I'm currently working in the South of Vietnam and am trying to pull together a 10-day Christmas/New Years vacation for myself and a few other young people working here. We have a tight budget (~$300 + flights) but would like to do something fun with our time off. We've recently visited Cambodia, so would prefer an alternative destination. We're all in our mid-20s so are keen for a balance of fun and good sights.

We have been considering Laos, the Philippines and Thailand. Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Are you looking for a beach or cultural trip. $I aaume with a $300 budget you anticipate hotels and/or homestays and not seeing major attractions like the hreat Boboburur Temple where the admission is $18 USD without a guide and without one you will loose 75% of the value. The cost to preseve these 8th and 10th C temples is very costly but they are awesome.

Rates tend to go up all over Asia in the period around Christmas and New Year's. Could you please clarify your budget? Do you mean $300 total for the whole 10 days or $300 a day. Neither sounds right.

If you are on a tight budget, then consider visiting Thailand or the Philippines. The accommodations in these countries are cheaper than Laos. There are also lots of things to do and to see in both countries.

Thailand have many hotels in famous province like Bangkok,Chiang Mai , Chiang Rai, Sukhothai , and all south of Thailand like Phuket,Krabi etc.
You can find cheap accommodations even on holidays.
December is nice time to Thailand to northern and Andaman coast.
If you would like to visit the beach Koh Lanta in Krabi is good location and not touristy, so you probably get cheap hotel at there.