Things to Do in Southeast Asia in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Southeast Asia
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing across most of Southeast Asia - accommodation typically runs 20-30% cheaper than December peak, and you can still book quality places 2-3 weeks out instead of the 8-12 weeks you'd need for Christmas holidays
- Northern Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar hit their sweet spot - daytime temps around 28-30°C (82-86°F), almost no rain, and that brief window before the December tourist surge when places like Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang are genuinely pleasant to explore on foot
- Diving and snorkeling conditions peak in the Andaman Sea - Similan Islands and southern Thailand waters hit 25-28 m (82-92 ft) visibility as the monsoon fully clears out, and liveaboard boats aren't yet packed with holiday crowds
- Festival season across the region - you'll catch Loy Krathong in Thailand (mid-November, floating lanterns on water), the tail end of Bon Om Touk water festival in Cambodia, and various post-monsoon celebrations when locals are actually in a celebratory mood after months of rain
Considerations
- Regional weather split means you're choosing sides - Vietnam's central coast (Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue) gets hammered with 300-400 mm (11.8-15.7 inches) of rain and occasional typhoon remnants, while southern Philippines still sees afternoon storms. You can't do a comprehensive Southeast Asia loop without hitting someone's rainy season
- Southern Vietnam and Cambodia are transitional and unpredictable - Saigon and Siem Reap are technically exiting monsoon but you'll still get 8-12 rainy days with sudden afternoon downpours that flood streets for 30-45 minutes. Not trip-ruining but definitely plan-disrupting
- Smoke season starting to build in northern regions - slash-and-burn agriculture begins ramping up in parts of northern Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar by late November. Air quality isn't terrible yet (that's February-April) but sensitive travelers might notice haze on some days
Best Activities in November
Similan Islands and Andaman Coast Diving Expeditions
November is legitimately the best month for Andaman Sea diving - monsoon swells have calmed, visibility jumps to 25-30 m (82-98 ft), and water temps sit at a comfortable 27-29°C (81-84°F). Similan Islands liveaboards run at maybe 60-70% capacity versus the December-January crush. You'll see manta rays at cleaning stations, whale sharks if you're lucky, and the soft corals are recovering nicely from monsoon nutrients. The Surin Islands further north are even quieter. Water conditions are stable enough that newer divers won't get bounced around, but there's still enough current to attract the big stuff.
Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand Temple Cycling Routes
Northern Thailand in November is what everyone imagines tropical Southeast Asia should feel like - warm mornings around 22-24°C (72-75°F), comfortable days peaking at 28-30°C (82-86°F), and virtually zero rain. The rice paddies are that brilliant post-harvest green, and you can actually cycle 20-30 km (12-19 miles) without feeling like you're melting. Temple circuits around Chiang Mai's old city or longer rides out to Doi Suthep base (about 12 km/7.5 miles from city center) are genuinely pleasant. The air quality is still decent - the serious smoke season doesn't hit until February. Local cycling culture is strong here, so you'll find well-maintained bike paths and drivers who mostly respect cyclists.
Luang Prabang Multi-Day Trekking and Village Homestays
Laos in November is spectacularly comfortable for trekking - the monsoon is fully done, trails have dried out but rivers still have water, and temps in the northern mountains sit around 18-25°C (64-77°F) during the day. You can actually hike 12-15 km (7.5-9.3 miles) daily without suffering. The hill tribe villages around Luang Prabang do homestay treks that feel genuinely remote - 2-3 day circuits through Khmu and Hmong villages where you're sleeping on bamboo platforms and eating whatever the family cooks. It's not luxurious but it's real, and November weather makes it bearable. The Kuang Si Falls area also has excellent day hikes through jungle that's still lush from monsoon but not muddy.
Bangkok Night Market Food Circuits and Street Food Tours
Bangkok in November is still hot - 30-32°C (86-90°F) during the day - but evenings cool to a tolerable 25-27°C (77-81°F) and the rain mostly stops. This makes it prime night market season when locals actually want to be outside. The food tour scene has matured beyond the touristy traps - you'll find guided walks through neighborhoods like Yaowarat (Chinatown), Ari, and Ratchawat that hit 8-12 vendors in 3-4 hours. You're eating what locals eat: boat noodles, grilled skewers, mango sticky rice, Thai-Chinese desserts. November timing means you catch seasonal items like pomelo salads and certain river fish. The key is going with someone who knows which stalls are actually good versus just Instagram-famous.
Angkor Wat Sunrise Temple Circuits by Bicycle
Siem Reap in November is transitional - you'll likely get 6-8 dry days out of 10, with afternoon storms the rest of the time. But morning temple visits from 5am-11am are usually clear, and cycling the Angkor complex before heat peaks is genuinely the best way to experience it. You'll cover 15-25 km (9-16 miles) depending on which temples you hit, mostly flat terrain through forest. The temple crowds are building but not yet December-January insane - you can still get decent sunrise photos at Angkor Wat without 500 other people in frame. The afternoon rain risk actually works in your favor - everyone clears out by 2-3pm, so if you're willing to dodge storms, you get temples nearly empty. Bring rain gear and flexibility.
Hoi An Cooking Classes and Central Market Morning Tours
Hoi An in November is honestly a gamble - central Vietnam is still getting typhoon remnants and you might see 200-300 mm (7.9-11.8 inches) of rain. That said, cooking classes are perfect rainy day activities, and Hoi An's cooking scene is exceptional. You'll start at the morning market around 7-8am (usually dry), pick ingredients with your instructor, then spend 3-4 hours cooking 4-5 dishes in covered outdoor kitchens. You're learning cao lau (Hoi An's signature noodle), white rose dumplings, banh xeo (sizzling pancakes), and whatever's seasonal. The classes are hands-on, small groups, and you eat everything you make. Even if it pours in the afternoon, you're under cover and fed. The market tour component gives you insight into Vietnamese ingredients you won't get just eating in restaurants.
November Events & Festivals
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Lantern Festivals (Thailand)
Loy Krathong falls on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month, typically mid-November (November 15-16 in 2026, though verify closer to date). This is Thailand's most photogenic festival - locals float decorated baskets (krathongs) with candles on rivers and lakes to honor the water goddess. In Chiang Mai, this coincides with Yi Peng, where thousands of paper lanterns get released into the sky creating that iconic floating lights scene. The main public Yi Peng event at Mae Jo University requires tickets (1,000-3,000 baht) and books out months ahead. But you'll see lanterns throughout Chiang Mai and can join informal releases along the Ping River. Bangkok celebrates at parks like Lumpini and Benjakitti. Sukhothai Historical Park does an elaborate celebration with traditional performances. Worth planning your November dates around if you want the experience.
Bon Om Touk Water Festival (Cambodia)
Cambodia's Water and Moon Festival typically happens late October or early November (depends on lunar calendar - likely early November 2026). This celebrates the reversal of the Tonle Sap River flow with massive boat races on the Mekong in Phnom Penh. You'll see 300-400 boats with 40-60 rowers each racing over three days. The riverfront becomes a huge festival ground with food stalls, concerts, and fireworks. Siem Reap and other riverside towns have smaller celebrations. It's one of Cambodia's biggest holidays so expect crowds, booked hotels, and festive energy. If you're in Cambodia in early November, worth timing your Phnom Penh visit to catch it.