BEST TIME TO VISIT CAMBODIA & VIETNAM
Summers in the south are soggy, yet still warm, whereas Hanoi heats up so head to Halong Bay for a fresher summer escape although not quite as fresh as the chillier central coast![]()
Southern Vietnam ladles Cambodia into the Gulf of Thailand for comfortable conditions during Jan-Feb. Further up the handle, central and northeast Vietnam are wetter and cooler at the start of the New Year, which also coincides with Tet celebrations to test the patience of travellers. Monsoon season in Cambodia falls from Jun-Oct whereas, in southern Vietnam, it starts a little earlier in May and sticks around until Nov, although afternoon showers are brief and actually quite refreshing. Oct-Nov and May-June are the best times to visit Cambodia and Vietnam as you’ll find fewer crowds, less humidity and drier conditions throughout the region.
Vietnam to Cambodia bike tour
An exciting cycle trip through Vietnam and Cambodia.
From
£1760 to £2195
13 days
ex flights
Vietnam and Cambodia activity holiday
Adventure your way through Vietnam and Cambodia
From
US $2650
14 days
ex flights
Cambodia and Vietnam holiday
A magnificent journey of discovery
From
£1660 to £2095
18 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday from Siem Reap to Saigon
Cycle Siem Reap to Saigon and everything in between
From
AU $3850
16 days
ex flights
Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia small group holiday
Fast paced trip through Vietnam and Cambodia
From
£1795 to £2020
15 days
ex flights
Cambodia and Vietnam small group tour
Explore the exotic landscapes food & culture of Indochina
From
£2210 to £2510
13 days
ex flights
Hanoi Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
14
20
22
FEB
15
20
28
MAR
18
23
42
APR
21
27
97
MAY
25
32
181
JUN
26
33
242
JUL
26
33
258
AUG
26
32
297
SEP
22
29
225
OCT
22
29
125
NOV
19
25
57
DEC
15
22
19
Our top trip
Cambodia and Vietnam holiday
A magnificent journey of discovery
From
£1660 to £2095
18 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
1 - 4 departures a week throughout the year
1 - 4 departures a week throughout the year
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Things to do in Cambodia and Vietnam...
Things not to do in Cambodia and Vietnam...
CAMBODIA & VIETNAM TRAVEL ADVICE
Visiting Angkor Wat
Laura Farnell, from our supplier Intrepid Travel, explains what to expect at Angkor Wat:
“Cambodian authorities have issued an official code of conduct for visitors to Angkor Wat and other religious sites regarding dress code. Visitors should not wear skirts or shorts above the knee or tops that reveal bare shoulders; visitors not following the dress code are liable to be refused admission to the sites. Please pack with this in mind.”
“Cambodian authorities have issued an official code of conduct for visitors to Angkor Wat and other religious sites regarding dress code. Visitors should not wear skirts or shorts above the knee or tops that reveal bare shoulders; visitors not following the dress code are liable to be refused admission to the sites. Please pack with this in mind.”
Dave Tucker, Director of our supplier The Beyond Tourism Co, shares his Cambodia travel advice on how best to visit Angkor Wat:
“Ask your operator how they will do sunrise at Angkor Wat differently. Everyone goes for dawn, so sometimes it’s not quite the special, serene experience you’re expecting. For example, we approach through the back gate, or you can go a bit later when the tour groups have left. Everyone wants to see the famous sunrise over the towers of Angkor Wat so there can be a lot of other people trying to do it at the same time.”
Why combine countries?
Lesley Schofield, from our supplier All Points East, shares her Vietnam travel advice:
“Vietnam combines fantastically with other countries. Cambodia is just a short hop up the Mekong, so you can then contrast the two countries, which are really quite different. Vietnam is still a communist country so it’s got quite a different feel to it. It’s a bit like Europe as you only travel a very short distance to be in another country with a totally different feel.”
Background reading
Laura Farnell, Destination Manager at our supplier Intrepid Travel, recommends reading before you go:
“‘First They Killed My Father’ by Loung Ung and ‘A Cambodian Prison Portrait’ by Van Nath are both books that I’d recommend before visiting Cambodia. ‘The Sorrow of War’ by Bao Ninh and ‘Catfish and Mandala’ by Andrew X Pham are also worth reading before visiting Vietnam. The books about Cambodia, especially, aren’t light or particularly pleasant reads, but really bring experiences home, none more so than if you’re visiting Phnom Penh and the Killing Fields.”
Tips from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Cambodia and Vietnam travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
Relax and go with the flow. Cambodians love to chat, they take time out, go to a temple, dress up for the festival...![]()
- Francine Asonibare
“You only need US Dollars – no need to get local currency beforehand.” – Heather Reynolds
“Take tons of pictures but ask permission. Every time I bought something, I asked if I could take the seller’s picture. It made my purchase memorable.” – Virginia da Costa
“Be prepared for the sobering reality of the past history; humbling, emotional but enriching at the same time.” – Heather Johnson
“Have patience; be open-minded and willing to accept things that you do not see at home. Also be prepared to sacrifice a little comfort when not staying in hotels.” – Christopher Jones
“Take tons of pictures but ask permission. Every time I bought something, I asked if I could take the seller’s picture. It made my purchase memorable.” – Virginia da Costa
“Be prepared for the sobering reality of the past history; humbling, emotional but enriching at the same time.” – Heather Johnson
“Have patience; be open-minded and willing to accept things that you do not see at home. Also be prepared to sacrifice a little comfort when not staying in hotels.” – Christopher Jones
We found places where the locals eat which were unbelievably cheap, the food and atmosphere was great and we suffered no ill effects.![]()
- Karen Ritchie
“Do not go to Vietnam during the Tet holidays as so many of the museums and restaurants were closed and the temples were very, very busy.” – Reni McPhail
“Make sure that you do the 3 day cruise (2 nights) on Ha Long Bay. This takes you to the much quieter parts of the bay and you have time for kayaking.” – Dave Hilditch
“Take cleaning wipes, a sheet sleeping bag, black out mask and earplugs for the overnight train between Hanoi and Hue. Not essential but does aid sleep!” – Hilary Sibley
“Make sure that you do the 3 day cruise (2 nights) on Ha Long Bay. This takes you to the much quieter parts of the bay and you have time for kayaking.” – Dave Hilditch
“Take cleaning wipes, a sheet sleeping bag, black out mask and earplugs for the overnight train between Hanoi and Hue. Not essential but does aid sleep!” – Hilary Sibley
More Cambodia & Vietnam articles
Find out why crossing the border between these two classic destinations really works as you peel back the pages of our travel guide.
