Should I wear a suit?

Only if you are in finance or government. In the tech or creative sectors, smart-casual is standard. If in doubt, a long-sleeved dress shirt without a tie is usually safe.

How do I handle business expenses?

Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Download the Grab app, as it acts as a digital wallet for transport and some food delivery, keeping your business spending consolidated.

Planning a Productive Business Trip to Southeast Asia

Prioritize direct flights to major hubs like Singapore or Bangkok to minimize fatigue and schedule your meetings mid-week to account for regional travel delays. Use local ride-sharing apps like Grab for reliable, trackable transport between client sites.

Choose your primary hub. Singapore is the best entry point for regional business due to its connectivity and English-speaking infrastructure. If your business is in manufacturing, look at Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City, but build in an extra 24 hours for logistics.
Optimize your flight path. Book multi-city tickets rather than round trips to the same city. If visiting three countries, book a 'hub-and-spoke' route returning to Singapore between trips to save on international transit time.
Set up regional connectivity. Buy a local eSIM (via Airalo or Holafly) before you land. Do not rely on roaming; you need a consistent connection for video calls and navigation.
Schedule for 'tropical time'. Expect traffic gridlock in cities like Jakarta or Manila. Schedule no more than two major meetings per day, and allow 90 minutes of transit time between locations.

Should I wear a suit?: Only if you are in finance or government. In the tech or creative sectors, smart-casual is standard. If in doubt, a long-sleeved dress shirt without a tie is usually safe.
How do I handle business expenses?: Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Download the Grab app, as it acts as a digital wallet for transport and some food delivery, keeping your business spending consolidated.