December: Where to Go in Asia
December — best bets
All countries ↓Peak season on the mainland. Cool, dry and busy.
Country by country
| Where | Weather | Crowds | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Cold, dry, sunny · ~12°C Tokyo | Mid (high 28 Dec – 3 Jan) | $$ ($$$ New Year) | Illuminations, first ski runs, last autumn leaves in Kyoto (early Dec) · Japan in winter |
| Thailand | Cool & dry · ~32°C | High | $$$ | Andaman beaches (Phuket, Krabi), Bangkok, cool nights in Chiang Mai. Gulf islands still wet. |
| Vietnam · north | Cool & dry · ~22°C Hanoi; cold nights in Sa Pa | Mid | $$ | Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh |
| Vietnam · centre | Rainy, flood risk | Low | $ | Better from February — go south for now |
| Vietnam · south | Dry season starts · ~32°C | Mid – high | $$ | Phu Quoc & Con Dao, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta |
| Cambodia | Cool & dry · ~31°C | High | $$$ | Angkor, Kampot & Kep, Koh Rong |
| Malaysia · west coast | Showers easing · ~32°C | Mid | $$ | Kuala Lumpur, food in Penang, Langkawi |
| Malaysia · east-coast islands | Monsoon — island resorts closed | — | — | Closed until about March |
| Bali & Indonesia | Wet season, warm · ~31°C | High late Dec | $$$ late Dec | Green rice terraces in Bali; Christmas crowds |
| Philippines | Dry season begins · ~31°C | High (Christmas) | $$$ late Dec | Palawan, Cebu & Bohol, Siargao |
| Taiwan | Cool · grey north, sunny south · ~21°C Taipei | Low | $ | Beitou hot springs, Kaohsiung, Kenting |
Temperatures are typical daytime highs. Price: $ low · $$ normal · $$$ peak, for that place.
Dates to know
| When | What |
|---|---|
| From late Nov | Japan’s ski season opens (Niseko plans 28 Nov). City illuminations run to 25 Dec and beyond. |
| 20 Dec – 3 Jan | Holiday peak across Asia — highest prices, book early. |
| 29 Dec – 3 Jan | Japan’s New Year: many museums and small restaurants close; trains run. |
| 31 Dec | New Year’s Eve fireworks in Bangkok, Taipei, Singapore and Hong Kong. |
From LAX: Fares peak for flights around 18 Dec – 3 Jan. Fly in early December, or book now. Live departures →
December in short
December is high season on the mainland: Thailand, Cambodia and southern Vietnam are cool, dry and busy. Japan turns cold and bright, with lights in the cities and the first snow in the mountains.
Central Vietnam and Malaysia’s east coast sit under the monsoon this month — go south or west instead. Bali and the Philippines get their Christmas rush in the last ten days.
← All months · January → · Best Time to Visit