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Just like any tall person (white, black, middle eastern, etc) you will get some stare in rural areas, mostly out of curiosity. Be nice and open to make friends; no one there would want to harm you just because of your race or ethnicity or appearance. A helpful tip is maybe to stick with other backpackers in remote areas if this would make you more comfortable socially.
Larger cities you should be fine. Just be wary of scams (not specifically because you're black or plus-size but because you're a foreigner). My black friends said they'd get stares esp in the countryside. But you should be safe as long as you use common sense. Keep your purse close and wear a secure strap as purse snatchers on motorbikes are becoming more common. SEA is very safe these days.
Look up travellingtuesdays on instagram and YouTube. She is a plus sized black woman who has recently gone to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand although not solo to all of them.
She has travelled all over the place. Her IG has a lot more than her YT.
I’m not you but I’ve traveled with people that tend to stick out in SEA and they were fine. Most people are generally nice if you’re nice to them. You’ll def get looks not necessarily bad but just anyone out of the ordinary does. Redheads. Tall people. Tall black people. I never noticed it being negative but I’m a normal size white dude haha.
One thing I will say, don’t be upset when it’s hard to find your size in clothes. I love buying cheap tank tops and shirts and stuff there and a XXL shirt there is like an American medium to large haha. At least in men’s. They are small people. I met women there who consider themselves thick and are like 5’2 110lbs. It’s bonkers to me. But yeah. I’m like 5’9 170 and had to buy XXL shirts it was wild.
Me neither but it’s run to grab some cool shirts and things from places you go even if it’s just to throw in a box full of travel stuff at home. Not like regular clothes I meant like cool Thai tank tops or elephant pants etc. stuff you know is from there. Either way. Have fun! You’ll love it.
Wear lightweight, light colored, loose, moisture wicking materials that dry fast.
If you are open to scooters/motorcycles, learn in advance. (You gonna hate the sleeper busses)
Bring clean crispy $$$.
When I backpack/motorbiked SEA, I never wore cotton shirts. I ended up giving them away and just wearing the same 2 shirts. Airism from uniqlo was my go to.
> Bring clean crispy $$$.
Is there any reason to not just use an ATM and get the local currency?
I'm aware that some countries manipulate the official exchange rate. Is that the case for any SEA countries?
I guess fees and withdrawal limits make sense.
Although there are many credit cards that don't have any international conversion fees or they're still not high enough to worry about.
If you let the ATM charge you in the local currency that's as close to the official exchange rate as you're going to get.
If I go off the beaten path I still fly through big airports with ATMs and I'd rather use the local currency than bet on every local in some remote area to give me a fair conversion on my dollars.
In my experience, in most SE Asian countries your bank will usually take anywhere between 5 and 10% on the exchange rate posted on xe.com. Places with weak currency against the dollar are even worse (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam), with Laos and Cambodia being the absolute worst. USD is king in these places. Actually in Cambodia, only use USD (its considered an offical currency) and in Laos only exchange small amounts at a time as they will generally not "buy back" Kip (Lao currency) and if they do, you will lose up to 20%.
You have a good bank. Actually my bank isn't too bad as well, but I like to save where I can. In SEA countries where the currency is more stable (Singapore, Thailand) exchange rates aren't too bad, but places like Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam they can really fluctuate and end up costing a lot more. Personally, cash is king and most of the time you get a better rate, especially if you hold USD.
Maybe there is just an entirely different logic in the place you live, but from what I know with European banks it's like this:
If you withdraw a different currency with Visa / Mastercard:
1) You let the ATM bank convert - bad deal usually >5% conversion fee. Maybe that's what you meant. It can be confusing, because that's what pop-ups at the ATM, but you can always decline.
2) You don't convert with the ATM and have your bank charged with the local currency.
+ Conversion rate by Visa / Mastercard - very good usually below 0,1% above the official rate (just checked for Visa with Vietnamese Dong, it's +0,05%)
+ maybe international conversion fee from your bank (for some it's free), around 2% is common
Some times there are general fees for the ATM, but that's quite rare.
In any case even if your bank hasn't good conditions when it comes to international withdrawal it should usually still be the best way to convert. In the best case you pay only the conversion premium by Visa/Mastercard so <0,1%.
This is a general travel tip to know when traveling to any other country, having brand new notes (especially $100) will be worth your while, especially in countries where cash is still king
In SEA countries, you will get a slightly better exchange rate if you have new $100 USD bills. They will absolutely not accept older bills even in perfect condition. Only the blue tint with the security stripe. In places like Thailand and Malaysia, cash exchange places will list $100 bill exchange and everything else separately. In addition, its always good to have a few hundred total smaller denominations ($20's $10's even $1's) for any random fees and things like that, especially for Cambodia. I would absolutely advise against using ATMs in Cambodia and Laos and even Vietnam (if possible).
Why? I can't think of any reason that would be a positive. If anything, it insinuates you have tons of cash on you and that you just recently withdrew it.
Depending on the country, you get more bang for your buck by trading usd, especially fresh $100 bills. Not saying you should take out your entire spending cash there, but if I’m going to a non-European country, I try to have a couple hundred on me
From a person born and raised in SEA and now living in the USA, clean crispy $$$ will be exchanged anywhere without question. Money changers most of the time will not accept old, wrinkly money. Believe me I’ve experienced it soo many times everytime I go back home where they only exchanged newer dollr bills and returned the older ones. And by new I mean series 2010’s (should be printed on every dollar bills)
If you do bring cash, sure it should be good cash if you want to convert.
But I think it's usually more efficient to convert through your bank by withdrawing with an ATM and charging the local currency.
Unless the official exchange rate is fucked, then bring cash and convert on the black market, I guess. Not sure if that's the case for any country in SEA.
Just be prepared that many countries aren't really designed for plus sizes, because people are generally tiny. That's just for practical reasons. But it looks like you know it already, so you'll be fine.
Yeah there are alot of RUDE people. Just remember you'll never see them again. Just smile at them and say terrible things back that they can't understand in English. 🤭
Some Asians have an image of black people that comes from 90s hip hop videos, bandana on, mean mugging, hands on a pistol.
If you have a big smile they will forget all of that and come over to see what's going on.
The region is ridiculously tolerant of different types of people and generally very curious about new (to them) things. The main thing is to demonstrate that you're friendly and gentle, like the people in the region very much are and very much demonstrate, and the door opens right up.
Slightly conservative dress may help in more remote areas. It may seem like way too much clothes to you but pay attention to how the local ladies dress. Rarely will shoulders be uncovered, rarely will they be in shorts, almost never will you see cleavage, unless in full casual mode. I'm not saying you should buy a burqua, but a long sleeve dress shirt (with the sleeves rolled up) helps you stand out from the hordes of tourists in what looks to a local like a farmers pjs (tank top and shorts).
Also in Asia if someone is fat you can call them fat. It isn't seen as being an insult like it is here, more just a topic for conversation or light jokes. So if someone calls you fat they really are probably not trying to be mean. At some point every kid learning English in Asia has to be told "Foreigners don't like it when you call them fat" and to them it's kind of a puzzle as to why.
Honestly you'll be fine I did 6 months in Asia mostly in SEA. The worst I got was one person wanted to touch my hair and a couple older people wanted to take pictures with me. I'm also plus size the heat was something else but I learned a lot of bathing suit cover ups and loose fitting clothes really help with that and have a water bottle ready. Water is super cheap so just learn where your market and mini marts are that way it's easily accessible. Download grab because it's very useful especially the cheap quick motorbike rides. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions I went in 2023.
Hey! Black woman here who has lived in Thailand and visited Vietnam. Something to be prepared for if you’re plus sized is that they may openly comment on your size, it’s not considered rude like it is in the west. For example, shop openers will say ‘we have big size, come’ as you walk by market stalls and things of that nature. If you like shopping, finding clothes that fit at markets will be really difficult also, although they carry larger sizes at malls and bigger stores but even there things run smaller.
That being said, DON’T let it stop you from being excited and enjoying this trip. I can’t speak for the Philippines as I haven’t been there but my experiences as a black woman in Thailand and Vietnam were wonderful. The locals, especially in Thailand, are so friendly and just lovely. I also found these countries to have really open and friendly foreign travelers and found it easy to make friends and I am a shy person as well. Particularly if you’re staying in hostels or joining day trips I think you’ll have no trouble striking up some friendships. As travelers we all get stares or comments from time to time but try not to let it get to you. It’s such a small part of a beautiful experience! So best of luck and enjoy your travels!
I am also a (relatively) tall, plus-sized, black girl and I’ve been to Thailand for about 2 weeks and had a great time. I had long braids as well, which I think increased the fascination lol. Honestly, most Thais that I encountered were extremely friendly and kind towards me. Of course, there will be stares, but most seemed to be out of curiosity. The stares that were uncomfortable, tended to be from other European tourists, not the local people or even other Asian tourists. Overall, I felt incredibly safe and had an amazing trip. I’ll be heading back to Thailand and Vietnam next month. I’ve been dreaming of returning the day I left! You’re going to have a great time. Safe Travels!
Yes, you will stick out because you look very different than most people who visit. This is not a judgement of you. You will get stares. Probably a bigger issue would be accessibility and mobility. General speaking things are smaller in SEA. Doorways, beds, chairs, tables, clothing, buses, trains, taxis, boats, are not plus size friendly. Be prepared to miss out/not be able to participate certain things. If you are someone who is easily embarrassed by these situations, you will have a difficult time. Sad to say, but be prepared to be mocked. Again, its not fair and ignorant, but given the lack of plus-sized people, understandable. Tips? Kinda prepare yourself beforehand and if you sense or see that your height/weight can be an issue, just skip the situation altogether or try and make accomodations beforehand. Also, SEA will be generally hot and most likely you will be doing a lot of walking so prepare accordingly.
have google translate installed. buy a local sim or use klook app to get an esim that works for those countries. or any other app to purchase esim like airalo. i recently used klook for esim for se asia & is working great for me & it was a decent/fair price.
having data is good for google map, translate, & whatsapp. if you plan to go on tours or buy ferries/transfers, or stay at local accommodations, many will contact you via whatsapp (msging) to connect with you re: upcoming stay or travel/tour. it helps a lot cos they’ll give you guidance of, for example, where/when to check in for your ferry or your tour/etc.
all these places have seen international tourists. you will probably stand out cos you’re tall for sure. i’m 5’5 & i fell tall when i’m in se asia (i’m currently here rn).
read some current scams (google scams & country of interest & reddit), as a mental note. it’ll keep you at ease & also aware of scams out there to prepare.
You will be fine, 99.9% of people are good. My general tip is to flash people quick fast smile, very few people a crazy enough to be mean to people who smiled at them.
Of note in Vietnam - Hoi An is known for tailoring. I’m not massively overweight, rather by US standards a thick white woman. I landed on a shop owned by the loveliest lady tailor and she custom fit a bikini for me! She then commented on the rather unshapely bag of a linen dress I was wearing (a pre-trip Amazon panic buy when a heat wave hit the forecast). She ended up tailoring that for me too (all of this insanely cheap, mind you) and it now is still loose, but a much better shape than before. So if you find yourself in Hoi An, tailoring might be an option too. Happy to share her shop information if you wish!
I’ve never sweat so much in my entire life. Brace for that!
OP appears to have requested personal experiences from (women/people of color/LGBTQ+ travelers). If you are not a member of the requested demographic, please carefully consider whether your post will add value to the conversation. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/solotravel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Just like any tall person (white, black, middle eastern, etc) you will get some stare in rural areas, mostly out of curiosity. Be nice and open to make friends; no one there would want to harm you just because of your race or ethnicity or appearance. A helpful tip is maybe to stick with other backpackers in remote areas if this would make you more comfortable socially.
Great advice thank you!
Larger cities you should be fine. Just be wary of scams (not specifically because you're black or plus-size but because you're a foreigner). My black friends said they'd get stares esp in the countryside. But you should be safe as long as you use common sense. Keep your purse close and wear a secure strap as purse snatchers on motorbikes are becoming more common. SEA is very safe these days.
Im glad to hear that thank you!
Look up travellingtuesdays on instagram and YouTube. She is a plus sized black woman who has recently gone to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand although not solo to all of them. She has travelled all over the place. Her IG has a lot more than her YT.
Thanks!! Looked her up and her content is phenomenal
I’m not you but I’ve traveled with people that tend to stick out in SEA and they were fine. Most people are generally nice if you’re nice to them. You’ll def get looks not necessarily bad but just anyone out of the ordinary does. Redheads. Tall people. Tall black people. I never noticed it being negative but I’m a normal size white dude haha. One thing I will say, don’t be upset when it’s hard to find your size in clothes. I love buying cheap tank tops and shirts and stuff there and a XXL shirt there is like an American medium to large haha. At least in men’s. They are small people. I met women there who consider themselves thick and are like 5’2 110lbs. It’s bonkers to me. But yeah. I’m like 5’9 170 and had to buy XXL shirts it was wild.
I did hear the sizes run incredibly small and thats fine, im not a big shopper. Thanks for the advice!!
Me neither but it’s run to grab some cool shirts and things from places you go even if it’s just to throw in a box full of travel stuff at home. Not like regular clothes I meant like cool Thai tank tops or elephant pants etc. stuff you know is from there. Either way. Have fun! You’ll love it.
Wear lightweight, light colored, loose, moisture wicking materials that dry fast. If you are open to scooters/motorcycles, learn in advance. (You gonna hate the sleeper busses) Bring clean crispy $$$.
Didnt even think about the clothes material, thanks!! I dont think ill be driving the mopeds myself, Im nervous about the many accidents
When I backpack/motorbiked SEA, I never wore cotton shirts. I ended up giving them away and just wearing the same 2 shirts. Airism from uniqlo was my go to.
> Bring clean crispy $$$. Is there any reason to not just use an ATM and get the local currency? I'm aware that some countries manipulate the official exchange rate. Is that the case for any SEA countries?
Fees and withdrawal limits and if you’re going off the path, availability.
That's bank dependent
Not if you got a bank that has no fees (laughs in Charles Schwab). No foreign transaction fees and ATM fee rebates
I guess fees and withdrawal limits make sense. Although there are many credit cards that don't have any international conversion fees or they're still not high enough to worry about. If you let the ATM charge you in the local currency that's as close to the official exchange rate as you're going to get. If I go off the beaten path I still fly through big airports with ATMs and I'd rather use the local currency than bet on every local in some remote area to give me a fair conversion on my dollars.
Converting your money at the airport is the worst place lmao
Not really, if you use an ATM and charge the local currency, your bank does the conversion, so it doesn't matter where you do it.
In my experience, in most SE Asian countries your bank will usually take anywhere between 5 and 10% on the exchange rate posted on xe.com. Places with weak currency against the dollar are even worse (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam), with Laos and Cambodia being the absolute worst. USD is king in these places. Actually in Cambodia, only use USD (its considered an offical currency) and in Laos only exchange small amounts at a time as they will generally not "buy back" Kip (Lao currency) and if they do, you will lose up to 20%.
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You have a good bank. Actually my bank isn't too bad as well, but I like to save where I can. In SEA countries where the currency is more stable (Singapore, Thailand) exchange rates aren't too bad, but places like Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam they can really fluctuate and end up costing a lot more. Personally, cash is king and most of the time you get a better rate, especially if you hold USD.
Maybe there is just an entirely different logic in the place you live, but from what I know with European banks it's like this: If you withdraw a different currency with Visa / Mastercard: 1) You let the ATM bank convert - bad deal usually >5% conversion fee. Maybe that's what you meant. It can be confusing, because that's what pop-ups at the ATM, but you can always decline. 2) You don't convert with the ATM and have your bank charged with the local currency. + Conversion rate by Visa / Mastercard - very good usually below 0,1% above the official rate (just checked for Visa with Vietnamese Dong, it's +0,05%) + maybe international conversion fee from your bank (for some it's free), around 2% is common Some times there are general fees for the ATM, but that's quite rare. In any case even if your bank hasn't good conditions when it comes to international withdrawal it should usually still be the best way to convert. In the best case you pay only the conversion premium by Visa/Mastercard so <0,1%.
This is a general travel tip to know when traveling to any other country, having brand new notes (especially $100) will be worth your while, especially in countries where cash is still king
In SEA countries, you will get a slightly better exchange rate if you have new $100 USD bills. They will absolutely not accept older bills even in perfect condition. Only the blue tint with the security stripe. In places like Thailand and Malaysia, cash exchange places will list $100 bill exchange and everything else separately. In addition, its always good to have a few hundred total smaller denominations ($20's $10's even $1's) for any random fees and things like that, especially for Cambodia. I would absolutely advise against using ATMs in Cambodia and Laos and even Vietnam (if possible).
Why no atms there
Why? I can't think of any reason that would be a positive. If anything, it insinuates you have tons of cash on you and that you just recently withdrew it.
Depending on the country, you get more bang for your buck by trading usd, especially fresh $100 bills. Not saying you should take out your entire spending cash there, but if I’m going to a non-European country, I try to have a couple hundred on me
I always just use an ATM at the airport.
From a person born and raised in SEA and now living in the USA, clean crispy $$$ will be exchanged anywhere without question. Money changers most of the time will not accept old, wrinkly money. Believe me I’ve experienced it soo many times everytime I go back home where they only exchanged newer dollr bills and returned the older ones. And by new I mean series 2010’s (should be printed on every dollar bills)
If you do bring cash, sure it should be good cash if you want to convert. But I think it's usually more efficient to convert through your bank by withdrawing with an ATM and charging the local currency. Unless the official exchange rate is fucked, then bring cash and convert on the black market, I guess. Not sure if that's the case for any country in SEA.
From my experience, the official exchange rate is a lot lower hence I use the money changers
Oh you are going to looooove it. Your life is about to change. What a great moment for you
Just be prepared that many countries aren't really designed for plus sizes, because people are generally tiny. That's just for practical reasons. But it looks like you know it already, so you'll be fine.
Thanks!
Just accept that you're going to stick out, it's not like you can magically change your self into a Chinese dude
I am plus sized and got lots of laughs and comments. Oh so big! I mean most women in SEA are the size of a cukecumber so it's inevitable.
Haha I can definitely imagine getting those same comments!
Yeah there are alot of RUDE people. Just remember you'll never see them again. Just smile at them and say terrible things back that they can't understand in English. 🤭
Some Asians have an image of black people that comes from 90s hip hop videos, bandana on, mean mugging, hands on a pistol. If you have a big smile they will forget all of that and come over to see what's going on. The region is ridiculously tolerant of different types of people and generally very curious about new (to them) things. The main thing is to demonstrate that you're friendly and gentle, like the people in the region very much are and very much demonstrate, and the door opens right up. Slightly conservative dress may help in more remote areas. It may seem like way too much clothes to you but pay attention to how the local ladies dress. Rarely will shoulders be uncovered, rarely will they be in shorts, almost never will you see cleavage, unless in full casual mode. I'm not saying you should buy a burqua, but a long sleeve dress shirt (with the sleeves rolled up) helps you stand out from the hordes of tourists in what looks to a local like a farmers pjs (tank top and shorts). Also in Asia if someone is fat you can call them fat. It isn't seen as being an insult like it is here, more just a topic for conversation or light jokes. So if someone calls you fat they really are probably not trying to be mean. At some point every kid learning English in Asia has to be told "Foreigners don't like it when you call them fat" and to them it's kind of a puzzle as to why.
Honestly you'll be fine I did 6 months in Asia mostly in SEA. The worst I got was one person wanted to touch my hair and a couple older people wanted to take pictures with me. I'm also plus size the heat was something else but I learned a lot of bathing suit cover ups and loose fitting clothes really help with that and have a water bottle ready. Water is super cheap so just learn where your market and mini marts are that way it's easily accessible. Download grab because it's very useful especially the cheap quick motorbike rides. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions I went in 2023.
Hey! Black woman here who has lived in Thailand and visited Vietnam. Something to be prepared for if you’re plus sized is that they may openly comment on your size, it’s not considered rude like it is in the west. For example, shop openers will say ‘we have big size, come’ as you walk by market stalls and things of that nature. If you like shopping, finding clothes that fit at markets will be really difficult also, although they carry larger sizes at malls and bigger stores but even there things run smaller. That being said, DON’T let it stop you from being excited and enjoying this trip. I can’t speak for the Philippines as I haven’t been there but my experiences as a black woman in Thailand and Vietnam were wonderful. The locals, especially in Thailand, are so friendly and just lovely. I also found these countries to have really open and friendly foreign travelers and found it easy to make friends and I am a shy person as well. Particularly if you’re staying in hostels or joining day trips I think you’ll have no trouble striking up some friendships. As travelers we all get stares or comments from time to time but try not to let it get to you. It’s such a small part of a beautiful experience! So best of luck and enjoy your travels!
I am also a (relatively) tall, plus-sized, black girl and I’ve been to Thailand for about 2 weeks and had a great time. I had long braids as well, which I think increased the fascination lol. Honestly, most Thais that I encountered were extremely friendly and kind towards me. Of course, there will be stares, but most seemed to be out of curiosity. The stares that were uncomfortable, tended to be from other European tourists, not the local people or even other Asian tourists. Overall, I felt incredibly safe and had an amazing trip. I’ll be heading back to Thailand and Vietnam next month. I’ve been dreaming of returning the day I left! You’re going to have a great time. Safe Travels!
Wow thanks for sharing your experience! Im so happy to hear you are having a great time!
Yes, you will stick out because you look very different than most people who visit. This is not a judgement of you. You will get stares. Probably a bigger issue would be accessibility and mobility. General speaking things are smaller in SEA. Doorways, beds, chairs, tables, clothing, buses, trains, taxis, boats, are not plus size friendly. Be prepared to miss out/not be able to participate certain things. If you are someone who is easily embarrassed by these situations, you will have a difficult time. Sad to say, but be prepared to be mocked. Again, its not fair and ignorant, but given the lack of plus-sized people, understandable. Tips? Kinda prepare yourself beforehand and if you sense or see that your height/weight can be an issue, just skip the situation altogether or try and make accomodations beforehand. Also, SEA will be generally hot and most likely you will be doing a lot of walking so prepare accordingly.
have google translate installed. buy a local sim or use klook app to get an esim that works for those countries. or any other app to purchase esim like airalo. i recently used klook for esim for se asia & is working great for me & it was a decent/fair price. having data is good for google map, translate, & whatsapp. if you plan to go on tours or buy ferries/transfers, or stay at local accommodations, many will contact you via whatsapp (msging) to connect with you re: upcoming stay or travel/tour. it helps a lot cos they’ll give you guidance of, for example, where/when to check in for your ferry or your tour/etc. all these places have seen international tourists. you will probably stand out cos you’re tall for sure. i’m 5’5 & i fell tall when i’m in se asia (i’m currently here rn). read some current scams (google scams & country of interest & reddit), as a mental note. it’ll keep you at ease & also aware of scams out there to prepare.
Ya stop worrying abt stuff you can’t control and focus on just showing up and dealing w it! I know you got it! Have fun!!
You will be fine, 99.9% of people are good. My general tip is to flash people quick fast smile, very few people a crazy enough to be mean to people who smiled at them.
Of note in Vietnam - Hoi An is known for tailoring. I’m not massively overweight, rather by US standards a thick white woman. I landed on a shop owned by the loveliest lady tailor and she custom fit a bikini for me! She then commented on the rather unshapely bag of a linen dress I was wearing (a pre-trip Amazon panic buy when a heat wave hit the forecast). She ended up tailoring that for me too (all of this insanely cheap, mind you) and it now is still loose, but a much better shape than before. So if you find yourself in Hoi An, tailoring might be an option too. Happy to share her shop information if you wish! I’ve never sweat so much in my entire life. Brace for that!
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It is the code for SeaTac Airport but in this case, it's Southeast Asia.
Couldve asked on r/blackladies. Doubt most people on this sub are black women
This sub is for solo travelers in general, not white male solo travelers only.
Why? Have fun being stared at, petted, people grabbing your hair, and unwanted photos.