Extreme weather such as heatwaves, heavy rains, and storms can interrupt your travel plan. In this article, I will help you to find out if February is a good time to visit Vietnam. We will be looking at the weather conditions and top places to go in Vietnam in February.
Weather in Vietnam in February
February is generally the dry season from both North, Central, and South Vietnam. This month usually has slightly higher temperatures compared to January across the entire country. The North is still in the cold winter season while South and Central Vietnam have higher temperatures.
North Vietnam, which includes Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, Ha Giang, and Sapa, is in the dry and cold season. The temperature ranges around 17°C with occasional drizzles. It is even colder in higher elevation in mountainous areas such as Sapa and Ha Giang. Foggy can occur in the morning.
Central Vietnam, which includes Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hue, has pleasant weather (20°C to 25°C) but the sea temperature can be chilly and not at its best conditions for swimming. The Highland central region such as Da Lat has cold and dry weather.
South Vietnam, which includes Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, and Mekong Delta, has warm weather with average temperature around 27 °C. You will have lots of sunny days and little rain.
Is February a good month to visit Vietnam?
February, in my experience, is one of the good months to explore Vietnam, especially for the festive atmosphere and comfortable weather. The entire country is in the dry season, so you’ll have good weather conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Generally, in February, South Vietnam is the best place to go for beaches; North Vietnam is the best place to go for trekking; While central Vietnam also has pleasant weather for sightseeing and exploring cultural attractions.
It can be cold in the northern region of Vietnam, especially in the evening. So be sure to pack a warm jacket, waterproof clothes, breathing clothes, and swimwear with you.
Early February is usually the Tet celebration, or Lunar New Year. This Public holiday usually lasts for 5 to 7 days. Lots of people will travel from big cities and overseas to their hometown to gather with family, so prices for tickets for flights, and trains can be more expensive than normal days.
If you are in big cities during Tet, you can enjoy the quieter atmosphere. Be mindful that many restaurants and businesses are closed for the first few days in Tet, so be prepared for that!
Tet is also a great time to experience local culture, try traditional food like banh chung, and admire the colorful decorations on the street and in many places. You can watch fireshow in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to welcome the new year.
12 Top Places to Go in Vietnam in February
1. Ho Chi Minh
February is one of the great months to visit Ho Chi Minh City. This is one of the driest months of the year with temperature around 28°C. You can enjoy exploring cultural and historical attractions and enjoy the nightlife with comfortable weather and little to no rainfall.
You can visit attractions such as Ben Thanh Market, the War Museum, Independence Palace, Bui Vien Walking Street, and Nguyen Hue Walking Street. You can check out, go shopping, try local goods, and check out many trendy bars and rooftop terraces in the city.
While you can easily explore the city at your own pace by walking and using Grab, I recommend taking the jeep tour, or food tour to get more in depth about local culture and history. Additionally, you can take guided tours to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta, which are the most popular day trips from Saigon.
If you are first-timers to Ho Chi Minh City, I recommend booking an accommodation in either district 1 or district 3. These areas are the heart of the city and offer easy distance to major tourist attractions and amenities.
I personally prefer staying around the Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi area in district 1 as this is a trendy part of the city. Many nice restaurants, bars, and cafes are located here and it is within walking distance to the Saigon river. Be sure to check out Saigon Skydeck for stunning views of the city.
2. Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta has mild weather in February with temperature around 29°C and little rainfall, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
You can consider staying 2-3 nights in popular cities such as Can Tho, Ben Tre, or Chau Doc to experience bustling river life, visiting floating markets, taking boat tours, or cycling around the countryside. You can try lots of tropical fruits, and delicious regional dishes.
3. Phu Quoc
February is one of the best times to go to Phu Quoc for beaches. This is part of the dry season on this island, which is typically from November to April. You can enjoy beach activities and sightseeing with pleasant temperature (around 27°C ), lots of sunny days, and minimal rains.
Enjoying the beaches and staying in a nice resort is one of the top things to do in Phu Quoc. You can relax on the beach, sunbathing, swimming, island hopping for snorkeling and diving.
Some of the best beaches in Phu Quoc, in my opinion, are Star Beach, Long Beach, and Starfish Beach. Don’t miss out the stunning sunset views of the west coast of the island on Long Beach or Sunset Town.
Additionally, I also recommend taking the cable car ride to Hon Thom island, visiting cultural attractions such as Phu Quoc prison and Ho Quoc pagoda. If you want to learn about the agriculture on the island, you can visit pepper farm, pearl farm, and the fish sauce factory.
The most popular places to stay in Phu Quoc are the central west coast of the island, around Duong Dong Town and Long Beach. These areas run parallel with Tran Hung Dao Street, where you can find many tourist facilities such as restaurants and shops.
While it is best to rent a motorbike and explore the island at your own pace, you can consider taking a guided tour if you don’t drive. I took 1 guided tour for the South, and 1 guided tour for the North, and highly recommend it. You can take an island hopping tour if you’re into water activities.
4. Nha Trang
Nha Trang has good weather conditions in February. This is the dry season (January to August), so you’ll have good temperatures (25°C to 30°°C) for beaches. You can enjoy swimming, and water activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving.
The popular beaches in Nha Trang city center are Tran Phu Beach and Hon Chong Beach. For more secluded beaches, you can consider taking an island hopping tour to head to islands such as Hon Tre island, Hon Tam island, or Monkey island.
In addition to the beaches, Nha Trang is also known for its seafood, healing mud baths, and some cultural attractions. You can visit major sights such as Nha Trang Cathedral, Long Son pagoda, Ponagar Temple, and Dam Market.
The most popular places to stay in Nha Trang are in the city center and around Tran Phu Beach. For more luxury, you can consider staying in a resort on an island such as Vinpearl resort on Hon Tre island.
5. Da Lat
In February, Da lat has cool weather with lots of sunshine during daytime and can be chilly at night. It is part of the dry season (November to March), so you can enjoy outdoor activities such as trekking without worrying about the rain.
You can explore the city center by walking or taking Grab. Major sights to visit are Xuan Huong Lake, Crazy House, the night market, Bao Dai Palace, Datanla waterfall, cable car ride, and Linh Phuoc pagoda. Be sure to explore trendy cafes, bars, and nice restaurants.
You can consider renting a motorbike or take a guided tour To explore the countryside such as Me Linh Coffee Plantation, Elephant Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, and Linh An pagoda.
I think 2-3 days is enough to get a good introduction about the city. The area around Xuan Huong Lake and the night market is the best place to book your accommodation. This location is the tourist heart of the city where you can find many restaurants, bars, and shops.
Da lat will be cold at night in February, so be sure to pack warm clothes with you.
6. Hoi An
Hoi An is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam in February for cool weather. Temperature ranges from 20°C to 26°C, the rain is minimal, and lots of sunny days for sightseeing and cycling.
You can explore the ancient town by walking or cycling. Major attractions in the old town are the Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky House, and An Hoi Bridge. You can shop at many boutiques in the old town as well as in the Central market and the night market.
You can consider taking a cooking class or a lantern marking class. Many visitors have their custom clothes and shoes made in this ancient town. The boat ride on the Hoai River to release lanterns and making the wishes is also a must while in Hoi An.
You can choose to stay in either Hoi An Town or An Bang Beach. They are only 10 minutes Grab ride from each other. I personally recommend staying in the old town if you are first-time visitors.
7. Da Nang
Similar to other cities in central Vietnam, Da Nang is a great place to visit in February. The weather is cool and dry (20°C to 25°C), which is ideal for visiting cultural attractions and outdoor activities.
You can wander around the banks of Han River, take a leisure walk along My Khe Beach, explore Dragon Bridge, and go shopping at the markets. You can use Grab or private driver to get to places like Marble Mountains, Ba Na Hill, and Linh Ung Pagoda.
For more exploration, consider taking day trips to Hue, Hai Van pass, and My Son sanctuary. I like to take the heritage train between Hue and Da Nang; it has great views of Hai Van pass and Lang Co beach.
You will find many high rise accommodation along Han River and the luxury beachfront resorts on My Khe Beach. They have options for all budgets.
8. Hue
Hue has cool and dry weather in February. It drizzles sometimes. This is spring time, and a great month to explore the Imperial Palace, Thien Mu pagoda, and royal tombs such as Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, and Tu Duc tombs.
You can take a boat ride along Huong River, enjoy the nightlife at the walking street, and try local foods such as Bun Bo Hue, and Banh Hue.
9. Hanoi
Hanoi is a great place to visit in Vietnam in February. It has cold (10°C to 20°C) and dry weather, which is perfect to enjoy the Tet atmosphere and to cook traditional food such as Banh Chung.
February’s weather is cold for me, a local Vietnamese, but it is cool for many foreigners. This is spring time, so expect drizzles sometimes.
You can explore Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Hoa Lo Prison, Thang Long Imperial Palace, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, and the train street. At night, you can check out the night market and Ta Hien Beer Street. Similar to January, February is also a great month to try hot food such as pho and hotpot.
If you have time, you can consider taking day trips to Ninh Binh, the ancient capital of Vietnam. It is situated only two hours drive from Hanoi and famous for its stunning natural landscape and history attractions.
You can take a boat ride on Trang An, visit Mua Caves, Hoa Lu ancient capital, and Bai Dinh pagoda.
10. Halong Bay
Halong Bay has cool and dry weather most days of February but there might be foggy in the morning. If you are taking the overnight cruise, be sure to bring a light jacket with you as it is colder at night.
There can be some misty weather and drizzles, but you can still have some pleasant sunny days for clear views and for swimming.
11. Sapa
Sapa is a great destination for trekking in February. It is dry but can be cold and foggy. You can enjoy trekking through many ethnic minority villages, enjoy views of the misty valleys, and rice terraces. Make sure to bring warm jackets and waterproof clothes with you.
12. Ha Giang
Ha Giang has dry and cold weather in February which is great for sightseeing and trekking. So, be sure to wear a warm jacket when taking a motorbike ride on the Ha Giang Loop.
See more:
- Vietnam in January
- Vietnam in March
- Vietnam in November
- Vietnam in December
- One month in Vietnam Itinerary
- Top 10 Most Beautiful Places in Vietnam
- Best Time to Visit Vietnam
So, Where to visit in Vietnam in February?
February is an overall good month to visit Vietnam. It is the dry season in the entire country, so you can enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing without worrying too much about the rain. The temperature is increasing from north to south, the far north is the coldest place while the south is the warmest place.
South Vietnam has the best weather conditions with pleasant temperature and little rain, ideal for beaches and sightseeing. Central Vietnam also has mild weather for exploring cultural attractions. North Vietnam is in the cold winter with some drizzle, so make sure to bring warm and waterproof jackets with you. Halong Bay and Far North Vietnam like Sapa, Ha Giang can have misty weather in the morning.