When is the Rainy Season in Vietnam and Cambodia?

Lying side-by-side in the Indochina Region of Southeast Asia, Cambodia and Vietnam are both subject to the typical tropical monsoon seasons, which bring both dry and wet seasons to the countries. The wet season, also known as the rainy season, is caused by the onset of the southwest monsoon, which brings rain on the warm moist winds from the southwest that flow across the region.

The Rainy Season in Vietnam and Cambodia

The weather in Vietnam is complex, and is split into three defined regions, in which the weather patterns occur at different times and in different ways. In the north, which includes the far north, the rainy season comes in April to September in the far north and from May to October in the north, around Hanoi and its surrounds.

Central Vietnam experiences it rainy season from September to December, though in the southern areas, the dry season extends on to around September, and the rainy season begins a little later than in the rest of the region.

In the south of Vietnam, the simpler climate reasserts itself, and the area has more defined wet and dry seasons, similar to Cambodia. The rainy season in the south occurs from May to early November, with the months of June to August being the wettest, though rainfall is usually heavy but short.

In Cambodia, the weather system is very simple, and provides for two distinct seasons, dry and wet, which come at the same times every year and provide the country with its rainy season from May to late September.

Vietnam and Cambodia Map

The Best Time to Visit Vietnam and Cambodia

The dry season is the best time to visit both Cambodia and Vietnam, as you can avoid the rains and enjoy the slightly cooler weather, though it’s much cooler in some parts of Vietnam.

In northern areas of Vietnam, the cooler dry season runs from November to April, and brings with it the chance for frosty cold in some places, where it can get very cold at night. The best time to visit northern Vietnam is usually from January to April.

Central Vietnam has its dry season from January to August, though it can extend to September in some southern parts of the central region. This makes the period from February to July the best time for travel around this region, as he weather is cooler than anywhere else in Vietnam at this time of year.

The southern region of Vietnam has its dry season from November to May, and the best time to visit would be from December to April, when it is coolest. For all of Vietnam together, the best time is from January to May, though you can manage a good tour around the country from as early as December and until as late as August, if you don’t mind a little rain.

Cambodia street

With Cambodia having a simple climate with a dry season from September to May, there is a long period when it is best to visit the country. However, if you are traveling across Cambodia and Vietnam together, then the best time to travel around both countries in one trip would be from February to March.

Cambodia beautiful landscape

Avoid these Time for Visiting Vietnam and Cambodia

While there are great times to visit Cambodia and Vietnam, there are also times when it would be best advised to stay away, as the weather conditions can be bad, and make the trip miserable and uncomfortable.

In Cambodia, the rainy season is not always a time to avoid, as the lighter rains either side can make the trip interesting. However, the main rainy season from July to August is really a time to avoid, as not only are the rains heavier, accounting for around 75% of the country’s annual rainfall, but the rains make travel in some areas of the country impossible, with many roads being impassable.

In central Vietnam, the best time to avoid is in October and November, as this is the peak period for the rainy season with the highest rainfall of the year. It is also the prime time for typhoons in the region, which can range from mild to devastating, and is definitely something you should avoid.

Conclusion

While there are great times to visit Cambodia and Vietnam, there are also certain times when a trip should be avoided. And the rainy season is usually avoided in favor of the dry season and better weather. However, there are times in the rainy seasons of these two countries when it is still pleasant for you to travel, as the rains are not bad and are often short.