Vietnam is blessed with a tropical monsoon climate, which divides the weather into two main seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The best time to visit Vietnam is between April and October, when the country experiences the least amount of rain and temperatures are mild.
Best Time to Visit Vietnam
Northern Vietnam
Northern Vietnam, including Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, has a subtropical climate with two distinct seasons.
The summer months from May to September, are hot with high humidity leading to heavy rainfalls and occasional typhoons.
The best time to visit Northern Vietnam is from October to April when the weather cools down and is much drier.
Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam, including Hue, Hoi An, and Da Nang, has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons.
The best time to visit Central Vietnam is from February to June when the weather is hot and dry and temperatures range from 21°C to 35°C.
Even if temperatures remain mild, the conditions between September and December are much wetter.
Southern Vietnam
In Southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, rain falls between May and October but the weather remains warm with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 32°C.
The best time to visit Southern Vietnam is from November to April during the hot and dry season when the weather is dry and pleasant and temperatures reaching 30°C.
Travel to Vietnam month by month
January
January is a great time to visit most of Vietnam. The weather is usually dry and pleasant, especially in the southern regions.
However, in mountainous places in the north, like Sapa, it can be quite cold and temperatures can drop below 8°C.
It’s the best time for river travel and cruises along the Mekong Delta which is one of the best things to do in Vietnam.
The weather can be a little bit cold, if you plan to visit the beaches. I would recommend heading to Phu Quoc island for guaranteed sunshine and temperatures reaching 30°C.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 15 to 20°C
- Central Vietnam: 22 to 27°C
- Southern Vietnam: 26 to 32°C
Events and festivals:
- Tet / Vietnam’s Lunar New Year: New Year means fresh start. Vietnamese people tidy up their houses and make loud noises and throw firecrackers to make the evil spirits go away. There are lots of free celebrations, with traditional shows and dragon dance performances. The streets are filled with red and yellow colors because they’re considered good luck.
February
February is a good time to visit Vietnam too. The cold start to disappear in the north and the weather is hot, dry with little rainfall.
It’s considered part of the high tourism season but not as busy as December and January.
It can also happen that Tet (Vietnamese New Year) falls in February. Many Vietnamese people travel during this time.
The majority of shops, museums and restaurants are closed for about a week and transportation and accommodations may be more crowded and expensive.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 14°C to 22°C
- Central Vietnam: 20°C to 25°C
- Southern Vietnam: 25°C to 32°C
March
March marks the end of winter and the weather in Vietnam becomes warm.
It’s a good month for outdoors activities like exploring the countryside around Hanoi and Hoi An. Beach enjoyers have a better choice of destinations with Con Dao and Nha Trang all getting good weather.
With clear blue skies and very little rain, it’s definitely the best time to visit Ha Long Bay one of the best places to visit in Vietnam.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 15 to 25°C
- Central Vietnam: 20 to 30°C
- Southern Vietnam: 23 to 34°C
Events and festivals:
- Phu Giay Festival: Participants pay tribute to Lieu Hanh, who is one of the four immortal gods in Vietnamese culture, and take part in traditional activities like folk singing.
April
April is a good time to visit Vietnam most of the time as great weather is expected almost everywhere in the country.
It’s mostly dry and warm with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C in most regions. Be careful though if you plan to head to the south as the weather can be hot and humid and sudden rainfall may come and go.
The temperatures in Northern Vietnam are now at their best for those who want to enjoy some of the best things to do in Vietnam like hiking around Sapa or cruising through rice fieds in Tam Coc.
Great weather generally means more crowds so you’ll probably notice more people as you travel the country.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 19°C to 28°C
- Central Vietnam: 22°C to 33°C
- Southern Vietnam: 25°C to 35°C
Events and festivals:
- The Hung Festival: National vacation that marks the birth of the first kings in Vietnam.
May
The month of May marks the beginning of the hot season in Vietnam in the central and southern regions and temperatures can rise up to 40°C in some places.
To have an enjoyable trip and avoid the burning sunshine, start your day early in the morning, take a break during the afternoon and go out later in the day. Or simply plan some indoor activities.
May offers a good opportunity to avoid the high season of April an you can expect fewer crowds and lower prices.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 25 to 30°C
- Central Vietnam: 28 to 32°C
- Southern Vietnam: 30 to 35°C
June
June is one of the hottest months in Vietnam. For the north and south, it marks the beginning of the rainy season, meaning regular thunderstorms and heavy rainfalls.
The best place to be in June is the central region, where the sun is shinning full force. It means that is a good time to enjoy the beaches and Hoi An serves as a lovely destination for it.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 26 to 33°C
- Central Vietnam: 26 to 35°C
- Southern Vietnam: 25 to 32°C
July
July is a hot and humid month in most parts of Vietnam. You’ll however experience some rain showers due to monsoon season.
The place to head to during this period is definitely Central Vietnam. The beaches remain pleasant places to spend time on your trip with temperatures around 31°C.
However, you can expect some rising in prices for accommodation due to Vietnamese student’s summer holidays.
If ever you were planning on going to Northern Vietnam, make sure to take you rain gear, choose indoor activities and always have a plan B for your daily activities because it can rain a lot.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 26 to 33°C
- Central Vietnam: 25 to 34°C
- Southern Vietnam: 24 to 32°C
August
Just like July, Central Vietnam, including Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An, is the best place to visit at this time of the year.
The rest of the country is still worth visiting if you don’t mind a few showers.
August experiences heavy rains and thunderstorms in Northern Vietnam which might affect your plan to visit Halong Bay, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta.
The good news is that the rains come and go quickly.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 26 to 32°C
- Central Vietnam: 25 to 34°C
- Southern Vietnam: 23 to 32°C
Events and festivals:
- Tet Trung Nguyen / Feast of the Wandering Souls and Hungry Ghosts: Offerings of food are given to the homeless and animals such as birds are released. It’s considered as the time to pardon condemned souls, and everyone is forgiven for their faults.
September
The month of September is a transitional month in Vietnam. The weather slowly shifts from the rainy season to the dry season and vice-versa.
Central Vietnam enters its extremely rainy season with a high chance of storms.
Southern Vietnam experiences frequent rain and hot temperature.
Northern Vietnam heads towards the end of summer but is usually wet at this time of the year. However the rains start to ease off around the end of the month.
The best places to go are in Northern Vietnam including Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Sapa.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 25 to 32°C
- Central Vietnam: 24 to 32°C
- Southern Vietnam: 23 to 32°C
Events and festivals:
- Vietnam National Day: A national holiday commemorating the Vietnam Declaration of Independence from France in 1945.
October
October is one of the best months to visit Northern and Southern Vietnam.
The sun is coming back and the weather is warm. It’s a great time to enjoy outdoors activities like hiking in Sapa.
It’s also the worst time for traveling to Central Vietnam. You would experience high risks of storms and flooding in lowland cities.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 22 to 29°C
- Central Vietnam: 23 to 29°C
- Southern Vietnam: 23 to 31°C
November
November marks the start of the winter season in Northern Vietnam. Hanoi and Ha Long Bay see many travelers coming as the temperatures are cooler and the humidity is low.
Most of the country is hot and dry toward the end of the month.
The dry season starts in Southern Vietnam with clear skies and low rainfall. It’s one of the best months to visit Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and enjoying some islands like Phu Quoc.
However, the Central region is still at is peak in terms of rainfalls and storms.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 19 to 26°C
- Central Vietnam: 21 to 27°C
- Southern Vietnam: 22 to 31°C
Events and festivals:
- The Ooc Om Boc Festival: A boat racing festival in Soc Trang, that can take place in November or December.
December
During December, most of Vietnam will be hot and dry. Just like November, the north and south experience some of the best conditions of the year, moderate temperature, and blue skies.
The Christmas and New Year holidays bring Vietnam into another high season for travel.
Make sure you book a late December trip at least 3 months in advance.
Average temperatures:
- Northern Vietnam: 15 to 22°C
- Central Vietnam: 20 to 25°C
- Southern Vietnam: 21 to 32°C
Vietnam Climate Guide
Data sourced from National Centers for Environmental Information
FAQ
Overall, the best time to visit Vietnam is between April and October. The weather in Vietnam can be split by region.
– Northern Vietnam: the best time to visit is between October and April.
– Central Vietnam: the best time to visit is between February and June.
– Southern Vietnam, the best time to visit is between November and April.
The best month to visit Ho Chi Minh City is probably November. Most of the country is hot and dry toward the end of the month. As Southern Vietnam enters the dry season with clear skies and low rainfall.
June is one of the hottest months in Vietnam. With temperatures ranging from 26 to 33°C in Northern Vietnam, 26 to 35°C in Central Vietnam and 25 to 32°C in Southern Vietnam.
