Vientiane   Average temperature     Average rainfall   Hot and Dry Season February - April 20 - 32oC 51mm Monsoon Season May - September 24 - 31oC 244mm Cool and Dry Season November - February 17 - 29oC 26mm

Laos has three distinct seasons:

Hot and Dry Season - runs from the middle of February to the middle of April. Humidity levels start to climb and rainfall steadily increases during April.

Monsoon Season - rain falls in short heavy showers, mainly during the night with thunderstorms and higher than average rainfall in the south. As infrastructure in Laos mainly comprises dirt tracks, travel may become very difficult as roads turn into mud baths. The positive benefit of these rains is that longer stretches of the Mekong River become navigable in high water.

Best time to visit: From November through to early February during the Cool and Dry Season when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is low.

Throughout the year temperatures drop quite dramatically in mountain areas such as the Bolovens Plateau and Xieng Khuong Province - take adequate cold weather clothes when visiting these areas.

Light clothes are essential all year round, although warmer layers are advisable during the Cool and Dry Season.

Carry a lightweight jumper as it can be chillingly cold inside air-conditioned buildings.