Phnom Penh · Month comparison

March vs November

November ranks #1 overall vs March at #5. Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

Phnom Penh March — Independence Monument standing against the clear Cambodian sky in the late dry season

March

#5 of 12 months

Best match

Late dry season — heat building toward 35°C but Khmer New Year preparations create rising energy.

  • ↑International tourist numbers beginning to ease from February peak — temples and the National Museum feel noticeably less crowded
  • ↑Khmer New Year preparations start in temple districts; peach-coloured decorations and offerings begin appearing at pagodas across the city
Phnom Penh November — city skyline with the clock tower at dusk as the dry season returns to Cambodia's capital

November

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

  • ↑Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) can fall in November depending on the lunar calendar — if so, the riverside boat races, illuminated floats, and fireworks over the Royal Palace are unmissable; the most spectacular event in Phnom Penh's year
  • ↑Dry season is re-establishing rapidly: 90mm of rain with 7.5 sunshine hours daily; the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Killing Fields memorial are all fully enjoyable again
FactorMarchNovember
Weather score
7
8
Value score
7
7
Crowd score
7
6
Events score
7
9
Atmosphere
7
8
Avg high temp35°C31°C
Monthly rain45mm90mm
Daily sunshine8hrs7.5hrs

March trade-offs

  • ↓35°C average high makes midday sightseeing genuinely punishing — the Royal Palace grounds and outdoor sites require early morning or late afternoon scheduling
  • ↓45mm of rain begins to appear as occasional heavy afternoon downpours; the first wet-season forerunners

November trade-offs

  • ↓If the Water Festival falls in November, hotel prices spike significantly for the festival weekend — early booking essential
  • ↓Tourist season rebuilding from the wet-season low: accommodation prices rising from October budget levels; advance planning increasingly necessary
See all 12 months for Phnom Penh →March in detail →November in detail →
Scores compare months within Phnom Penh. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →