Southeast Asia business travel gains momentum among South African companies
By Adrian Ephraim
SOUTHEAST Asia is steadily turning into one of the busiest commercial regions for South African companies, according to travel experts at Sure Mithas.
Manufacturing, technology, retail sourcing and logistics are driving the trend, and it’s no longer only the big multinationals making the trip. Mid-sized and owner-managed businesses, including a growing number from the Western Cape, are now flying out regularly to build supplier relationships and open new markets.
Singapore as the entry point
- Singapore is usually the first stop for South African companies entering the region, largely because English is the language of business and the legal system is transparent and well understood
- It hosts regional headquarters for hundreds of multinationals, making it efficient for meetings and introductions that lead to deals elsewhere in Southeast Asia
- There are no direct flights from South Africa. Most routes go via Dubai or Doha, with total travel time of 13 to 15 hours
- Accommodation costs in Singapore sit close to European capital-city levels, so budgeting matters
Thailand and Vietnam for sourcing and manufacturing
- Bangkok has a large industrial base and has attracted South African buyers in textiles, consumer goods and food manufacturing for years
- Business culture in Thailand is formal and relationship-driven, particularly in first meetings
- Vietnam has become a priority for companies diversifying their supply chains away from single-country dependency
- Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial hub, Hanoi is where regulatory relationships are managed, and South African passport holders can now apply for an e-visa, which has simplified entry considerably
Planning a multi-city trip
- A single-city trip to Singapore can be worthwhile, but combining Singapore, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City in one itinerary improves the economics of the trip
- A realistic multi-city Southeast Asia trip needs seven to ten days to be commercially useful
- Routing should follow a logical geographic sequence rather than the cheapest available fares
What catches South African travellers off guard
- The heat and humidity in all three cities is more intense than most South Africans expect, and outdoor meetings or transfers during midday should be avoided
- Southeast Asia runs five to seven hours ahead of South Africa, so early morning calls back home become routine
- Cash is still widely used in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, especially for smaller transactions
- Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City are often two to three times cheaper than Singapore for equivalent accommodation
Why it matters for Cape Town and Western Cape businesses
South African firms that build relationships in Southeast Asia early tend to benefit over time, since these are markets where trust is built in person rather than over email or video calls. As flight connections and visa processes keep improving, the barriers that used to make these trips impractical are falling away, and the commercial case for going is getting stronger.
