Vietnam

Vietnam occupies a thin strip of land along the coast and covers a wide latitudinal range. Consequently, Vietnam's climate can vary from the North to the South. In addition, Vietnam extends from sea level to over 3,000 metres and temperatures can also vary significantly according to altitude. Northern Vietnam experiences a cool to cold winter (November - March) with overnight temperatures sometimes dropping to as low as 10 degrees Celsius. February and March are typically characterised by a constant drizzle. The rains fall from May to October and it is typically warm at this time of the year.

We suggest you take appropriate wet-weather gear regardless of the time visited, as rainfall is always unpredictable. Overall, there is no bad time to visit Vietnam as good weather can always be found in at least one region.

Thailand

Thailand has three distinct seasons:

hot from March to June
rainy from June to October
cool and dry from November to February
Thailand is affected by monsoons and, as a general rule, hot tropical temperatures predominate all year round. Regional variations do exist, however, and these should be noted when planning a visit to Thailand.

Cambodia

The cooler, dry period of the year is from November to March, and is regarded as the best time to visit Cambodia. From May to early October, the south-western monsoon brings strong winds, high humidity and heavy rains. Please note that even in the wet season, it rarely rains in the morning and that, generally, the rain is sporadic rather than continuous.

Laos

There are three distinct seasons in Laos. The best time to travel is the cooler part of the dry season from November to February. March to May is the very hot, dry spell before the rain arrives. The monsoon season lasts from May to October although the degree of rainfall varies throughout the country with more rain recorded in the southern highland region bordering Vietnam and
Cambodia.

Burma

As with most countries in South East Asia, Burma has three distinct seasons. It is cool from November to February (20-28 degrees), hot from March to early June (up to 45 degrees in the central region) and rainy from early June to October. The mountain areas tend to be cooler, due to the elevation and are generally drier. Around Pagan, the country is quite arid, lying in a rain shadow. The areas facing the prevailing winds and in front of mountains (such as Arakan) experience some of the highest rainfalls on earth.

Malaysia

Malaysia has a typical tropical climate with high temperatures, heavy rainfall during the two monsoon seasons and extreme humidity. The period from June to September brings the southwest monsoon to the west coast of the Peninsula while the period from November to February brings heavy rains and strong winds to the east Coast.

Borneo

Two main seasons are experienced in Borneo, a rainy season and a dry. The rainy season generally lasts from October to February while the drier, cooler period spans from March/April to September. Anyone travelling in any part of Borneo should be aware, however, that rain still does fall frequently even during the ‘dry season’ and visitors should pack good quality wet-weather gear. The best time to visit Borneo is between March and September when less constant rain is likely, although this is far from guaranteed.

It is generally hot in Borneo all year round with temperatures rarely falling below 20 degrees Celsius. For this reason travellers can pack reasonably lightly; however, the exception to this is for those visiting Mount Kinabalu. The peak of Mount Kinabalu is 4,101 metres high and, due to this elevation, both very wet and very cold conditions can be experienced. Subsequently, visitors to the mountain's peak should pack wet-weather gear as well as warmer clothing, including thermal underwear, warm pants, woolen or polar fleece hat and gloves, woolen jumpers or a polar fleece top. Even at the base of the mountain the conditions are cool during the day and cold at night.

Singapore

Singapore is located just 137 kilometres north of the equator and has a typically tropical climate, being hot and humid all year long. Rain falls throughout the whole year with the wettest months being from November to January, and the driest from May through to July. The temperature rarely falls below 20 degrees Celsius and the humidity is generally around 75%.

Indonesia

Indonesia enjoys a year-round tropical climate distinguished by monsoons. Java, Bali and Sumatra all experience a similar weather pattern. The temperatures are consistent year round and average between 22 and 29 degrees Celsius. The dry season is from May to September. From October through to March you can experience tropical downpours. Most rains fall from December through to February. Kalimantan is permanently hot and damp, having its drier season from July to September.