Laos in March

Our take: fair

The heat builds, 33 °C in the afternoon in Luang Prabang, and rain stays rare. The river nears its lowest levels. In the north, burning-season smoke peaks: some years, the air in Luang Prabang becomes dangerous to breathe.

By Pierre-Marie Coupry · updated October 13, 2026 · sources

The statues of Buddha Park, Xieng Khuan, near Vientiane — Photo by Adrian Fleur on Unsplash

Laos weather in March, city by city

Luang Prabang in March

By day: 33°
At night: 20°
Rain: 35 mm
Rainy days: 6
The Mekong: Low

Climate and Mekong water level in Luang Prabang, month by month
Month	J	F	M (current month)	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Airhigh / low
Rainmm	20	10	35	82	142	179	288	313	195	71	23	20
Daysof rain	3	2	6	12	20	23	26	28	23	12	5	3
Mekonglevel	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Rising	Rising	High	High	Falling	Low	Low

Climate and Mekong water level in Luang Prabang, month by month
Month	mm	River
Jan	20	Low
Feb	10	Low
Mar (current month)	35	Low
Apr	82	Low
May	142	Low
Jun	179	Rising
Jul	288	Rising
Aug	313	High
Sep	195	High
Oct	71	Falling
Nov	23	Low
Dec	20	Low

Vientiane in March

By day: 32°
At night: 22°
Rain: 38 mm
Rainy days: 6
The Mekong: Low

Climate and Mekong water level in Vientiane, month by month
Month	J	F	M (current month)	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Airhigh / low
Rainmm	11	14	38	76	254	312	372	409	310	102	22	8
Daysof rain	2	2	6	12	23	25	27	28	25	12	3	1
Mekonglevel	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Rising	Rising	High	High	High	Falling	Low

Climate and Mekong water level in Vientiane, month by month
Month	mm	River
Jan	11	Low
Feb	14	Low
Mar (current month)	38	Low
Apr	76	Low
May	254	Low
Jun	312	Rising
Jul	372	Rising
Aug	409	High
Sep	310	High
Oct	102	High
Nov	22	Falling
Dec	8	Low

Pakse in March

By day: 34°
At night: 23°
Rain: 25 mm
Rainy days: 5
The Mekong: Low

Climate and Mekong water level in Pakse, month by month
Month	J	F	M (current month)	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Airhigh / low
Rainmm	2	4	25	54	191	315	446	451	343	138	36	6
Daysof rain	1	1	5	11	23	27	29	29	27	17	5	1
Mekonglevel	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Rising	Rising	High	High	High	Falling	Low

Climate and Mekong water level in Pakse, month by month
Month	mm	River
Jan	2	Low
Feb	4	Low
Mar (current month)	25	Low
Apr	54	Low
May	191	Low
Jun	315	Rising
Jul	446	Rising
Aug	451	High
Sep	343	High
Oct	138	High
Nov	36	Falling
Dec	6	Low

Air and rain: Open-Meteo, archive ERA5, 1991-2020 averages (retrieved October 11, 2026). Mekong level: Mekong River Commission, Pakse station, median of 2020-2025, 6.7 m between the lowest and highest months. The current month is outlined.

The Mekong in Laos in March

March and April bring the Mekong's lowest levels in Laos, according to Mekong River Commission records. Dams upstream now keep dry-season flows higher than they used to be, and less predictable.

Planning the slow boat →

The Mekong at Luang Prabang under a hazy sky, boats moored below a wooded bank — Photo by Peter in s on Wikimedia Commons

Laos's March festival: Boun Pha Vet

Full moon of the 4th lunar month in 2027 March 22 Temples across the country Each temple sets its own date during the 4th lunar month, early March to early April 2027: ask at the temple or the local tourism office once you are there.

The festival of Vessantara, the Buddha's next-to-last life: monks recite his story at the temple, over several days of ceremonies and village celebrations.

Ask your hotel which temple is holding Boun Pha Vet during your stay.
Wear covering clothes in temples.

Things to do in Laos in March

Lit stalactites and a walkway over the water in a Khammouane cave — Photo by Shutterstock

Kong Lor cave via the Thakhek Loop

The loop roads before the May rains.

Thakhek

The Mekong split into many channels between forested islands, seen from the air, in southern Laos — Photo by Shutterstock

Don Det and Don Khon by bike

The islands and the Khone Falls in the morning, before it hits 34 °C.

Si Phan Don

Traffic on a wide avenue in Vientiane, a white monument at the end — Photo by Alessio Roversi on Unsplash

Vientiane, away from the worst smoke

In late March 2025, the air quality index there was 199, against 258 in Luang Prabang; sightsee early.

Vientiane

Along the Mekong in Pakse

The river nears its lowest level: follow it on foot or by bike in the morning, before the 34 °C afternoons.

Pakse

Planning for Laos in March

Air quality: In late March 2025, the air quality index hit 258 in Luang Prabang (183 µg/m³ of PM2.5); in late March 2023, tourists cut their stays short. The WHO 24-hour guideline is 15 µg/m³. Check the index and pack an N95 mask.
Heat: 33 °C in the afternoon in Luang Prabang, 34 °C in Pakse: sightsee early, rest in the midday heat.
Public holidays: International Women's Day, March 8, was a public holiday in 2026; the official 2027 calendar is not out yet.

Sources: climate, Open-Meteo (ERA5 archive, 1991-2020 averages); river levels, Mekong River Commission; festivals, Northern Illinois University; 2027 dates, Kapook calendar; public holidays, Vientiane Times (December 2025); air quality, Laotian Times and WHO. Updated October 13, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.