Best Time to Visit Vietnam - Weather by Month

If you are planning to visit Vietnam, you might be wondering when is the best time to visit Vietnam? In this article, we will be looking at the weather in Vietnam, the best months to go, and to check if there are any months to avoid.

Vietnam Weather

In general, Vietnam has 3 different weather zones: North, Central, and South. North Vietnam and Hanoi have a cold, dry winter and hot, rainy summer; while Central and South Vietnam have warm weather all year round.

In North Vietnam: May to September are hot, humid, and rainy seasons; November to March are the dry season with lower temperature and little rain; April and October are transitioning between dry and rainy seasons, making it have a more mild temperature.
In South Vietnam: December to April are hot and dry seasons with little rain, May to November are hot and rainy seasons. June to August has the highest rainfall.
In Central Vietnam: January to August are the hot and dry season, September to December are the rainy season.Tropical storms can occur in central Vietnam during the rainy season.

May to August are usually the hottest months in the entire Vietnam. These months have very hot and humid weather with temperature sometimes reaching 40°C.

When is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam?

Vietnam is a year round destination, but the best time to visit the entire country for the most pleasant weather is typically from March to April. These are the dry seasons in all regions of Vietnam, so you’ll have mild temperatures and little rain, which is ideal for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and beaches.

The best month to go to North Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh) is from March to April and September to November. Be mindful of heavy rain and flooding in the rainy season in July and August.
The best time to visit Central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) is usually the dry season from January to August. You still have plenty of sunny days for exploration in the rainy season, just be mindful of tropical storms and flooding October and November.
The best time to visit South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, Phu Quoc, Mekong Delta) is from December to April when the weather is dry and the rainfall is minimal. Tropical storms can occur in Phu Quoc island in the rainy season, interrupting speed boat services and tours. The rain is usually in the form of heavy, short-lived downpour in the mid-afternoon.

In my opinion, there is no bad time to visit Vietnam, you can always adjust your plan for exploring. Just take a note that during the rainy season, typhoons and flooding can occur in some parts of the country.

Vietnam in January

January is a good month to go to Vietnam, but be aware of the temperature differences between regions in the country. The North will be cold (14°C – 21°C) and foggy; while central and south Vietnam has warmer weather (21°C – 30°C).

There was some snow in Far North Vietnam in Sapa and Ha GIang some years ago. If you visit Vietnam in January, I recommend packing both warm and breathable clothes for both hot and cold weather.

If you want to avoid the cold winter, you can head to the central and southern part of Vietnam. You can explore the ancient town of Hoi An, the island of Phu Quoc and Nha for beaches.

January is usually the time when locals prepare for Tet celebration (Lunar New Year). You can admire the beautiful decorations, and experience local culture and traditional foods. Lots of businesses and restaurants will close for a few days as everyone wants to spend time with their family.

Vietnam in February

February is a great month to explore Vietnam. This is the dry season in all parts of the country. North Vietnam is in the winter with cold weather and occasional drizzle. Similar to January, Central Vietnam and South Vietnam are still a better place to go for dry and warm weather.

For the beaches, you can head to the South such as Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, and Nha Trang. You can explore the ancient town of Hoi An and enjoy the vibrant nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City.

Early February is usually a Tet holiday, so it is a good time to experience the local festive atmosphere and beautiful decorations. Lots of people travel to their hometown this time, so flight/train tickets can be more expensive than normal days.

Vietnam in March

March is one of the best times to visit Vietnam as it is a part of the dry season with minimal rainfall and comfortable temperature, so you can enjoy sightseeing and outdoor activities.

North Vietnam experiences cool and dry weather with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C. This is an ideal time for trekking and hiking in mountainous areas such as Sapa and Ha Giang.

You can explore Hanoi’s old quarter and its cultural attractions such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoa Lo prison, Tran Quoc pagoda, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum.

In the south and central Vietnam, you can go swimming in Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc. Ho Chi Minh also offers comfortable weather to explore attractions such as Ben Thanh Market, War Museum, Independence palace, Bui Vien Walking Street, and Chinatown.

Vietnam in April

April is one of the best times to visit Vietnam, especially for beaches. The whole country experiences warm weather, and little rain, which is great for sightseeing, swimming, and outdoor activities.

There is not much difference in terms of temperature between north, central, and south vietnam. The entire country is hot, humid, and with little rainfall.

In North Vietnam, you can sightsee, shop, and enjoy the nightlife in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. You can explore the natural landscapes in Sapa, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, Cat Ba island, and take a cruise on HaLong Bay.

The beaches in central Vietnam like My Khe Beach and An Bang Beach in Da Nang and Hoi An are great for swimming. South Vietnam also has hot weather but not as high as the next few months.

Late April and early May (30th April and 1st May) are national holidays, so many locals will go on their vacation to the beaches. It can be crowded and expensive traveling during this time.

Vietnam in May

May is a good month to explore the entire Vietnam. The country will experience hot, humid weather with occasional rain in the north in South Vietnam. North and South Vietnam start the rainy season while central Vietnam is still in the dry season.

You can explore cultural and historical attractions in Hanoi, take a train to Sapa, take a motorbike tour on Ha Giang Loop, day trip to Ninh Binh, and overnight trip to Halong Bay.

In Central Vietnam, you can explore Hoi An ancient town, visit Marble Mountains, Ba Na Hill, Linh Ung pagodas, as well as imperial palace and royal tombs in Hue. This is a great time to go hiking in Bach Ma National park to escape the heat from the city.

In the south, you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and watersport activities in Halong, Mui Ne, Quy Nhon, and Nha Trang. To escape the heat, you can head to Da Lat for cooler temperatures.

There will be occasional downpours in the afternoon in both south and north Vietnam, but it will cool down the weather and not affect your travel plans much.

Vietnam in June

June is the hot summer month in Vietnam. This is also a busy month as the Vietnamese school holiday starts from June to August. Lots of families go to the beach for their summer vacation.

Central Vietnam is still in the dry season, perfect for beach activities. North and South Vietnam will occasionally have heavy rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms in late afternoon.

Far North Vietnam such as Ha Giang can experience floods and landslides which will interrupt your travel.

Vietnam in July

Similar to June, July is hot, humid, with a high level of rainfall in North in South Vietnam. Central Vietnam remains hot and dry. It is a busy month for beaches for domestic tourists in some places such as Da nang, Vung Tau, Nha Trang.

Be mindful that lansides can occur in Far North Vietnam. The cruise on Halong bay can be canceled if the weather is bad due to some typhoons.

To avoid the heat, I recommend avoiding going out at midday, wearing a hat, and drinking lots of water. You can consider visiting Da lat to escape the heat from the south.

Vietnam in August

Similar to June and July, August is still a good time in central Vietnam with lots of sunny days and little rain. The North and South have high levels of rainfall. It is not the best month to go trekking in a mountain area in Far North Vietnam.

Vietnam in September

September is a great time to explore the northern part of Vietnam. It is, along with south Vietnam, still in the rainy season, but you still have plenty of sunny days for explorations. September is autumn in the north and a great time to explore the yellow rice terraces in Sapa and Mu Cang Chai.

This is also the beginning of the wet season in the central coast of Vietnam, in Hue, Da nang, and Hoi An. Heavy rainfall, flooding, and tropical storms can occur, so keep an eye on the forecast if visiting these places in September.

Vietnam in October

October is the best month to visit North and South Vietnam, not Central. The Central region is in the peak rainy period of the year, which may experience flooding and tropical storms.

Hanoi is a romantic place to visit to enjoy pleasant weather, and leaves change their color. You can explore the rice terraces and hill tribe villages in Sapa and Ha Giang.

The rainfall is also reduced in the South. It is a transition month from wet season to the dry season, so you’ll have less rain toward the end of October.

Vietnam in November

Similar to October, November is the best time to go to north and south Vietnam, not the Central. The center is in peak rainy season when storms and floods can occur and interrupt tour travel plans.

November is the dry season in both North and South Vietnam. The South has warm weather while the north is more chilly, especially at night.

November is best for beaches in the South such as Phu Quoc, and Mui Ne. The clear skies makes it also a good time to enjoy the mountainous landscapes in the north like Sapa, Mu Cang Chai, and take a cruise on Halong Bay.

Vietnam in December

December is the dry season in North and South Vietnam. The Central is still in a rainy season with possibility of typhoons. The rainfall is less than previous months though.

North is in winter with cold weather especially at night. If you are traveling in Vietnam in December, bring both warm and summer clothes. This is Christmas time, so famous places such as Ho Chi Minh CIty, Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Phu Quoc can be crowded.

For more detail of the weather if each popular places in Vietnam, you can read more at:

In general, the best month to visit entire Vietnam is from March to April. These months have the most comfortable weather in the whole country. These are dry seasons with mild temperate and little rain, ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Separately, the best time for the North (Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay) is autumn from September to November and March to April. The best time for the South (Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Mekong delta) is the dry season from November to April. The best months for central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) are from January to August. Be aware of the heat from May to August and avoid the storm season.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam – Weather by Month