May
Bali:
The dry season brings many hours of sunshine to the island every day and minimal rainfall. This is one of the best months to visit the island as humidity levels are dropping and the peak tourist season has not yet begun. The beaches are often very quiet at this time of year and the sea wonderfully warm. May is also a good month to visit the mountain villages of the interior, where the altitude will keep you cool.
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Cambodia:
May is a transitional month in the country's weather as the south-western monsoon starts to blow in from the coast bringing rain. The sun is still shining but the heat is starting to subside, so May represents and excellent month to explore the coast, temples and countryside before the wet season really gets going.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony of Chat Preah Nengkal takes place in early May as Cambodians mark the start of the rice-growing season.
Visakha Puja, a festival celebrating the birth of the Buddha, takes place in May or June (depending on the lunar calendar) and is best observed at your nearest wat.
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Hong Kong:
May is the end of the peak tourist time in Hong Kong as the weather has warmed up to an average of 29°C and the monsoon rains have started to fall. The days are hot and humid in the city but there is plenty of sunshine on offer between the showers, making the beaches and excellent spot to head for during the day. Tropical storms are a possibility in May.
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Laos:
The monsoon rains arrive in May and they can be heavy at times, but downpours never last long and the sun soon returns. Travel around the country is more difficult in the wet season, especially in the mountains and the far south. Temperatures remain high throughout the month.
The Rocket Festival of Bun Bang Fai takes place in may and sees homemade rockets being launched into the sky to prompt the gods to send down some rain.
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Malaysia:
A good month to head to the Peninsular east coast as rains arrive from the west. The peak holiday season gets underway towards the end of the month,
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Myanmar:
A good month to visit the hill stations or the coast to escape the high temperatures of the plains.
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The Philippines
May is one of the hottest months so a good time to visit the hills or the underwater world as visibility is excellent. The direction of the wind may change towards the end of the month bringing rain showers.
The Flores de Mayo festival welcomes the rains across the country.
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Singapore:
May is a hot and relatively dry month on the island but the winds are starting to drop so things can get very sticky outside the air-conditioned shops and restaurants.
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Thailand:
A hot summer month across the country. The beaches of the gulf will provide cooling relief from the heat of Bangkok and dry sunny weather. The rainy season is fully underway on the western beaches and starting to make its presence felt in the north and the beaches on the west of the gulf but at least the high temperatures are starting to drop away.
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Vietnam:
A great month for visiting the Vietnamese central coast. The monsoon rains are starting to bring sharp showers and high humidity to the north and south but there is still plenty of sunshine between the wet periods.
The summer solstice festival of Tet Doan Ngo features dragon boat races and the burning of effigies in May or June.
