Best Time to Visit Vientiane

Cool and dry: November to February

This is the best stretch, and December and January top our comfort score. Days are warm at 27–28°C, and nights dip to about 15°C. Rain is rare. December gets just 1 wet day.

You can walk the Mekong riverfront at sunset without melting. The evening night market there is pleasant, and grilled fish and sticky rice taste better outdoors. Climbing the stairs of Pha That Luang, the golden stupa (a dome-shaped temple monument), is easy in this weather.

November brings the That Luang Festival, a big temple fair with processions and a fireworks show. It usually falls around the full moon. It's the busiest, most colourful week of the year, so rooms near the centre fill up. February is still good but starts to warm up.

Hot season: March and April

Heat builds fast. April is the hottest month at 37°C, and our rating for it is Poor. March is Fair, but the afternoons are already sticky and hazy.

Plan around the middle of the day. Visit Wat Si Saket or the Patuxai monument in the morning, then retreat to a café or a pool. Travelling with kids? This is the hardest time for it.

Mid-April brings Pi Mai, the Lao New Year. People soak each other with water for several days. It's great fun if you don't mind being wet, and many shops shut. If you want quiet temples, skip it.

Rainy season: May to October

Rain comes almost daily. August is the wettest month, with 246 mm on 26 days, and the sun barely shows. Humidity stays above 80% from July to October. Downpours are often heavy but short, and streets can flood.

It isn't all bad. Crowds are thin, rooms are easy to find, and the countryside turns bright green. If you're on a budget, or you like quiet cafés and museums, it can work. Beach-style days and day trips to Vang Vieng or Buddha Park are less fun in the mud.

Boun Suang Heua, the boat racing festival on the Mekong, takes place in October near the end of Buddhist Lent. It's a good reason to visit then, as the rain has started to ease. October is rated Fair.

If you want one simple answer, aim for late November through January.