I am traveling to Bankok alone on August 7th and then down to Hua Hin on the 9th until the 14th. Flying from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City on the 16th for a week to meet up with some friends before returning to Bangkok for last few days before returning home. My research online said Hua Hin is one of the better places to go in August if trying to limit monsoon exposure. I was considering cutting my time in Hua Hin short and stopping over in Cambodia to go to the flooded forest/floating villages there and Ankor Wat but decided I wasn't up to the hassle of trying to figure out how to get there by myself (Train, bus, scammers...), plus it appears getting an "on-arrival" VISA via a flight is the easiest way to get a travel VISA to Vietnam. So I'm keeping my trip simple.
Are there any places in Thailand I should visit outside of Hua Hin and Bangkok? I am avoiding going up north as I'm told the hikes there will be infested with leeches this time of year and did have quite the experience with leeches in Tribulation Forest in Australia some years ago. How's the cycling in Hua Hin? Anything recommended to visit or do in Hua Hin or anywhere in Thailand that won't be super monsoon?
Thanks for any tips and ideas!