Brief overview:
From: Vancouver, Canada
Age: 25 (female)

I will be going to the Philippine’s in May with a friend who is from there, and want to travel to either Thailand or Vietnam while I am in the general area. It would be best to go after the Philippine’s which would be late May early June, but it looks like this gets into the rainy/storm season. Has anyone ever been to either location during this time of year and have any thoughts? As well, do you think its a MUST to go to either in April/May and not past the end of May?

Thanks!

i have been to both, but i can best speak to thailand....days are warm and humid with a shower often in the late afternoon for an hour or so, but not every day...

i find it a wonderful time to visit....hotels are cheaper and the weather is decent...

the real stormy season is in september

Go to the place that interests you most. The weather will be similar in both places. You can check individual cities at www.weatherbase.com

April is the hottest month in Thailand.

I've been to Thailand and Vietnam --twice --in the last week of May & first week of June. It was hot & humid. The rain would mostly just pour down in the late afternoon and then the evenings would be nice. It was not usually constant rain all day. We carried super lightweight rain ponchos with us and would put them on when the storms started, then throw them away when it stopped. They're sold everywhere in Asia for about 25c.

IMO, the good part about going in late May is that all the fruits (mangosteen, pomelo, rambutan, mango, durian, lychee) are in season and cheap. Hotel prices are lower. However, given the choice, I'd go earlier just to avoid the heat.

I've been to both in June/July and had no problems. If its going to rain, it usually rains heavily for a hour or so and then clears up. I'd go after the Philippines. My daughter lives in Cambodia and hates April. (The worst month of the year in her opinion!)

June/July are more stormy than September in South VN.

You can't control the weather, so why let it influence your trip? Just enjoy!