Looks like January and February will be the best time for us, even though January is peak tourist season in Thailand. Maybe we can schedule our trip so that we will be in Thailand in February instead of January. This will be a 4-5 week trip so perhaps we would go the last week in January and all of February.

Hi Karen, best time would be from teh 2nd week of January onwards. If you are worried about large crowds, they will be there around New Year. After that it will get less busy, but the weather will still be great. Don't forgrt to visit in Cambodia and in Laos.

Hi, I used to live in Thailand for 2 years. January and February have good weather in Thailand. It's probably the coolest the weather gets, especially in Bangkok. But cool is still around 27 degrees. It's probably also the best time for weather all across Thailand. Because in other months, the weather can vary quite a bit between the north and the south. But overall, January and February will be good. Would recommend Bangkok for at least 3 days, Phuket & Phi Phi, and Chiang Mai. If you have more time, then Ayutthaya and Pattaya for day trips is also nice.

We visited Thailand in January, and Cambodia/Vietnam in February (different trips, different years). Thailand was in 2018, but I don't remember it as humid as Cambodia/Thailand last year. We spent 1 month each time, and could've spent more in each country. I think you need to figure out what's on your "must do" list, and start from there. For us it was culture, temples, architecture and wildlife, with probably more than 1/2 of the time spent in national parks. For others it's beaches. I don't think you have time for all 4 countries + Singapore in a month, but if you limit yourself to 1-2 destinations in each country, you can do it.
We found transportation easy to arrange, very nice hotels relatively cheap (for US standards), people extremely nice, delicious food, we loved it.
We're going to Indonesia next year, and if hoping for award flights, be aware, huge devaluation ... everything is so much more than what we paid last year. But you'll have an amazing trip no matter what.

Wow! Just saw these recent posts to my thread.

Thank you to bangkokexpat for the 2 videos. And thanks to xyz99 and ricardodesousa for your helpful informatin and advice.

That is really going to depend on what is is you are wanting to do and what kind of weather you desire. The cheapest time to go is going to be during the rainy season, but that is also the worst time to go for beach lovers, but my favorite time to go when I want to go relax in the rainforrest and hear the rain hit the roof as I relax and write for a few weeks.

The rainy season in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Singapore varies slightly but generally falls within similar months due to the influence of the Southwest Monsoon. Here’s a breakdown:

Thailand: The rainy season typically runs from May to October, with the heaviest rains occurring in August and September. Coastal regions like Phuket and Krabi may experience showers slightly earlier, starting around April.

Cambodia: The monsoon season is from May to October, with the peak rainfall usually occurring between September and October. The rain often comes in intense but short-lived downpours, mainly in the afternoons.

Laos: Similar to its neighbors, the rainy season in Laos is from May to October, with the heaviest rain typically in July and August. During this time, rivers can swell, making travel by boat in certain areas challenging.

Singapore: Singapore experiences two monsoon seasons, but the wettest period is usually the Northeast Monsoon from November to January. The Southwest Monsoon, from June to September, can also bring frequent showers, though they are generally less intense.

In all these countries, the rainy season means frequent showers, often in the afternoon or evening, but it doesn’t necessarily rain all day.

Karen, if you click on your screen name, you should see a section with all threads you started in the order of the most recent thread. It’s an easy way to keep track of new comments. You may need to get to your screen name using the main menu.

Best time to explore
 

The ideal time to visit Southeast Asia is between November and February when the weather is dry and warm. These months are perfect for sightseeing and outdoor adventures. The region experiences monsoon rains from June to October, so if you prefer dry conditions, it's best to avoid this period.

January can indeed be more crowded due to New Year festivities, particularly around the Lunar New Year, which will be on 29th January in 2025 and on 17th February in 2026. It's a huge holiday, especially in Vietnam, and can result in crowded tourist areas, higher prices, and limited availability for accommodation and transportation. So, if you are going in 2025, you can choose the whole February month and if you are going in 2026, then you can pick mid-January to mid-February. If I have to pick two countries from you list, I will be picking Thailand and Singapore.

Partly WRONG answer ! The most beautiful region of your tour, the north of Vietnam, has a cold weather in January and February/ You need a minimum of 2 weeks to visit superb Vietnam : 1 week north (2 days Hnaoi, 2 days Halong Bay, 4 days northern mountains (Sapa) , 5 days Center (2 days and 3 days very charming Hoi An) and the rest in the South (2 days Saigon + the Mekong Delta Can Tho-Cai Be)

Which "WRONG answer" ?

But speaking of wrong answers, I think you have got mixed with your arithmetic. To get two days anywhere, requires three nights, three days/four nights etc.

Even ignoring that fact, you have
Hanoi 2
Halong 2
Sapa 4
Center 2
Hoi An 3
South (Saigon & the Delta ) 2 - seriously 2 days for all that?

That alone is 15 days. Add on the 6 days you would need to allow those days you have proposed in each location and you have 21 days = 3 weeks. Add on more days because to allow for the fact that it would be impossible to see Saigon and the delta in 2 days and you would need three and a half weeks, not two.

I would say Halong bay is definitely the highlight of Vietnam. If you can, try the 3 day 2 nights cruise instead of 1 night. It gives you more time to really enjoy the environment.

Did you do Bai Tu Long bay for 3 days 2 nights cruise, leow?