-- Nearby buses
Taking the local bus in Southeast Asia is one particular in a life time experience -- it is a single way of soaking the regional culture. When riding with nearby buses you have to be patient for the reason that they're not usually efficient. In Laos for example, I took the nearby bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng in 2007. In the course of the bus ride there was a lot of unnecessary pit-stops (for instance bus driver had to pee and consume a lot of times). So you can imagine how late we were razz Haha
-- Government buses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWocp4XhPVk
I come across that government buses are less expensive than VIP-buses arranged by tour companies. Instance: From Bangkok to the Cambodian border we paid much less than 250 B in April 2010.
You will find government buses in Thailand and Malaysia. I http://southeastasiabackpacker.com/ haven't been in Vietnam and and Indonesia, so I can not say something about it.
-- Train
http://asiatrips.travel/myanmar-a-z/myanmar-electricity/
If you settle for 3rd class seats taking the train can be inexpensive. Example from Bangkok to Chiang Mai it price 271 B. From KL to Singapore -- About 34 Ringgit. Bangkok to Penang in Malaysia -- 1,210 B (2nd class).
