Indochina & Thailand climate Vietnam climate      Cambodia climate      Laos climate      Thailand climate

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Vietnam climate

Vietnam spans several climatic zones, resulting in substantial weather condition variations between the north and the south. Average temperatures year round range from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius (68 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit) so there is no particularly good or bad time to visit Vietnam.

WEATHER
Southern Vietnam	Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the south is hot year-round. The hottest period is March to May when average daytime temperatures can reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). The wet season is May to November. Typically this involves an afternoon downpour that rarely interferes with travel arrangements.
Central Vietnam	Usually dry from May to October and wet from December to February. October and November occasionally see unstable weather conditions and flooding.
Northern Vietnam	Hanoi and the north experience four seasons. Summer (May to October), is hot and wet with regular downpours and occasional typhoons. July and August are the hottest months with maximum temperatures exceeding 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit). Winter (November to April) is usually cold and humid. In December and January temperatures can fall to as low as 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit). Cloudy skies and misty conditions usually prevail.

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Cambodia climate

There are two main seasons in Cambodia. From November to March temperatures are slightly cooler with little rain. From May to October is the rainy season where average temperatures in the day range from 24 to 35 degrees Celsius (75 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). During this period it rains for short periods of time in the morning or afternoon. At this time temple moats are full, the scenery is greener and there are fewer people at the temples. Rain rarely affects travel and many people prefer to visit at this time of the year.

WEATHER
November - March	Weather is at its coolest and driest, and it rarely rains.
April - May	This is the hottest time of the year with average temperatures above 35 Degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), it also marks the start of the wet season and infrequent rains can be expected.
June	The monsoon rains increase, bringing some humidity, rains can be expected daily either in the mornings or late afternoons.
July - October	This is the height of the wet season, you can expect to encounter just an hour or two of heavy rain rather than all-day downpours. Cambodia is at its most beautiful as rice crops are a shimmering green, moats at Angkor are full and skies clear for sunrises and sunsets. There are also fewer tourists at Angkor at this time.

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Laos climate

Laos is affected by the annual Southeast Asian monsoon cycle. Many travellers prefer Laos outside the dry season; there are fewer tourists, and rainfall is often limited to brief afternoon showers which lend a different atmosphere to the country and towns.

WEATHER
November to February	Temperatures during the first half of the 'dry' season range from 10 to 25 degrees Celsius (50 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Mornings and evenings in the north of Laos around Luang Prabang can be quite cool at this time of the year. People travelling between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang on the Mekong should bring at last one layer of warm clothes.
March to June	During the second half of the 'dry' season the temperature can rise to up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
May to October	During this the 'wet' season, the tropical lowlands average 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), while the mountains remain cooler. Although this is the wet season, you can expect to encounter just an hour or two of heavy rain rather than all-day downpours.

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Thailand climate

Thailand spans several climatic zones resulting in substantial weather condition variations between the north and the south. Average temperatures in Bangkok range from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius (68 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit), however the weather in the capital feels hot and humid year-round.

WEATHER
Central & South Thailand	(Bangkok, Phuket, Khao Sok) The hottest period is from March to May with temperatures averaging 20 - 35 degrees Celsius (68 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). December to February are the coolest months. The rainy season is June to September in Central Thailand and May to October in Southern Thailand. Expect high humidity and a refreshing afternoon downpour.
Northern & Northeast Thailand	(Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai) Northern Thailand has four seasons. In the hottest months (March to May) expect temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). During the cool season (December to February) the average temperature is 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). Night temperatures drop to as low as 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit) in Chiang Mai and lower still in nearby hilltribe areas. July and August are the wettest months, while December to May are relatively dry.

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