Best Time to Visit Thailand Vietnam and Cambodia

Three of the main countries of the former French colonial region known as French Indochina, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia are some of the top destinations in Southeast Asia. With ample opportunities for adventure in these three amazing destinations, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia trip have something for everyone, from stunning temples and amazing architecture to beautiful landscapes, awesome traditional cultures, and some of the best cuisines in the world. However, timing is everything when taking a multiple-destination tour of Indochina, so when is the best time to visit these three stunning countries together?

Climate features in Thailand Vietnam and Cambodia

Thailand Climate

Thailand has a varying climate depending on which part of the country you are visiting. Across the main body of the country, the weather is standard, with a dry season from November to May and the wet season running from June to October. However, the south of the country is split into two very different climates, with variations in the two main seasons for this sub-tropical country.

In the east of the southern region of Thailand, the heavy rainfall comes from September to December, while the rest of the year is dry, with some minor temperature variations.

Thailand Weather

In the western side, the monsoon season runs from April to October, with the dry season running from November to February. This drastic change in the climates of the three regions of Thailand means that timing for a tour of the country needs to be carefully planned.

Vietnam Climate

In Vietnam, the climate can be split into three main zones, from north to south. In the north, the climate is milder, with cooler winters and milder summers. The main rainy season in the north runs from May to October, and the temperatures ate hottest from April to June. The dry season runs from November to April, with January being the coldest month of the year, with temperatures that can reach as low as freezing in the mountains.

In the central area of Vietnam, the hotter weather comes from January to August, with the monsoon season running from September to November. The dry season runs from December to August, with January and February being the coolest months of the year and the most popular for tourists.

Vietnam climate

The southern areas have a more common sub-tropical monsoon climate, with temperatures remaining constant throughout the year. The rainy season runs from May until early November, with the wettest months being from June to August, while the very slightly cooler dry season runs from December to April.

Cambodia Climate

Of the three countries, Cambodia has the most normal climate pattern, with a consistent climate across the entire country. Blessed with one of the simplest weather systems in Asia, the monsoon season runs from May to late September across the whole country, with the dry season coming from October to late April.

Angkor Wat

The hottest period of the year is from March to June, when temperatures can reach up as high as 35 degrees, while the coolest period is from November to January, with temperatures dropping to around just 20-24 degrees.

Best time to visit Thailand Vietnam and Cambodia

Best time to visit Vietnam

Planning your trip to tour around Vietnam can be a little complex, especially with the varying climates in each of the three main regions of the country. However, if you are really planning on visiting the whole country, from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi in the north, then there really is not a bad time to come. Even during the monsoon season, the lush green verdant foliage makes the trip well worth a few showers.

Best time to visit Vietnam

Generally, November to April is the best time for visiting the north and Hanoi, with April and November being the best months of the year. In the central region, the best time is from March to August, avoiding the unusual rainy season and the typhoons of the latter part of the year. In the south, November to April is also the ideal time to visit, and when you look at all three regions, the optimum time for travel to Vietnam to visit all of the country is normally best from March to April.

Best time to visit Cambodia

The simpler climate of Cambodia makes it much easier to work out the ideal time to travel to this beautiful destination. With a dry season that runs from October to April, this is normally the best time to go. However, Cambodia does get a lot hotter from March to June, so the optimum time to travel is from October to February. This is also the peak season for tourism in Cambodia, though there are some small differences in the cooler months between Phnom Penh in the south and Siem Reap in the north.

Best time to visit Thailand

Thailand’s more complicated climate variations make it complex to work out when is the best time to tour the country as a whole. The best times for traveling to Bangkok and Chiang Mai are normally from October or November to February, during the cooler part of the dry season. However, the differences in the south make this a complex decision, as each side of the southern isthmus of Thailand has different climates.

Best time to visit Thailand

In the east, in the Gulf of Thailand, the best time to visit is normally from December to March, avoiding the wettest months of October to November and the hottest months from April to May. However, with a shorter rainy season, it is also possible to visit this side of the south from June to September, with very little rain falling in these months.

In the west, on the Andaman Sea, the climate is very different, with the dry season coming to the coastline from December to April, with the rainy season coming from May to November. September to October are the wettest months, and should be avoided, while the earlier months of the monsoon have only light showers and are possible for a decent out of season trip.

Best time to visit all together

Overall, the best time to take a tour of all three countries is from February to April, depending on where you are traveling to first. Ideally, February should be started with your visits to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, in the main area of Thailand, and moving on to the south of Thailand and Cambodia through March.

Then move on to Vietnam in late March to early April, and start in Hanoi, moving south. If you have a limited time only for traveling, you should aim to start in Thailand and move to Cambodia and then Vietnam through February and March at the latest for the best weather and climate conditions through all three countries.

Highlights during Thailand Vietnam and Cambodia tour

Thailand

For any tour of the three major destinations in Indochina, there are certain places and attractions that you really need to see and visit. Ideally, you should star in Thailand, with Bangkok and Chiang Mai being the ideal places to start. In Bangkok, the largest city in the country, you have the stunning sights of ancient temples lying side by side with modern high-rise buildings, sumptuous palaces, and exotic, and erotic, nightlife.

Best time to visit Bangkok

Deep inside the city you can find the network of canals and green parks that are filled with flowering tropical plants, often hidden away from the main hustle and bustle of the city. Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is also a must-visit location, and is a flourishing city for backpackers and trekkers that want to explore the delights of northern Thailand’s highlands. The city itself is a huge and culturally important place to be, with the modern architecture of the 20thcentury blending seamlessly into the background of ancient Siamese temples and palaces.

For the south of Thailand, there are two main locations that are ideal for visiting while touring the country that should not be missed. In the west of the coastal region, Phuket is one of the most amazing islands in Thailand, with its famous Wat Phalong, the largest Buddhist temple on the island. Renowned for its stunning white beaches and long season, Phuket is more than just a sunbathing destination. Inside the island, you can find the Old Quarter, the ancient town of Phuket that dates back almost a thousand years, and climb up to Karon Viewpoint for the best view out over the island.

Visit Chiang mai

On the other side of the isthmus, Koh Samui is one of the most beautiful islands in the world, and is very popular with backpackers and partygoers, with plenty of things to do in the evenings if you love the nightlife. From foam parties to beach full moon events, Koh Samui caters to all tastes, and for those that do not want to party, you can enjoy the stunning beaches during the day, or explore the local inland villages of the island, which have changed little despite the massive tourist industry that pervades most of the coastline.

Cambodia

For the Cambodian leg lf the trip, there are two places that should never be missed – Phnom Penh in the south and Siem Reap and Angkor in the north. The first place to visit in Cambodia has to be the stunning Angkor Archaeological Park in northern Cambodia, close to Siem Reap. An ancient 9th to 14th century city of more than 2,000 Buddhist and Hindu temples and royal palaces, this ancient site is one of the wonders of Asia’s historic past.

Visit Siem Reap

And no visit is complete without a trip to the world-famous Angkor Wat, the iconic temple of the Cambodian national emblem. In the south, Phnom Penh is the rebuilt city of hope and dreams, and is a beautiful place to visit, though many of the tourist sites relate to the former genocide of the Khmer Rouge. However, this ancient city, which was once known as the pearl of the Orient during the French colonial period, still retains plenty of French architecture, which sits comfortably beside the modern rebuilding and architecture.

Vietnam

For touring in Vietnam, there are several dozen places that you should try and visit, which could take a while. If you are short of time, then the main ones would have to be Hanoi and Halong Bay in the north, Hue and Hoi An in central Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and the Mekong Delta in the south. The beauty of Halong Bay is timeless, and the many karst formations and limestone islands and islets make for a wonderful boat trip around the bay. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, and the city still retains much of its former French colonial architecture, renowned for the wide boulevards and long tree-lined avenues.

Halong Bay

Hoi An was once the ancient capital of Vietnam, and the center of the ancient Champa Empire from more than 2,000 years ago. This beautiful city is filled with historic architecture and ancient traditions that will give you an insight into the former Champa Imperial culture with the remaining ancient palaces and temples. Once the capital of the Dang Trong Kingdom, Hue is a delightful place to visit, with its Imperial City bounded by thick stone walls and a moat, and containing the ancient Forbidden Purple City of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Hoi An

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most amazing metropolises in the world, formerly known as Saigon and lying on the Saigon River. Now, Saigon is just a small area of the main city known as HCMC, which is the financial, economic, and business center of Vietnam. The city has a number of local landmarks that are well worth visiting, including the Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City Hall, the Notre Dame Basilica of Saigon, the renowned Independence Palace, and much more.

Ho Chi Minh City

Summary

For anyone planning a tour of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam together, you are bound to be amazed and astonished at the sheer number of outstanding sights and attractions that these three destinations have to offer. And planning the best time to head to them for a combined tour is no longer such a mystery, with all your best options outlined here for you to choose the optimum time for you to travel.