Phnom Penh · Month comparison

October vs November

November ranks #1 overall vs October at #7. Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

Phnom Penh October — city skyline seen across the Mekong river as the Water Festival season approaches

October

#7 of 12 months

Avoid

Wettest month (250mm) — but Bon Om Touk Water Festival (Oct/Nov) delivers one of Asia's great spectacles.

  • ↑Bon Om Touk (Water Festival / Bon Om Touk) marks the miraculous reversal of the Tonlé Sap river flow: the spectacular boat races on the river in front of the Royal Palace draw hundreds of thousands of Cambodians — the single most electrifying event in the Cambodian calendar
  • ↑Budget accommodation across the city remains extremely affordable — except for the 3-day Water Festival weekend itself when demand spikes sharply
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
FactorOctoberNovember
Weather score
2
8
Value score
9
7
Crowd score
8
6
Events score
8
9
Atmosphere
5
8
Avg high temp31°C31°C
Monthly rain250mm90mm
Daily sunshine6hrs7.5hrs

October trade-offs

  • ↓250mm is Phnom Penh's single wettest month — weather score capped at 2; flooding is a real risk in lower-lying districts and around the lake areas
  • ↓Water Festival weekend drives hotel prices to their peak for the year — book months in advance or accept very limited availability; the city hosts over 2 million visitors for the festival
  • ↓The combination of extreme crowds during the festival and heavy rain requires significant logistical planning; the 2010 stampede tragedy has made the city security-conscious during peak festival moments

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 →October in detail →November in detail →
Scores compare months within Phnom Penh. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →