I spend a lot of time in S E Asia. I bought a fat bike on a previous trip, and leave it with friends when I go home. A fat bike is good on the dirt tracks, which often have mud, when cycling to villages.
Bikes can be less expensive in S E Asia. However, many shops start out asking a high price, and you have to bargain with them, which is a big wast of time. If you don't know what the bike is worth, you may pay too much.