We actually did 6 countries in 2,5 months and our route was: Vietnam (you can go Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh or the other way around, nice stops are Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi Anh, Dalat, Hanoi and Halong Bay/Lan Ha Bay), Laos (Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, maybe Vientiane), Thailand (Chiang Mai, Pai, Bangkok, Koh Tao or other Islands), Myanmar (Mandalay, Rangun, Hpa An, Bagan (Old Bagan!), Mawlamyaing, Dawei), Indonesia (Bali, Lombok, Gillie Islands & more). Most people also visit Cambodia, we just didn't have any time left.It really depends on how much you want to see and how you want your pace to be. We booked everything spontaneiously, so it didn't feel like rushing anything. We just booked 2-3 nights at a place and then decided if we wanted to extend or book the next hostel.I thought Vietnam (Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh) is a great place to start as it gives you a bit of a culture shock, which I actually liked. It really feels like the adventure has started if you make your way from the airport to the accomodation with all the traffic and the motorbikes. I loved it. If you want to start slowly and acclimate first, Thailand would be the best option to start the route.
We actually did 6 countries in 2,5 months and our route was: Vietnam (you can go Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh or the other way around, nice stops are Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi Anh, Dalat, Hanoi and Halong Bay/Lan Ha Bay), Laos (Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, maybe Vientiane), Thailand (Chiang Mai, Pai, Bangkok, Koh Tao or other Islands), Myanmar (Mandalay, Rangun, Hpa An, Bagan (Old Bagan!), Mawlamyaing, Dawei), Indonesia (Bali, Lombok, Gillie Islands & more). Most people also visit Cambodia, we just didn't have any time left. It really depends on how much you want to see and how you want your pace to be. We booked everything spontaneiously, so it didn't feel like rushing anything. We just booked 2-3 nights at a place and then decided if we wanted to extend or book the next hostel. I thought Vietnam (Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh) is a great place to start as it gives you a bit of a culture shock, which I actually liked. It really feels like the adventure has started if you make your way from the airport to the accomodation with all the traffic and the motorbikes. I loved it. If you want to start slowly and acclimate first, Thailand would be the best option to start the route.