Budget travel in Southeast Asia: the cities worth a week vs the cities worth 2-3 days.

Worth a week or more:

• Chiang Mai: temple circuit, cooking classes, coffee shop culture, day trips to hill tribe villages and Doi Inthanon, night markets. Comfortable infrastructure that rewards time.
• Hoi An: lantern city with excellent tailors, Ancient Town, bicycle access to My Son ruins and beach. Slow-travel friendly.
• Ubud, Bali: rice terraces, art galleries, yoga culture, temple complex of Tirta Empul and Besakih. Walkable neighborhood rhythm.
• Penang: street art, hawker food culture, George Town architecture. Multiple return visits to the same food stalls becomes a rhythm.

Worth 2-3 days:

• Bangkok: temples (Wat Pho, Grand Palace), markets (Chatuchak, Khao San area), nightlife. The city rewards a focused visit; extended stays get expensive or repetitive.
• Phnom Penh: Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng, Royal Palace, riverfront. Historically important and worth understanding, but limited slow-travel depth.
• Vientiane: the most low-key capital in Southeast Asia. Pha That Luang, COPE (landmine victims center, free, moving). Pleasant for 2-3 days, quiet beyond that.
• Hanoi: Old Quarter walking, street food circuit, cultural sites. The energy is excellent for a short visit; the noise and traffic become wearing over 5+ days for most travelers.