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When to go to the Mekong

November to February for the weather, all along the river. August to October for a high Mekong, a navigable Tonle Sap and the Khone Falls in flood. March and April are the months to avoid: heat and smoke in the north, low water everywhere.

By Pierre-Marie Coupry · updated · sources

A pagoda in Kampong Khleang, Cambodia, surrounded by the Tonle Sap floodwaters

Photo by K on Pexels

The best time to visit the Mekong, stop by stop

Our take month by month, based on the weather and the river level. The south has a shorter dry season: the delta still gets rain in November.

Our take by stop and by month: ideal, good, fair or difficult
J (current month) F (current month) M (current month) A (current month) M (current month) J (current month) J (current month) A (current month) S (current month) O (current month) N (current month) D (current month)
Luang PrabangLaos Ideal Ideal Fair Fair Fair Fair Difficult Difficult Fair Good Ideal Ideal
VientianeLaos Ideal Ideal Fair Fair Fair Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Good Ideal Ideal
Pakse, 4000 IslandsSouthern Laos Ideal Ideal Fair Fair Fair Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Good Ideal Ideal
KratieCambodia Ideal Good Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Difficult Fair Good Ideal
Phnom PenhCambodia Ideal Good Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Good Ideal
Can ThoDelta Ideal Ideal Good Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Difficult Fair Good
Our take by stop and by month: ideal, good, fair or difficult
Month LPVtePakKraPPCT
Jan (current month) Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal
Feb (current month) Ideal Ideal Ideal Good Good Ideal
Mar (current month) Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Good
Apr (current month) Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair
May (current month) Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair
Jun (current month) Fair Difficult Difficult Fair Fair Fair
Jul (current month) Difficult Difficult Difficult Fair Fair Fair
Aug (current month) Difficult Difficult Difficult Fair Fair Fair
Sep (current month) Fair Difficult Difficult Difficult Fair Fair
Oct (current month) Good Good Good Fair Fair Difficult
Nov (current month) Ideal Ideal Ideal Good Good Fair
Dec (current month) Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Good

Stops : LP Luang Prabang · Vte Vientiane · Pak Pakse, 4000 Islands · Kra Kratie · PP Phnom Penh · CT Can Tho

  • Ideal
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Difficult

Mekong weather, stop by stop

Temperatures, rain and river level, month by month. Pick a stop.

Climate and Mekong water level in Luang Prabang, month by month
Month J (current month) F (current month) M (current month) A (current month) M (current month) J (current month) J (current month) A (current month) S (current month) O (current month) N (current month) D (current month)
Airhigh / low
Rainmm
20
10
35
82
142
179
288
313
195
71
23
20
Daysof rain 3261220232628231253
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 Low – high mm River
Jan (current month) 20 Low
Feb (current month) 10 Low
Mar (current month) 35 Low
Apr (current month) 82 Low
May (current month) 142 Low
Jun (current month) 179 Rising
Jul (current month) 288 Rising
Aug (current month) 313 High
Sep (current month) 195 High
Oct (current month) 71 Falling
Nov (current month) 23 Low
Dec (current month) 20 Low
Climate and Mekong water level in Vientiane, month by month
Month J (current month) F (current month) M (current month) A (current month) M (current month) J (current month) J (current month) A (current month) S (current month) O (current month) N (current month) D (current month)
Airhigh / low
Rainmm
11
14
38
76
254
312
372
409
310
102
22
8
Daysof rain 2261223252728251231
Mekonglevel Low Low Low Low Low Rising Rising High High High Falling Low
Climate and Mekong water level in Vientiane, month by month
Month Low – high mm River
Jan (current month) 11 Low
Feb (current month) 14 Low
Mar (current month) 38 Low
Apr (current month) 76 Low
May (current month) 254 Low
Jun (current month) 312 Rising
Jul (current month) 372 Rising
Aug (current month) 409 High
Sep (current month) 310 High
Oct (current month) 102 High
Nov (current month) 22 Falling
Dec (current month) 8 Low
Climate and Mekong water level in Pakse, month by month
Month J (current month) F (current month) M (current month) A (current month) M (current month) J (current month) J (current month) A (current month) S (current month) O (current month) N (current month) D (current month)
Airhigh / low
Rainmm
2
4
25
54
191
315
446
451
343
138
36
6
Daysof rain 1151123272929271751
Mekonglevel Low Low Low Low Low Rising Rising High High High Falling Low
Climate and Mekong water level in Pakse, month by month
Month Low – high mm River
Jan (current month) 2 Low
Feb (current month) 4 Low
Mar (current month) 25 Low
Apr (current month) 54 Low
May (current month) 191 Low
Jun (current month) 315 Rising
Jul (current month) 446 Rising
Aug (current month) 451 High
Sep (current month) 343 High
Oct (current month) 138 High
Nov (current month) 36 Falling
Dec (current month) 6 Low
Climate and Mekong water level in Kratie, month by month
Month J (current month) F (current month) M (current month) A (current month) M (current month) J (current month) J (current month) A (current month) S (current month) O (current month) N (current month) D (current month)
Airhigh / low
Rainmm
7
9
46
96
177
198
237
247
286
195
71
20
Daysof rain 1161323242727282183
Mekonglevel Low Low Low Low Low Low Rising High High High Falling Low
Climate and Mekong water level in Kratie, month by month
Month Low – high mm River
Jan (current month) 7 Low
Feb (current month) 9 Low
Mar (current month) 46 Low
Apr (current month) 96 Low
May (current month) 177 Low
Jun (current month) 198 Low
Jul (current month) 237 Rising
Aug (current month) 247 High
Sep (current month) 286 High
Oct (current month) 195 High
Nov (current month) 71 Falling
Dec (current month) 20 Low
Climate and Mekong water level in Phnom Penh, month by month
Month J (current month) F (current month) M (current month) A (current month) M (current month) J (current month) J (current month) A (current month) S (current month) O (current month) N (current month) D (current month)
Airhigh / low
Rainmm
15
8
38
88
154
156
156
180
247
248
77
27
Daysof rain 32615232425262725115
Mekonglevel Low Low Low Low Low Low Rising High High High High Falling
Climate and Mekong water level in Phnom Penh, month by month
Month Low – high mm River
Jan (current month) 15 Low
Feb (current month) 8 Low
Mar (current month) 38 Low
Apr (current month) 88 Low
May (current month) 154 Low
Jun (current month) 156 Low
Jul (current month) 156 Rising
Aug (current month) 180 High
Sep (current month) 247 High
Oct (current month) 248 High
Nov (current month) 77 High
Dec (current month) 27 Falling
Climate and Mekong water level in Can Tho, month by month
Month J (current month) F (current month) M (current month) A (current month) M (current month) J (current month) J (current month) A (current month) S (current month) O (current month) N (current month) D (current month)
Airhigh / low
Rainmm
26
10
36
80
196
232
244
243
269
293
152
78
Daysof rain 425122527282828271910
Mekonglevel Falling Falling Falling Low Low Low Low Rising High High High High
Climate and Mekong water level in Can Tho, month by month
Month Low – high mm River
Jan (current month) 26 Falling
Feb (current month) 10 Falling
Mar (current month) 36 Falling
Apr (current month) 80 Low
May (current month) 196 Low
Jun (current month) 232 Low
Jul (current month) 244 Low
Aug (current month) 243 Rising
Sep (current month) 269 High
Oct (current month) 293 High
Nov (current month) 152 High
Dec (current month) 78 High
Air and rain: Open-Meteo, archive ERA5, 1991-2020 averages (retrieved October 11, 2026). Mekong level: Mekong River Commission, Can Tho station, median of 2020-2025, 0.9 m between the lowest and highest months. The current month is outlined.

The Mekong water level, from low water to flood

The river rises with the monsoon from June and peaks in September. The water level decides what you can do, far more than the day's weather.

Level at Kratierelative level over the year

The Mekong water level, from low water to flood
J (current month) F (current month) M (current month) A (current month) M (current month) J (current month) J (current month) A (current month) S (current month) O (current month) N (current month) D (current month)
Fast, comfortable slow boatHuay Xai – Luang Prabang possible possible possible possible possible yes yes yes yes yes yes possible
Tonle Sap navigable to Siem ReapCambodia cruises yes possible possible no no no no yes yes yes yes yes
Irrawaddy dolphins easy to spotKratie yes yes yes yes yes no no no no no no yes
Khone Falls at their peak4000 Islands no no no no no possible yes yes yes yes possible no

Fast, comfortable slow boatHuay Xai – Luang Prabang

  1. January (current month) : possible
  2. February (current month) : possible
  3. March (current month) : possible
  4. April (current month) : possible
  5. May (current month) : possible
  6. June (current month) : yes
  7. July (current month) : yes
  8. August (current month) : yes
  9. September (current month) : yes
  10. October (current month) : yes
  11. November (current month) : yes
  12. December (current month) : possible

Tonle Sap navigable to Siem ReapCambodia cruises

  1. January (current month) : yes
  2. February (current month) : possible
  3. March (current month) : possible
  4. April (current month) : no
  5. May (current month) : no
  6. June (current month) : no
  7. July (current month) : no
  8. August (current month) : yes
  9. September (current month) : yes
  10. October (current month) : yes
  11. November (current month) : yes
  12. December (current month) : yes

Irrawaddy dolphins easy to spotKratie

  1. January (current month) : yes
  2. February (current month) : yes
  3. March (current month) : yes
  4. April (current month) : yes
  5. May (current month) : yes
  6. June (current month) : no
  7. July (current month) : no
  8. August (current month) : no
  9. September (current month) : no
  10. October (current month) : no
  11. November (current month) : no
  12. December (current month) : yes

Khone Falls at their peak4000 Islands

  1. January (current month) : no
  2. February (current month) : no
  3. March (current month) : no
  4. April (current month) : no
  5. May (current month) : no
  6. June (current month) : possible
  7. July (current month) : yes
  8. August (current month) : yes
  9. September (current month) : yes
  10. October (current month) : yes
  11. November (current month) : possible
  12. December (current month) : no
  • Good time
  • Possible, with limits
  • Not recommended

Curve: Mekong River Commission, Kratie station, median of 2020-2025. Activity periods: based on the operators and guides cited in the sources.

Mekong festivals

They follow the lunar calendar, so dates change every year. Hotels fill up, and so does transportation.

  • TetVietnam, delta February February 6, 2027
  • Pi Mai, Chol Chnam ThmeyLaos, Cambodia April April 14-16
  • Boun Bang FaiLaos, Isaan May mid-May, before the rains
  • Pchum BenCambodia October Oct. 10-12, 2026
  • Boun Ok Phansa, naga fireballsLaos, Nong Khai October Oct. 26-27, 2026
  • Bon Om ToukCambodia November Nov. 23-25, 2026

2026 dates: official public holidays (Cambodia, Laos). Bon Om Touk: holidays kept, Phnom Penh festivities canceled in 2026. Boun Ok Phansa: October 26, 2026, three months after Khao Phansa (July 29, KPL). Tet 2027: February 6.

The Mekong month by month

The Mekong in January

Ideal

This month

Dry and cool in the north, misty mornings on the river.

River: Low water: the slow boat takes a little longer.

In January, by country: Laos

The Mekong in February

Ideal

This month

Tet fills the delta and Vietnamese transportation.

River: The river keeps dropping; sandy beaches appear.

In February, by country: Laos

The Mekong in March

Fair

This month

Rising heat, smoke from crop burning in the north.

River: Low water: the Tonle Sap is hard to reach by boat.

In March, by country: Laos

The Mekong in April

Fair

This month

The hottest month; Pi Mai and Chol Chnam Thmey in mid-April.

River: Lowest level of the year.

In April, by country: Laos

The Mekong in May

Fair

This month

First rains, and Boun Bang Fai to call them in.

River: The river starts to rise.

In May, by country: Laos

The Mekong in June

Fair

This month

Afternoon showers, very green countryside.

River: The flood begins; the Tonle Sap reverses.

In June, by country: Laos

The Mekong in July

Difficult

This month

The monsoon has set in, few travelers.

River: The river rises fast; the slow boat is quicker.

In July, by country: Laos

The Mekong in August

Difficult

This month

The wettest month in Laos.

River: Flood: the Khone Falls are spectacular.

In August, by country: Laos

The Mekong in September

Fair

This month

End of the monsoon in the north; Pchum Ben in some years.

River: Peak flood; Tonle Sap cruises at their highest.

In September, by country: Laos

The Mekong in October

Good

This month

The rains stop in the north; Boun Ok Phansa and, in 2026, Pchum Ben.

River: High and falling: the best compromise.

In October, by country: Laos

The Mekong in November

Ideal

This month

Dry skies in Laos, Bon Om Touk in Cambodia.

River: Falling, still navigable everywhere.

In November, by country: Laos

The Mekong in December

Ideal

This month

High season, cool nights in the north.

River: Falling water, dolphins easier to spot in Kratie.

In December, by country: Laos

When to go, region by region

Month-by-month detail for Laos and for the Mekong Delta, with their own festivals and seasons.

Best time to visit the Mekong FAQ

What is the best month for a Mekong cruise?
In Cambodia, August to January, when the Tonle Sap lets boats reach Siem Reap. In the delta, year-round, with less rain from December to April.
Can you travel the Mekong in the rainy season?
Yes: trains, buses and the slow boat run all year, and the river is high. Rain falls mostly from May to October; some rural roads get difficult, and floods sometimes reach towns, as in Vientiane in September 2024.
When can you see Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie?
In the dry season, December to May: low water gathers the dolphins in the Kampi pools north of Kratie. Boat trips last an hour from November to May and an hour and a half the rest of the year.
Does the slow boat run year-round?
Yes, every day. The departure time can vary with the water level; since December 2024 the boat has left Huay Xai at 9 am.

Sources: climate, Open-Meteo (ERA5 archive, 1991-2020 averages); river level, Mekong River Commission data portal (median of 2020-2025, each stop's station); Kratie dolphins, Cambodianess and Visit to Cambodia (2025); slow boat, Wikivoyage and Gibbon Experience (2026); Vientiane flood, Lao press (September 2024); festivals, official public holidays in Cambodia and Laos, 2026. Updated October 12, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.