Laos - weather & travel conditions in April

Laos Weather in April

April is normally the hottest month of the year. Anyway, the rainfall keeps staying low until next month when the country enters the rainy season. So, despite the heat the condition is still dry and bright.

In the northern mountainous areas including Huay Xai, Luang Nam Tha, Phong Sa Ly, Pakbeng and Oudomxay, the average daytime temperature is around 30-32oC and rather cool even lightly cold when nights fall.

Luang Prabang and neighboring areas are bright and dry and the temperature stays averagely around 32oC.

The Centre of Laos including Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Xiang Khoang (plain of Jars) is  full of sunlight with temperature ranging between 33-34oC.

Southern part of Laos including the areas of Savannakhet & around Champasak (Pakse, and 4000 island) is the hottest part of the country. Temperatures here during this month are closer to 35oC.  

Laos Events & Festivals in April

Boun Pi Mai - Lao's New Year

Pimai Lao - the Lao New Year, from 14th to 16th April, is one of the most important festival and celebration in Laos.

Boun Pi Mai - New Year Laos. Photo: VnExpress

The festival officially celebrated for three days but parties and festive activities always goes on for at least a week.

Most exciting activity during the festival is splashing with or pouring water on others. Traditionally, you wish someone ‘Happy New Year’ (‘Sok Dii Pimai’), before pouring water over their head, symbolizing the washing away of sins committed in the past year. Water is also shot through water guns or thrown from buckets and pans, creating and enormous water-fight that’s impossible to avoid.

The New Year celebration also includes activities like music and dance performances, culture shows, processions of Buddha image, Miss New Year beauty contest and so on.

Although the Lao New Year is celebrated throughout the country but the most interesting, exciting and colorful festival is in city of Luang Prabang.

How to do and what to expect if travel to Laos in April?

It is great idea to visit Luang Prabang and other cities around northern heritages of Laos during the Lao New Year. Really exciting and colorful!

Prepare to get soaked. Seemingly the entire population of Laos takes to the streets and soaks each other with water… it’s all taken in very good spirit, even by the police and military.  If that’s something you wouldn’t enjoy, don’t plan to visit the middle of April since there is no alternative.

During the months before rainy season, around April and May, farmers burn rice stubble and bushes to prepare for the new crop. In the countryside and farming areas, fires and smoke may cause hazy effect at times.

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