Hi ddiamond !
Yes, yes, there are people here who did backpack in S.E. Asia ! I'm one of them -Laos, Vietnam and a tiny bit Bangkok, and loved it. Although my feeling about this part of the world appeared to be mysterious and maybe not backpacker frienldy before I left, it turned out to be backpackers' paradise ! So easy and low cost, people are friendly, and no itinerary difficulties for independant travellers (beside the comfort and lenght of journeys...). You can explore the countryside, discover ancient cities and temples, relax on the beach or by the Mekong, party with other backpackers, spend time with remote tribes, etc. Your the master of your trip, you customize it how you please !
Here's travelpunk
Asia forum, where you'll find plenty of infos.
And here are a couple of pictures from my photo gallery (the last ones are from Asia) :
atchoum in Asia.
I'm currrently studying for an exam, but if you have more questions after having browsed through the above mentioned forum, don't hesitate. And anyway, you'll probably get more answers in the meantime...
Oh, and
welcome aboard !