Safest Southeast Asian Countries to Visit in 2024

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The safest Southeast Asian countries to visit in 2024 are Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Singapore goes a step further and can be considered one of the safest countries in the world. This is based on a combination of statistics (most notably, the 2023 Global Peace Index) and my own on-the-ground knowledge of this region.

Most countries in Southeast Asia are pretty safe, although many have a handful of no-go zones. Thailand sees regular violence in some of its southern regions near the Malaysia border, the Philippines is mostly safe, although Mindanao and surrounding islands would be wise to avoid due to conflict, whilst Indonesia falls short of being one of the safest countries due to its prominent position in the Pacific Ring of Fire which makes it susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

Myanmar is widely considered to be the most dangerous country in Southeast Asia, mostly due to a civil war which has been ongoing since 2021. I visited Myanmar in July 2023 and it is very safe if you stick to the tourist spots of Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake. The four places form a kite-shape on the map, and travelling within that “kite” is safe, whereas travel outside of it is not. Due to the war, it does not reach the criteria to make this list, however if you want to visit, I wrote a guide on everything you should know before visiting Myanmar including safety tips.

Which Countries are in Southeast Asia?

There are 11 Southeast Asian countries. Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia are all on the Asian mainland, with Singapore just off the southern tip of Malaysia.

Indonesia and the Philippines are two large countries made up of many islands.

Whilst Brunei is a tiny country on the northern tip of Borneo island, and Timor-Leste is another very small nation on the eastern side of Timor island, which it shares with Indonesia.

What are the Main Dangers in Southeast Asia?

Landmines

Many countries are plagued by landmines, often from times of war. They are usually planted around border areas or in forests, fields and around water sources. In other words, strategically important locations that are worth protecting to prevent invasion or sabotage.

The countries affected in this part of the world are Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Now you won’t have any issues by sticking to major cities. It is only by going off the beaten path you risk coming close to these lethal devices. Don’t visit rural areas in these countries without a local guide, and stick only to tourist areas if you wish to guarantee avoiding them.

Conflict and Terrorism

Not a problem in most countries. But there are still a few spots in the region to avoid.

Myanmar is the biggest conflict zone right now. As mentioned earlier, stick to the “tourist kite” and you will be fine. The country has in fact been involved in civil wars between varying ethnic groups ever since 1948, when the country became independent from the UK. The good news is that it’s hard to visit the dangerous parts of the country by accident. You need a permit for most areas outside of the tourist kite.

The Philippines has struggled for a while with conflict and terror, mostly revolving around Islamist groups on Mindanao and surrounding islands. The most notorious was an ISIS-affiliated group called Abu Sayyaf. I won’t deep dive into the history, since this is a travel blog, and the events of the past aren’t relevant to you if you plan to visit the Philippines. However, in March 2024, a Filipino general involved in the conflict stated that Abu Sayyaf had been dismantled.

Most parts of the Philippines are safe, however there have been recent attacks on Mindanao, most notably the bombing of Mindanao State University in December 2023. I know of tourists who have recently been to Mindanao without issues, but this isn’t the safest part of the Philippines to travel in.

Meanwhile Thailand has been involved in an insurgency since 2004 which has killed thousands of people. They’ve been fighting against Malay separatists in Thailand’s southernmost regions on the Malaysian border. Now there was an agreement in February 2024 to stop the fighting, however a mass arson attack followed just a few weeks later, so it’s not safe down there yet. For this reason, Thailand falls short on a list of Southeast Asia’s safest countries.

Natural Disasters

Southeast Asia does unfortunately feel the wrath of Mother Nature at times. Indonesia and the Philippines are the hardest-hit countries lying right on the Pacific Ring of Fire where they have been hit hard by earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions in recent years.

Scientific research has shown that there were 1,845 natural disasters in Southeast Asia from 1900-2022 with floods, storms and earthquakes making up the majority of them. Unsurprisingly, Indonesia and the Philippines were the worst-hit countries, although Thailand was hit the hardest from an economic perspective and suffered from heavy flooding.

The two deadliest disasters in Southeast Asia by far were firstly the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 which killed over 100,000 people in Indonesia, thousands in Thailand, hundreds in Myanmar and dozens in Malaysia. And secondly Cyclone Nargis which took over 138,000 lives in Myanmar in 2008.

The five countries featured on this list mostly avoid being hit hard by natural disasters other than floods and related issues (for example, landslides). Malaysia is a little more exposed along the western coast, although it gets off lightly compared to most of its neighbours.

Violent Crime

Aside from the conflicts previously mentioned, the rates of violent crime are low in Southeast Asia. Many countries in the region are Buddhist and people will not try to harm you unless provoked. Thailand in particular has a reputation for the people being calm, friendly and peaceful… until someone gives them a reason not to be. The concept of “saving face” is a big deal in Thai culture, and any actions perceived to be humiliating towards a local can result in an aggressive reaction. A similar culture is shared by nearby countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.

If you avoid confrontational behaviour in these countries however, then you shouldn’t have any issues and will find all countries in the region (outside of conflict zones) to be much safer than Western European countries.

Petty Crime

This is the one area where Southeast Asia does fall a little short.

Scams are rife across pretty much every touristy spot in the region. Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia are the main countries where scams are rarer. Yet in the likes of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (both in Cambodia) and several touristy spots across Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, there are always chancers trying to take your money by playing dirty tricks on you.

I was scammed in Vietnam by the official ticket office at the Ho Chi Minh Vestige. They did the classic trick where I gave them a note to pay for the tickets, and they switched it for a similar-looking note of a much lower value and claimed I hadn’t given them enough… fortunately it seems that in 2024, they now offer e-tickets where you can avoid these issues.

In June 2023 I went to Bali (Indonesia) with my girlfriend, and several money changers who offered higher rates than their rivals used some sleight of hand trickery to slip a few notes under the table without us noticing. I was aware this could happen and caught them out by counting the money before completing the exchange, but this is a common trick in Nusa Dua (where we were) amongst other places.

The other crime which isn’t uncommon across Southeast Asia is pickpocketing. This generally occurs in major cities and large touristy spots. Bangkok, Siem Reap and Manila are some of the places where you can be caught out by thieves. Vang Vieng in Laos is another hotspot. To avoid this, don’t get your phone out in the streets, keep valuables well concealed, and always be wary of your surroundings and possible distraction techniques.

The Safest Countries in Southeast Asia to Visit in 2024

Now one of the biggest trusted sources when it comes to safety in a country is the Global Peace Index (GPI). They use 23 factors to calculate a score which determines how peaceful a country is. Those 23 factors are split into three categories. The first is “Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict”. The second is “Societal Safety and Security”. The third is “Militarisation”.

Now the GPI is a great rough guide to safety in a country. After all, Iceland has the lowest (best) score and Afghanistan the highest (worst). Rankings which make sense when you consider Iceland is known for low crime and Afghanistan has suffered from decades of conflict.

However, the GPI does not tell the full story. For example Iceland may well be safe in terms of crime, but it’s arguably the most dangerous country in Europe when you look at natural disasters.

And not every metric covered by the GPI is particularly relevant to tourists. For example, one ranking factor is “nuclear and heavy weapons capabilities”. Now I don’t know anyone whose travels have been ruined by a nuclear bomb. But then again I wasn’t old enough to know people holidaying in Nagasaki back in August 1945.

Anyway, let’s take a look at the GPI rankings for each Southeast Asian country. And below, I will talk more about the top 5 safest countries in Southeast Asia based on my own extensive travels to the region and learning firsthand all about how safe each country is or isn’t. My rankings lean more on personal experience and knowledge of the region than pure statistics.

Ranking (Southeast Asia)	Country	Ranking (Global)	Score
1	Singapore	6	1.332
2	Malaysia	19	1.513
3	Vietnam	41	1.745
4	Laos	46	1.779
5	Timor-Leste	49	1.796
6	Indonesia	53	1.829
7	Cambodia	73	1.947
8	Thailand	92	2.061
9	Philippines	115	2.229
10	Myanmar	145	2.741
N/A (Unranked)	Brunei	N/A	N/A

1) Singapore

Global Peace Index ranking: 1 (Southeast Asia), 6 (Global)

Singapore is the safest country in Southeast Asia. Not just that, but it’s a strong contender to be named the safest country in the world.

Singapore offers up the perfect recipe of ingredients for a safe country: namely a thriving economy and a very tough punishment system (which includes the death penalty). Death is mandatory for some of the most severe crimes including murder in some circumstances, and is often given to drug traffickers.

As a result, drug use is very low in Singapore, with the vast majority of people dissuaded from participating in such activities due to the threat of harsh punishments (caning is another common punishment in Singapore).

The knock-on impact here is that very few people commit the many crimes linked to drugs, and Singapore is very safe.

It’s also a country that’s shielded from natural disasters, mostly thanks to the position of Sumatra (Indonesia) which acts as a barrier between the Indian Ocean and Singapore, preventing tsunamis from hitting the island nation. On top of this, it has no volcanos and is not susceptible to earthquakes.

Flooding is the only danger that does occasionally take place here. However the floods are often fairly short-lived.

With the low crime rates and lack of natural dangers, it is no surprise to see Singapore attract so many visitors and expats alike. It has all the amenities a traveller could possibly want and an efficient public transportation system which only add to the appeal.

Singapore is undoubtably the safest country in Southeast Asia.

2) Brunei

Global Peace Index ranking: N/A (Southeast Asia), N/A (Global)

Brunei is one of the least well known countries in the region, but also one of the safest.

Brunei is a tiny oil-rich state on the northern tip of Borneo, surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea.

Brunei ticks the same boxes as Singapore: very strict and very rich. In fact the Brunei dollar is pegged to the Singapore dollar with the two currencies used interchangeably in both countries.

In fact, Brunei feels like a cross between Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

This strict Muslim nation implements Sharia law with ultra strict punishments for anyone who breaks the rules. And in all fairness it keeps it very safe.

To give you an idea of how strict the country is, I went to Brunei during Ramadan, and it was illegal to eat or drink anything in daytime hours. However the hostel I stayed at found it amusing that I was following these rules, and said I was more than welcome to eat during the day whilst there.

Just make sure to stick to the rules in public. Or visit outside of Ramadan when eating and drinking is fine at any time. I must admit that it was tricky being unable to eat or drink outside throughout the day as Brunei is a very hot country.

Flooding and occasional landslides are the main risk, alongside the odd wildfire, with most of these taking place in forested areas during the dry season from February-April.

I have no doubt whatsoever that if the GPI had data for Brunei, it would be one of Southeast Asia’s top two safest countries alongside Singapore.

In fact, it is the only country in the region for which arguments can be presented that it is safer than Singapore.

3) Malaysia

Global Peace Index ranking: 2 (Southeast Asia), 19 (Global)

One of my favourite countries in Southeast Asia, if not the world. Malaysia is great, it’s also super safe.

I would describe capital Kuala Lumpur as “luxury on a budget“. Malaysia’s number one city feels very similar to neighbouring Singapore, only with prices closer to budget Indonesia or the Philippines.

As for crime, again, it’s very low here. The worst a tourist can realistically expect to encounter is pickpocketing, but even that is very unlikely. I spent around a month in Kuala Lumpur and there are few places in the 68 countries that I’ve visited at the time of writing which have felt safer than here.

It isn’t just the capital that’s very safe in terms of crime, this is true across the country. Don’t go running down the streets with your iPhone in one hand and a wad of US$100 bills in the other, and you will be fine.

As for threats from nature, flooding is the main issue in Malaysia. There were 54 recorded deaths in 2021/22 floods which lasted a month at the turn of the year. Over 70,000 people were displaced from their homes. As a tourist, your risks of getting caught up in such tragedies are low. Avoid the monsoon season (April-September in the southwest and October-March in the northwest) and stick to less-exposed places such as Kuala Lumpur and you will be fine.

Earthquakes are incredibly rare, and often too weak to put humans at risk. The 2015 Sabah earthquake which killed up to 19 people was the deadliest ever to take place within Malaysia itself, although not as deadly as the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Indonesian waters which claimed at least thrice as many lives. These events are the exception rather than the rule.

Malaysia also misses out on being a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means volcanic eruptions are not a threat here.

One thing I’ve learnt from several years of travel experience, is not to trust “safety abroad” websites which highly exaggerate potential threats. Government websites likewise, although you can understand why they seek to be more cautious. After all, it would be a PR disaster if something terrible happened in a location deemed “safe” by the government.

Instead you should trust locals and recent travellers to countries. And I guarantee that anyone you speak to who has visited Malaysia in the last five years will tell you the same as I am: it is incredibly safe.

4) Vietnam

Global Peace Index ranking: 3 (Southeast Asia), 41 (Global)

Vietnam is one of the most popular Southeast Asian countries, and it’s easy to see why. Vietnam is cheap, has a lot to do, and more importantly for this post, it is very safe.

Let’s start with crime. Pickpocketing and bag snatching are the most common crimes you may encounter as a tourist in Vietnam. Violent attacks are incredibly rare.

As with most countries, you are most likely to encounter these issues in the biggest cities. Most notably Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

They are the exception rather than the rule, but the usual rules of not flashing valuables and not walking alone at night will help to keep you safe here.

The biggest danger in rural parts of Vietnam remains landmines. To stay safe, make sure you only visit the countryside with a local guide who knows the area. Chances are that if you go independently, nothing will go wrong, but this is one area where you don’t want to gamble.

As with many of its neighbours, the main regional environmental threat comes from flooding, with additional dangers coming from typhoons. There are six typhoons per year on average which generally hit the country between June and November.

I visited Vietnam in June for two weeks and the weather was great throughout the entire month. Obviously this does not guarantee that would also be the case for you however.

And be wary of the traffic here. Vietnamese traffic is crazy. Most people ride motorbikes and it can be tricky to cross the road with hundreds of them approaching at once. It’s pretty daunting when you first experience this, but if you wait for locals to cross and mirror their movements, you will be surprised at just how simple it is to avoid the hordes of traffic.

But overall the chances of something going wrong in Vietnam are very slim, and that’s what makes it one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia to visit. Be sure to make the most of this great country and all its natural beauty.

5) Cambodia

Global Peace Index ranking: 7 (Southeast Asia), 73 (Global)

Rounding off the top 5 of Southeast Asia’s safest countries is Cambodia.

It has a lot of similarities with Vietnam really. Cambodia is mostly very safe, but bag snatching in the big cities (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville) isn’t unheard of. This is usually the result of guys on motorbikes seizing opportunities as they ride past. They will aim for easy targets. Namely people with bags on their sides or phones in their hands and disappear into the ether before you even have time to react.

Cambodia also suffers from many landmines remaining after the dark days of the Khmer Rouge which put Cambodia on the map for the wrong reasons in the 1970s. However the threat to tourists is minuscule. The mines are all located in very remote parts of the country far from anywhere tourists may visit. The threat is almost exclusively towards locals who live in these far flung parts of the country.

In what may seem like a bit of a pattern now, Cambodia’s primary environmental threat comes from flooding. Seasonal flooding happens yearly from May-October, whilst major floods occur every 5 years on average.

You can visit during the flooding season and won’t necessarily encounter any bad weather. That was the case when I visited in June. There were occasional heavy downpours but no major floods.

One danger which may not seem obvious is aggressive dogs. They roam around, can often carry rabies, and can kill humans if this is the case. If a dog attacks, kneel down and act as if you’re picking up a rock. The dogs will often back off at this point. I was surrounded whilst leaving my guesthouse in Siem Reap, just outside the city centre. The rock method is very effective and has worked any time I’ve tried it in many countries. You don’t even need to pick up a real rock, pretending is enough.

Despite these issues however, Cambodia is a very safe country for visitors. This country has some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met, and you shouldn’t be dissuaded from visiting based on online scare stories.

Why Don’t the Other Southeast Asian Countries Make This List?

The obvious exclusion is Myanmar. I’ll tell anyone who cares to listen how safe it is within what I call the “tourist kite”, but this post is judging the overall country and we can’t just ignore the conflict occurring in many of the border regions and much of the north. A real shame as it has a lot of fascinating cultural heritage to offer including some of the world’s most awesome Buddhist sites.

Thailand would be a strong contender to make this list, but the conflict in the far south just knocks it out of contention.

And the Philippines completes the trio of countries which fall short because of fighting within the country. Like Thailand, the Philippines could squeeze into this top five without these issues. Although I would advise being wary of your possessions in Manila, more so than other major Southeast Asian cities such as Phnom Penh and Bangkok. Manila is a very chaotic city with a lot of shady marketplaces, so be careful.

Laos is a country in the Vietnam/Cambodia bracket with fairly low crime and issues with landmines. It also suffers predominantly from floods, landslides and wildfires. Laos is notable for being one of the world’s most corrupt countries, and the police cannot be trusted.

Tiny Timor-Leste (East Timor) has struggled with violence ever since it gained independence in 2002. Political clashes are not uncommon, and whilst tourists are rarely targeted, they can easily be caught in the crossfire. Drivers in the country are known to be reckless and fly around tight bends when you least expect it. Crime is low for the region, and as a result Timor-Leste joins the list of countries that narrowly missed out on this top five.

And last but certainly not least, incredible Indonesia suffers from far too many brutal earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions to justify putting in this list. There are so many great places worth visiting such as Nusa Lembongan, Bali and more however, so don’t rule out seeing this great country one day.

Which Country in Southeast Asia has the Lowest Crime Rate?

Brunei has the lowest crime rate in Southeast Asia. A study by the Global Organized Crime Index found it scores lower than all other countries in the region, including Singapore, on a series of metrics including trafficking (of arms, drugs, humans etc.), cybercrime, corruption and violence.

Brunei and Singapore have the lowest crime rates in the region by far. Myanmar has the highest, whereas most of the others are fairly close to each other in the Global Organized Crime Index rankings.

What is the Safest City in Southeast Asia?

The safest city in Southeast Asia is Chiang Mai in Thailand. This is according to data compiled by Numbeo. They based this information on a number of factors including worries of theft, muggings, violent crime and drug offences. Chiang Mai scores “low” or “very low” for all of these on a scale of 1-100.

It does however receive a “moderate” score of 51.45 for crime increasing in the past 3 years and a “high” score of 64.16 for corruption and bribery.

Needless to say, Singapore and cities within Brunei such as capital Bandar Seri Begawan are incredibly safe. Singapore ranks second in the Numbeo list with only “crime increasing in the past 3 years” above a low ranking (54.75 – moderate).

I would also add Kuala Lumpur to the list. Don’t pay attention to outdated information online which claims Kuala Lumpur is dangerous. It is one of the few cities where you could walk around the street alone with your phone out at 3am and almost certainly have no issues. Although it’s important to say, this isn’t something that I’d call advisable anywhere. After all, very low chance is not no chance.

Kuala Lumpur is a perfect example of why statistics should be taken with a pinch of salt, as it scores badly on the Numbeo chart with “moderate” or “high” chances of all crime factors occurring.

The numbers were compiled from surveys, therefore they are opinion-based and in all honesty I’m not sure everyone who contributed had actually been to the cities involved in the survey.

How to Stay Safe in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a region with a different set of challenges to the western world, and even other countries in East Asia such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. As a result you will need to prepare appropriately regardless of whether you just want to visit popular tourist destinations, or come off the beaten path. From my own experiences travelling across the region, I will give you some tips for staying safe whilst visiting this wonderful part of the world.

As with a similar post I wrote on another region I’ve travelled extensively in, on the safest countries in Latin America, I will divide these tips into three categories: crime, wildlife and weather/the environment.

Crime

• Use ride-share apps to get around in cities. Just like in any less developed region of the world, taxi scams are rife and drivers love taking advantage of tourists. It’s sad but true, and I’ve lost count of the number of taxi horror stories I’ve heard from fellow travellers over the years. Fortunately the majority of them are “only” scams, but in the worst cases they can involve violence
• Secure your bags. Bag snatching is uncommon but not unheard of in this part of the world. Thieves often operate on motorcycles by grabbing bags loosely secured on the side. Rucksacks are more secure than handbag-style “side bags”. Even better if you wear them on your front rather than back
• Lock your bags. Not just a Southeast Asia tip, but an everywhere tip. Get a padlock (or several) where you cannot open them without a code. This is especially important whilst staying in hostels (even more so when they don’t have suitable lockers) and for walking around with baggage on your back
• Stay away from drugs. It’s pretty stupid to take drugs in any country, but even more so in Southeast Asia. A well-known scam I’ve heard from many travellers involves dealers offering illicit substances to tourists, only for their accomplices in the police to show up and offer the choice between paying a (sometimes hefty) bribe and spending time in a notoriously hellish Asian jail. Oh, and this is pretty light compared to the consequences you may face in Brunei and Singapore
• Count your change when you exchange money. As mentioned earlier, money changers tried the subtle switcheroo trick after initially offering high rates to ensure I actually got a worse deal. This happened to me in Nusa Dua (Bali, Indonesia), it could realistically happen to you in almost any tourist hotspot within the region. The notable exception is Singapore where scams like this are almost unheard of

Wildlife

• Take preventative measures against mosquitos. These deadly creatures are a major nuisance in SE Asia and you should do your utmost to avoid dengue fever, malaria, Japanese Encephalitis and other nasty illnesses. Long-sleeved shirts and trousers, DEET spray on exposed body parts, mosquito nets at night time and malaria medication are all good measures to keep you safe
• Be wary of stray dogs. Strays can often carry rabies which is almost always fatal to humans once symptoms develop. Best case scenario and a dog bite means lots of hospital visits, hassle and expenditure to take numerous vaccines after a bite which will ensure symptoms don’t develop. As mentioned earlier, pretending to pick up a rock to throw works wonders to hold off hostile canines
• Snakes complete the “big 3” of animal threats in the region. There are many venomous species spread all over the region, including fearsome cobras. The general rule with snakes is to be careful in jungle regions, make noise to alert them to your presence (snakes are often timid and will retreat before anything else) and don’t corner a snake if you encounter one. Also be careful when putting your hands in places where snakes may hide. For example, under rocks or logs
• Remember that the most feared animals are often the rarest. Yes tigers exist in Asia. No they aren’t likely to attack you. Mostly because they’re ridiculously rare and you’d be incredibly (un?)lucky to find one. Crocodiles, sharks, leopards and bears fall into the same category. They’re all very elusive creatures and mostly hard to find. Even if you do find them, there’s a good chance it will be with the help of a professional guide who will know how to keep you safe regardless. You can often book tours to places where cool creatures are found, although even this doesn’t guarantee seeing them

Weather and the Environment

• Avoid landmine zones. These are most commonly found around border regions and rural areas, particularly in northern Southeast Asian countries. Namely Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Stick to touristy areas and consider using local guides to explore more off-the-beaten-path destinations
• Avoid floods by travelling outside the wet season. The monsoon season varies from country to country. I’ve listed the wettest months for each country in the following section
• Ask locals for advice on avoiding earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Indonesia is the main hotspot for these. Locals will be able to tell you what they do to minimise risk for these disasters which have hit the country regularly throughout their lives. In all honesty there isn’t much you can do to dodge an earthquake, but locals will be able to tell you how to lower the risk of being caught by surprise. They do also have a tsunami warning system in place which you should be aware of if needed

When is the wet Season in Southeast Asia?

The monsoon season occurs during the following months in each Southeast Asian country:

• Myanmar: May-October
• Thailand: July-October
• Laos: May-September
• Cambodia: May-October
• Vietnam: May-November
• Malaysia: November-February (East coast) and April-October (West coast)
• Singapore: November-January
• Philippines: June-November
• Indonesia: November-March
• Brunei: October-February and May-June
• Timor-Leste: November-May

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