Winter
Dec → Feb20 to 21°
nights 15 to 16°
- 8 rainy days · 42 mm
- 6 h of sun
- sea 19°
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
In short: November to April, when the north is dry (9 mm of rain in December in Ha Long Bay) and the south is in its dry season, from December to April. March and April bring the three regions together best: the north warms up (24 to 26 °C in Ha Long), the south stays dry and the centre has come out of its rainy season.
- Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: From November to April, ideally November, December, March and April; in January and February, the north stays cool (20 °C in Ha Long) and often grey.
- The south and the Mekong Delta: From December to April, the dry season from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc; from May to November, monsoon showers and possible flooding in the delta.
- The central coast (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang): From March to August for the beaches and the old towns; from September to November, the centre is the region most exposed to typhoons and floods.
- Rice terraces of the north: In summer, the terraces of Sapa are at their greenest; the rains from July to October sometimes cause landslides and blocked roads there.
- Tet, the Lunar New Year: Between late January and mid-February: the country celebrates but slows down for about ten days, museums, banks and transport included.
Best avoided: September to November on the central coast, at the heart of the typhoon season, and August in the north, the wettest month (425 mm and 27 rainy days in Ha Long Bay).
Sources: vn.diplomatie.gouv.fr, diplomatie.gouv.fr, diplomatie.belgium.be
- Jan20°recommended
- Feb21°recommended
- Mar24°recommended
- Apr26°recommended
- May29°fair
- Jun31°fair
- Jul31°fair
- Aug30°not recommended
- Sep30°not recommended
- Oct28°not recommended
- Nov26°fair
- Dec21°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Vietnam, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20° | 15° | 5.9 h | 57 mm | 10 d | 18° | ✓ |
| February | 21° | 16° | 5.6 h | 60 mm | 11 d | 19° | ✓ |
| March | 24° | 19° | 5.9 h | 46 mm | 13 d | 21° | ✓ |
| April | 26° | 22° | 8.3 h | 88 mm | 14 d | 26° | ✓ |
| May | 29° | 25° | 9.5 h | 155 mm | 19 d | 29° | |
| June | 31° | 27° | 8.9 h | 259 mm | 22 d | 31° | |
| July | 31° | 27° | 8.9 h | 250 mm | 25 d | 32° | |
| August | 30° | 27° | 8.2 h | 425 mm | 27 d | 32° | |
| September | 30° | 26° | 8.6 h | 356 mm | 24 d | 30° | |
| October | 28° | 22° | 8.8 h | 158 mm | 10 d | 28° | |
| November | 26° | 20° | 8.4 h | 27 mm | 6 d | 25° | |
| December | 21° | 15° | 6.6 h | 9 mm | 3 d | 21° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Vietnam, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Ha Long Bay) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May24 to 29°
nights 19 to 25°
- 15 rainy days · 96 mm
- 7.9 h of sun
- sea 25°
Summer
Jun → Aug30 to 31°
nights 27°
- 25 rainy days · 311 mm
- 8.7 h of sun
- sea 32°
Autumn
Sep → Nov26 to 30°
nights 20 to 26°
- 13 rainy days · 180 mm
- 8.6 h of sun
- sea 28°
Book early for December to April
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Vietnam, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
EventsTếtJanuary to FebruaryMid-Autumn FestivalSeptember to OctoberTerraced rice harvestSeptember to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: November, December
- Beach & swimming: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
- Towns & culture: January, February, October, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Vietnam, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to FebruaryTết big crowds
The Lunar New Year empties the cities and fills the coaches: shops close for several days and transport is overwhelmed.
- September to OctoberMid-Autumn Festival
Lanterns, lion dances and mooncakes in the old quarters of Hanoi and Hoi An, at the full moon of the eighth month.
- September to OctoberTerraced rice harvest
The terraces of Sapa, Mu Cang Chai and Y Ty turn yellow before the harvest, and photographers flock to the north.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Vietnam, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇻🇳 Hanoi | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇻🇳 Halong Bay | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended20°15° at night
- 57 mm · 10 d
- 5.9 h
- sea 18°
High season, book early
February
Recommended21°16° at night
- 60 mm · 11 d
- 5.6 h
- sea 19°
High season, book early
March
Recommended24°19° at night
- 46 mm · 13 d
- 5.9 h
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended26°22° at night
- 88 mm · 14 d
- 8.3 h
- sea 26°
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair29°25° at night
- 155 mm · 19 d
- 9.5 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair31°27° at night
- 259 mm · 22 d
- 8.9 h
- sea 31°
Low season, lower prices
July
Fair31°27° at night
- 250 mm · 25 d
- 8.9 h
- sea 32°
Busy, without the crush
August
Not recommended30°27° at night
- 425 mm · 27 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 32°
Low season, lower prices
September
Not recommended30°26° at night
- 356 mm · 24 d
- 8.6 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended28°22° at night
- 158 mm · 10 d
- 8.8 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
November
Fair26°20° at night
- 27 mm · 6 d
- 8.4 h
- sea 25°
Low season, lower prices
December
Recommended21°15° at night
- 9 mm · 3 d
- 6.6 h
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (57 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5.9 h a day). Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
February. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (60 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5.6 h a day). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
March. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (46 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5.9 h a day). Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 26 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent rain: 88 mm over 14 days. Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 155 mm over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 31 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Frequent rain: 259 mm over 22 days. Expect 8.9 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 31 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Frequent rain: 250 mm over 25 days. Expect 8.9 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. A very wet month, 425 mm of rain over 27 days. Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. 30 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. A very wet month, 356 mm of rain over 24 days. Expect 8.6 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 28 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (158 mm). Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 26 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Rain stays light: 27 mm over 6 days. Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 3 days). Expect 6.6 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
November to April, when the north is dry (9 mm of rain in December in Ha Long Bay) and the south is in its dry season, from December to April. March and April bring the three regions together best: the north warms up (24 to 26 °C in Ha Long), the south stays dry and the centre has come out of its rainy season.
Which month should you avoid in Vietnam?
September to November on the central coast, at the heart of the typhoon season, and August in the north, the wettest month (425 mm and 27 rainy days in Ha Long Bay).
What is the hottest month in Vietnam?
June, with 31 °C on average in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Ha Long Bay).
What is the coldest month in Vietnam?
January, with 20 °C at best during the day and 15 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Ha Long Bay).
What is the driest month in Vietnam?
December: 9 mm over 3 days of rain, against 425 mm in August, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Vietnam?
May, with 9.5 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Vietnam?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November (warmest 32 °C in July), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Ha Long Bay).
When is the best time to hike in Vietnam?
November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Ha Long Bay), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Vietnam?
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Ha Long Bay).
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