April: Where to Go in Asia
April — best bets
All countries ↓Hot on the mainland, festival month in Thailand, blossom in Japan.
Country by country
| Where | Weather | Crowds | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Mild · ~19°C Tokyo | High | $$$ | cherry blossom in Kyoto and Tokyo early April, Hirosaki late April; Golden Week from 29 Apr |
| Thailand | Hottest month · ~36°C | Mid (high at Songkran) | $$ ($$$ Songkran) | Songkran; dry Koh Samui & Koh Tao |
| Vietnam · north | Warm, clearer · ~27°C | Mid | $$ | Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang |
| Vietnam · centre | Dry, warm · ~30°C | Mid | $$ | Beaches: Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang; Phong Nha |
| Vietnam · south | Hottest · ~35°C | Mid | $$ | Phu Quoc & Con Dao, cool Da Lat |
| Cambodia | Hottest · ~36°C; Khmer New Year 14–16 Apr | Mid | $$ | Angkor early morning; Koh Rong |
| Malaysia · west coast | Afternoon storms · ~33°C | Mid | $$ | Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Penang |
| Malaysia · east-coast islands | Calm, clear water · ~32°C | Mid | $$ | Perhentian, Redang, Tioman — snorkel & dive |
| Bali & Indonesia | Dry season starts · ~31°C | Mid | $$ | Bali, Lombok & the Gilis, Komodo boat trips |
| Philippines | Hot & dry · ~34°C | High (school holidays) | $$$ | Boracay, Palawan, cool Baguio & Sagada |
| Taiwan | Spring · ~26°C; fireflies from April | Mid (busy 3–6 Apr) | $$ | Taroko Gorge, Alishan, Sun Moon Lake |
Temperatures are typical daytime highs. Price: $ low · $$ normal · $$$ peak, for that place.
Dates to know
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Early April | cherry blossom peaks in Kyoto and Tokyo (typical); Tohoku mid – late April. |
| 3–6 Apr | Four-day holiday weekend in Taiwan — trains busy. |
| 13–15 Apr | Songkran in Thailand — banks closed, transport full. |
| 14–16 Apr | Khmer New Year in Cambodia — many shops close. |
| 29 Apr – 5 May | Golden Week in Japan — the busiest, priciest week of spring. |
| 30 Apr – 1 May | Holidays in Vietnam — beaches book out. |
From LAX: Shoulder season: fares ease after spring break. Japan gets pricier for Golden Week (from 29 Apr). Live departures →
April in short
April is the hottest month across mainland Southeast Asia — and the month of Songkran, Thailand’s nationwide water festival, with Khmer New Year in Cambodia the same week.
Japan has its blossom early in the month, northern Vietnam has its best weather, and Malaysia’s east-coast islands and Bali move into their best season.
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