May marks the transition from the dry to the rainy season in Laos. May is a hot and humid month, which usually sees the arrival of monsoon rains from the Southwest in the form of short sharp afternoon downpours, sometimes with the sound and light show of a spectacular tropical thunderstorm.

Outside of the sudden downpours, bright sunny skies can be expected.

The exact arrival time of the rainy season varies and can be earlier or later in the month. By the end of May however, Laos will be under the influence of the Southwest monsoon.

The arrival of the rains lowers temperatures a little and monsoon winds help to cool things down somewhat.

May can be a great time for a tour of Laos as visitor numbers are lower than in high season and hotel prices are lower.