 
Is camping necessary in South East Asia?
LONG ANSWER: In SEA there is usually a town/city with a guest house every 50-100 Km. There are exceptions to this (in Laos especially) and there may be days when your ridden distance may be less than 50Km due to conditions or geographical barriers. There are a number of mountainous regions and also road conditions can get the better of you on any particular day.
There are a few options for places to sleep without resorting to tents. Mostly guest houses will appear, even in the most unlikely places. Often the signs in small towns will be in the local language, just ask the locals and they will be helpful. The next option is the temple. This option may be a little difficult for women due to religious reasons. I have slept in a few temples and they have always been extremely welcoming and the monks very helpful. If you stay in a temple please leave a donation for the monks. I leave $10, but anything is gratefully received.
The other choice of sleeping without canvas is to ask a friendly local to sleep in their house. This can be done quite easily for a small donation to the family. This option isn't ideal as it is always fraught with language and cultural problems. However I have done it before. It is a rewarding experience and, in the remotest places, can lead to a great insight into the lifestyles of the local population. The culture of hospitality is so great in SEA that it made me feel awkward staying in someone's house like this. They really roll out the welcome, often trying to stuff you full of food and dodgy local brew. My offers of money have been accepted, but they felt inadequate when compared to the hospitality offered. I do not recommend staying in these kinds of places. I have only done it out of necessity (injury once and lack of any other accommodation for miles the other).
If you are planning on sleeping in a tent you should make careful plans. Canvas is an alternative arrangement to guest houses, but there are a few things which should be considered first. With tents you must refer to the weather conditions before purchasing your tent. It can be cold at elevation in the cool season in Laos and Vietnam. It the hotter months there is also rain to deal with. The season you are planning to cycle in will definitely affect your choice of tent.
The other major factors regarding your choice of tent are size and weight. You must get a tent which actually fits on your bike. Be careful of the size of the tent when compacted. The smaller the better. The best way I have seen of putting your tent on a bike is to tape the poles to the cross bar and put the canvas in your panniers. The other alternative is to put the whole lot on your rear rack.
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