Thailand
Udon Thani in May
🌦️ Hot → rainy seasonHot, humid and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why May scores 7.1What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.8
- !Hot (35°C highs / 25°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 22.7°C)
- !Wet: ~188 mm rain, ~6 heavy-rain days
- Air quality7.5
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~21 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards9.5
- !Flood: ~6 heavy-rain days in an average May
- Safety baseline8.0
- ·Normal precautions
| May | Dec | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.1 Good | 9.3 Excellent |
| Season | 🌦️ Hot → rainy season | 🌤️ Cool season |
| High / low | 35° / 25° | 30° / 17° |
| Rain | 188 mm | 6 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 23° | dew pt 15° |
| PM2.5 | 21 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Udon Thani weather-station normals. Rainfall: Udon Thani weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- National Labor Day 1–4 May · 4 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Visakha Bucha (20 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Udon ThaniEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyUdon Thani is a major northern Isan city, used as a base for the Red Lotus Sea, the Ban Chiang prehistoric site and trips to the Lao border.
Rocket Festival (Bun Bang Fai)Across Thailand
Villages launch homemade rockets to summon rain for the rice season.
Coming up later
Loy KrathongDate variesFull moon of the 12th Thai lunar month, usually November; date moves each year
Krathong offerings are floated on water under the full moon.
Why go: A calm, local-style celebration at the city's lakes.
Where: Nong Prajak Park and city lakes
Red Lotus Sea bloomDate variesUsually December to February
The seasonal mass bloom of red water lilies covering large parts of the lake.
Why go: Bloom strength varies each year with water levels; go early in the morning.
Where: Nong Han Kumphawapi lake
Songkran (Thai New Year)Every year13-15 April every year
Thai New Year water festival with street water fights and temple visits.
Why go: Expect water everywhere outdoors during the main days.
Where: City centre
Red Lotus Sea (Talay Bua Daeng)
A lake at Nong Han Kumphawapi covered in pink-red water lilies, viewed by boat.
💡 Blooms are best in the early morning, and boats go out before the flowers close around midday.
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
A UNESCO World Heritage prehistoric site with excavated burials and distinctive painted pottery, plus a museum.
Phu Phrabat Historical Park
Unusual sandstone rock formations with prehistoric paintings and Buddhist shrines, a UNESCO site since 2024.
Nong Prajak Park
The city's central lake park, used for jogging, cycling and evening food stalls.
Wat Pa Phu Kon
A forest temple with a white marble reclining Buddha, set in hills about two hours from the city.
Som tam
Isan papaya salad, from mild to very spicy with fermented fish.
💡 Street stalls and markets
Kai yang
Isan grilled chicken served with sticky rice and jaew dipping sauce.
💡 Roadside grills
Larb and nam tok
Herb-heavy minced or grilled meat salads with toasted rice powder.
💡 Isan restaurants
Vietnamese-Thai dishes
Udon has a long-established Vietnamese community, and dishes such as rice-paper rolls and khanom jeen are widely sold.
💡 Markets and small family eateries
Na Kha woven cloth
Khit-pattern cotton and silk textiles woven in Ban Na Kha village north of the city.
💡 Ban Na Kha village shops
Ban Chiang-style pottery
Reproductions of the swirling red-painted prehistoric pottery.
💡 Shops in Ban Chiang village