You know that feeling when a place just… clicks with you?
The light is soft, the crowds are thin, the air smells like street food and rain on hot pavement, and you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. That’s what good timing can do for a Vietnam and Cambodia trip.
Because here’s the thing: on paper, it’s “always hot” in Southeast Asia. But in reality, the best month to visit Vietnam and Cambodia can be the difference between temple-hopping in a light breeze or dragging yourself through Angkor at noon in 100°F heat.
If you’re trying to plan a two- or three-week trip that hits Hanoi, Hoi An, Angkor Wat, maybe some islands and a café or two to open your laptop, this guide walks you through:
- How the seasons actually work in Vietnam and Cambodia
- The best months overall if you’re combining both countries
- What timing works best for your travel style (culture, beaches, budget, remote work)
- A month-by-month breakdown, festivals, and sample itineraries
By the end, you’ll know not just when it’s “good weather,“ but when it’s right for you and the way you like to travel.
Weather Basics: How The Seasons Work In Vietnam And Cambodia
Before you pick dates, it helps to understand the broad strokes. Mainland Southeast Asia runs on two main seasons: dry and wet. But Vietnam adds its own twist with very different climates from north to south.
Dry Vs. Wet Season In Mainland Southeast Asia
Across Vietnam and Cambodia, you’ll feel two big patterns:
- Dry season (roughly November–April)
Expect plenty of sun, lower humidity (relatively speaking), and daytime temps mostly between 68–95°F (20–35°C). This is when travel is easiest: roads are better, beaches are at their best, and long bus or train rides don’t feel like a steam bath.
- Wet season (roughly May–October)
Higher humidity, with short, intense afternoon or evening showers rather than all-day downpours. Landscapes turn a vivid green, rice paddies mirror the sky, and there are far fewer tourists. It’s sweaty, yes, but also beautiful, and often cheaper.
The trick is that the wet season doesn’t mean “do not travel.“ For much of the time, you’ll get a sunny morning, a dramatic rainstorm, and then clear skies again.
Regional Differences: North, Central, And South Vietnam
Vietnam is long and skinny, which means the weather can feel like three different countries.
- North Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay)
- Cooler, drier months: November–February, with temps often 63–72°F (17–22°C). Hanoi can feel surprisingly crisp in December.
- Spring & autumn (March–April, October): Mild, pleasant, a bit more humidity.
- Summer (May–September): Hot, humid, and rainy, with the possibility of storms in coastal areas.
- Central Vietnam (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An)
- Dry and hot: Around January–August, especially March–August when it can hit the mid-90s°F (mid-30s°C). Great for beach time.
- Rainy season: September–December can bring heavy rain and occasional typhoons, especially around Hue and Hoi An.
- South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc)
- Dry season: November–April. Hot but manageable, usually sunny.
- Wet season: May–October brings showers, but they’re often short and predictable, keeping everything lush.
If you’re planning to move from Hanoi down to Ho Chi Minh City (or vice versa), there’s no true “perfect” month for every region, just better windows where most of the country feels good.
Cambodia’s Climate: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, And The Coast
Cambodia’s climate mirrors southern Vietnam pretty closely:
- Dry season (late October–early May):
- Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), Phnom Penh, and the coast (Kampot, Kep, Sihanoukville, Koh Rong) all see lots of sun and temps around 79–100°F (26–38°C).
- Late December–February feels most comfortable for long temple days.
- Wet season (mid-May–early October):
- Expect steamy mornings, afternoon thunderstorms, and glowing green countryside.
- Rural roads can get muddy, but major tourist routes still function fine.
Because Cambodia doesn’t have the cool north/typhoon-prone central strip that Vietnam does, it’s generally simpler: drier and easier November–April, wetter and greener May–October.
Overall Best Months To Visit Vietnam And Cambodia Together
If you’re trying to do both countries in one trip, there’s a clear sweet spot.
Why November To February Is Peak Season
For most travelers, the best month to visit Vietnam and Cambodia will fall somewhere between November and February. Here’s why:
- Dry conditions across almost all regions
North Vietnam is cool and clear, central beaches are generally pleasant by January, and the south plus Cambodia are in their prime dry season.
- Comfortable temple weather
Angkor Wat at sunrise in December feels magical rather than punishing. You can linger on terraces, climb steps, and still have energy for a sunset at Phnom Bakheng.
- Great for classic routes
If you’re doing Hanoi → Ha Long → Hue/Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh (or reverse), you’ll get decent-to-excellent weather almost the entire way.
Do keep in mind:
- Late December and early January are busy and pricier, especially around Christmas and New Year.
- Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) falls in January or February and can complicate travel (more on that later).
Shoulder Season Sweet Spots: October And March
If you want that balance of good weather and fewer people, look at October and March.
- October
- North Vietnam starts to cool down: trekking in Sapa becomes more comfortable.
- Cambodia is sliding out of rainy season, the countryside is bright green, but rains are easing.
- Central Vietnam can still see rain, though, so keep Hoi An flexible.
- March
- Gorgeous for Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and northern landscapes, with mild temperatures.
- Central and southern Vietnam, plus Cambodia, are dry and hot, but not yet at their absolute most brutal.
- Fewer crowds than December–January, often better prices on mid-range hotels.
These shoulder months are often ideal for slow travelers and digital nomads who want a longer stay with decent weather and more housing options.
When Monsoon Season Actually Works In Your Favor
Wet season gets a bad reputation, but May–June and September–October can quietly be some of the most rewarding times to visit if you’re flexible:
- Lush landscapes: Rice paddies in Vietnam’s north and Mekong Delta look otherworldly right after rains.
- Lower prices: You’ll often find deals on hotels, tours, and flights.
- Fewer crowds: Angkor Wat at sunrise in a light drizzle? Atmospheric and almost empty.
The main trade-offs: heavier humidity, occasional flooded streets, and more last-minute plan changes. If that doesn’t scare you, the monsoon can actually work in your favor, especially in Cambodia and southern Vietnam, where showers are often short-lived.
Best Time To Visit By Travel Style
You’re not just chasing “good weather.“ You’re chasing a feeling. Here’s when to go based on what lights you up.
For Culture Lovers And Temple-Hoppers
If you’re dreaming of:
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Evening walks around Hoi An‘s lantern-lit streets
- Old Quarter coffee shops in Hanoi
Then aim for November–February or March:
- Cooler mornings make huge complexes like Angkor more manageable.
- Clearer skies mean better photos and less haze over temple ruins and karst cliffs.
- City wandering feels less like a workout and more like a slow exploration.
You can still visit in the wet season, just plan temple visits at sunrise and late afternoon, keeping midday for naps, cafés, or museums.
For Beach Time And Island Hopping
For beaches and islands, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Cambodian coast and islands, target:
- Vietnam’s central and south coasts: February–August (with March–July often ideal for sunshine & swimming).
- Cambodia’s coast and islands: November–April, with December–February the most reliable.
If your main goal is a few days of island time tacked onto a cultural trip, a January–March itinerary works beautifully: temples, cities, then a soft landing on Phu Quoc or Koh Rong.
For Budget Travelers And Crowd-Avoiders
If you’d rather trade “perfect weather” for better prices and emptier photos, look toward:
- May–June and September–October
Why these months work:
- Airfare and hotel rates tend to dip compared to peak season.
- You’ll share highlights like Ha Long Bay or Angkor Thom with far fewer tour groups.
- Green scenery and dramatic skies often make for better photos than bright, flat midday sun.
Just build in some flexibility. Keep a backup indoor activity for stormy afternoons (cooking classes, spa time, long café sessions).
For Digital Nomads And Slow Travelers
If you’re bringing your laptop and staying a while, you don’t need perfect weather, you need stability, availability, and a rhythm.
The best fits:
- October–early December
- Late February–April
During these windows:
- Long-stay apartments and homestays are easier to book than at Christmas/New Year or over big holidays.
- Coworking cafés in places like Da Nang, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap are calm but not empty.
- You get a mix of sunny days and the occasional storm, but nothing too extreme.
It also helps to avoid Tet (Vietnam) and Khmer New Year (Cambodia) as arrival weeks, settling in is trickier when everything’s shut or packed.
Month-By-Month Breakdown: Vietnam And Cambodia
Here’s how the year feels in broad strokes when you’re combining both countries.
November–February: Classic High Season
This is when many travelers say, “Okay, this is the best time to visit Vietnam and Cambodia.“
- Weather: Generally dry, comfortable, and sunny across most regions. North Vietnam can be cool and misty, which adds mood to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay.
- Vibe: Lots of travelers, buzzy hostels, lively tours, easy to meet people.
- Best for: First-timers, classic highlights, short vacations, honeymooners.
Things to note:
- December–January: Peak of the peak. Higher prices, book popular hotels and Ha Long cruises in advance.
- Tet (Jan/Feb): Expect transport crunches, many local businesses closed, and price surges.
March–May: Hot, Hazy, And Good For Flex Travelers
As spring rolls in:
- Weather:
- North Vietnam warms up and can be hazier.
- Central and southern Vietnam plus Cambodia turn hot, you can see temps touching 100°F (38–40°C) in inland areas.
- Vibe: Fewer tourists than deep winter: more room to breathe in popular spots.
This window is good if you:
- Don’t mind heat in exchange for better deals.
- Plan activities early and late in the day, with mid-day spent by the pool or under an A/C.
- Want more spontaneous, last-minute bookings.
June–August: Lush Landscapes And Better Deals
Summer is monsoon time, but it’s not a washout:
- Weather: Regular rains, especially in the afternoons and evenings. Central Vietnam and northern coasts can see stronger storms or occasional typhoons.
- Scenery: Rice terraces in the north are jaw-dropping. Countryside around Siem Reap and the Mekong explodes with green.
Perfect if you:
- Are on a tighter budget and want off-season prices.
- Enjoy dramatic weather and don’t mind carrying a light rain jacket.
- Plan flexible routes, maybe avoiding typhoon-prone central coasts when forecasts look bad.
September–October: Green Season And Fewer Crowds
Think of this as Southeast Asia’s “shoulder plus”: still lush, but moving toward dry.
- Weather:
- Rains start to ease in Cambodia and southern Vietnam.
- North Vietnam has fresh, cooler air, ideal for trekking.
- Central Vietnam can still see storms, but October often marks the transition.
- Vibe: Noticeably fewer tour buses and cruise boats. Markets feel more local again.
If you like that slightly wild, in-between feeling, clouds moving fast, bright green fields, moody sunsets, September–October can feel incredibly alive.
Key Festivals And Events To Plan Around
Festivals can make or break your timing. They’re beautiful to witness, but they also spike prices and complicate logistics.
Tet (Lunar New Year) In Vietnam
Tet usually falls in late January or February (the exact dates shift each year). It’s the biggest holiday in Vietnam, and you’ll feel it.
What it’s like:
- Cities empty out as locals return to their hometowns.
- Many small restaurants, cafés, and family-run shops close for several days.
- Train and bus tickets sell out weeks in advance: domestic flights jump in price.
Should you avoid it? Not necessarily.
If you’re already settled in one place (say, a month in Hanoi or Da Nang), it’s a fascinating cultural moment, flower markets, family altars, quiet streets. But if you’re trying to move quickly between cities, Tet can be frustrating and expensive.
Khmer New Year And Other Cambodian Festivals
In Cambodia, the big one is Khmer New Year, usually in mid-April.
Expect:
- Temple visits, family gatherings, and lots of celebrations.
- Some closures and staff shortages in smaller guesthouses and eateries.
- Popular areas like Siem Reap and Phnom Penh can feel both festive and hectic.
There are other festivals, like Pchum Ben (Ancestor’s Day) in September/October and Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) in November, mainly affecting Phnom Penh and some riverside towns with boat races and parades.
How Festivals Affect Prices, Closures, And Crowds
Across both countries, big holidays usually mean:
- Higher prices on transport and mid-range hotels
- Sold-out buses and trains if you wait until the last minute
- More local travelers heading home or visiting major hubs
If you want to experience these festivals:
- Book internal flights and long-distance trains 3–6 weeks in advance.
- Lock in your accommodation early, especially in capital cities.
- Plan to stay put during the core holiday days instead of traveling between destinations.
If you’d rather skip them, just Google the festival dates for your target year and slide your trip a week or two earlier or later.
Sample Itineraries Based On The Best Months
To make this concrete, here are two sample routes that work beautifully with the seasons.
Two-Week Highlights Route (Dry Season)
Best for: November–February (and early March)
Rough budget style: Mid-range traveler mixing guesthouses, boutique stays, and a few splurges.
Day 1–3: Hanoi
Arrive into cool, buzzing Hanoi. Spend your mornings wandering the Old Quarter, warming up with egg coffee, and visiting the Temple of Literature. Evenings are for bun cha, bia hoi street corners, and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 4–5: Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay
Take an overnight cruise, dry season skies give you better chances of clear sunrises over limestone karsts. Kayak, swim if it’s warm enough, and enjoy quiet mornings on deck.
Day 6–8: Hue & Hoi An
Fly or train south. Explore Hue’s Imperial City, then head to Hoi An for lantern-lit evenings, tailoring, and maybe a cooking class. By January/February, the weather is usually pleasant enough for a beach bike ride.
Day 9–11: Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)
Fly into Siem Reap. Use your energy on sunrise and sunset temple runs, with a rest in the heat of the day. Dry season makes pothole-filled backroads easier for tuk-tuks and bikes.
Day 12–14: Phnom Penh or Cambodian Coast
Finish with Phnom Penh’s riverside and sobering history sites, or hop to the coast (Kampot/Kep) if you crave some down time. Fly out from Phnom Penh.
This route leans into the best months to visit Vietnam and Cambodia together, prioritizing good road conditions and reasonable heat.
Three-Week Slow Travel Route (Shoulder/Green Season)
Best for: October or March, and flexible travelers in May–June or September–October.
Day 1–4: Hanoi & Ninh Binh
Ease in with Hanoi’s café culture, then slide down to Ninh Binh (“Ha Long Bay on land“) for boat trips among towering limestone peaks and emerald rice fields. In shoulder season, it’s lush without constant rain.
Day 5–8: Sapa or Ha Giang (North Vietnam)
Head into the mountains. Trek between villages, stay in homestays, and watch clouds roll over rice terraces. October in particular is magic here.
Day 9–12: Central Vietnam (Da Nang & Hoi An)
Fly south. Base yourself near the beach in Da Nang or in Hoi An‘s old town. Work a few mornings from a café, wander rice paddies by bike in the late afternoon, and keep beach time flexible around showers.
Day 13–16: Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
Immerse yourself in HCMC’s energy: rooftop bars, coworking cafés, incredible street food. Take a short trip into the Mekong for fruit orchards, floating markets, and homestays.
Day 17–21: Phnom Penh & Siem Reap
Cross into Cambodia (flight or overland), spend a couple of days in Phnom Penh, then linger in Siem Reap. In green season, Angkor’s moats and jungle backdrop look especially cinematic, and crowds thin out.
In this slower route, you’re not chasing every ray of sunshine, you’re leaning into the mood of shoulder and green seasons: softer light, greener landscapes, and more room to breathe.
Practical Tips For Timing Flights, Visas, And Work Schedules
Booking Flights And Avoiding Price Spikes
To keep flights reasonable:
- Book long-haul flights 3–6 months in advance for travel in November–February. These are the most competitive months.
- Avoid arrival or departure dates that fall exactly on Christmas, New Year, Tet, or Khmer New Year if you can slide a day or two either way.
- Consider flying into one country and out of the other (e.g., Hanoi → Siem Reap or Ho Chi Minh City → Phnom Penh) to avoid backtracking.
For internal travel:
- Domestic flights in Vietnam are generally affordable, but during Tet they can double or triple in price.
- Buses and trains sell out around big holidays, grab tickets a couple of weeks ahead.
Visas, Holidays, And Remote Work Planning
Visa rules shift, but currently:
- Vietnam offers e-visas to many nationalities, including US passport holders, typically for 30 days (often extendable or stackable if you plan carefully).
- Cambodia has an easy e-visa process or visa-on-arrival for many travelers, often also around 30 days.
Check official government sites before you book: don’t rely on outdated blog posts.
If you’re working remotely while traveling:
- Avoid planning huge deliverables or launch weeks during major local holidays, when cafés may close and Wi-Fi can be more unpredictable.
- Build in “buffer days” after long overnight buses or flights so you’re not jumping straight into Zoom calls.
- Base yourself in bigger cities (Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap) for reliable coworking options and backups if your first-choice café is shut for a festival.
Timing your work around the travel, rather than the other way around, makes the whole experience feel less like juggling and more like the intentional, flexible life you’re probably craving.