Frequently asked questions

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. Myanmar is covered with care: current UK travel advice warns against all but essential travel to large parts of it, including the region around Bagan.

Each date is marked as official, announced or calculated. Government holidays such as Khmer New Year come from the published decree; lunar festivals that no authority publishes in advance are calculated and labelled as such.

No. Tourist Bucket does not sell or arrange anything, and it does not recommend companies.

Pages are reviewed when a new holiday decree or festival announcement appears. Each section shows the date it was last checked; this edition was checked on 26 October 2026.

Songkran is set at 13 to 15 April. Laos and Cambodia publish their 2027 holiday lists in advance; in 2026 both were 14 to 16 April. Check the official announcement before booking.

Usually from late April to early May, in the evening. The park has run evening tours from 19:00 to 22:00.

It is the hottest month, with average maxima around 36 °C. It is workable at sunrise and late afternoon.

Central Vietnam, including Hoi An and Hue, is in its dry season until August.

From 23 to 25 November 2026, under Sub-Decree No. 167. The 2027 dates have not been published yet.

From October to December, with October and November the most vivid. In 2026 the festival opened on 25 October.

Not every year, but October and November are the flood months on the central coast, and lantern nights can be cancelled. Keep plans flexible.

The main night is 24 November 2026 in most calendars, with Yi Peng events in Chiang Mai on 24 and 25 November. Some guides give 25 November.

On 22 November 2026, then 22 December 2026 and 21 January 2027. The table on this page lists every date through December 2027.

By about 20:00, according to the Vietnam Airlines guide. Roads close to vehicles from about 18:00.

All visitors to the Ancient Town need a ticket. The 2026 price for international visitors is VND 120,000.

Yes. In the flood season, from about September to November, heavy rain can cancel it at short notice.

Nearly. In 2026 Songkran was 13 to 15 April, and Pi Mai Lao and Khmer New Year were both 14 to 16 April.

No. They are solar festivals in mid-April, but each government fixes the exact holiday days.

Mostly, by staying indoors during the busiest hours or choosing smaller towns. In city centres, assume you will get wet.

It is hot and busy with Cambodian holidaymakers. Go at sunrise and rest in the middle of the day.

Between about 05:37 in June and 06:30 in January, by our calculation. The sky lightens 20 to 25 minutes earlier.

On the official ticket site, USD 37 for one day, USD 62 for three days within a week, and USD 72 for seven days within a month.

Srah Srang and Pre Rup both open at 05:00 and are generally less crowded than the western pond at Angkor Wat.

Yes. No more than 300 people may be at the summit at one time.

We suggest four to six months ahead on refundable terms. Rooms fill quickly and evening flights on release nights are cut or moved.

The old town is busier and rooms nearby fill sooner, especially at weekends and in holiday weeks. Staying a short ride away is a common way round it.

That is why we suggest refundable bookings for announced and calculated dates until the date is official.

It can be rewarding, but transport is full and many small businesses close for several days. Book early and plan to stay in one place over the first days of the new year.

The pages are written and checked by the Tourist Bucket editors, named as the author on every page.

There are no paid placements in the text. Advertising, where it appears, is labelled and kept separate.

Because no authority had published them when we checked. We work them out from the moon and replace them with the official date when it appears.

Use the form on the contact page or email the editors. Say which page and which date, and how you know.