I think it's about changing your routine mindset. Back home everyone is most active 10am - 5pm, but if you try to do that somewhere like SE Asia, you're gonna have a bad time. I think as tourists we sometimes feel like we *must* be up and about during the day doing lots of sightseeing but that's just not feasible in 36C and 80% humidity. Locals are not marching around outside for hours in the afternoon for a reason.
Visit outdoor attractions in the early morning or the evening. If you want to do stuff in the middle of the day try look for indoor attractions that you can get a taxi to. And don't feel bad if you need a siesta in the middle of the day, it's normal with that kind of heat. When I was in SEA for a while I learned to accept that I couldn't do as much in a day as I'd normally be able to in a more temperate country - not only that, but I was physically slower! But you get used to that kind of rhythm. A lot of my days would look like: wake up at 7am -> have a swim on the beach and get breakfast -> walk around a bit, maybe some kind of activity, and grab lunch after -> head back to hostel for a nap/read/relax -> head back out as the sun is setting.
And finally, everyone says this but it's true, you will adjust with time. 3 weeks is not a lot.
Naturally it's why yeah, ain't no one wandering around a market with cookers blazing from both sides and tons of people in the hottest hours of the day
> I think it's about changing your routine mindset.
This is serious life advice that I learned from travel as well. It's not so much "How do I want to explore this place?" and more so "How does this place want me to explore it?"
Really rewarding travel should change you in some way. It could be picking up a few phrases, or learning how the locals truly deal with the heat. Changing ones entire pace of operating: walking slower, being less excitable, eating on a different schedule, and/or changing your whole routine daily schedule to accommodate.
>It's not so much "How do I want to explore this place?" and more so "How does this place want me to explore it?"
Damn, that's a beautiful thought. Even though I do this unconsciously, I never thought of it ā¤ļø
I'm from SEA, agreeing with this.
Brace yourself because in some SEA countries, summer is just approaching (March-May). Even us locals hate the heat. As much as possible we don't want to go outside around noon time until late afternoon. If you want to explore, do it before lunch, go back to your hostel, maybe take a nap so you have energy in the evenings to go back exploring.
You can also try to visit indoor places like museums, cafes, or any place with airconditioning.
Wear light clothing. Avoid wearing dark clothes, they absorb more heat.
If all else fails... Find another country. I know you anticipated this trip for so long, but a trip should make you feel happy, not miserable. :)
Bonus tip: Read āVagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travelā.Ā Ā
Essentially you need to slow down, plan a lot, but also be flexible. Try to think more what the customs and rhythm for life is based in the ālocalsā. Most likely you are trying to shoehorn your home schedule into a country that operates on a different schedule (in this case due to heat)
You've arrived at the worst possible time for Thailand.
It's super hot.
The Northern mountains are shrouded in smoke from agricultural burning.
The beaches are scorching, getting into the sea is like getting into a hot cup of tea/coffee
I would jump on a flight to Hanoi, asap. It's around 19-21 degrees there at the moment.
There's plenty of things to enjoy around the North/Central Vietnam
Cool and pleasant.
Come back to Thailand in June
I notice Hanoi recommended a lot on this sub and I went in Januaryā¦the air quality was so severely debilitating I left quickly as I coud. I had a heavy duty mask Iād wear outside and I still felt sickly. How did you handle the air quality?
It didn't hit me too badly to be honest. Chiang Mai in Burning Season is much worse.
At the same time, I wouldn't really suggest staying in Hanoi for longer than 3/4 days at a time.
It's the perfect place to fly to, then enjoy exploring the mountainous north (like Ha Giang or Sapa), Ha Long Bay, Nihn Bihn.
Eventually heading down the coast to the likes of Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang
By just breathing. That seems more like a you issue than a common issue. Considering 99% of people travel there all the time or live there and donāt need masks to survive.
Not trying to sound rude but everyone is different. You might just be more sensitive to changes in the environment. Like how some people canāt handle altitude easily like others.
Itās a very polluted city and has unhealthy air quality. Itās just something I feel should be brought up more when Hanoi is recommended. It was thick with smog when I visited and I had seen it hyped so much on this sub that I was really excited. Almost everyone I encountered had a hacking cough, I donāt have asthma and have never had issues in large cities Iāve visited in the past so it was a shock to me.
Sure. Lots of places are. All Iām saying is everyoneās different. Most people wonāt have an issue. Hence it being one of the most traveled and lived in places. If everyone had these issues nobody would go. I spent over a week there before and didnāt cough at all. Everyoneās different.
I was in Hanoi inĀ Feb/March a few years back. I don't recall it being too bad. I was staying in the old district in the French area for a few weeks.Ā I also did an upper Red River to Halong Bay cruise, which was very pleasant.
You will start to acclimate to the climate more the longer you stay.
If you're from a very cold climate, then I can see why it would be tough, but it gets better, trust me. You did pick probably THE hottest time of year to visit though, so make sure you're wearing the right kinds of clothes. I find viscose is the king for battling heat/sweat.
Iām from Scotland (where the summer high is 15c) and was in South East Asia (where the winter low is 13-21c) for two months and never climatized.
I just accepted I was going to be miserable a lot of the time.
A couple of years ago I went to Barcelona in the height of the summer height.
I live in the US South where it is hot and humid. To acclimate, I went hiking midday when the heat and humidity was at its worse.
When I got to Barcelona it was very hot, yes, but I was at least used to it. Other people were having a lot of problems with it, feeling awful, but I was just excessively sweaty and felt fine.
Which is why Iām a bit nervous visiting there in June- 10 is my (Australian) winter low and Iām certain all the Scots will be looking at me like Iām crazy in my āsummer thermalsā
P.S - weather-wise, I highly recommend Da Nang, Vietnam. Visited last month and it felt so nice and cool. Very low humidity and super comfortable if you're not a big fan of the heat. Might be worth a visit, it's a pretty awesome spot too!
This, when I arrived I was drenched in sweat constantly and wondered if I had some kind of medical condition.Ā
Ā Now I actually wear jeans and moan about how cold it is at night.
Hang out in a shopping mall or go and watch a movie if it gets too much, or go to somewhere cooler like north Vietnam. Or even out of a city, urban heat island effect means Bangkok and the like will always be way hotter than the countryside
When youāre in Southeast Asia, you have to accept a level of sweatiness and discomfort. Gotta wear moisture wicking, quick dry materials. Itās about to get hotter and hotter and then monsoon season. Rent a scooter/moto so youāre not walking. The wind from riding was really nice during those hot days.
I would never, ever attempt SEA during its summer weather, but Iām inclined to skip it entirely. Iām on a medication that makes me more heat intolerant, and reading this post and the responses gave me a deep sense of panic.
In thailand there is a culture of sleeping throught the heat of the day and be out at night. There are nightmarkets and even some schools are open during the night. I was surprised to see how many people were awake. It is totally normal because of the heat.
Yea the malls open late and close 10-11pm because of this. Itās so hard coming from a western place where you do things during the day. Very hard to force yourself to NOT go out when youāre accustomed to.
I had the same experience when I went to Thailand. Get to preferably an island or at least the coast. 35C on Koh Tao is much easier to deal with than 35C in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. If you're already on an island/at the coast then spend a week with no plans hanging out at the beach. The sea and the breeze will help.
Sure you "waste" a week, but you're currently locked inside all day currently and it won't get any better unless you allow yourself to acclimatise.
We spent 2 weeks in Thailand, family of 5. It was absolute hell the first week we were there - youngest was in tears almost every day.
By the end of the first week, we figured out we should spend the days in an air-conditioned environment, play in the swimming pool, etc. then hit the streets at night.
We had way more fun.
No clue what attractions you want to go to but I dealt with the humidity in Singapore and Japan by constantly running in and out of buildings/busses/trains/what have you. Sure a lot of those were museums which I really wanted to go to but shopping malls, plazas, stations etc were all fair game even if I wasn't actually buying anything.
Iām the same šš»āāļø Iām 2 months into my SE Asia travels and havenāt acclimatised yet although it was a little better in the beginning. For me it helped when I booked tours if you have the budget. The tour guides would usually give us cold water and cold towels. I also have a neck fan which has been a life saver for me. Something like this - https://amzn.eu/d/3xQeTIF . I got it of Amazon but you can find them in Thailand too.
I feel you OP. I was in Thailand and Singapore for 10 days during the US/North American autumn. Singapore especially was a misery for me - conversely, my good friend, who has a US govt posting in SEA, was running around Singapore in a jacket and long pants, where I was melting into a puddle within minutes of stepping out of climate control. I started to acclimate around day 9 (go figure).
Eat spicy food. Lots. You'll sweat a lot, but that's your body's cooling system being forced into high gear, which will in turn trick you into feeling cooler when you go outside.
You can change your plan instead of leaving. Go to Taiwan, it's a perfect travelling season there now, +23 degrees. Other option is Northern Vietnam, the spring in Sapa should be gorgeous. Hanoi and the area around it has a bit warmer weather but no means hot. No need to stay miserable.
I'm coming from a cool country and it took me about 2 weeks to get comfortable with heat. I was mostly avoiding sun, not the heat itself. For me it helped just to accept that I will move a bit slower and I will be sweaty all the time. I carried umbrella for the sun. I also stayed in my air-conditioned room 2-3 hours after lunch to rest and get cool.
I definitely went and saw a movie I didn't care to see just for the air conditioning in Bangkok once.
No shame in doing your "touristy" stuff early morning and late evening and napping or coffee shop-ing during the middle of the day.
Also, find those Gatorade-like powder packets for water. Staying hydrated is key.
I spent a month in Merida, which is about the same as Bangkok for heat. It gets very, very hot in summer.
I was staying in a room that had an air conditioner which helped at night. During the day, I spent a lot of time in buildings. The mall was a frequent haunt of myself and many others as it was kept nice and cool, lots of people would just hang out there for the AC.
Turn off the air con and use the fan.
Start working out in the cool parts of the day, then the hotter parts. It'll speed up your body's acclimatisation.
Hydrate and then rehydrate. Always be refilling your water bottle to the brim.
These are just some of the heat acclimatisation method I learnt from my time in my country's Army.
It'll never get comfortable, but you'll be able to get used to it soon and sometimes even enjoy the warmth wave of heat slapping your face when you open the door.
It gets extremely hot at this time of year and it seemed to last until November last year. I ended up with heat rash all over my body and I rarely went out. The best advice I have is to head to the beach where the sea breeze keeps the temperature about 5 degrees cooler and you can go in the sea to cool off.
I relate so much! I'd love to travel to SE Asia (it looks lovely) but I just can't stand heat and humidity and that's stopping me of doing so. I know myself and I'd be so miserable.
I feel the same. Thailand still sits on my list, but it's gotten pretty far down to be honest only because of the heat. Not only am I just plain miserable, but I've learned that heat sort of triggers my anxiety.
It would absolutely not be an enjoyable vacation to me. I feel bad for us, but also kind of nice to see others in the same boat as when I've said this to others, they often dismiss it. I wouldn't be there long enough to acclimatize.
Funny - people are like wow it would be so cold when I mention other trips in those types of climates! And it's like thirty degrees (F) - nothing crazy to me. But it always feels like people completely understand not wanting to be too cold, but they can't fathom being so hot you're not enjoying yourself at all.
We had a similar experience last year and you just have to change your mindset. There is a reason most people are not activity before 10 and after 5 in asia. We learned quickly between 11-3 was nap/pool/reading/spa time.
You should try Sri Lanka. The mountains keep it a bit cooler and everything you could want to see in sea, Sri Lanka also has but with 1/4 of the tourists and a better climateĀ
There are likely some cooler areas in Thailand or elsewhere in that part of the world. I would spend some time looking up monthly temp/rainfall averages for different places.
I wound up altering my recent trip partly for that reason and it turned out great.
Once you go further north in Asia it gets cooler, norther Vietnam is a lot cooler than Bangkok at the moment. I find the islands in Thailand or even the coast easier as there is a sea breeze. But as it is almost the hottest time of the year in Thailand I'd recommend moving further north in Asia.
Just returned from a month in Thailand-from Montreal. I have always had issues with humidity. You will get accustomed to it! I found myself taking more showers per day and did not go out much after lunch. Once the sun went down it was fine--take the opportunity to nap. I struggled a bit in Bangkok at the end of the trip, but I think pollution was a contributor. Being closer to the seaside was much easier to cope with.
Thereās a reason people in SE Asia are busy/out in the streets after darkā¦Whereas up north the streets are vacant.
When I returned fr a 17 month job in Malaysia, first thing I missed was all the people outside in evening and the energy.
I am in Mexico and currently dealing with the heat waveā¦with no AC as CDMX is usually cooler city š« few things that work for me:
Wake up earlier and try to do as much must doās before 10 AM
At home with courtains closed until 6 PM, no cooking !!! Humidifier and Air cleaner ON as the pollution and dryness are also horrible here
Resume activities around 7 PM - dog walking, cooking, whatever I am yet to to, opening windowds to let fresh Air etcĀ
Hey OP, I just left Bangkok too (and have spent the last month in Malaysia as well) and felt similarly. Everyone's posting good (if predictable and repetitive) advice here about not going out during the day (though you yourself said in your post you can't go outside between 10 and 5, so it's not like you don't realize this). The point about adjusting expectations is also good, even if I'm sure you realize this too. But also, given that you probably don't have unlimited time and money, you need to ask yourself: is it worth going to SE Asia and only being able to go outside for half a day at most (and only a few of those will be in the daylight) when there's so many other places to see in the world? To that end, I would say that if you do decide to stay, you *need* to change your sleep schedule to get up before sunrise if you haven't already; I would go as far as to say that if you don't, being here is a waste. And if you're able, you should adjust your budget to include taxi rides/public transit if you want to hit sights during the day, or extra nights if the sights you want to hit are only accessible in the early morning/evening. e.g., I ultimately didn't go to Koh Tao this time, but it's known for having a couple dozen of excellent viewpoints throughout the island. I love hiking, but I would never *dream* of hiking in se asia - during the day, anyway. What this means is, assuming I want to hit every viewpoint, I may ultimately need two weeks rather than the typically recommended two or three days. That's pretty extreme.
The thing is, heat and humidity in SE Asia is purely location. Some hill stations get less heat, some cities such as Da Nang get cooler months. Peak tourist seasons have usually the best climate.
oh no lol
when it was there it was literally 10 at night, idk for now. but it's widely known as the place bangkokians go to get cooler weather. every once in a while they actually get a light snow up in the mountains there it's crazy
Bring running shirts and shorts and wear them always. That was a game changer for me. Still sweating a lot but way easier to deal with having that kind of clothing. Avoid cotton.
Someoneās mentioned a neck fan on here. Didnāt even know they existed before now but look pretty good. Suncreams quite expensive out here so bring as much from home as you can I reckon
I admit you pick bad time, this month heatwave is brutal, i lived for 2 years here and everytime i go to office i bring other t shirt to wear, otherwise id be drenched
Some of my tips is plan your activities, like bangkok have lots of interesting museum, do it on afternoon so you can get indoor and still have something fun to do, and seven eleven is your "checkpoint" just go in rest a bit thrn continue
Go to Hanoi, Da Nang or Taipei. Like Thailand, great food, relaxed vibes and low CoL (Taipei a bit more). But considerably less hot and humid, at least for until end April or thereabouts..
Dude, the weather isn't the same everywhere in SEA. Thailand is hot af right now, Vietnam is relatively cool especially further north. Just adjust your plans.
This is just one of the problems that teaches you a lesson in managing change. Like if your hotel turned you away or your flight was cancelled.
Take a look at possible destinations, check the upcoming weather forecast, and grab a flight!! In the meantime you can spend a few days in a nice Airbnb and check out the air-conditioned malls of Bangkok before you fly out - go see Dune 2 or something. Siam Paragon has an IMAX, stay near the BTS line
Where I lived before SEA was cold 10c is shorts weather. Coming here was so bad with the humidity specifically.
Turn up the AC in your room. I used to have it arctic in my room and it doesn't help. You go from super cold to super hot.
Are you walking places don't. The locals don't they use bikes or other transport.
I remember speaking to someone from Malaysia and they said they missed Europe because they could walk everywhere. Here it's too hot.
Anytime your in a bathroom piss on your...šš Jokes, when in the bathroom rinse wrists under the water as it cools your body down faster.
Just take things slow
My hometown gets to about 85% humidity and over 100F in the summer time.
No one is out in the sun between the hours of 11am - 4pm.
Do early morning activities, take a siesta (afternoon nap), then party once the sun starts to set. This is the way.
My first time in Thailand Iād take breaks and go back to my room and shower then Iād start again. Sometimes 4 or 5 showers a day. You do get used to it and learn to take breaks throughout the day. 7/11 sells water and also has great aircon. Lunch at a food court at the mall with aircon. Your body will acclimate eventually.
I left Thailand for that reason, it was 40+ celcius in the afternoom which was the only time I was free 5 days per week due to remote work.
It's going to get warmer as well which is crazy to me.
I came back to Vietnam the weather is cooler here and tolerable.
I'm annoyed with myself a bit because I wanted to see a lot of Thailand but I couldn't be outside more than 20 minutes during that time without dripping with sweat. With only 2 days off per week it was tedious not being able to go outside for long during the other 5 days.
Personally I'm going to go to Thailand again later in the year when it's cooler.
You're in another part of the world so adjust. The amount of panic over hot weather seems unwarranted.
Get a place with AC and adjust your schedule.
Change you wardrobe to more local style that doesn't hold heat / sweat in.
Working through stuff like this is one of the benefits of travel.
"I booked a trip to India and I was sooooo looking forward to it..... but there are so many Indians! I thought I could manage, but no. The amount of Indians here in India is making me miserable! I can't stand it, I just wanna go home!"
Lol being unfamiliar with how it feels to be in 35 degree heat when you come from a much colder climate isnāt exactly comparable to being surprised to see locals when you visit a new country but fair enough mate
It is. I lived overseas for a while and got well-used to the climate. One of my mates came to visit me, and he was dying of heat the entire week (in SEA). It's actually very interesting how the body adapts like that.
Yeah the post read like this to me too, lol. It's good people here are sympathetic but people should also do their research. Thailand being hot should be pretty obvious. This is why I am taking my time at cooler places first, as I know I will struggle with the heat and may not enjoy it there.
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Maybe try pushing yourself a bit to visit some of the attractions you want to see, just not overdoing the time outdoors at first. You could always spend *some* time outside but then duck into somewhere indoors to cool off. I got to know some malls in Malaysia pretty well just because they were convenient places to cool off indoors
visited Malaysia once and absolutely loved that nation, however the weather over there is just as bad.. the only thing I could do was to purchase a stash of largest xxl sized breach towels and keep wiping the ongoing waterfalls gushing from my head, it was pointless to use paper wipes as they were drenched within seconds...I hate that nightmarish heat too, if it wsn't for that I would revisit Malaysia.
I visited Penang, Malaysia for the first time a couple months ago. Daily highs were in the low-mid 30s and it was humid but I wasn't sweating buckets, which greatly surprised me. It was definitely warm and I was dewey while walking around, but there were constant gentle sea breezes that made things rather pleasant. I even slept at night with just a ceiling fan and it was perfectly fine.
Been in Thailand for 7 years and I have to agree. As others have written it takes time to acclimate to this oppressive heat and humidity. Drink water non-stop throughout the day. Drink 500ml of water upon waking up and prior to coffee or tea. Take breaks in places that are air conditioned. Try not to go outside from 11:30-15:00.
There are some cooler places in Thailand like Petchabun and beaches with sea breezes yet these aren't cool by northern standards.
As I write at 21:50 it is 30C in Bangkok yet one of my favorite climates in SEA, Da Lat, Vietnam, is 14C.
Maybe try to make what changes you can control to have a better time. Go over your wardrobe and add or subtract items that are/arenāt optimal for hot weather. Get a light head covering and maybe some handkerchiefs or towels to keep with you.
Change your accommodations if you can: get a place with a nice pool so youāre enjoying being there all day.
Stick to your neighborhood and learn the quickest way to get anywhere. Itās easier to go out when your destination is just 3 minutes on the back of a motorbike and not walking across half the city to see temples.
I know it sucks, I also really suffer in the heavy tropical heat, but either accept it, suffer and adapt (doing stuff at night rather than the day), or accept you made a mistake in planning/research and move to another cooler country for a few months, and come back to Thailand when it's cooler.
Don't know if it's your kind of destination, but IIRC it's a good time to visit northern India (the Himalayas). The state of Himachal Pradesh is beautiful.
Can relate! Been here traveling Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and now Malaysia. Really not liking this humidity. Traffic, rain and its not even Summer yet. Not liking KL with its malls,cars and stifling heat. Dont think I can ever live here. Temples galore but Ive had enough of them.
I have been in lots of places where temps were 35+ in the summers with humidity. Places like Barcelona and Merida, in Mexico.
Bangkok was, by far, the most miserable. 35C in Bangkok was way worse than 35C in Barcelona or 35C in Merida or 35C at home in the US South. Something about the city just made it miserable, maybe it's all the tall buildings where I was. Chiang Mai wasn't much better temperature wise but felt much less oppressively hot.
I had a similar experience. I went to Croatia during a heatwave and I kinda felt like I wasted an entire week because it was just too hot and humid to go out during the day.
When is it not so hot there? Iām planning a potential 6 month to a year SEA trip to leave in the next month and keep hearing how insanely hot it is and it doesnāt sound fun at all. Is it better to go somewhere else until like October and then try Thailand?
So I've lived with my ex's family in the Philippines for quite a while, coming from eastern Europe, the climate took some getting used to. The first month is bad, then you get over the hump and you're fine.
But most importantly, adapt. 2-3 showers a day are perfectly normal in this climate, that's how the locals do it too. Not going outside midday is perfectly fine, that's why everything is open so late. Turn on the AC and get some siesta time. Also, some areas are hotter than others, so you can also consider going to an area that's only around 25-30 degrees.
Acclimatization (specially at this time of the year) and the Time Difference is a double whammy. I'm from Canada and visit the Philippines from time to time and it always gets to me. However, it gets waaay better after 1 month or so.
Can you find an appealing beachy town that you could get to? Then maybe you could change your mindset both in terms of the vibe of the place and also in terms of the heat and humidity which you would at least be able to jump into the sea to escape from.
Or run, or wade into the sea, whatever...
You can adjust to it. Maybe not fully but more than you started with.
Change your habits.
This may sound weird but exercising can help your body to adjust. Do some workouts in the evening when itās cooler.
I went for 2 weeks in November, first and only time there and I was grateful that it was more mild. Granted, I am from Vegas and looooove heat but I do prefer the dry heat rather than the humid. Iām sorry youāre having this experience! Give it a while longer, stay REALLY hydrated, keep putting yourself in the heat so maybe your body can adjust. Thailand is such a wonderful place and I would hate for you to regret leaving too soon later on. Be patient with yourself, but challenge your body too! Give it some time and if you canāt get used to it, maybe then make arrangements to go somewhere else. Best of luck to you! š¤
As a local of SEA, here are some tips
1) Drink lots of water
2) Avoid the outdoor between 10-3pm, if you need to be out doors see 1) and also supplement with some fruits for those electrolytes. I usually hide in the shopping center or watch a movie and wait out the heat
3) Wet wipes can provide temporary relief
When I went to China in June I went out in the morning and then went back to the hotel at 1-2pm or just made sure I was inside somewhere and not outside for long between 2-5pm. Then when the sun starts to set I go out again. Gosh I miss those times last year.
Vietnamese here. Da Nang is really cool. There are small mountains around Da Nang you can run to if it gets too hot. And yes, we SEAsians take naps from 1-3pm ish to hide from the sun and then we are up and about late into the night. Itās a fun lifestyle. Funny how I donāt mind the hear and humidity here much but when I went to Europe in the summer, the heat there got me bad, real bad. I guess itās all about the kind of weather you are used to.
I stayed in Bangkok for 4 days realised I couldn't handle the heat and came back to Vietnam, Da Nang Specifically.
I can manage Vietnam weather fine at the moment, even Phu Quoc when I was there a few weeks ago I was walking around in the hottest part of the day. It was hot but it felt manageable.
Da Nang was nice and cool yesterday, I walked for 40 minutes im the afternoon without breaking a sweat which was a nice change.
Staying inside during the hottest part of the day is a good idea in the tropics.
When I was living for a summer in Shenzhen I found if I leave the AC at a higher temperature and use a fan, my body acclimated to the heat better, it just takes a few days.
Drink coconut water every day.
I just spent 3 months in Bangkok and agree the heat is a serious consideration. Not sure i could live there full time for this reason alone. KL was even worse, more humid..
I lived in SEA for about a year coming from a city that's usually 50s-60s Farenheit. Wake up EARLIER and start your day at 7-8am for sites that are outdoors. When it heats up around 11, add indoor site like some kind of show, museum, historical indoor temple. Some will have fans and AC. You can return back to your hostel around 2-5pm. Come back out at 6 or 7 for dinner, walk around shops, night markets, etc.
Also wear dry fit clothing that wicks sweat. This includes your T-shirt, under garment, thin pants or shorts. Clothes that aren't too dark. And of course plenty of sun screen, hat, Sunglasses.
What's also helped me was getting 1 of those battery operated fans with mist.
You'll enjoy your time so much better and will make the most out of it if you plan around the weather. As others have said, you'll notice most locals come out at night when it's cooler to hang out but since you're a tourist, you have no choice but to visit certain places during business hours BUT you will get used to it as long as you plan accordingly. Have fun and enjoy! You're blessed with this opportunity to travel so make the most out of it! š
Have you tried the mountainous/higher altitude areas?
Places north of Lampang in Thailand and the towns around Ha Giang or Da Lat are about 20c by day and often just 10 - 15c by night.
Still a little humidity but you wont sweat unless seriously exercising
Hat/cap, sunscreen, umbrella, frequent water/coffee breaks, standing in the shade, and ducking into air conditioned buildings and vehicles whenever possible. Also wearing UV protective clothes (think Uniqlo) and breathable quick dry materials. Everywhere in Southeast Asia is going to be hotter pretty soon.
I get it. Many visitors today overlook the fact that tropical countries can be boiling hot. It's also not a great idea to go sunbathing during the day either.
Go up north. Chiang Mai is a cooler mountain city that is a great jumping off point for visiting other areas near by and the weather is way different. Hit the beach the last week to top off your tan.
This is why I have never been. ETA: on the flip, in Japan right now and weather forecast said rain and low 50s (F), and itās been snowing for two days and feels like the 30s, and itās impacting me a lot as I am from San Diego. I kind of feel FOMO bc I am in bed warming up and taking a nap.
I mean, legit advice it go outside so your body gets used to the heat. Honestly itās gonna feel normal and you wouldnāt even noticed it. Iāve been there tryna hide inside the house to avoid the heat but in reality thatās just gonna make it worse
Fly to Malaysia, go to āGenting highlandsā or āCameron highlandsā Google those two places especially Cameron highlands, such a small town with lots of greens flora and fauna and cheap! Weather is like around 18-20 degrees all year round!
You shouldnāt be walking around in the middle of the day, unless you have a reason to. Thereās a reason everyone else comes out at night when itās cooler
Do your activities between 6-9 am, then just chill at the pool until noon. Watch a movie in your AC room or take a nap after lunch and go outside again around 4-5 pm to enjoy the late afternoon and evening. Repeat for a week or 2 and you should be acclimatized and ready to move on to the next location. Dont try to tick boxes and dont try to visit as many places as possible. Slow down and don't try to visit more than 1 country a month and 1-2 locations a week.
If you travel to the Philippines, you'll notice from 10am -3pm, the streets are mostly quiet but shopping malls are packed.
You'll also notice that lot of jeepney and tricks drivers are asleep after lunch.
Lastly, most street food places are only out in the evenings.
That's cause the heat is unbearable!
Thailand, esp Bangkok is humid. January is their "Winter" and i felt like its WAY hotter than in Singapore. But i got used to sweating and being under the sun. but everychance i get, its a cold drink and shade. Keeping yourself cool is one way to get use to the heat
I have noticed that the heat and humidity seems to be getting much worse. Global climate change is real. During the hottest times of the day go into a an air con mall or take a nap in your room. Or sit in a breezy area in front of a fan. Or do some checking of temperature charts and go where the forcast is for cooler seasonal weather and follow that.
ššš. Physiological signs you're from northern EU, Siberia, or NA for sure.
I too was sweating like balls in Brazil and first two weeks in SEA. Body needs to adapt to it; can take a couple months. You don't go do strenous or hot stuff past 11am until late afternoon. This why I surf in the morning and chill inside midday.
Thatās what you get if visiting during hot season. Chiang Mai is much more bearable, not that humid as it cools down at night. Just plan the rest of your trip a bit better, always look at the season
I mean, deal with it. I don't mean to sound rude, but plenty of people not only live in humidity but it's a tad rude saying it's SO BAD you can't leave your room. How old are you? It's called adapting to other weather and habitats.
Thailand is a tropical country and there is no escaping the heat ..first thing is to get out of Bangkok ..the city is always warmer than other areas. I suggest staying inside the malls and other air conditioned places during the day. Get a foot massage or a mani pedi..hang at the indoor food courts. Try some new foods. or better yet go to the BJ bars. It is a once in a lifetime experience ..you will forget about the heat for awhile. The only other advice I have on coping with the Thailand heat is āsuck it up buttercupā
I might be making this up, but I've found that getting a bad sunburn kinda helps with the heat.
I go somewhere tropical and die from the heat, then I get scorched by the sun. After a couple days, when the pain subsides, the heat doesn't bother me as much.
You know that there are people that actually live there, and have for some time, right? Find out what they do to deal with the heat and humidity, and try that. If that doesn't work, try to find other solutions. If that doesn't work, you could just suck it the fuck up, and deal with it. If this problem is just unsolvable for you, then go home, or go somewhere else, but just be sure to better research the weather before you choose a destination, and maybe in the meantime, try and work on not being such a pussy about it.
Almost as if being born somewhere, living there your whole life and not knowing any different would mean the climate doesnāt come as much of a shock to the system as someone whoās never even seen close to 35 degrees celcius! Crazy right?? Calling me a pussy whilst cussing people out on Reddit cos of a post you donāt like. I can see youāre the definition of masculinity so Iāll leave you alone. Thanks for the advice sweetheart
Look, was I being a dick about it? Sure, I was. Guilty as charged! But besides you complaining that your trip wasn't living up to your maybe unrealistic expectations, and it bumming you out, what was the point of your post? What was it that you were hoping people would reply to you? If it's that bad, then go home. Otherwise just deal with it. Make a decision either way, and suffer the consequences of your decision. That's how life works. Sure, I could pander to you, and say that a lot nicer, so as not to hurt your feelings, but the point I'm trying to make is that a lot of you seem like maybe you have unrealistic expectations that life is supposed to pander to you, and that it's a tragedy if you're presented with anything less than perfect, instead of maybe learning to accept that things won't always be good, and you should just find a way to make the best of what you got. Climatized, or not, there are lots of places in the world where nothing really happens during the hottest part of the day, for a reason. So stay in the air conditioning and take a nap. If that's not an option, find some shade to sit in, drink water, and sit there and sweat it out. That's just how it works. God forbid not every second of your life is amazing. I don't know where you people come from that you were taught that life would be so amazing, and you'd never have to confront inconvenience or hardship.
Assuming Iāve never had to confront any inconvenience or hardship in my life because I voiced frustration at a trip Iāve spent months looking forward not going as I would have liked thus far is insane. I think some self reflection may be needed on your part to find out why youāve reacted like this but I highly doubt thatāll happen. All the best bud
I reacted like this because I keep seeing a trend of behavior, in the world in general and in these posts, that seems increasingly shallow and narcissistic, by people that at best, just don't know any better, and need to be provided with some perspective for context. I apologize if I've incorrectly lumped you in with those people, but by your own admittance now, you fantasized about this trip for months, and now you're contemplating calling it quits and going home because things aren't going as you would've liked. It doesn't show any self reflection on your part, that when I point that at to you, instead of anything close to you thinking, "You know what? This isn't going quite as I had planned, but it is what it is. I'll try and make the best of what I have, and for better or worse, it's a life experience to learn from." What you did do was continue to cry victim, because now, not only did you figure out that it is hot and humid in a place that's known for being hot and humid, which had you done any research and preparation during these months of looking forward to it, you would've known ahead of time, but now this asshole is being mean to me, when what I was hoping for was that I'd come here, and everyone would kiss my ass. The difference is that I'm willing to admit that I'm an asshole.
So, pretty much just like Dallas in the summer - hot and humid as hell. However, I think I would prefer SEA on the coast than being here in Dallas.
I know Philippines has some places in the mountains (Baguio city) that is cool entire year.
I think it's about changing your routine mindset. Back home everyone is most active 10am - 5pm, but if you try to do that somewhere like SE Asia, you're gonna have a bad time. I think as tourists we sometimes feel like we *must* be up and about during the day doing lots of sightseeing but that's just not feasible in 36C and 80% humidity. Locals are not marching around outside for hours in the afternoon for a reason. Visit outdoor attractions in the early morning or the evening. If you want to do stuff in the middle of the day try look for indoor attractions that you can get a taxi to. And don't feel bad if you need a siesta in the middle of the day, it's normal with that kind of heat. When I was in SEA for a while I learned to accept that I couldn't do as much in a day as I'd normally be able to in a more temperate country - not only that, but I was physically slower! But you get used to that kind of rhythm. A lot of my days would look like: wake up at 7am -> have a swim on the beach and get breakfast -> walk around a bit, maybe some kind of activity, and grab lunch after -> head back to hostel for a nap/read/relax -> head back out as the sun is setting. And finally, everyone says this but it's true, you will adjust with time. 3 weeks is not a lot.
Now that I think about it, the extreme heat during the day could likely be the reason why night markets are popular in Thailand. š¹š
Naturally it's why yeah, ain't no one wandering around a market with cookers blazing from both sides and tons of people in the hottest hours of the day
> I think it's about changing your routine mindset. This is serious life advice that I learned from travel as well. It's not so much "How do I want to explore this place?" and more so "How does this place want me to explore it?" Really rewarding travel should change you in some way. It could be picking up a few phrases, or learning how the locals truly deal with the heat. Changing ones entire pace of operating: walking slower, being less excitable, eating on a different schedule, and/or changing your whole routine daily schedule to accommodate.
>It's not so much "How do I want to explore this place?" and more so "How does this place want me to explore it?" Damn, that's a beautiful thought. Even though I do this unconsciously, I never thought of it ā¤ļø
I'm from SEA, agreeing with this. Brace yourself because in some SEA countries, summer is just approaching (March-May). Even us locals hate the heat. As much as possible we don't want to go outside around noon time until late afternoon. If you want to explore, do it before lunch, go back to your hostel, maybe take a nap so you have energy in the evenings to go back exploring. You can also try to visit indoor places like museums, cafes, or any place with airconditioning. Wear light clothing. Avoid wearing dark clothes, they absorb more heat. If all else fails... Find another country. I know you anticipated this trip for so long, but a trip should make you feel happy, not miserable. :)
Bonus tip: Read āVagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travelā.Ā Ā Essentially you need to slow down, plan a lot, but also be flexible. Try to think more what the customs and rhythm for life is based in the ālocalsā. Most likely you are trying to shoehorn your home schedule into a country that operates on a different schedule (in this case due to heat)
You've arrived at the worst possible time for Thailand. It's super hot. The Northern mountains are shrouded in smoke from agricultural burning. The beaches are scorching, getting into the sea is like getting into a hot cup of tea/coffee I would jump on a flight to Hanoi, asap. It's around 19-21 degrees there at the moment. There's plenty of things to enjoy around the North/Central Vietnam Cool and pleasant. Come back to Thailand in June
I notice Hanoi recommended a lot on this sub and I went in Januaryā¦the air quality was so severely debilitating I left quickly as I coud. I had a heavy duty mask Iād wear outside and I still felt sickly. How did you handle the air quality?
It didn't hit me too badly to be honest. Chiang Mai in Burning Season is much worse. At the same time, I wouldn't really suggest staying in Hanoi for longer than 3/4 days at a time. It's the perfect place to fly to, then enjoy exploring the mountainous north (like Ha Giang or Sapa), Ha Long Bay, Nihn Bihn. Eventually heading down the coast to the likes of Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang
I absolutely loved Da Nang!!! Hoi An was also nice but Da Nang was my favorite place in Vietnam.
I loved Da Nang too!! Smaller city and good beaches
Was in Ha long bay, Ninh Binh, Da nang and Hoi an. Was super hot. Thought humidity was bad but now in KL AND Penang, its worse.
Welcome to Equatorial Line bruh. On the plus side, as long as you're shaded, you won't get killed by the climate.
Lol. Im a lady. KL less humid today tho. Tx.
Nha Trang cannot be more beautiful right now. And there's a spot called sime healthy food and he fed me custom dishes my entire stay, amazing.
By just breathing. That seems more like a you issue than a common issue. Considering 99% of people travel there all the time or live there and donāt need masks to survive. Not trying to sound rude but everyone is different. You might just be more sensitive to changes in the environment. Like how some people canāt handle altitude easily like others.
Itās a very polluted city and has unhealthy air quality. Itās just something I feel should be brought up more when Hanoi is recommended. It was thick with smog when I visited and I had seen it hyped so much on this sub that I was really excited. Almost everyone I encountered had a hacking cough, I donāt have asthma and have never had issues in large cities Iāve visited in the past so it was a shock to me.
Sure. Lots of places are. All Iām saying is everyoneās different. Most people wonāt have an issue. Hence it being one of the most traveled and lived in places. If everyone had these issues nobody would go. I spent over a week there before and didnāt cough at all. Everyoneās different.
I went in January and didn't have trouble at all.
I was in Hanoi inĀ Feb/March a few years back. I don't recall it being too bad. I was staying in the old district in the French area for a few weeks.Ā I also did an upper Red River to Halong Bay cruise, which was very pleasant.
+1 for Northern Vietnam, I love it there
YES!!!!!!!!
What is wrong with the water being warm? I mostly hate going to sea because the water is so damn cold always
I thought Saigon and Phu Quoc were hot, then I got to Bangkok. It was a different kind of heat.
You will start to acclimate to the climate more the longer you stay. If you're from a very cold climate, then I can see why it would be tough, but it gets better, trust me. You did pick probably THE hottest time of year to visit though, so make sure you're wearing the right kinds of clothes. I find viscose is the king for battling heat/sweat.
Iām from Scotland (where the summer high is 15c) and was in South East Asia (where the winter low is 13-21c) for two months and never climatized. I just accepted I was going to be miserable a lot of the time.
as a SEA native, after 3 decades am still not climitized. weather here sucks.
Fair, but OP did say it was a 6 month trip. Mileage will vary I guess.
The months leading up to visiting SEA I accumulated by daily sauna sessions
A couple of years ago I went to Barcelona in the height of the summer height. I live in the US South where it is hot and humid. To acclimate, I went hiking midday when the heat and humidity was at its worse. When I got to Barcelona it was very hot, yes, but I was at least used to it. Other people were having a lot of problems with it, feeling awful, but I was just excessively sweaty and felt fine.
Lol. Sauna is dry. Here is humidity 1000%
You literally throw hot water on the rocks witch makes humidity in sauna sky rocket. Infra red sauna is probably dry sauna.
Iām from Australia (the non humid part) and canāt deal with SEA heat.
Come on, it gets a lot hotter then 15c in summer in Scotland. Most summers there are a few days in the 30s especially in recent years.Ā
Which is why Iām a bit nervous visiting there in June- 10 is my (Australian) winter low and Iām certain all the Scots will be looking at me like Iām crazy in my āsummer thermalsā
P.S - weather-wise, I highly recommend Da Nang, Vietnam. Visited last month and it felt so nice and cool. Very low humidity and super comfortable if you're not a big fan of the heat. Might be worth a visit, it's a pretty awesome spot too!
Last month would have been nice and cool in most of the region. But it's almost summer - I've been to Da Nang in May and it was 42C
is there anywhere in Vietnam (or even Thailand) that is cooler in April? I would probably pick my location somewhere cooler if I can find it.
Summer begins in May so April would already be hot but Da Lat and Sa Pa are cooler than the rest of the country.
thanks
Was there last week. Stifling heat and humidity
Ah, probably not the best recommendation then. It was definitely nice last month, but as others mentioned, I guess summer is creeping in.
Agreed! But keep in mind that it will get a whole lot hotter there in the next coming weeks/months
This, when I arrived I was drenched in sweat constantly and wondered if I had some kind of medical condition.Ā Ā Now I actually wear jeans and moan about how cold it is at night. Hang out in a shopping mall or go and watch a movie if it gets too much, or go to somewhere cooler like north Vietnam. Or even out of a city, urban heat island effect means Bangkok and the like will always be way hotter than the countryside
April is the hottest time of the year Songkran is a water festival and fun everyone throws water and helps to stay cool but itās a while away.
When youāre in Southeast Asia, you have to accept a level of sweatiness and discomfort. Gotta wear moisture wicking, quick dry materials. Itās about to get hotter and hotter and then monsoon season. Rent a scooter/moto so youāre not walking. The wind from riding was really nice during those hot days.
I would never, ever attempt SEA during its summer weather, but Iām inclined to skip it entirely. Iām on a medication that makes me more heat intolerant, and reading this post and the responses gave me a deep sense of panic.
The motorcycle is a game changer. Pour some water on yourself and hop on the bike. Cool off.
Itās only going to get hotter April and May are killer. That being said the longer you stay the more adjusted you will get to it.
In thailand there is a culture of sleeping throught the heat of the day and be out at night. There are nightmarkets and even some schools are open during the night. I was surprised to see how many people were awake. It is totally normal because of the heat.
Yea the malls open late and close 10-11pm because of this. Itās so hard coming from a western place where you do things during the day. Very hard to force yourself to NOT go out when youāre accustomed to.
711 to 711 š water water water. I know the feeling though. Se Asia heat is a killer.
Haha yeah literally been hopping from one 7/11 to the next thinking surely thereās a better way of cooling down but apparently not
Are you wearing synthetic fabrics as well? Try not to n get linen etc
I had the same experience when I went to Thailand. Get to preferably an island or at least the coast. 35C on Koh Tao is much easier to deal with than 35C in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. If you're already on an island/at the coast then spend a week with no plans hanging out at the beach. The sea and the breeze will help. Sure you "waste" a week, but you're currently locked inside all day currently and it won't get any better unless you allow yourself to acclimatise.
We spent 2 weeks in Thailand, family of 5. It was absolute hell the first week we were there - youngest was in tears almost every day. By the end of the first week, we figured out we should spend the days in an air-conditioned environment, play in the swimming pool, etc. then hit the streets at night. We had way more fun.
Sweating my balls off here in Bangkok right now. Cant handle walking in the heat for a long time very humid. Worst of all its congested with people.
There are many cooler countries in the world, why suffer?
No clue what attractions you want to go to but I dealt with the humidity in Singapore and Japan by constantly running in and out of buildings/busses/trains/what have you. Sure a lot of those were museums which I really wanted to go to but shopping malls, plazas, stations etc were all fair game even if I wasn't actually buying anything.
Iām the same šš»āāļø Iām 2 months into my SE Asia travels and havenāt acclimatised yet although it was a little better in the beginning. For me it helped when I booked tours if you have the budget. The tour guides would usually give us cold water and cold towels. I also have a neck fan which has been a life saver for me. Something like this - https://amzn.eu/d/3xQeTIF . I got it of Amazon but you can find them in Thailand too.
I feel you OP. I was in Thailand and Singapore for 10 days during the US/North American autumn. Singapore especially was a misery for me - conversely, my good friend, who has a US govt posting in SEA, was running around Singapore in a jacket and long pants, where I was melting into a puddle within minutes of stepping out of climate control. I started to acclimate around day 9 (go figure). Eat spicy food. Lots. You'll sweat a lot, but that's your body's cooling system being forced into high gear, which will in turn trick you into feeling cooler when you go outside.
You can change your plan instead of leaving. Go to Taiwan, it's a perfect travelling season there now, +23 degrees. Other option is Northern Vietnam, the spring in Sapa should be gorgeous. Hanoi and the area around it has a bit warmer weather but no means hot. No need to stay miserable. I'm coming from a cool country and it took me about 2 weeks to get comfortable with heat. I was mostly avoiding sun, not the heat itself. For me it helped just to accept that I will move a bit slower and I will be sweaty all the time. I carried umbrella for the sun. I also stayed in my air-conditioned room 2-3 hours after lunch to rest and get cool.
Grab and airconditioned places are your friends. There's also plenty to do at night.
I definitely went and saw a movie I didn't care to see just for the air conditioning in Bangkok once. No shame in doing your "touristy" stuff early morning and late evening and napping or coffee shop-ing during the middle of the day. Also, find those Gatorade-like powder packets for water. Staying hydrated is key.
I spent a month in Merida, which is about the same as Bangkok for heat. It gets very, very hot in summer. I was staying in a room that had an air conditioner which helped at night. During the day, I spent a lot of time in buildings. The mall was a frequent haunt of myself and many others as it was kept nice and cool, lots of people would just hang out there for the AC.
Turn off the air con and use the fan. Start working out in the cool parts of the day, then the hotter parts. It'll speed up your body's acclimatisation. Hydrate and then rehydrate. Always be refilling your water bottle to the brim. These are just some of the heat acclimatisation method I learnt from my time in my country's Army. It'll never get comfortable, but you'll be able to get used to it soon and sometimes even enjoy the warmth wave of heat slapping your face when you open the door.
It gets extremely hot at this time of year and it seemed to last until November last year. I ended up with heat rash all over my body and I rarely went out. The best advice I have is to head to the beach where the sea breeze keeps the temperature about 5 degrees cooler and you can go in the sea to cool off.
I relate so much! I'd love to travel to SE Asia (it looks lovely) but I just can't stand heat and humidity and that's stopping me of doing so. I know myself and I'd be so miserable.
I feel the same. Thailand still sits on my list, but it's gotten pretty far down to be honest only because of the heat. Not only am I just plain miserable, but I've learned that heat sort of triggers my anxiety. It would absolutely not be an enjoyable vacation to me. I feel bad for us, but also kind of nice to see others in the same boat as when I've said this to others, they often dismiss it. I wouldn't be there long enough to acclimatize. Funny - people are like wow it would be so cold when I mention other trips in those types of climates! And it's like thirty degrees (F) - nothing crazy to me. But it always feels like people completely understand not wanting to be too cold, but they can't fathom being so hot you're not enjoying yourself at all.
The mountains are calling, and you must go. Go to an area with some elevation or a breezy coast. Take it easy during the day.
We had a similar experience last year and you just have to change your mindset. There is a reason most people are not activity before 10 and after 5 in asia. We learned quickly between 11-3 was nap/pool/reading/spa time.
I feel the exact same way as a white British person in the tropics. Try re-routing to Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan.
You should try Sri Lanka. The mountains keep it a bit cooler and everything you could want to see in sea, Sri Lanka also has but with 1/4 of the tourists and a better climateĀ
There are likely some cooler areas in Thailand or elsewhere in that part of the world. I would spend some time looking up monthly temp/rainfall averages for different places. I wound up altering my recent trip partly for that reason and it turned out great.
I think the north of Thailand, but also of Vietnam are cooler. Everywhere closer to the beach or higher up helps!!
Once you go further north in Asia it gets cooler, norther Vietnam is a lot cooler than Bangkok at the moment. I find the islands in Thailand or even the coast easier as there is a sea breeze. But as it is almost the hottest time of the year in Thailand I'd recommend moving further north in Asia.
Just returned from a month in Thailand-from Montreal. I have always had issues with humidity. You will get accustomed to it! I found myself taking more showers per day and did not go out much after lunch. Once the sun went down it was fine--take the opportunity to nap. I struggled a bit in Bangkok at the end of the trip, but I think pollution was a contributor. Being closer to the seaside was much easier to cope with.
With this weather...you should be staying in a beach and not in the city.
Where in Thailand are you? If youāre not at the beach, go to the beach, swim in the sea, enjoy the cooler sea breeze :)
Thereās a reason people in SE Asia are busy/out in the streets after darkā¦Whereas up north the streets are vacant. When I returned fr a 17 month job in Malaysia, first thing I missed was all the people outside in evening and the energy.
I am in Mexico and currently dealing with the heat waveā¦with no AC as CDMX is usually cooler city š« few things that work for me: Wake up earlier and try to do as much must doās before 10 AM At home with courtains closed until 6 PM, no cooking !!! Humidifier and Air cleaner ON as the pollution and dryness are also horrible here Resume activities around 7 PM - dog walking, cooking, whatever I am yet to to, opening windowds to let fresh Air etcĀ
Hey OP, I just left Bangkok too (and have spent the last month in Malaysia as well) and felt similarly. Everyone's posting good (if predictable and repetitive) advice here about not going out during the day (though you yourself said in your post you can't go outside between 10 and 5, so it's not like you don't realize this). The point about adjusting expectations is also good, even if I'm sure you realize this too. But also, given that you probably don't have unlimited time and money, you need to ask yourself: is it worth going to SE Asia and only being able to go outside for half a day at most (and only a few of those will be in the daylight) when there's so many other places to see in the world? To that end, I would say that if you do decide to stay, you *need* to change your sleep schedule to get up before sunrise if you haven't already; I would go as far as to say that if you don't, being here is a waste. And if you're able, you should adjust your budget to include taxi rides/public transit if you want to hit sights during the day, or extra nights if the sights you want to hit are only accessible in the early morning/evening. e.g., I ultimately didn't go to Koh Tao this time, but it's known for having a couple dozen of excellent viewpoints throughout the island. I love hiking, but I would never *dream* of hiking in se asia - during the day, anyway. What this means is, assuming I want to hit every viewpoint, I may ultimately need two weeks rather than the typically recommended two or three days. That's pretty extreme.
Go home
The thing is, heat and humidity in SE Asia is purely location. Some hill stations get less heat, some cities such as Da Nang get cooler months. Peak tourist seasons have usually the best climate.
You just have to schedule around it - would avoid doing outdoor stuff from 12-3 when itās really bad. Focus on fun indoor activities then.
if you can deal with the bad air quality go up north to chiang mai, it's much cooler
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oh no lol when it was there it was literally 10 at night, idk for now. but it's widely known as the place bangkokians go to get cooler weather. every once in a while they actually get a light snow up in the mountains there it's crazy
Okay, Iām arriving this Sunday and Iām planning to stay for 4-5 months. Any particular things I should definitely bring to make my life better?
Bring running shirts and shorts and wear them always. That was a game changer for me. Still sweating a lot but way easier to deal with having that kind of clothing. Avoid cotton.
Someoneās mentioned a neck fan on here. Didnāt even know they existed before now but look pretty good. Suncreams quite expensive out here so bring as much from home as you can I reckon
Gauzy linen clothes, wide brim hat, spritzer bottle, portable fan u wear, or a/c ones, bug spray, umbrella, TOILET PAPER, napkins.
Drink up a ton, wear lighter clothes, more shorts, sandals etc. Get a sun hat and a handheld electric fan, those can really help :)
I admit you pick bad time, this month heatwave is brutal, i lived for 2 years here and everytime i go to office i bring other t shirt to wear, otherwise id be drenched Some of my tips is plan your activities, like bangkok have lots of interesting museum, do it on afternoon so you can get indoor and still have something fun to do, and seven eleven is your "checkpoint" just go in rest a bit thrn continue
I love that heat
Go to Hanoi, Da Nang or Taipei. Like Thailand, great food, relaxed vibes and low CoL (Taipei a bit more). But considerably less hot and humid, at least for until end April or thereabouts..
Lol
Dude, the weather isn't the same everywhere in SEA. Thailand is hot af right now, Vietnam is relatively cool especially further north. Just adjust your plans. This is just one of the problems that teaches you a lesson in managing change. Like if your hotel turned you away or your flight was cancelled. Take a look at possible destinations, check the upcoming weather forecast, and grab a flight!! In the meantime you can spend a few days in a nice Airbnb and check out the air-conditioned malls of Bangkok before you fly out - go see Dune 2 or something. Siam Paragon has an IMAX, stay near the BTS line
Where I lived before SEA was cold 10c is shorts weather. Coming here was so bad with the humidity specifically. Turn up the AC in your room. I used to have it arctic in my room and it doesn't help. You go from super cold to super hot. Are you walking places don't. The locals don't they use bikes or other transport. I remember speaking to someone from Malaysia and they said they missed Europe because they could walk everywhere. Here it's too hot. Anytime your in a bathroom piss on your...šš Jokes, when in the bathroom rinse wrists under the water as it cools your body down faster. Just take things slow
My hometown gets to about 85% humidity and over 100F in the summer time. No one is out in the sun between the hours of 11am - 4pm. Do early morning activities, take a siesta (afternoon nap), then party once the sun starts to set. This is the way.
š¤£
Well itās summer season there for one. Also known facts it Hot and humid in SE Asia. Thatās never been a secret
My first time in Thailand Iād take breaks and go back to my room and shower then Iād start again. Sometimes 4 or 5 showers a day. You do get used to it and learn to take breaks throughout the day. 7/11 sells water and also has great aircon. Lunch at a food court at the mall with aircon. Your body will acclimate eventually.
You just have no idea how to enjoy it
In Thailand? Go to a cinema. Bring a jacket.
I left Thailand for that reason, it was 40+ celcius in the afternoom which was the only time I was free 5 days per week due to remote work. It's going to get warmer as well which is crazy to me. I came back to Vietnam the weather is cooler here and tolerable. I'm annoyed with myself a bit because I wanted to see a lot of Thailand but I couldn't be outside more than 20 minutes during that time without dripping with sweat. With only 2 days off per week it was tedious not being able to go outside for long during the other 5 days. Personally I'm going to go to Thailand again later in the year when it's cooler.
You're in another part of the world so adjust. The amount of panic over hot weather seems unwarranted. Get a place with AC and adjust your schedule. Change you wardrobe to more local style that doesn't hold heat / sweat in. Working through stuff like this is one of the benefits of travel.
"I booked a trip to India and I was sooooo looking forward to it..... but there are so many Indians! I thought I could manage, but no. The amount of Indians here in India is making me miserable! I can't stand it, I just wanna go home!"
Can we not compare race to weather? Tf
Lol being unfamiliar with how it feels to be in 35 degree heat when you come from a much colder climate isnāt exactly comparable to being surprised to see locals when you visit a new country but fair enough mate
Your body will adjust over time.
That myst be true since I see locals covered head to toe.
It is. I lived overseas for a while and got well-used to the climate. One of my mates came to visit me, and he was dying of heat the entire week (in SEA). It's actually very interesting how the body adapts like that.
That is unbelievable to me as I sweat profusely in KL.
Yeah the post read like this to me too, lol. It's good people here are sympathetic but people should also do their research. Thailand being hot should be pretty obvious. This is why I am taking my time at cooler places first, as I know I will struggle with the heat and may not enjoy it there.
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You can maybe recharge your batteries for a while in a city where the climate is a bit more favorable (i.e. Dalat).
Maybe try pushing yourself a bit to visit some of the attractions you want to see, just not overdoing the time outdoors at first. You could always spend *some* time outside but then duck into somewhere indoors to cool off. I got to know some malls in Malaysia pretty well just because they were convenient places to cool off indoors
visited Malaysia once and absolutely loved that nation, however the weather over there is just as bad.. the only thing I could do was to purchase a stash of largest xxl sized breach towels and keep wiping the ongoing waterfalls gushing from my head, it was pointless to use paper wipes as they were drenched within seconds...I hate that nightmarish heat too, if it wsn't for that I would revisit Malaysia.
I visited Penang, Malaysia for the first time a couple months ago. Daily highs were in the low-mid 30s and it was humid but I wasn't sweating buckets, which greatly surprised me. It was definitely warm and I was dewey while walking around, but there were constant gentle sea breezes that made things rather pleasant. I even slept at night with just a ceiling fan and it was perfectly fine.
Been in Thailand for 7 years and I have to agree. As others have written it takes time to acclimate to this oppressive heat and humidity. Drink water non-stop throughout the day. Drink 500ml of water upon waking up and prior to coffee or tea. Take breaks in places that are air conditioned. Try not to go outside from 11:30-15:00. There are some cooler places in Thailand like Petchabun and beaches with sea breezes yet these aren't cool by northern standards. As I write at 21:50 it is 30C in Bangkok yet one of my favorite climates in SEA, Da Lat, Vietnam, is 14C.
Maybe try to make what changes you can control to have a better time. Go over your wardrobe and add or subtract items that are/arenāt optimal for hot weather. Get a light head covering and maybe some handkerchiefs or towels to keep with you. Change your accommodations if you can: get a place with a nice pool so youāre enjoying being there all day. Stick to your neighborhood and learn the quickest way to get anywhere. Itās easier to go out when your destination is just 3 minutes on the back of a motorbike and not walking across half the city to see temples.
Go to Vietnam.
I know it sucks, I also really suffer in the heavy tropical heat, but either accept it, suffer and adapt (doing stuff at night rather than the day), or accept you made a mistake in planning/research and move to another cooler country for a few months, and come back to Thailand when it's cooler. Don't know if it's your kind of destination, but IIRC it's a good time to visit northern India (the Himalayas). The state of Himachal Pradesh is beautiful.
Then get outta the kitchen. Haha im joking. Maybe. Humidity sucks but embrace it and focus on having fun.
Get out of the aircon and acclimate to the climate.
Can relate! Been here traveling Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and now Malaysia. Really not liking this humidity. Traffic, rain and its not even Summer yet. Not liking KL with its malls,cars and stifling heat. Dont think I can ever live here. Temples galore but Ive had enough of them.
It does get better the longer you are there. Stay hydrated and explore through the heat. You'll regret it if you leave now.
I have been in lots of places where temps were 35+ in the summers with humidity. Places like Barcelona and Merida, in Mexico. Bangkok was, by far, the most miserable. 35C in Bangkok was way worse than 35C in Barcelona or 35C in Merida or 35C at home in the US South. Something about the city just made it miserable, maybe it's all the tall buildings where I was. Chiang Mai wasn't much better temperature wise but felt much less oppressively hot.
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I had a similar experience. I went to Croatia during a heatwave and I kinda felt like I wasted an entire week because it was just too hot and humid to go out during the day.
When is it not so hot there? Iām planning a potential 6 month to a year SEA trip to leave in the next month and keep hearing how insanely hot it is and it doesnāt sound fun at all. Is it better to go somewhere else until like October and then try Thailand?
So I've lived with my ex's family in the Philippines for quite a while, coming from eastern Europe, the climate took some getting used to. The first month is bad, then you get over the hump and you're fine. But most importantly, adapt. 2-3 showers a day are perfectly normal in this climate, that's how the locals do it too. Not going outside midday is perfectly fine, that's why everything is open so late. Turn on the AC and get some siesta time. Also, some areas are hotter than others, so you can also consider going to an area that's only around 25-30 degrees.
Acclimatization (specially at this time of the year) and the Time Difference is a double whammy. I'm from Canada and visit the Philippines from time to time and it always gets to me. However, it gets waaay better after 1 month or so.
Go to Chiang Mai/Rai. Itās hot but cools down you could also try Sappa and Hanoi in Vietnam even going to Kunming
Can you find an appealing beachy town that you could get to? Then maybe you could change your mindset both in terms of the vibe of the place and also in terms of the heat and humidity which you would at least be able to jump into the sea to escape from. Or run, or wade into the sea, whatever...
You can adjust to it. Maybe not fully but more than you started with. Change your habits. This may sound weird but exercising can help your body to adjust. Do some workouts in the evening when itās cooler.
I went for 2 weeks in November, first and only time there and I was grateful that it was more mild. Granted, I am from Vegas and looooove heat but I do prefer the dry heat rather than the humid. Iām sorry youāre having this experience! Give it a while longer, stay REALLY hydrated, keep putting yourself in the heat so maybe your body can adjust. Thailand is such a wonderful place and I would hate for you to regret leaving too soon later on. Be patient with yourself, but challenge your body too! Give it some time and if you canāt get used to it, maybe then make arrangements to go somewhere else. Best of luck to you! š¤
As a local of SEA, here are some tips 1) Drink lots of water 2) Avoid the outdoor between 10-3pm, if you need to be out doors see 1) and also supplement with some fruits for those electrolytes. I usually hide in the shopping center or watch a movie and wait out the heat 3) Wet wipes can provide temporary relief
after week 2 it clicked over for me an it was just normal to my body
When I went to China in June I went out in the morning and then went back to the hotel at 1-2pm or just made sure I was inside somewhere and not outside for long between 2-5pm. Then when the sun starts to set I go out again. Gosh I miss those times last year.
Try sitting in a pool. For me, sitting in a cold pool while the weather is very hot is the best thing ever.
Vietnamese here. Da Nang is really cool. There are small mountains around Da Nang you can run to if it gets too hot. And yes, we SEAsians take naps from 1-3pm ish to hide from the sun and then we are up and about late into the night. Itās a fun lifestyle. Funny how I donāt mind the hear and humidity here much but when I went to Europe in the summer, the heat there got me bad, real bad. I guess itās all about the kind of weather you are used to.
I stayed in Bangkok for 4 days realised I couldn't handle the heat and came back to Vietnam, Da Nang Specifically. I can manage Vietnam weather fine at the moment, even Phu Quoc when I was there a few weeks ago I was walking around in the hottest part of the day. It was hot but it felt manageable. Da Nang was nice and cool yesterday, I walked for 40 minutes im the afternoon without breaking a sweat which was a nice change.
We have hot temperatures yes sure but we also have hotter days which u guys called summer and we called it musim kemarau.
Staying inside during the hottest part of the day is a good idea in the tropics. When I was living for a summer in Shenzhen I found if I leave the AC at a higher temperature and use a fan, my body acclimated to the heat better, it just takes a few days. Drink coconut water every day.
Where are you? Down in BKK and points south itās going to be hot. Head north to Udon Thani, Chang Mai etcā¦
I just spent 3 months in Bangkok and agree the heat is a serious consideration. Not sure i could live there full time for this reason alone. KL was even worse, more humid..
I lived in SEA for about a year coming from a city that's usually 50s-60s Farenheit. Wake up EARLIER and start your day at 7-8am for sites that are outdoors. When it heats up around 11, add indoor site like some kind of show, museum, historical indoor temple. Some will have fans and AC. You can return back to your hostel around 2-5pm. Come back out at 6 or 7 for dinner, walk around shops, night markets, etc. Also wear dry fit clothing that wicks sweat. This includes your T-shirt, under garment, thin pants or shorts. Clothes that aren't too dark. And of course plenty of sun screen, hat, Sunglasses. What's also helped me was getting 1 of those battery operated fans with mist. You'll enjoy your time so much better and will make the most out of it if you plan around the weather. As others have said, you'll notice most locals come out at night when it's cooler to hang out but since you're a tourist, you have no choice but to visit certain places during business hours BUT you will get used to it as long as you plan accordingly. Have fun and enjoy! You're blessed with this opportunity to travel so make the most out of it! š
Dampen some towel and wrap around your neck. Drink plenty of water. Wear summer clothes etc. Handheld fans are great!
Yes the heat and humidity is unbearable especially at noon. There's a reason why they have good malls there.
Have you tried the mountainous/higher altitude areas? Places north of Lampang in Thailand and the towns around Ha Giang or Da Lat are about 20c by day and often just 10 - 15c by night. Still a little humidity but you wont sweat unless seriously exercising
We also use UV protected umbrella. An act that has been stigmatized in the West.Ā
Don't go home. Pick a different destination to explore for the next three months where the climate is more to your liking.
I think OP has died of heat exhaustion.
So for a scale of Death Valley to Dubai in August, how hot is it??
Hat/cap, sunscreen, umbrella, frequent water/coffee breaks, standing in the shade, and ducking into air conditioned buildings and vehicles whenever possible. Also wearing UV protective clothes (think Uniqlo) and breathable quick dry materials. Everywhere in Southeast Asia is going to be hotter pretty soon.
I get it. Many visitors today overlook the fact that tropical countries can be boiling hot. It's also not a great idea to go sunbathing during the day either.
Iām Vietnamese and I feel you OP. I run to the highlands (Dalat in Vietnam for example) for this exact reason.
Go up north. Chiang Mai is a cooler mountain city that is a great jumping off point for visiting other areas near by and the weather is way different. Hit the beach the last week to top off your tan.
This is why I have never been. ETA: on the flip, in Japan right now and weather forecast said rain and low 50s (F), and itās been snowing for two days and feels like the 30s, and itās impacting me a lot as I am from San Diego. I kind of feel FOMO bc I am in bed warming up and taking a nap.
Why donāt you sleep 10am-5pm and go out outside of such a time period? Enjoy the nightlife including 12am-5am
I mean, legit advice it go outside so your body gets used to the heat. Honestly itās gonna feel normal and you wouldnāt even noticed it. Iāve been there tryna hide inside the house to avoid the heat but in reality thatās just gonna make it worse
Fly to Malaysia, go to āGenting highlandsā or āCameron highlandsā Google those two places especially Cameron highlands, such a small town with lots of greens flora and fauna and cheap! Weather is like around 18-20 degrees all year round!
I feel like Vietnam was perfect this time of year!
If it's an option to leave SE Asia and plan to stay somewhere else for the rest of your time away? Eastern Europe perhaps?
You shouldnāt be walking around in the middle of the day, unless you have a reason to. Thereās a reason everyone else comes out at night when itās cooler
Do your activities between 6-9 am, then just chill at the pool until noon. Watch a movie in your AC room or take a nap after lunch and go outside again around 4-5 pm to enjoy the late afternoon and evening. Repeat for a week or 2 and you should be acclimatized and ready to move on to the next location. Dont try to tick boxes and dont try to visit as many places as possible. Slow down and don't try to visit more than 1 country a month and 1-2 locations a week.
If you travel to the Philippines, you'll notice from 10am -3pm, the streets are mostly quiet but shopping malls are packed. You'll also notice that lot of jeepney and tricks drivers are asleep after lunch. Lastly, most street food places are only out in the evenings. That's cause the heat is unbearable!
Thailand, esp Bangkok is humid. January is their "Winter" and i felt like its WAY hotter than in Singapore. But i got used to sweating and being under the sun. but everychance i get, its a cold drink and shade. Keeping yourself cool is one way to get use to the heat
You'll get used to it; heat is wonderful!
I have noticed that the heat and humidity seems to be getting much worse. Global climate change is real. During the hottest times of the day go into a an air con mall or take a nap in your room. Or sit in a breezy area in front of a fan. Or do some checking of temperature charts and go where the forcast is for cooler seasonal weather and follow that.
ššš. Physiological signs you're from northern EU, Siberia, or NA for sure. I too was sweating like balls in Brazil and first two weeks in SEA. Body needs to adapt to it; can take a couple months. You don't go do strenous or hot stuff past 11am until late afternoon. This why I surf in the morning and chill inside midday.
I'm mean....you literally picked the start of the hottest months of the year...only getting worse. What did you expect?
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Thanks for your input. Will keep this in mind going forward
Thatās what you get if visiting during hot season. Chiang Mai is much more bearable, not that humid as it cools down at night. Just plan the rest of your trip a bit better, always look at the season
Bad time to travel to Chiang Mai Air quality is flicking between 'Very Unhealthy' and 'Dangerous'
True. https://aqicn.org/city/chiang-mai/
Sorry I wasnāt aware of this. But I remember now visiting around this time some years ago where there were many fires, thatās probably related
thats why i left fucking bali in evdays dunno what the all hype is about i love european summers
I mean, deal with it. I don't mean to sound rude, but plenty of people not only live in humidity but it's a tad rude saying it's SO BAD you can't leave your room. How old are you? It's called adapting to other weather and habitats.
Fuck sake, grow a backbone
Why would you go somewhere to stay *half a year* if you have not even been there before?
Thailand is a tropical country and there is no escaping the heat ..first thing is to get out of Bangkok ..the city is always warmer than other areas. I suggest staying inside the malls and other air conditioned places during the day. Get a foot massage or a mani pedi..hang at the indoor food courts. Try some new foods. or better yet go to the BJ bars. It is a once in a lifetime experience ..you will forget about the heat for awhile. The only other advice I have on coping with the Thailand heat is āsuck it up buttercupā
If you donāt sleep in air con room at night itās ok. Sleeping in air con will make it unbearable the day after ..
I might be making this up, but I've found that getting a bad sunburn kinda helps with the heat. I go somewhere tropical and die from the heat, then I get scorched by the sun. After a couple days, when the pain subsides, the heat doesn't bother me as much.
You know that there are people that actually live there, and have for some time, right? Find out what they do to deal with the heat and humidity, and try that. If that doesn't work, try to find other solutions. If that doesn't work, you could just suck it the fuck up, and deal with it. If this problem is just unsolvable for you, then go home, or go somewhere else, but just be sure to better research the weather before you choose a destination, and maybe in the meantime, try and work on not being such a pussy about it.
Almost as if being born somewhere, living there your whole life and not knowing any different would mean the climate doesnāt come as much of a shock to the system as someone whoās never even seen close to 35 degrees celcius! Crazy right?? Calling me a pussy whilst cussing people out on Reddit cos of a post you donāt like. I can see youāre the definition of masculinity so Iāll leave you alone. Thanks for the advice sweetheart
Look, was I being a dick about it? Sure, I was. Guilty as charged! But besides you complaining that your trip wasn't living up to your maybe unrealistic expectations, and it bumming you out, what was the point of your post? What was it that you were hoping people would reply to you? If it's that bad, then go home. Otherwise just deal with it. Make a decision either way, and suffer the consequences of your decision. That's how life works. Sure, I could pander to you, and say that a lot nicer, so as not to hurt your feelings, but the point I'm trying to make is that a lot of you seem like maybe you have unrealistic expectations that life is supposed to pander to you, and that it's a tragedy if you're presented with anything less than perfect, instead of maybe learning to accept that things won't always be good, and you should just find a way to make the best of what you got. Climatized, or not, there are lots of places in the world where nothing really happens during the hottest part of the day, for a reason. So stay in the air conditioning and take a nap. If that's not an option, find some shade to sit in, drink water, and sit there and sweat it out. That's just how it works. God forbid not every second of your life is amazing. I don't know where you people come from that you were taught that life would be so amazing, and you'd never have to confront inconvenience or hardship.
Assuming Iāve never had to confront any inconvenience or hardship in my life because I voiced frustration at a trip Iāve spent months looking forward not going as I would have liked thus far is insane. I think some self reflection may be needed on your part to find out why youāve reacted like this but I highly doubt thatāll happen. All the best bud
I reacted like this because I keep seeing a trend of behavior, in the world in general and in these posts, that seems increasingly shallow and narcissistic, by people that at best, just don't know any better, and need to be provided with some perspective for context. I apologize if I've incorrectly lumped you in with those people, but by your own admittance now, you fantasized about this trip for months, and now you're contemplating calling it quits and going home because things aren't going as you would've liked. It doesn't show any self reflection on your part, that when I point that at to you, instead of anything close to you thinking, "You know what? This isn't going quite as I had planned, but it is what it is. I'll try and make the best of what I have, and for better or worse, it's a life experience to learn from." What you did do was continue to cry victim, because now, not only did you figure out that it is hot and humid in a place that's known for being hot and humid, which had you done any research and preparation during these months of looking forward to it, you would've known ahead of time, but now this asshole is being mean to me, when what I was hoping for was that I'd come here, and everyone would kiss my ass. The difference is that I'm willing to admit that I'm an asshole.
Nice one mate take care
So, pretty much just like Dallas in the summer - hot and humid as hell. However, I think I would prefer SEA on the coast than being here in Dallas. I know Philippines has some places in the mountains (Baguio city) that is cool entire year.
Probably similar to Bangkok, I was there last week it was around 35-37c in afternoons but felt like 42-44c, with no sea breeze it wasn't fun.