Mekong Delta & Angkor Wat--how bad is the heat & humidity in early January
 

We're still trying to decide on some major details (like where to go and when or if). Having heard that the best way to see the real Mekong Delta is slowly and further away from Saigon, we are about ready to sign on for a 5 day bike trip in the delta area of Vietnam close to Cambodia. We've done European bike trips of this length and longer, but I am wondering about how steamy the weather will truly be. Will we be kicking ourselves by 10:00 each morning wondering what in the world we were thinking of deciding to bike? Or, isn't the heat that bad. There is a sag wagon, but if I wanted to drive, I'd go that route instead of paying more for a bike trip.

We're also considering Angkor Wat and I've read that the heat there is so incredible that people retreat to their air conditioned rooms or hotel pools for the middle of the day. Is it really that hot there?

We're coming from Minneapolis where it will be the dead of winter. But, we also can have those really sticky summer days, which I'll admit I'm not too fond of and which make me not particularly energetic. We have never visited Asia before so have nothing to compare it to. Thanks.

Don't know about early January, but early December, yes, it really is hot and humid. I live in N.C., so I have plenty of experience of hot and humid, and the Mekong and Angkor are bad. Definitely the right kind of place for a siesta. And cotton clothes. And AC.

Hello again. As I just mentioned in your other post it is hot around Angkor Wat. And humid. I was there at the beginning of January and the heat was fairly oppressive. Like D.C. in late July, and not as bad as St. Louis. Would be an extreme change from a Mpls January.

I don't think that is the best time for Sapa which, I think, is cold and drizzly in which case maybe Angkor Wat would be better. Rainfall is low in Mekong at that time of year, I believe.

I was there in January and it was just right, the best time for the temples. Definitely not humid or too hot. The hottest months are from April onwards.

Hi Julies, yes the heat is really that bad!!! You cannot spend a whole day visiting the Angkor complex without a break. But its no problem, just return to your hotel for a couple of hours break a quick swim some lunch a shower and off you go again.Make sure you have a guide and he will probably tell you that you must do this. Check out our website at www.leightravelclub.com
and look at the Angkor Wat page and the Cambodia page.
You can do a day trip to The Mighty Tonle Sap Lake from Siem Reap if you want to see the real Mekong Delta.
YOU REALLY MUST VISIT ANGKOR WAT

The hottest months are March, April and May. After that, the monsoon kicks in and helps to temper the heat, but also raise the humidity. December and January are generally the two best months. No rain and the humidity is lower (50-60%). But it will still be hot. I'd suggest early morning visits and late afternoon visits at Angkor. But if you have a driver with an a/c car, this is a good way to recharge between driving to the temples.

So, can anyone comment on the heat level in the Mekong Delta at that time of year? Looks like daytime high temps are in the upper 80s. We really want to do this cycling trip because we've heard slow travel is the best way to see the delta area, but I'm a little concerned about the heat. Mpls. has very hot spells in the summer when it gets into the 90s & I typically retreat into the air-conditioning then. Otherwise we're vary active walking & biking. That's why i'm trying to decide if this is over the top heat or just heat.

I haven't ridden a bike in the Delta, but I will tell you it's essentially as hot as your hot days in MSP. It's the best time of year in terms of temps, but it's still quite hot. If you ride your bike in the summer in MSP, you should be OK.