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Monuments to ancient gods abound in Southeast Asia
When to Go
The Indochinese peninsula lies in the tropics, which means monsoons bring torrential rains between May and October, and scorching, humid, heat in March and April. Climates vary from region to region, but, generally speaking, the best time to hit all three countries is during the dry season in the late fall and early winter, specifically, from November to February. The pleasant climate means it's also the busiest tourist season; if you can stand some heat, you'll find fewer crowds between March and April, when the weather starts heating up before the monsoons.
VIETNAM
In Vietnam, the north and the south vary quite radically. The south provinces are more humid year-round, particularly hot from March through May, and very wet from May through November when the Mekong gets seriously flooded. The north provinces have four seasons, but you can break them down to two – the rainy season lasts from May through September and the dry season from October to April.
LAOS
In Laos, the monsoons cool things down from May to October, while the dry season between November and May hits temperatures in the high 30s. Vientiane experiences the wettest months between May and September; August is the rainiest month in Luang Prabang. The peak tourist season lasts between November and March.
CAMBODIA
Most of Cambodia is sweltering and muggy year-round, and particularly wet between May and mid-November. The six-month period of pretty constant rains usually starts in late April, when temperatures are also at their highest, sometimes reaching 40 degrees. The optimal times to visit, in terms of the heat and humidity, are December and January.
See Laos Travel Guide | See Vietnam Travel Guide | See Hanoi Travel GuideSee Angkor Travel Guide
