When to go · Laos
Laos in September
Avoid month. Floods along the Mekong in some years; Kuang Si pools brown and fast.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Crowds
- Low
- Laos
- Prices
- Low
- Laos
Verdict
Floods along the Mekong in some years; Kuang Si pools brown and fast.
Is another month better than September?
September is rated avoid. These months rate higher:
- NovemberGreatDry and green; That Luang festival in Vientiane (lunar, check).
- DecemberGreatCool and clear; book Luang Prabang beds and train seats early.
- JanuaryGreatDry, clear, cool mornings in the north; peak season in Luang Prabang.
- FebruaryGreatStill dry; the burning season can start late in the month — check air quality.
Weather in September
- North · Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, Luang Namtha, Phonsavanrainy
Cool, misty mornings Dec–Jan (near 10 °C (50 °F) at altitude); the burning season (Feb–Apr) brings thick smoke; rains wash roads May–Oct.Cool, misty mornings Dec–Jan (near 50 °F (10 °C) at altitude); the burning season (Feb–Apr) brings thick smoke; rains wash roads May–Oct.
- Centre · Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Thakhekrainy
Dry and pleasant Nov–Feb; April tops 37 °C (99 °F); the Thakhek Loop is hard in the rains.Dry and pleasant Nov–Feb; April tops 99 °F (37 °C); the Thakhek Loop is hard in the rains.
- South · Pakse, Bolaven Plateau, 4,000 Islandsrainy
Hottest region in April; the Bolaven Plateau is cooler and wettest; river islands flood partly at high water.
- Central Laos: Vientiane / Vang Vieng · Mekong plain and karst valleyrainy
Nov–Feb is dry and cool; March–May hits 35 °C (95 °F)+; the wet months bring afternoon downpours and slick karst trails.Nov–Feb is dry and cool; March–May hits 95 °F (35 °C)+; the wet months bring afternoon downpours and slick karst trails.
- Central Laos: Phonsavan / Sam Neua · Xieng Khouang and Huaphan highlandsrainy
Higher and colder than the lowlands; nights drop sharply Nov–Feb and morning fog slows mountain roads.
- Southern Laos: Mekong plain (Pakse, Savannakhet) · River valleysrainy
Dry season Nov–Feb is the comfortable window; March–May pushes past 35 °C (95 °F); the wet season runs roughly May–Oct with afternoon downpours.Dry season Nov–Feb is the comfortable window; March–May pushes past 95 °F (35 °C); the wet season runs roughly May–Oct with afternoon downpours.
- Southern Laos: Bolaven Plateau · Above 1,000 mrainy
Mild year-round; cold nights Nov–Feb. Best visited in the dry season.
- Luang Prabang31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
- Ban Nahin33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Ban Nakasang31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 18 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 18 rain days
- Bolaven Plateau32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 9 rain days
- Boten32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
- Champasak33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 13 rain days
- Don Det33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Don Khon31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Don Khong30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 20 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 20 rain days
- Huay Xai31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
- Luang Namtha30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 15 rain days
- Muang Khua31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
- Muang Long31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 16 rain days
- Muang Ngeun31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
- Muang Ngoi Neua33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
- Muang Sing28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 12 rain days
- Muang Xay30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 18 rain days
- Nong Khiaw31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
- Pak Lay31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
- Pakbeng31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 9 rain days
- Paksan31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 14 rain days
- Paksong31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 9 rain days
- Phongsali27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 16 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 16 rain days
- Phonsavan27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 17 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 17 rain days
- Plain of Jars31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 6 rain days
- Sam Neua27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 14 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 14 rain days
- Savannakhet31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 17 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 17 rain days
- Sayabouly32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Thakhek31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 17 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 17 rain days
- Vang Vieng31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 508 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 508 rain days
- Vieng Xai31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 13 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 13 rain days
- Xieng Kok31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Laos
- Low
- Prices · Laos
- Low
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Laos, side by side.
Verdict
Sep: Avoid
Jan: Great (better)
Crowds
Sep: Low
Jan: High
Prices
Sep: Low
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Sep: 0
Jan: 2
September: Floods along the Mekong in some years; Kuang Si pools brown and fast.
January: Dry, clear, cool mornings in the north; peak season in Luang Prabang.
Laos: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast