflect everyday life anywhere. Lots and lots of people travel Cambodia and elsewhere all the time and nothing happens to them - the same can be said of London or Manchester. She'll have an amazing time.

Agree - what's with the slander of our beloved Singapore?! Haha

I love the place, but I do think that, for backpackers, a couple of days are probably sufficient (unless you hop across to Malaysia too).

Have you travelled much @MrsKeats ?

yout anxiety seems disproportionate - these are very safe countries. If you’re concerned about crime have you actually read the FCO guidance?
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia/safety-and-security

the risk of serious crime is lower than London

I went at 22 with my now husband - it's absolutely fine! Cambodia is so safe had zero issues there what an amazing Country!

It's more dangerous in my North London street than any of these places for sure.

Absolutely brilliant thing for her to do, although if possible she should go for longer. As long as she has a bit of common sense she’ll be perfectly fine and have an amazing experience. She’ll be just as safe if not safer than she would be in many parts of the UK or Europe.
I’m a very petite female and spent the majority of my 20’s travelling either solo or with another female friend around Asia, Central America, South America, and parts of Africa and never ran into any problems at all.

My daughter is doing very similar but on her own and at age 19!
I will worry of course but I trust her to be sensible
I lived in Israel for a year when I was 22 and hitch hiked across a lot of the country <shudder> so I'm sure your daughter and boyfriend will be fine with each other!
X

She'll be absolutely fine.

They're very popular areas for backpackers and travellers and invariably there is a very close community when they get out there. It isn't a matter she will be the sole traveller in a community of locals, far from it. As long as she is sensible, respectful to the area and sticks with connects herself with the travelling community for local support she will be absolutely safe.

I'm jealous, it's my biggest regret I didn't travel in my twenties - I hope she has an amazing time!