BEST TIMES to VISIT SOUTHEAST ASIA by Toni Neubauer
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BEST TIMES TO VISIT SOUTHEAST ASIA by Toni Neubauer COUNTRY Spring(MAR.-MAY) Summer(JUNE-AUG.) Fall (SEPT.-NOV.) Winter (DEC.-FEB.) Do be prepared for Summer in the Fall in Vietnam, as Overall, winter is VIETNAM rain, even though south is hot, humid in the States,is the time to visit Mar. is relatively dry and often rainy. typhoon (hurricane) Vietnam, Boasting coastline throughout the Locals seek relief at time in the south particularly the of 2,020 miles and country. beaches, but foreign and central coast. south and central mountains that rise Temperatures are tourism is down. Serious floods are coast. It is the driest as high as 10,308’, getting hot in the not uncommon and time of year and the Vietnam can be south and central The central coast can disrupt travel. most temperate divided into several coast, while in the tends to be hot and The north is weather. parts–The Red north and dry,but you can somewhat better, River Delta, The highlands, experience serious but still experiences The north, however, North/Northwest, temperature is floods and raging storms that can be damp and Highlands, the pleasant. typhoons. can interfere with chill so be prepared. Central Highlands, Halong boat trips If you are visiting the Coastal By late Apr.and The north will also and general travel. Halong or the hill Lowlands, and the May,the south is have heavy rains tribes of the north Mekong Delta. seriously hot and and heat but is By late Nov., be sure to bring humid, and any rain blessed with ocean temperatures cool jackets. Most likely, Although Vietnam is a relief. winds. down and there is you will not want to has primarily a less precipitation, swim in the bay. monsoon- Spring holidays A few summer but one never Kayaking can be influenced tropical include Apr. 30, the holidays are Family knows. fun, but stay warm. climate, there are liberation of The Day on June 28 and variations South and May 19, Remembrance Day In Fall,Sept.2 is Tet generally occurs depending on where Ho Chi Minh's on July 27. National Day, Oct. in Jan.or Feb.,but is you travel at birthday. 10 is Capital a lunar festival and different times. Liberation Day and varies from year to Diverse topography, Oct.20 is year. In 2020, Tet is a span of more than Vietnamese Jan. 25. 15 degrees of Women’s Day. latitude and the Feb.3 is the Day of location bordering Foundation of the the South China Sea Communist Party of –all lead to varying Vietnam. regional climatic conditions. COUNTRY Spring (MAR.-MAY) Summer(JUNE-AUG.) Fall(SEPT.-NOV.) Winter (DEC.-FEB.) Generally speaking, From June-Sept. Rainy season in From Dec-Mar, you INDONESIA the dry season is expect the “East Java runs from can expect a lot of With more than May-Sept. and the Monsoon,” which Nov.-Mar, and East rain during the 17,500 islands rainy season from generally brings dry Java experiences “West Monsoon.” somehow molded Oct-Apr. We can weather. less rainfall than The heaviest into a single nation, suggest visiting the the western region. rainfall season is Indonesia displays country between If you’re looking to usually Dec-Jan. no end of natural May and September. visit Bali,plan on a On Sumatra, the and cultural During this period, visit between May- dryer months are Expect prices to diversity. From the the downpours last Sept and Bali’s wet Apr-Oct, but watch skyrocket over the UNESCO World a couple of hours, season from Oct- out for Nov-Mar., Christmas and New Heritage Site of rather than all day. Mar. Depending on when the rains Year season. Borobudur to where you are on an could start up Komodo National The best months for island, can also again. Park to multicolored diving off the coast affect the weather. volcanic lakes, of Bali or Komodo General rule of Indonesia offers a National Park is Sulawesi can see thumb: much of the myriad of Apr-Sept. You can different weather country is in the possibilities. run into rough seas across the island, “wet season” from in Jan-Feb. but you can expect Nov-Apr. Being a tropical the driest months country with a fairly Java is best visited on the northern even climate all year May-Sept, when the region to be around, the weather days are hot,dry between Jul-Oct, is divided into two and sunny. but some rain Jun- seasons: wet and Jul. dry. And depending On Flores Island, on the island of plan to travel interest, the between Apr-Sept weather could be for lots of sunshine different. and blue skies. Mar. and Apr., Summer in Sept.is still part of Winter is high MYANMAR although still part of Myanmar is hot and the rainy season, season for tourists The 4th largest Myanmar’s dry rainy,even up in with hot weather and the best country in Asia and season, and May, Himalayan foothills. throughout the weather of the year. largest mainland the beginning of the You might escape country, but the The only thing to country in wet season, are the rains in the rains taper off in watch is river levels. Southeast Asia, among the hottest Bagan-Mandalay Oct. The farther you are Myanmar boasts of the year with area until Aug., but from the rainy more than 135 temperatures often you can be sure the Nov. marks the season, the lower different ethnic exceeding 100 temperatures is beginning of the the water is,so groups. The land- degrees. roasting hot. Sadly, cooler, dry season, boats have to go scape rises from sea though, even in the with temperatures slowly. level white sand Hill stations, the hot rainy days, most between 68 and 74 beaches to 19,295’ higher altitudes of Myanmar beaches degrees. You may Festivals to think of Hkakabo Razi at the the north and lake are closed, so there well need a light include the tribal base of the areas are cooler is no relief. wrap in the Kachin and Manaw Himalayas. than the lowlands. evenings. Festival in Myitkyina and This is also the Putao. Also in Jan. season of festivals. is the Ananda Oct. is the famous Festival in Bagan. Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival in Inle. COUNTRY Spring(MAR.-MAY) Summer(JUNE-AUG.) Fall (SEPT.-NOV.) Winter (DEC.-FEB.) Rains normally start Although Sri Lanka November boasts Beginning in Nov. MYANMAR(cont.) in May, although is always hot and the Fire Balloon and running Myanmar is located there may be humid, summer is a Festivals in through Feb., the in Asia’s monsoon showers relatively dry time Taunggyi and Pyin Mahaor northeast region between the beforehand. Only to visit anywhere in Oo Lwin,and the monsoon, affects Equator and Tropic the plains around the country. Shwezigon Pagoda the northeast part of Cancer.Generally Bagan and Festival in Bagan of the country. speaking, there are Mandalay escape During July and and others. During these times, two major seasons – the rains, often until Aug., join the locals it's best to head dry and wet and very late summer. and celebrate the south towards altitude, as you Mar. features the Esala Poya Perahera Colombo, Yale, and might expect affects Shwedagon Pagoda festival at the Galle. temperatures. Festival. Then, for Temple of the Tooth Some argue that fun,in Apr.you can or at Kataragama. You can join the there are 3 seasons catch the Thingyan pilgrims for their –very hot,rainy and Water Festival and annual festivals somewhat cooler. get doused by the such as Sri Pada,the locals. Adam's Peak pilgrimage, or Christmas. March is not quite Rain, rain, rain, and Sept. is still the Ah, winter – CAMBODIA the rainy season, watch for flooding! rainy season, definitely the high Beyond the world- although you might although it begins tourist season in the famous Khmer have showers. By to taper off in Oct. country and the Ruins, Cambodia April, rains increase driest, coolest and remains one of and in May,the Nov.is the start of sunniest time of Southeast Asia’s heat, humidity, and the best time to visit year. Temperatures undiscovered gems rain make quite a Cambodia, but range from 70-88, with amazing team! Temperatures beware of possible so very comfortable. wildlife and can vary between 75 typhoons. They are This is also a good romantic beaches. and 95 degrees, so rare, but one never time to lounge on From Mekong River be prepared. knows. the beach along the dolphins to vine- coast. covered jungle Along the coast near If you have not had temples and Kampot and enough rain, Nov. is Jan. is an exciting elephant Sihanoukville, time for the water month, the time for sanctuaries, there temperatures are festival, Bon Om Chinese New Year. are endless not quite as hot,but Touk. Also in Nov. is opportunities. rains can be Independence Day. stronger. Weather is simple – hot all year round April boasts an with a rainy season important holiday – from May to Nov. Khmer New Year and a dry season and May is Visak from Nov.to Apr.If Bochea Day. you head up to the Cardamon Mountains, weather is a bit cooler,but the area is also rainier. COUNTRY Spring(MAR.-MAY) Summer(JUNE-AUG.) Fall (SEPT.-NOV.) Winter (DEC.-FEB.) Spring in Laos is Rain, rain, rain, and As in Cambodia, Winter is the height LAOS pre-monsoon and watch for flooding! Sept. is still rainy of the tourist Laos is blessed with the hottest time in Note that Luang season, but by mid- season, the driest enormous the country.