March can be an excellent time to visit Asia since the southern and tropical places still have somewhat mild weather and some of the northern ones are finally warm enough to visit. Thailand is probably the best place to start in Asia if this is your first time and we have several Thai options listed below. It’s exotic, and yet very tourist oriented and reliable.
Room rates for March of 2024 are actually down in many of the destinations listed below and some by quite a bit. The popular cities in Southeast Asia such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Hanoi are amazing bargains once again and highly recommended. By the way, if you aren’t 100% sure you want to go to Asia you should check our list of cheap and warm destinations in March around the world. There are many Asian cities on that list as well, along with others in the Middle East, Europe, and South America.
This article was last updated in November, 2023.
Important March Asia holidays in 2023
- March 24, 25 – Holi and Holika Dahan (Large and colorful celebrations in India)
- March 31 – Easter (Major holiday in most Western countries)
16 Best destinations in Asia for March
Bangkok, Thailand
- March avg high: 93°F/34°C
- March avg low: 77°F/25°C
- March avg precip: 1.1″/2.8cm
March is another pleasant month in Bangkok, or at least it’s not yet scorching as it will be in April. The days are hot and fairly humid, but at least the evenings cool off enough that you can enjoy yourself at the many outdoor restaurants and bars, rather than just the air-conditioned places.
Hotel prices in Bangkok will be a bit lower than during the slightly cooler months, and crowds will be a bit smaller. It should also be a bit easier to get a cheap flight here as well as cheaper flights from Bangkok to other cities in the region. If you are flying in from Europe or the US it’s probably best to start in Bangkok and then build your trip around that. You can get cheap and convenient flights from Bangkok to every major city in Asia, often at a very cheap price. Room rates for March of 2024 are looking very affordable so this could be a good year to visit and treat yourself with something nicer than you normally book.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $20 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $34 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $9 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Bangkok
>>>Bangkok prices and travel tips
Phuket, Thailand
- March avg high: 92°F/33°C
- March avg low: 76°F/24°C
- March avg precip: 1.9″/4.8cm
Those looking for a beach destination in Asia will find that March is another ideal month in Phuket, and the final month of the high season. It’s hot every day, but if you are spending your time on or near the beach it doesn’t feel bad at all.
As the last month of the high season, you can get some pretty good bargains with hotels and flights. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and it’s actually got about a dozen different beach towns and areas to choose from. Patong Beach is the main beach town and it’s got most of the nightlife and shopping, with very visible “adult” entertainment areas. Families and many others will prefer to be in Kata or Karon Beach, just a bit to the south. It’s important to choose the area of Phuket you’ll stay in wisely because it’s a big island and not easy to get from one place to another. Taxis can be very expensive and sometimes hard to find as well.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $22 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $36 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $12 per person
>>Check hotel and resort deals for Phuket
>>>Phuket prices and travel tips
Chiang Mai, Thailand
- March avg high: 95°F/35°C
- March avg low: 65°F/18°C
- March avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm
Chiang Mai is the capital of northern Thailand, and an excellent additional stop for those coming to Bangkok. This is also one of the world’s great travel bargains, as hotels and hostels are some of the cheapest in Asia even though quality is quite high. Getting a cheap flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is usually easy, and you can also get here by train.
March is yet another great month to visit Chiang Mai as the evening temperatures are still mild. If you are on a longer trip around southeast Asia it’s easy to get tired of blistering heat every day and every night, so having a little break from it in Chiang Mai is a welcome change. This is a very popular stop for digital nomads and those who are looking to spend a month or more in a cheap apartment or even a cheap hotel with a pool. There is a fairly large English-speaking community mostly based just northwest of the city walls. Aside from that, you won’t find too many people who speak English outside of hotels and tourist restaurants. Room rates for March of 2024 are looking much lower than in recent years so this could be a good time to find a comfortable hotel and stay a week or more.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $16 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $30 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $8 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Chiang Mai
>>>Chiang Mai prices and travel tips
Singapore
- March avg high: 88°F/31°C
- March avg low: 77°F/25°C
- March avg precip: 7.6″/19.0cm
Singapore is just a bit north of the equator so it’s hot every day and warm every night of the year. March isn’t one of the drier months in Singapore, but the storms tend to be short and the city is extremely well adapted to them so don’t let that average rain total keep you away.
Hotels in Singapore are now the most expensive in Asia, and it’s important to be aware that most of the cheapest rooms here come with no windows at all. After you find an affordable hotel, most other things can be cheap if you need them to be. The excellent food at the famous hawker centers all over Singapore is very affordable, and quite an experience in itself. Alcohol in bars is very pricey, but beers at hawker stalls or cheaper restaurants isn’t bad. Singapore is also a shopping paradise with many malls ranging from affordable to upscale. Since Crazy Rich Asians came out, the place is even more trendy among travelers. Room rates in 2024 are even higher than last year, so booking early could be wise if you find an affordable and well-located place.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $106 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $146 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $24 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Singapore
>>>Singapore prices and travel tips
Siem Reap, Cambodia
- March avg high: 95°F/35°C
- March avg low: 75°F/24°C
- March avg precip: 1.1″/2.8cm
If you are looking for another great destination to add to your Bangkok trip, consider Siem Reap. You may know that this city is famous because it’s built at the entrance to the amazing Angkor Wat temple complex, which is easily the most impressive sight in southern Asia.
This is a small and touristy town that is actually a lot of fun on its own. It’s the kind of place that many people come for two days and end up staying a week or more. Hotels and food here are quite inexpensive as well. The budget traveler and backpacker community is mostly clustered around Pub Street, which is also a great place to get a cheap glass of Angkor Beer, especially during the extended happy hours.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $20 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $28 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $7 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Siem Reap
>>>Siem Reap prices and travel tips
Luang Prabang, Laos
- March avg high: 92°F/33°C
- March avg low: 64°F/18°C
- March avg precip: 1.3″/3.3cm
Yet another excellent stop on a tour of southeast Asia is Luang Prabang, which is still very pleasant in March. It’s also in the north of the region, so the cooler evening temperatures are very nice after spending a week or more in the sizzling cities down south.
Laos in general is a very laid-back country, and Luang Prabang is its best tourist city. There is plenty to see and do, but it’s also just interesting to experience the contrast of Laos compared to the frenetic pace of Thailand or Vietnam. If you’ve got more time to spare you might consider also visiting the capital city of Vientiane, but if you’ve only got time for one it’s better to stay with Luang Prabang. There is now a high-speed train connecting the two instead of the long and rickety bus ride so it’s easy to visit both. Still, nearly everyone will prefer Luang Prabang to Vientiane, so I’d plan more time there.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $27 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $88 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $11 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Luang Prabang
>>>Luang Prabang prices and travel tips
Hanoi, Vietnam
- March avg high: 72°F/22°C
- March avg low: 65°F/18°C
- March avg precip: 1.6″/4.0cm
March might be the best month to visit Vietnam, at least if you plan on touring Hanoi as well as Saigon in the south. As you can see, the March weather in Hanoi is pretty much perfect, with warm days and mild nights. Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City (see below) is very hot all year, so being able to mix in a cooler place is very welcome.
Hanoi is also home to Vietnam’s best food, and the blend of French and traditional Asian influences is a pure delight. This is also another very affordable city with surprisingly nice hotels and restaurants at far lower prices than you’d find in Bangkok or even Saigon. The best lodging deals are found at the abundant 5-story family-run hotels. They can be even cheaper than the 3-star price we list below and that includes a filling breakfast and some excellent Vietnamese coffee.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $18 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $43 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $7 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Hanoi
>>>Hanoi prices and travel tips
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- March avg high: 93°F/34°C
- March avg low: 76°F/24°C
- March avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm
The hottest month in almost all of southeast Asia is April, so March is getting up there, but still not too bad and still very dry. Most people who visit Vietnam either start in Hanoi and then take the train down to Ho Chi Minh City (called Saigon locally), or the other way around. Hoi An is most people’s favorite stop in the middle, so consider adding that one as well. If you’ve only got a week or less in the country you can also fly between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but you’ll be missing a lot in between.
Hotels and restaurants in Saigon tend to be a bit more expensive than Hanoi or other Vietnamese cities, but still very good value by international standards. This is a very large and spread-out city, so staying near the center can save a lot of time and hassle. The most central area is called District 1 and it’s home to many top attractions and dozens of tourist-oriented hotels. English isn’t widely spoken outside of that area so it can be worth spending a bit more for something central.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $27 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $48 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $10 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Ho Chi Minh City
>>>Ho Chi Minh City prices and travel tips
Hong Kong
- March avg high: 71°F/22°C
- March avg low: 62°F/17°C
- March avg precip: 2.8″/7.0cm
March is one of the best months for a visit to Hong Kong, since this city is extremely rainy from mid April to mid October. March has pleasant temperatures day and night, and the city can easily handle the little rainfall this time of year.
Hotels in Hong Kong are fairly expensive for Asia, but unlike Singapore, you still can find good bargains even in central locations such as Hong Kong Island itself. The food here is amazing and it’s still possible to get cheap meals if you follow the locals into noodle shops rather than other tourists into hotel restaurants.
If you’ve been following the news you’ll know that there were massive protests in Hong Kong starting in 2019 and the Chinese government has cracked down severely since then. In fact, many longtime residents moved away because laws were being enforced arbitrarily and punishments were harsh. Some say that it’s no longer worth visiting Hong Kong at all as it gets more absorbed into mainland Chinese domination, but you’ll have to decide that for yourself and think of it more like visiting Shanghai.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $87 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $106 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $15 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Hong Kong
>>>Hong Kong prices and travel tips
Boracay Island, Philippines
- March average high: 86°F/30°C
- March average low: 76°F/24°C
- March avg precip: 1.8″/4.5cm
Boracay Island still feels like a secret for many of us, and many of those people come back each year. This island is not easy to reach compared to most other places on this list, and that is partly why it’s so pleasant and not overly built up. Boracay is lined by excellent beaches, and yet it still feels like an old-school resort because there is almost no car traffic and most people get around on the sandy footpaths along the beach.
Hotels here are good value, even if there are very few cheap hotels on the island. The good news is that almost every hotel is either on the beach or no more than a three-minute walk from the beach, so there are no bad locations at all. The eastern side of the island is usually windy, and it’s where people stay who are doing kite surfing and such. It’s worth noting that the entire island was closed to visitors for six months in the middle of 2018 so they can improve their plumbing and infrastructure. It’s open again and should be in fantastic shape to welcome visitors back. There is a large airport that isn’t very close and a smaller airport that is much closer. Shuttles to and from both are easy to book and then you’ll have to take a short ferry ride to the island itself. Room rates for March of 2024 are much lower than they had been in the last couple of years so this could be a good opportunity.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $42 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $64 for two people
>>Check Boracay resort deals
>>>Boracay Island prices and travel tips
Malé, Maldives
- March avg high: 86°F/30°C
- March avg low: 81°F/27°C
- March avg precip: 2.9″/7.3cm
Most likely you don’t actually want to spend any time in Malé itself, as it’s small, crowded, and has almost no worthwhile attractions. But you probably DO want to fly into the Maldives in order to visit one of the amazing resorts here, and March is yet another great weather month in this area.
Maldives water villas, which are known as overwater bungalows elsewhere, start at around US$350 per night, but the best value places are the all-inclusive resorts starting around US$575 per night. I highly recommend Meeru Island Resort which usually has the best deals of the all-inclusive resorts, with huge Jacuzzi water villas at rates similar to much smaller water villas elsewhere.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $82 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $127 for two people
Pokhara, Nepal
- March avg high: 72°F/22°C
- March avg low: 50°F/10°C
- March avg precip: 1.2″/3.0cm
Until you start planning a trip to Nepal, you probably haven’t heard of Pokhara. Kathmandu is the capital city and main entry point, but Nepal is all about trekking and scenery, and Pokhara is the main hub for those things, so most tourists fly here or take a bus after only a couple days in the crowded capital.
The March weather is very pleasant with very little rainfall, so this is one of the most popular months of the year here. Even still, things in Pokhara are famously cheap, at least until you hire a guide and go on a trek into the nearby mountains. This has actually spent time as the world’s cheapest tourist city for a few years based on our annual Global Backpacker Index.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $22 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $70 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $7 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Pokhara
>>>Pokhara prices and travel tips
Colombo, Sri Lanka
- March avg high: 89°F/32°C
- March avg low: 75°F/24°C
- March avg precip: 5.0″/12.5cm
Colombo is one of Asia’s large cities that can be frustrating for a visitor, and the real charm in visiting Sri Lanka is elsewhere, so don’t plan on lingering in the capital. March is a good weather month in most of the south of the island, and it’s even cooler in the tourist-friendly towns in the hills.
Sri Lanka still feels fairly undiscovered because it was off the tourist trail for so long due to a civil conflict. Now that it’s safe and welcoming again, the tourism industry is starting to grow. There still aren’t many cheap hotels, but the mid-priced places are very good value. There was an incident that scared off some tourists a few years ago, so it’s probably wise to keep up with the headlines before you book your flight.
Sri Lanka went through a couple years of shortages and unrest, but apparently as 2024 approaches those are no longer issues and they are welcoming as many visitors as possible. It’s worth checking up on it yourself before booking, but recent reports were very positive.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $25 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $96 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $14 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Colombo
>>>Colombo prices and travel tips
Delhi/New Delhi, India
- March avg high: 86°F/24°C
- March avg low: 56°F/8°C
- March avg precip: 0.6″/1.5cm
The winters in Delhi are cold and the summers are insanely hot, so March is one of the best months to come. New Delhi is actually a small district in the middle of the enormous metropolis of Delhi, and there is plenty to see here. Many people come in order to do a day-trip to Agra in order to see the Taj Mahal, and that is the best way to do it since Agra itself is kind of a nightmare aside from the Taj.
There are now many good and cheap hotels in Delhi, and many new hostels have opened recently so it’s a far more backpacker-friendly destination than it was just a few years ago. Food here is very reasonable as well, and of course you’ll get the best bargains from the street carts. Many things in Delhi are very cheap so backpackers can get by on very little. On the other hand, if you prefer tourist-friendly restaurants with familiar dishes, you’ll be paying quite a bit more. It’s still great value as long as you avoid restaurants in fancy hotels.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $36 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $150 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $11 per person
>>Check hotel deals for New Delhi
>>>Delhi/New Delhi prices and travel tips
Goa, India
- March avg high: 90°F/32°C
- March avg low: 74°F/23°C
- March avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm
March is the last excellent month of the season for the famous beaches of Goa, and it’s also one of the least crowded of the main season. This is actually a state that has about 12 different beach towns and areas, and each has its own personality. It’s very wise to research the area you are booking in, because getting between them is not as easy as it should be.
Hotel prices in Goa are very low by international standards. There are quite a few large chain hotels and those aren’t much cheaper than you’d find elsewhere, but the independent places can be very affordable and offer amazing value. Alcohol in Goa is also the cheapest in India, so those who like to sip a few beers on the beach will be very happy here. The party crowd usually heads to the small towns of Vagator or Anjuna, while the family crowd will be happier in Calgunute or one of the beach areas just south of there.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $41 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $57 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $7 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Goa
>>>Goa prices and travel tips
Mumbai, India
- March avg high: 91°F/33°C
- March avg low: 69°F/21°C
- March avg precip: 0.0″/0.3cm
If you are coming from Europe it’s easiest to fly into Mumbai, but this actually isn’t one of the better tourist destinations in India. At least the March weather is dry and pleasant, but still you probably don’t want to plan more than 3 days here before heading elsewhere. Like all other large cities in India, the crowds you’ll encounter in Mumbai will simply be shocking. Some visitors vow to head straight back to the airport, so prepare yourself for that urge and possibly start your tour of India in a small town or beach area.
Hotels in Mumbai are the most expensive in India, mostly due to the crowded nature of the tourist areas in the south of the downtown area. As with everywhere in India, the cheapest hotels can be an unwelcome shock to newcomers to the country, so it’s usually best to pay a bit more for something a bit higher on the scale.
- Good 3-star hotels in March from $61 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in March from $129 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in March from $16 per person
>>Check current hotel promotions for Mumbai
>>>Mumbai prices and travel tips