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You’re in Southeast Asia, countries filled with unbelievable scenery, some great cultures to explore and learn, tasty foods, and yes, insanely wild parties! Many of the big cities are equipped with a good nightlife like Kuta, Bali, Bangkok, Pub street in Siem Reap, but we are talking actual big parties!
After 3 months of backpacking Southeast Asia, we have discovered some of the top party destinations. Every party has its reputation but then again, every experience is what you make it. So grab a beer, its time for some debauchery!
The Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, Thailand
Thailand is renown for its amazing beaches, unbelievable wildlife, and the insanely wild parties. Koh Phangan, Thailand is home for the famous Full Moon Party, and every other type of moon party there could be! Thousands of travelers flock to the island every month for a night full of dancing, music, neon paint, and buckets of cheap drinks! It is like an oversized frat party.
We were especially lucky because the Full Moon Party happened on the same day as the World Cup Finals! It was awesome to see everyone painted in their country/supporting country for the game! It was wild! Make sure you party on the beach until the sun comes out!
Tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos
What happens when you cross a pub crawl with a river? You get the Tubing experience in Vang Vieng, Laos! Things get awesome and maybe a tad dangerous.
I mean, have you ever crossed the streets in Vietnam? That was probably a bit more dangerous than the tubing! Things have calmed down since the past few years—less bars are open and no crazy slides and swings!
You party at a bar, meet people, get drinks (and free shot and bracelet!), then hop into the tube to float down to the next.
People do get ridiculously drunk so it is important to be careful with how much you drink.
Make sure you have someone with you and maybe one of these in case you get too drunk to speak!
It was one of our favorite days in Asia and we would love to do it again! (here are a few other locations on out places revisit list)
Halong Bay Cruise, Vietnam
This is all about how you make your experience. On all boats they will offer drinks, but they all vary in age, luxury, party level, and price.
Ultimately, it is your choice! We were told about the Rock Hard Rock Long cruise and was told it’s just a huge expensive frat drinking party. However, we went with a cruise that was heaps cheaper and less wild (booked through Hanoi Central Backpackers).
I mean, we were in Halong Bay, one of the 7 wonders of nature, we wanted to at least enjoy a bit of it!
We have friends that went hard on a Halong Bay tour and don’t remember much and we know people who took a simple, quite cruise that really enjoyed and appreciated the scenery.
On our boat, we met some really great people, jumped off the boat, swam everywhere, had a cooking class on board, and a few drinks (that we were secretly sold to us from a cute little Vietnamese woman on a canoe, we named her Jan).
We played a few drinking games, Jack got a foot massage (very steamy), and a few laughs, but in the end, it didn’t really escalate too much.
We ended up star gazing the rest of the night and saw a few shooting stars. However, this is an experience on how you make it. If you go for the party boat, you will get a party experience.
If you go for a quieter experience, you can’t expect a massive rager.
Koh Rong Island, Cambodia
Most people prefer going to Sihanoukville, a backpackers paradise, to take advantage of all the cheap booze and bars on the beach.
We also decided to try out Koh Rong. Koh Rong is a little island 45 minutes away from Sihanoukville by boat, and it is an unsolicited beauty.
You have to go now before it changes and it’s under full development.
Koh Rong is one of those chilled out beach vibes, where travelers drink beer (because company is great, not for the purpose of getting drunk), play guitars, twirl fire, share some epic stories, and skinny dip in the ocean.
People here partied because they were in good company on this amazing little beach island, rather than drinking to get plastered. It was the hunt of real pleasure.
Most hostels had an hour of free beers and a place called Island Boys which had a $5 BBQ with a free beer, so we met some great people, while chatting over several drinks!
Plus, while we were there, the World Cup semi finals were happening, so the vibe was super cool!
Silent Disco Party, Gili T, Indonesia
We don’t know how the idea of a silent disco came up. Was it just a few college kids having a party and the asshole neighbors were like “keep it down!”.
So some kid was like… “hm, why don’t we all listen to our own ipods and dance in the same room together?” It was all weird, but unexpectedly fun!
The silent disco was on Gili T, in Indonesia. The bar supplied us with headphones, two stations/DJs to choose from, and drink discounts.
People fought over (and even offered to pay) to get headphones for the silent disco! Put on your headphones, select a channel, and just dance.
It is so funny when you take off the headphones because all of a sudden every one is singing two different songs in the most tone def sort of way! It was hilarious.
Have fun while silently partying your butts off!
Here are other parties you should check out:
– The Great Wall of China Festival: Yea, that’s right. A music festival on the Great Wall of China! Guests this year included David Guetta, Afrojack and Armin Van Buuren. How awesome is that?
– Every other party in Koh Phangan: Koh Phangan has a reason to party almost every night. Don’t be upset if you miss the Full Moon Party! Check out the Half Moon party, Quarter moon party, Jungle Party, Waterfall party… you get the idea!
– Koh Tao Pub Crawl- If you go to Koh Tao, there will be a pub crawl every other night. There are awesome drink deals, a free t-shirt, you meet some great people, and you make some unforgettable (or maybe forgettable) memories! It sounds like a good time :)
– Borocay Beach- Borocay in the Philippines is infamous for its stretch of bars and clubs along the beach. especially station 2. DJ’s come from all over the world to perform at some of these places. There are plenty of places to see and things to do to keep your nightlife fun![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
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What are your top party destinations in Southeast Asia!?
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I hear they’re going to be shutting down the Koh Panang parties after the fatal accident the Brits had there? But I’d love to try the silent part in Bali!
You know what, We have been hearing for a while that most of these parties were going to be shut down- tubing, full moon. I think its not going to be shut down but more so monitored! The silent party was awesome!
I’ve always been interested in the idea of silent disco, but I have yet to try it. The Halong Bay Cruise sounds SO great, I would love to experience it one day. And now I want a foot massage, haha. :)
We were a bit weirded out by the whole concept of a silent disco and to be honest, if you’re watching without any headphones, its HORRIBLE! Everyone just sounds super tone deaf and dancing to nothing. But it was seriously good fun!
I haven’t partied properly in like two months. Maybe I should invest in a plane ticket to SE Asia.
There is something for everyone! It was for us too before Asia!
And I thought tubing got banned?! You learn something new every day. It looks like you’ve had a seriously awesome time partying through Asia
We did too, but it wasnt banned it was more controlled. Not all bars are open, no more swings and slides, and there are people watching out at the exits for stragglers! We only had 2 bars open.
I was able to attend all of these places at one time or another and I agree that some of the best parties can be had. Tubing in VV seems like a much more relaxed and enjoyable version of what it once became.
It is much more calm and a touch safer. It was still great fun :)
I think I’m a little too old for this stuff. :) Aaaaaaaaaah, where were articles like this when I was in my twenties? :) I guess I would still be interested in one of the Halong Bay booze cruises!
Age is just a number! You can do anything if you are up to it- hey, even have a go doing some Karaoke at the Full Moon Party or on Halong Bay!
Yes! I love this post :) And am so stoked I have done all but 1! I’ll be adding Koh Rong Island to my bucket list!
http://www.kelanabykayla.com
@kelanabykayla
Koh Rong was such a gem! I hope you get to make it!! which was your favorite?
BLOG FAME! :D
Had no idea we were on here but thanks for the shout! <3
Come back soon! I'd be more than happy to cook more parma's for a pair of legends like you guys :)
Big love and the happiest of travels,
Jolly
YAY! im glad you got your moment of fame! We hope to come back soon and have a mean parma from a true melbourne boy! See you soon Jolly! all the best xx
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