While the original area of Indochina included Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Thailand, the modern region of Indochina only includes those that were under the French influence during the beginning of the 20th century. Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia make up the three Indochina countries which are all well-known tourist attractions for western tourists.
The best time to take a trip to Indochina might be affected by several factors, but as far as we’re concerned, the most important thing is the weather. Due to the influence of the sea and the monsoons, the climate of Indochina has significant changes month by month. While highlands areas may have cool nights, it is unlikely to be really cold in the countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Therefore, Indochina travel is a fascinating experience any time of the year though there are high and low seasons. It totally depends on your interest, what you want from the trip and your preferences are. Let’s begin with a quick glance at the weather condition in Indochina so that you can make a perfect tour to Indochina.
Indochina Weather
The climates in the three Indochina countries (meaning Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) are relatively similar. There are two main seasons in Indochina: the rainy season, from May to October, sometimes November and the dry season, from December to April.
Nevertheless, Indochina is a large area with a variety of climates among regions, consequently, you might easily find the agreeable weather for your Indochina tour packages. If you do not mind being caught in the rain, wet season may be good for you. On the other hand, if you are a sunshine lover and desire to lay on the gorgeous beaches for sunbathing, you may pick the contrary.
Because each season has its own positive aspects as well as negative ones, it is necessary to know the detail information of weather for each region.
When is the Best time to Travel to Vietnam?
With a long, thin geographical location, Vietnam has three distinct seasons which vary dramatically from the north to south. Before taking a tour to Vietnam, you need to consider the country’s tropical monsoon climate, and the separation of climates across the three main regions. While the weather in North Vietnam is humid and tropical, south Vietnam enjoys a tropical climate all year round. Central Vietnam lies somewhere in between. Read on to find out the best time to visit Vietnam in your Vietnam vacation or Indochina tour packages.
North Vietnam
North Vietnam has two distinct seasons: a cool, dry winter (November – March) and a hot, humid summer (April – October). The lowest temperature of the year occurs in December- February when Hanoi sees the average temperature of about 20°C. The highest temperature is to be witnessed in May-August, with an average high of up to 32°C.
In the northern mountainous area, the climate is different. It can be extremely cold in December and January (sometimes even see snow), and the rainy season from May to September which can make travel quite difficult. The best time of year to visit North Vietnam is from September to November and March to May.
Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam benefits from more consistent weather than its northern neighbor, with hot and dry weather from January to July. Enjoy your Vietnam tour package in the beach town of Nha Trang, or tiny Palm Island for some sun and sand during these months. In this region, the rainy season falls in the months of September to December, with incidental storms in October and November. August brings a change of climate through the central region with hot and humid temperatures, but rain becoming more likely. The rains are heavy but normally only last a few hours before the sun breaks through, and makes for a good excuse to duck inside for a strong Vietnamese cocktail or coffee!
South Vietnam
South Vietnam enjoys tropical weather all year round, with the temperature is almost unchanged, ranging between 30°C and 35°C. The hottest months are usually March and April, and the coolest in December. December to March is a great time to visit the south of Vietnam as it’s not as busy as the summer months, so you can enjoy peaceful beach days and cheaper flight prices. On the other hand, if you want to respite from the heat, spend your Vietnam tour packages in southern Vietnam from May to September when short and sharp monsoon rains often occur.
When is the Best time to Travel to Laos?
Because of having no coastline, Laos has a simpler climate than Vietnam. There are only two clear seasons which are experienced at approximately at the same time throughout the country: the wet (May to September) and the dry (October to April).
The best time to visit Laos is from November to April, the dry season when rain is at a minimum and the temperatures are relatively moderate. In the lowland Laos, the best time of year to visit is from November to January as the daytime temperatures are comfortable and the evenings are a little cooler.
One thing you may note is Northern Laos will usually become clouded in smoke from March until the end of the rainy season due to the harvest season. While in the rainy season, the road condition can become worse, the dry season means the rivers are to lơ for boat travel. However, some of the Northern areas have a temperamental climate offering a day with bright, sunny, wet and cold weather as well.
When is the Best time to Travel to Cambodia?
It can be said that Cambodia has the simplest weather system in Southeast Asia, with just two seasons and very few differences among regions. The dry season in Cambodia expands from October to late April, whereas, the wet season is from May to September.
Temperatures are similarly set into two distinct ranges, which are constant around the country. October to December is the coolest period while the hottest time in Cambodia is often from February to June. The best time, as well as peak season in Cambodia, runs from November to March – there are little rain and warm temperature.
The rainy season in Cambodia is normally marked by a good downpour in the afternoon. However, days still include many hours of sunshine, cloud, slightly showers and it’s the ideal time to see the countryside come to life with plenty of lush greenery.
Hi, Is it advisable to do Indochina trip in September? Planning to do the trip on September 21-26 this year. Female solo traveller here. How much would it cost? Thank you!