Things to Do in Vientiane in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Vientiane
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is November Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + November hits the sweet spot—monsoon season has mostly wrapped up while the cool months haven't kicked in yet. You get morning sunshine and 28°C (82°F) afternoons without the October downpours that leave backpackers in Luang Prabang soaked through.
- + The rice harvest in surrounding Vientiane province floods morning markets with fresh khao niao (sticky rice). Vendors hawk bamboo tubes of khao lam—sweet sticky rice with coconut grilled over charcoal.
- + River levels remain high enough for Mekong boat trips to Buddha Park, yet low enough for the sandbars at Ban Nongtha to surface. Locals gather there for evening football games.
- + Hotel rates sit at shoulder-season pricing. Rooms at the Lao Plaza and Settha Palace run about 30% below December rates, when French winter visitors start pouring in.
- − That 70% humidity glues your shirt to your back by 10am, and afternoon heat can spike to 30°C (86°F). Locals take siestas for good reason— in central Vientiane's concrete oven.
- − Those ten rainy days don't follow a pattern. November storms hit as violent 20-minute bursts that flood intersections by the morning market. Have indoor backup plans ready.
- − Northern Laos catches the cool weather first, turning Vientiane into a staging post rather than a destination. You'll encounter more travelers passing through to Luang Prabang than people exploring the capital.
Year-Round Climate
How November compares to the rest of the year
Best Activities in November
Top things to do during your visit
November river levels suit two-hour sunset cruises well. You drift past Vientiane's riverfront temples as the sun sinks behind Thailand. Air temperature falls to 25°C (77°F) on the water, and fishing boats with green and red lanterns head out for night catches. The riverbanks form sandbars where locals play petanque—you can hear the metal balls clink across the water.
November's soft morning light strikes Wat Si Saket's 2,000 Buddha statues at 6:30am, casting perfect shadows for photography while monks collect sticky rice from elderly Lao women. The temple's cloister walls shield you from sudden showers, and the morning temperature of 22°C (72°F) means you won't sweat through your shirt before the first bell rings.
The 24 km (15 mile) ride to Xieng Khuan Buddha Park is pleasant in November—morning temperatures of 21°C (70°F) and rice paddies glowing gold for harvest. You'll cycle past roadside stands selling grilled chicken with sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves, and the park's concrete sculptures throw dramatic shadows in the low-angle sun.
November is sticky rice harvest season, so Talat Sao's morning food court serves khao niao fresh from bamboo steamers at 7am. The covered market keeps you dry during sudden showers, and vendors push seasonal specialties like bamboo shoot salad and grilled Mekong fish stuffed with lemongrass.
November evenings drop to 24°C (75°F)—good for the open-air beer gardens along Rue Samsenthai where locals congregate after work. The smell of grilled chicken skin and Beerlao mixing with river breeze delivers the real Vientiane experience. November's unpredictable weather keeps gardens open later without December's chill setting in.
November Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Vientiane's biggest religious festival turns That Luang stupa into a pilgrimage site with hundreds of monks collecting alms at dawn. The surrounding fairground sells everything from grilled squirrel to Lao whiskey, and the candlelight procession happens during November's cool evenings when the golden stupa shines against purple skies.
Essential Tips
What to pack, insider knowledge and common pitfalls