Hi All -

not sure what clothes to pack for my trip.

Thinking SE Asia = warm but no doubt there are cooler days...

I will be travelling by backpack in Thailand
(Dec: Central (Bangkok Area), Jan: Northern Thailand Chiang Mai/Rai, Mae Hong Sorn Loop) and Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam (maybe also Halong Bay)in February/early March.

Do I need warm clothes? How cold does it get higher up and at night?

It can get cool up north in the evenings and mornings but it won't be cold. Other places, such as BKK will be very hot and humid. Bring a light jacket or sweater and you should be okay.

I like to bring pants that have zip off legs so when it's cooler or when visiting temples, your legs are covered, and when it gets hot, you can just zip off the legs. This way, you don't need to pack serarate shorts either.

As Laurie says, you're more likely to complain to it being too hot than too cool. Think layers. A long sleeved shirt can be layered over a t-shirt. A light (very light) jacket is the most you'll need.

it will be hot in all of your southern places, but someone else can tell you better about hanoi at that time of year...i went in december and it was warm...

In department stores & stalls in Thailand you can buy warmer clothes if you need them. I've bought sweaters for 100Bt, fleecy jackets for 100Bt. I wouldn't bother to bring those sort of clothes with me and load up my luggage.

it depends on your size if things will be available...most western frames are toooooo big for asian goods...

I bought a Disney fleecy-lined hooded jacket in the Royal Gardens complex in Pattaya about 3 months ago. It's an XXL and it cost me 100Bt. However, I agree that often the big sizes are harder to find but if you hunt around they're there.

I wouldn't load up on warm clothes, you won't be needing much. A couple of long sleeve shirts and one sweater or light jacket will do. This will hardly load up your luggage. Besides, you will probably want to have the sweater with you on the plane over--it can get very cold on airplanes.

Just returned from northern Thailand and you won't need much in the way of warm clothes; maybe just a long-sleeve shirt and a light sweater/jacket. You can buy what you need there very cheap. Also having laundry done, or doing it yourself, is also very cheap. Happy travels.

Thanks everybody for the feedback

Not needing many warm clothes is just what I hoped for.

Guess my main concern was that it would be cooler in Jan/Feb higher up in Mountains and LP.