SE Asia over Christmas or during monsoon season?
 

Hi there,

My husband and I are looking to plan a trip to SE asia (specifically Thailand and Cambodia, possibly Vietnam) sometime in the next couple of years. We are debating over going over Christmas or over the summer. I am a teacher, so those are really the only options.

Do we go during their monsoon season when prices will be cheaper and there will be less crowds but possibly lots of rain or go over my Christmas break when prices are high, it is busy but weather is better?

Thanks!

Tough choice.

To further complicate things I will just mention that Indonesia's monsoon is opposite that of the countries you mentioned: the dry season is roughly April-October. So depending on your interest and what you hope to do/see then you could consider Bali and central Java.

Good luck.

We are really wanting to do Thailand and Cambodia. Not really willing to compromise on that.

Obviously rainy afternoons are fine with us. I just would hate to spend all the time/money getting out there and not being able to experience anything due to monsoons.

Christmas time.

Yes, then I'd also vote for Christmas time.

I've been to Thailand several times in December/January and once in July.

Christmas wins hands down. Relatively nice temps (usually still hot, but was there once for record cold in the north and it was cold--no insulation and lots of open buildings), not really too expensive or crowded, and everyone wanted to wish us Merry Christmas.

July was extreme heat and humidity with occasional rain that would fill the streets. No way to stay dry with coat or umbrella or boots.

Great- thanks for the advice!

definition of "monsoon"
"a seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest between May and September and bringing rain (the wet monsoon ), or from the northeast between October and April (the dry monsoon ).
the rainy season accompanying the wet monsoon."

your worries seem actually to be about wet or cool dry season in Thailand.

I'd recommend the "cool dry" (Nov to Feb) as that is the one that the brochures all publicise. the other 2 seasons are "hot" (approx March to June) and "Wet" (approx July to Oct)

This interactive map is really good for getting an idea of rainfall around Thailand in the various seasons - it is by no means a uniform picture.

https://www.travelfish.org/weather_fish.php.

If you live in a temperate climate, I'd say that you might find the Hot season somewhat overpowering - it takes a few seasons to get used to.