Things to Do in Southeast Asia in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Southeast Asia
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak dry season across most of mainland Southeast Asia - you'll get consistent sunny days in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos with rainfall typically under 50 mm (2 inches) for the month, making it ideal for temple hopping and outdoor markets without constant weather interruptions
- Comfortable temperatures in northern regions - Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, and Sapa see pleasant 15-25°C (59-77°F) days, cool enough for trekking without the oppressive heat you'd face in April or May, and mornings can actually feel refreshing at 10-15°C (50-59°F)
- Excellent visibility for diving and snorkeling - the Andaman Sea (Similan Islands, Phi Phi, Myanmar's Mergui Archipelago) has 25-30 m (82-98 ft) underwater visibility in January, and seas are calm with wave heights under 1 m (3.3 ft) most days, making it the absolute best month for marine life spotting
- Chinese New Year falls in late January 2026 (January 29) - you'll catch incredible celebrations in Singapore, Penang, Bangkok's Chinatown, and Ho Chi Minh City with street parades, temple ceremonies, and special foods that only appear this time of year, plus many Southeast Asian countries treat this as a major holiday with unique cultural access
Considerations
- Peak tourist season means peak prices - expect to pay 40-60% more for accommodation compared to September rates, and popular islands like Koh Phi Phi or El Nido require booking 6-8 weeks ahead or you'll face severely limited options and inflated walk-in rates that can hit 200% of normal pricing
- Major attractions get genuinely crowded - Angkor Wat sees 8,000-10,000 daily visitors in January versus 3,000 in September, meaning you're sharing sunrise views with hundreds of people, and popular temples in Bagan have tour groups arriving every 15-20 minutes between 9am-4pm
- Chinese New Year week (January 26-February 2, 2026) creates specific complications - domestic tourists flood beach destinations, flights and trains book out months early, many family-run restaurants and shops close for 3-5 days, and prices spike another 30-40% during this specific week even beyond normal January rates
Best Activities in January
Northern Thailand and Laos mountain trekking
January gives you the coolest temperatures of the year in places like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Luang Prabang - daytime highs around 25°C (77°F) with genuinely cool mornings at 12-15°C (54-59°F). The trails are completely dry after months without rain, and visibility is excellent for mountain views. You'll actually want a light fleece for early morning starts, which is impossible to imagine in the hot season. Hill tribe villages are accessible without mud, and you can comfortably hike 4-6 hours without the heat exhaustion risk you'd face March through May.
Similan and Surin Islands diving expeditions
These islands are only open November through April, and January sits right in the sweet spot - seas are calmer than November (when you still get transitional weather), and visibility peaks at 25-30 m (82-98 ft) as the plankton bloom hasn't started yet. Water temperature holds steady at 27-28°C (81-82°F), comfortable in a 3mm wetsuit. You'll see manta rays at cleaning stations, whale sharks passing through, and the coral is at its most vibrant. The Andaman Sea is genuinely flat most days with wave heights under 1 m (3.3 ft), so even if you're prone to seasickness, January gives you the best chance.
Mekong Delta boat tours and floating markets
January is the driest month in southern Vietnam with rainfall under 20 mm (0.8 inches), which means the Mekong's water level is stable and boat access is reliable. The humidity sits around 70% rather than the 85-90% you'd get in rainy season, making those 3-4 hour boat trips much more comfortable. Floating markets like Cai Rang operate daily but are most active 6-8am, and the cool morning temperatures around 22-24°C (72-75°F) make early starts actually pleasant. You'll see the fruit harvest in full swing - dragon fruit, longan, and pomelo piled high on boats.
Bagan temple exploration by e-bike
January gives you Bagan's most comfortable weather - temperatures peak around 30°C (86°F) rather than the brutal 38-40°C (100-104°F) of March and April, and there's essentially zero rain. The archaeological zone covers roughly 40 square km (15 square miles) with over 2,000 temples, and you'll want to cover 20-30 km (12-19 miles) per day to see a good variety. E-bikes let you reach distant temples without arriving drenched in sweat. The light in January is excellent for photography, and dust levels are lower than in the hot season when everything gets hazy.
Singapore hawker center food tours
Late January 2026 catches Chinese New Year preparations and celebrations (January 29 is New Year's Day), which means hawker centers are doing special dishes you won't find other times - pineapple tarts, bak kwa (barbecued pork), yu sheng (prosperity toss salad). The weather is standard Singapore humid at 31-32°C (88-90°F), but hawker centers have fans and are designed for this climate. January also sees slightly fewer tourists than December holidays, so popular stalls have 10-15 minute waits rather than 30-45 minutes. You can comfortably eat your way through 5-7 stalls in an evening without the afternoon thunderstorms that disrupt plans in other months.
Angkor Wat sunrise and temple cycling routes
January is the coolest month in Siem Reap with morning temperatures around 22-24°C (72-75°F), making sunrise at Angkor Wat actually comfortable rather than already-sweating-at-6am like you'd experience in April. By 11am it reaches 30-32°C (86-90°F), but that's your signal to break for lunch and resume exploring around 3pm. Cycling lets you cover the 15-20 km (9-12 miles) between major temple groups at your own pace, and the roads are completely dry - no mud or puddles like you'd face in rainy season. The moat around Angkor Wat is full but not overflowing, creating perfect reflection photos.
January Events & Festivals
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
Falls on January 29, 2026, with celebrations running roughly January 26-February 2 across Southeast Asia. Singapore's Chinatown has massive street decorations and the Chingay Parade (usually first weekend of February), Penang's clan houses host open ceremonies, Bangkok's Yaowarat Road closes for lion dances and firecracker displays, and Ho Chi Minh City's District 5 transforms into a festival zone. Temples get packed with worshippers making offerings, and you'll find special foods like tikoy (rice cakes), tang yuan (glutinous rice balls), and various dumplings that disappear after the holiday. Worth noting that many family-run businesses close for 3-5 days, and domestic travel peaks this week.
Bagan Ananda Temple Festival
Usually falls in early January (dates shift based on the Myanmar lunar calendar, but typically first two weeks of January). The Ananda Temple becomes the center of a multi-day festival with thousands of locals making pilgrimages, monks receiving alms at dawn, and a market selling everything from lacquerware to traditional textiles. You'll see traditional dance performances, puppet shows, and locals in their best longyi (traditional sarongs). It's one of the few times you'll see Bagan's temples actively used for religious ceremony rather than just tourist visits, giving genuine cultural context.
Phuket Old Town Festival
Typically held mid-January, this weekend festival celebrates Sino-Portuguese heritage with street performances, traditional music, food stalls selling Phuket-specific dishes like moo hong (braised pork) and khanom jeen (fermented rice noodles), and cultural displays in the restored shophouses along Thalang Road. It's much smaller scale than Chinese New Year but gives you access to local culture without the massive crowds. The old town's architecture looks particularly good in January's clear weather for photography.