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. During Prabang is one of Oct., the rains taper and sunniest time to ecological bounties, spring, the coolest the least rainy off.Late fall is the explore Laos. A including some of place to be is the areas. start of the tourist typhoon might Asia’s largest north, near Luang season. As winter occur in early Dec., waterfalls and vast Prabang, where Summer is also a nears, particularly but generally, stands of primary temperatures range time of extreme in the north, jackets weather is good. Up forest covering a between 64 and 93 heat so be prepared. or sweaters come in north in Luang good part of the degrees. Luang handy. Prabang and above, country. Laos also Prabang is also one As for festivals, the you will likely want boasts a 9,249′ peak, of the drier areas. beginning of June is Fall is also a period a sweater, or even Boun Neau. Children’s Day. Aug. where typhoons and more.In the Vientiane is highlights Boun some floods can mountainous areas, Laos is tropical in centrally located Haw Khao Padap affect the country. temperatures have the plains, and a bit warmer Din,a time to been known to drop subtropical in the than Luang remember and pay That said, from Nov. as low as freezing. mountains and Prabang, averaging respects to the through winter is northern regions. between 75 and 95 dead. the best time to visit By Feb., the weather Like Cambodia, it is degrees. the country. gets warmer and governed by temperatures can monsoons, Pakse, located in the Oct. celebrates the rebound up to 95 including a winter south is the hottest end of Buddhist degrees. monsoon from Nov. part of the country, Lent and in river to Feb. that brings often boasting towns there are boat Winter festivals good weather and a temperatures in the races. include Lao summer monsoon 90’s. National Day in Dec. with rain and Nov.is the humidity from May Interestingly, in the wonderful Boun Boun Pha Wet to mid-Oct. The northwest, spring That Luang honors the Jatakas hottest time of the can see cyclones celebration at That or lives of Buddha year is pre-monsoon that sweep up from Luang in Vientiane. and Magha Puja from Mar. to May. the Bay of Bengal. celebrates Buddha’s There are also teachings given to cyclones coming the monks. from the South China Sea that bring rain and wind to the country.

Mar. is rice festival time, Boun Khoun Khao, near Vientiane. Then, in Apr., join the Lao and celebrate New Year.May is time to celebrate Buddha’s birthday. COUNTRY Spring(MAR.-MAY) Summer(JUNE-AUG.) Fall(SEPT.-NOV.) Winter (DEC.-FEB.) Spring, Mar. to mid- Rain, rain, rain, Fall, after late Oct., Dec., Jan., and Feb. THAILAND May and pre- heat, heat, heat and is a good time to are, without doubt, Thailand is home to monsoon season is watch for flooding! head back to the best months to mouth-watering the hottest time to Thailand. Yes, you visit most of cuisine, hill tribe visit Thailand. But…in July and do have to watch for Thailand. people, unspoiled Bangkok Aug., you can sneak cyclones, but the beaches, pre- temperatures can off to the eastern rains have largely Along the southwest bronze-age ruins, reach the 100s part of the abated. Keep your coast (Phuket, limestone karst during the day and peninsula looking fingers crossed for Krabi, the Similan islands and nature don’t really cool off out on the Gulf of good weather and Islands, Ko Phi Phi, reserves with at night. Thailand, and consider exploring etc.), Dec. to Mar. spectacular twiddle your toes in the country. are the best months. landscapes. Weather is a bit the sand and the better in the rest of you in the Ah, fall…catch the If Ko Samui, Although the northern hilltribe water,as the area is Buffalo Racing Songkhla or Pattani beaches of the south area, but still up sheltered from Festival in Chonburi are your have a weather there in the 90s, cyclones and the in Oct., enjoy Loi destinations, then pattern that differs although cooler at worst rains. Krathong and the Yi Jan.to Apr.is prime from the rest of the night. Peng Lantern time. country, generally, In the summer, one Festival in Chiang Mar.to May is the During Mar. and can celebrate Mai or the Elephant Winter sees many hot season, May- Apr., Phuket Phuket Yacht race Round-Up in Surin festivals in Oct.is the rainy experiences little week or a candle in Nov. Thailand. Dec. is the season and a dry rain, temperatures festival in Ubon birthday of former somewhat cool range from 75-91 or Ratchethani. Aug. or King Bhumibol. The period runs from so,and it is a good early Sep.is the 3rd week in Jan.sees Nov. to Feb. time to hop down to Hungry Ghost an umbrella and the beach. Festival, Por Tor. craft festival in Along the western Chiang Mai. About border with Mar. and Apr. are this time is also the Myanmar and the also prime time for Chinese Lunar New northern border visiting Ko Samui Year. with Laos, and Pattani. temperatures can get cool and Mar. 13th celebrates sometimes cold in National Elephant winter but are Day and in Apr.is pleasant in other Songkran, the Thai months. New Year Water Festival. In the north, usually between Sep. and May will celebrate Nov. the Pacific the Coronation of typhoons frequently H.M King Maha drop the bulk of Vajiralongkorn and force over Vietnam, the northeast will Laos, and Cambodia, light up the country leaving only heavy with a rocket rain to pour down festival. on Thailand. If the typhoons head south, they can pound down on the southern peninsula. COUNTRY Spring(MAR.-MAY) Summer(JUNE-AUG.) Fall(SEPT.-NOV.) Winter (DEC.-FEB.)

THAILAND(cont) Indian Ocean cyclones, although rarer, make landfall often late spring and Oct.to Dec., affect the Andaman Sea area or even continental Thailand.

Unlike other parts of Southeast Asia, El Niño brings a drier time from Dec.to Feb. along the Peninsula and hotter weather to the rest of Thailand. La Nina does just the opposite, bringing more rain to the peninsula and even flooding.

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