The best time to visit Cambodia and Vietnam is now. This post will provide you with information about an ideal Cambodia Itinerary and discuss the best time to visit. You must visit Cambodia. It is a country with a rich history, friendly people and
Contents
- 1 Top 5 Reasons to Find the Best Time to Visit Cambodia and Vietnam
- 2 Best Time to Visit Cambodia
- 3 Cambodia Itinerary: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
- 4 Best Time to Visit Cambodia – Phnom Penh
- 5 Khmer Rouge
- 6 Cambodia Itinerary: Killing Fields Survivors
- 7 Best time to Visit Cambodia – Siem Reap
- 8 Cambodia Itinerary: Visit the Angkor Temples in Siem Reap
- 9 Conclusion: Best Time to Visit Cambodia and Vietnam
Top 5 Reasons to Find the Best Time to Visit Cambodia and Vietnam
- Cambodia is a beautiful country and is easily accessible from Vietnam
- Angkor Wat and Other Temples in Siem Reap
- Pub Street in Siem Reap
- History of Khmer Rouge and the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh
- Tomb Raider and Angelina Jolie’s commitment to and love of Cambodia
This post will focus on a Cambodia itinerary. If you are more interested in a Vietnam Itinerary, please see our post on Vietnam. To learn about Cambodia’s historic role in Southeast Asia and its relationship with Vietnam, Thailand, and its other neighbors, please visit our post on Southeast Asia.
Best Time to Visit Cambodia
Cambodia and Vietnam both have distinct seasons. The most popular time and best time to visit Cambodia is during the dry season which tends to be between November and April. Cambodia stays warm year-round. However, there are more comfortable temperatures in the winter months which is a perfect time to visit Cambodia.
The average temperature ranges from 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F) depending on the season and region. Cambodia’s monsoon season typically runs from May to October, driven by the southwest monsoon. During the rainy season there are fewer tourists. Here’s how it breaks down:
☀️ Dry Season (November–April)
- Coolest months: December to February
- Typical range: 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F)
- Best for travel: Low humidity, clear blue skies, and minimal rainfall
🌧️ Rainy Season (May–October)
- Worst time to visit are the warmest months: April and May are the hottest months
- Typical range: 27°C to 32°C (81°F to 90°F)
- Humidity: High, especially from June to September
Most Popular Times to Visit Cambodia
🌤️ The most popular time to visit Cambodia is during the dry season, especially from November to February. This period offers:
- Cooler temperatures, dry weather, lower humidity, and best conditions
- Clear skies ideal for exploring temples like Angkor Wat
- Major festivals like Khmer New Year (April) and Cambodian Water Festival (November)
However, it’s also when crowds peak, particularly around Christmas, New Year, and Chinese New Year.
🧘♂️ If you’re looking for fewer crowds, consider the lush greenery (May to October), especially:
- September and October: Rainiest months, but also the least busy
- June to August: Still quieter than peak season, with lush landscapes and discounted rates, but intense heat.
Despite the rain, it usually falls in short bursts, often in the late afternoon, leaving early morning clear for sightseeing. With fewer tourists this can be a good time to visit. Plus, Angkor Wat and other temples look stunning with moss-covered stones and full moats.
Cambodia Itinerary: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
Cambodia is in Southeast Asia. It is a country that has a rich cultural heritage and a tragic past. Its capital city is Phnom Penh. But Cambodia is better known for its ancient temples, which are located in Siem Reap. However, the country is also known for the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. Significantly, the killing fields in Phnom Penh serve as a reminder of the horrors that occurred. The best Cambodia Itinerary will have you visit both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
You can visit Phnom Penh by flying from Vietnam, or traveling up the Mekong River from Vietnam. We recommend staying in Phnom Penh for at least three nights.
You will likely want to fly to Siem Reap or drive from Phnom Penh. The roads have improved in recent years, so travel by land is no longer painful. We has a tour guide and a driver which helped greatly as tour the country on your own can be a challenge. We also recommend at least three nights in Siem reap to have enough time to explore the magnificent history of the temples, as well as enjoying the active nightlife.
Best Time to Visit Cambodia – Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, the largest city in Cambodia, is a bustling metropolis that is both chaotic and charming. The city is home to some of the country’s most important historical sites, including the Royal Palace and the National Museum of Cambodia. It is also a hub for nightlife and shopping, with numerous markets and shopping centers scattered throughout the city. The best time of the year to visit is when it there are cooler temperatures in the green season, normally November to February. We visited in late April which was already very hot, but not rainy.
Visit Cambodia’s National Museum
The National Museum in Cambodia contains some excellent sculptures, saved from the temples.
Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace
During Cos and Robin’s visit to Phnom Penh they stayed in the Palace Gate Hotel. Conveniently, is is directly across from the Royal Palace. Here are some great pictures of the hotel and of the Royal Palace. Best described as lush, it was a perfectly comfortable and yet posh hotel. We enjoyed not only the pool (a relief from the oppressive heat) but also the rooftop bar where we ate our dinners.
Khmer Rouge
Despite its rich cultural heritage, Cambodia’s recent history is marred by the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. Between 1975 and 1979, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, carried out a brutal campaign of genocide that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians. The regime’s policies of forced labor, starvation, and execution led to the establishment of “killing fields” throughout the country, where victims were executed and buried in mass graves. What was particularly eerie was that we saw virtually no-one of our age, as this genocide wiped out an entire generation. For more information on the impact of the Khmer Rouge, please see our Post The Impact of Wars.
Cambodia Itinerary: The Killing Fields
We visited one of the Killing Fields while in Phnom Penh. Anyone who was considered educated was thought to be a traitor to the Chinese backed Khmer Rouge. They were taken to a prison, brutally tortured, and killed. We visited the prison which was a converted school, and the nearby killing field where bones of the dead were all over the grounds. This was a heartbreaking and chilling experience, one that we had not totally comprehended until coming here. It was not unlike the horror of the Nazi regime.
Cambodia Itinerary: Killing Fields Survivors
While visiting the Killing Fields Memorial Museum we met two of the survivors. They were saved because they had skills (brick laying, etc.) that were useful to their captives. Unfortunately, they receive no government assistance and live entirely on the proceeds of their books. We bought a book from each of them for a small donation.
Today, Cambodia is still grappling with the legacy of the Khmer Rouge regime. The killing fields have become a popular tourist attraction, serving as a stark reminder of the horrors that occurred. The country has also established a tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the atrocities, although progress has been slow and many perpetrators have yet to face justice. Again, it is noteworthy that you see very few people from our generation…an entire slice of the population was eliminated. You can buy their books on Amazon.
Best time to Visit Cambodia – Siem Reap
Siem Reap is a small but growing city located in the northwest of Cambodia, known primarily for its ancient temples and ruins. The most famous of these is the Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest religious monuments in the world. Other notable temples in the area include the Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm, both of which have been featured in popular movies and television shows.
Cambodia Night Life – Siem Reap
You probably don’t think of Cambodia Night Life as a reason to visit. However, what most people don’t know about Siem Reap is that it has an exciting night life. Pub Street is a lively place made famous by Angelina Jolie. She hung out at the Red Piano when she was here filming Tomb Raider. If the Red Piano is not your top choice, you can also get a foot pedicure by having the fish nibble on your toes. As the night goes on, there is live music and dancing in the street.
Cambodia Itinerary: Visit the Angkor Temples in Siem Reap
Cambodia’s temples are absolutely amazing, breathtaking. What is even more impressive is that many of them were buried in the jungle for many years before being discovered by French archeologists walking through the wooded areas. Angkor Wat is so big that it is hard to imagine it was hidden for so many years.
Angkor Wat Photos, Cambodia’s Most Famous Landmark
Following is one of our best remote Ankor Wat Photos. The other Ankor Wat Photos are from inside Ankor Wat and from other Siem Reap Temples.
However, the country is also home to many other temples all of which are stunning examples of Khmer architecture. Many of the temples were first built as Hindu temples. Therefore, you see a mix of Hindu and Buddhist Gods in the temples.
Ta Prohm or “Tomb Raider” Temple Visits
The Ta Prohm Temple, is better known as the “Tomb Raider” Temple, because it served as the background for Angelina Jolie’s “Tomb Raider” movie. This temple is unique as the trees have literally grown inside it and seem to be taking over these old structures.
A couple of years after making this movie, Angelina adopted her son, Maddox, in an orphanage. She became drawn in by the country, eventually being honored with citizenship for her kindness and love for Cambodia as expressed through her actions.
Angelina has recently produced a new movie, entirely in the Khmer language, called “First they Killed My Father” about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime. Her son Maddox assisted her; all the actors and much of the crew were Cambodians. The movie is available on Netflix. Angelina has done much to promote Cambodia as the warm and friendly country we found.
Conclusion: Best Time to Visit Cambodia and Vietnam
In conclusion, Cambodia is a country with a rich cultural heritage and a tragic past. A trip to Southeast Asia must include a visit to Cambodia. It is best to combine it with a visit to Vietnam. The dry season and the cool season of November to February is probably the best time of year to visit, but it is also the time with peak season crowds. While you may still encounter warm weather, late September and March may be the ideal time to visit Cambodia and Vietnam.
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