Any suggestions for travel clothes for Southeast Asia (December)? Long pants, long skirts, cotton, linen, jacket necessary? Insect proof? I want to look good (woman) but do not want to die from the heat. Must have clothing for a variety of occasions also from good restaurants and hotels to treking around. Suggestions much welcomed.

Where in SE Asia?

I'd add some shorts to your pack list. Personally I'd never take regular long pants into that kind of climate (capri maybe).

Long pants or skirts for SEA, not shorts. You need to cover your knees and shoulders. If you're headed for Siem Reap, definitely cotton, not synthetics - it's too humid for synthetics. Depending on where you're going you could buy some things there. I usually take a long sleeved blouse for cool evenings, if any. However, if you're going to be in Northern Vietnam in December it can get quite cold and wet.

If you do skirts or dresses, consider lightweight cotton petti pants to eliminate chafing of the thighs.

In connection with that, take smooth cotton tops not nappy or lacy fabrics for daily wear. Nappy or lacy fabrics can chafe your inside upper arms as you move around. Same with lacy bras.

Hi Maile

It would help if you give us the countries you are travelling to. Each one is quite different.

thursdaysd~ Even at the beach? You don't take even one pair of shorts?

(seriously i'm asking not being a smarty-pants, i've never been to SEasia but have friends who spend time in thailand and indonesia).

I`d bring a pair of shorts, but ones that hit right above the knee or a little shorter. I did wear my shorts a lot, especially in the more rural areas. I saw some women tourists from Scandinavia, wearing the shortest shorts possible. Not appropriate.

suze - I don't spend much time in SEA on beaches. I do take one very lightweight pair of shorts and a swimsuit, but seldom use them.

Whether shorts are appropriate in SEA depends very much on where you are. These are Buddhist countries, and modest dress for both sexes is standard. Shorts are OK on the beach, but not in town, aside from backpacker enclaves like Khao San Road in Bangkok or Vang Vieng in Laos.

I find light cotton pants (bought very cheaply in the markets) or a sarong just as cool as shorts, and they also mean I don't need to bother with sun tan lotion.

Thanks for the details, appreciate your always good information.

Like other posters have said, it depends on where exactly you're going but most places I have been in SE Asia, if they are relatively touristed, will have a variety of places to buy cheap clothing if you find you're missing something. Bangkok for example has numerous malls and there are always clothes to buy at beach stalls.

For the things you'd be better off buying here, if you are doing any hiking, I recommend those pants that zip off and become shorts. I think they call them "convertible" pants. They come in different weights, you should be able to easily find a pair of lightweight ones. Some also come with built in insect repellent. Common brands are ex-offico, north face, etc. This way you have shorts and long pants in one, and can switch if it's too hot or you're hiking somewhere that you want your legs covered. Most also dry very quickly.

Also, I think breathable t-shirts and tank tops made from wicking material are very helpful to have. They also dry quickly and a more fitted tank or tee can be dressed up with a necklace and worn out to dinner.

Enjoy your trip!

Why, thanks, suze!

This question is addressed in the guidebooks for each country, and is a fairly frequent topic on the Asia board. It really does make a difference which country, but I would also put in a vote against tanks as well as shorts for many places - shoulders as well as knees should be covered.

We will be visiting south VietNam, Cambodia (Siem Reap), Bangkok and the north/central part of Thailand. I really get along with all cotton fabrics but they can be a pain for packing and seem to need more care than I am able/willing to provide .... and they are difficult for me to find. Even the camisole tops which I love to wear are synthetic or a mix. I am looking for the cotton capri, cami and light gauzy top but must be well made and will hold up. Is this a dream? How do the peasants in the rice fields always look so cool and clean in the movies?

You can get clothes made in Bangkok and Hoi An - post on the Asia board for advice. You can get clothes copied, or use the tailors' designs. They will have fabric, or you can buy in the market. I have bought ready-made cotton pants (elastic waist) very cheaply in the market in Siem Reap.

I wore long pants and short-sleeved tops in all those places. While it's possible that Siem Reap is now so touristed that less-modest dress is more common, you will be visiting religious sites. While you may see some local women in Bangkok in immodest dress, remember that it's a center of the sex industry.

Don't know the style you need, but would suggest you go to a store like REI, if you have one in the area. In my experience, today's synthetics are way better than cotton for keeping cool, wicking away moisture, flat packing and fast drying. Check out fabrics that say "cool max" and things like that and manufacturers like "Royal Robbins," "North Face," Columbia Sportswears "Titanium" line, etc, etc. The sporting companies all make great clothes for hot climates as well as cold. At REI, you can also find skirts to go with tops. Lots of choices, plus insect repellent clothing, pants where you can unzip the legs, and more.

I agree with Orcas, and I've travelled to SEA many times. I usually wear Columbia pants that have the zip off legs for day wear as these are far more comfortable in hot humid weather than cotton or regular synthetic fabrics. However I rarely turn them into shorts as in many places you need protection from sun and insects, and in some places shorts are not appropriate. I take a smart pair of lightweight pants for evening wear.

I prefer cotton tops / tshirts for daytime but will wear other fabrics at night. A light jacket and/or shawl or pashmina is recommended as many buildings have fierce air-conditioning.

However it does depend on the type of holiday - you can live for days in just a swimsuit and sarong on a beach holiday but cities need smarter dressing.

Enjoy your trip!

Don't be afraid to wear shorts if that's what your comfortable in. But please be mindful of the local customs in regards to temples/wats etc. They have very specific dress codes.

I wear shorts everyday in SE Asia. Too hot for me to wear pants, unless I'm headed out for a nice dinner in the evenings or another formal event.

And my wife either wears shorts, capris or pants, mostly dependant on her mood, not the weather. It's basically hot here all the time!

Have a great trip. December is the best month weather wise for the locations you're going.

We just got back from a week in Singapore and a week in Bali.

I wore capri pants, cotton cropped length pants (mostly for going out at night), and skirts. I don't wear shorts in public, although I did see women tourists in shorts in both places. Shorts weren't the norm though and I didn't notice many local woman in shorts in Singapore and didn't see any in Bali. For tops, I had a combination of blouses and knit tops, short sleeve, capped sleeve, and sleeveless. Those clothes worked well and didn't require any special shopping before the trip.

When I was in SE Asia, I was able to buy these great, capri-length shorts in light fabric, that tied in the front. I believe they're called Thai fisherman's pants. They were a lifesaver! Just google "Thai fisherman's pants" and you should be able to find them.

It really depends on your age and body shape, weight etc...If you look like Paris Hilton then you can pretty much wear anything you like. Truth is you will get stared at if you stick out like a sore thumb...SEA is generally very humid, depending on the location, it could rain or dry but humid in general. But if you show a lot of skin, you will get stared at that's for sure. Heck, you get stared at in the US if you show a lot of skin also...For cities, wear whatever that makes you feel good, for country, be a bit more modest and definitely cover up in temples. If you're going in rainforest/jungle area, cover-up bc you will get bitten alive by insects.