Vietnam in January: Best Places to Visit & Weather

In this article, I will help you to look at the weather and best places to visit in Vietnam in January. Let’s find out if January is a good month to explore Vietnam.

Weather in Vietnam in January

Vietnam has a different weather zone in January. North Vietnam is still in the cold winter period, while Central and South Vietnam have warmer weather.

North Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong, Ninh Binh, Sapa, and Ha Giang) has cold weather with some drizzles, and temperature ranging from 15°C to 20°C. January is part of the dry and cold season in the north, which is generally from November to March. Sapa or Ha Giang can be very cold and foggy.

Central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An) has cool weather around 23°C. This is also a transition month from rainy season to dry season, so rain is less compared to previous months. The Highland center of Vietnam like Da lat is in the dry season and it can be chilly at night.

South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Mekong Delta) has warmer weather with temperature around 26°C. January is part of the dry season in the south which is typically from December to April. You will have lots of sunny days, clear skies, which are ideal for beaches and sightseeing.

Is January a good month to visit vietnam?

January, in my opinion, is a great time to visit Vietnam, because it is a part of the dry season in the entire country. You can enjoy sightseeing and outdoor activities without worrying much about the rain. The weather is warmer from North to South.

January is the best time to experience cold winter in North Vietnam and is the best time for beaches in the South such as Phu Quoc and Nha Trang. The sea temperature in Central Vietnam at My Khe Beach or An Bang Beach is still a bit chilly though.

If you are planning to travel to Vietnam in January from North to South, be sure to pack both warm and lightweight clothes and swimsuits. You can go hiking, trekking in Sapa, cycling in Hoi An, or swimming in Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, or Nha Trang.

January is the month when locals prepare for Tet celebration, the Lunar New Year. You can experience local culture, and admire the colorful decorated streets and houses.

As this month is closer to Tet, locals will travel a lot to get back to their hometown to gather with family, so prices for flights, trains, and accommodations can be a bit higher compared to normal months. Be sure to book in advance if you are going to Vietnam in January.

Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam in January

South Vietnam has the best weather conditions in January, so we will look at the best places to visit from South to North starting from Ho Chi Minh City.

1. Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the best places to go in Vietnam in January. The weather is pleasant for sightseeing and exploring cultural attractions. The temperature ranges from 23°C to 32°C.

You can visit the War Museum, Independence Palace, Ben Thanh Market, Central Post Office, Thien Hau pagoda, and ChinaTown. Nguyen Hue Walking Street will be decorated with many colorful flowers during Tet Holiday.

You can enjoy the nightlife at many bars, night clubs, and rooftop terraces in the city. Popular places to go for nightlife are Bui Vien Walking Street, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, and Japan Town.

You can spend a couple of days exploring the city center of Saigon, and day trips to Cu Chi Tunnels or Mekong delta. You can learn more about the history of the Vietnam American war and local life.

The best districts to stay in Saigon are district 1 and district 3. I stayed in some hotels such as La Vela Saigon or Orchids Hotel and highly recommend it. They are centrally located and have nice facilities for a comfortable stay in downtown Saigon.

2. Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is a popular beach destination in Vietnam in January. It has great weather conditions for enjoying swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

This is the dry season in Phu Quoc (November to April), so you can have lots of sunny days, pleasant weather, and little rain for exploration.

Popular beaches on Phu Quoc are Long Beach, Sao Beach, Khem Beach, and Starfish Beach. Long Beach on the west coast of the island is a beautiful place to watch the sun set.

Additionally, you can visit cultural and historical attractions such as Ho Quoc Pagoda, and Phu Quoc prison. You can take a cable car ride through the ocean from Sunset Town to Hon Thom island.

The Pearl Farm, Paper factory, and fish sauce factories are also great places to visit to learn more about these local farming processes on Phu Quoc. You can buy these local specialties to bring home as a gift.

Don’t forget to check out the night market in Duong Dong town. You can try some seafood here as well as browse for some souvenirs.

The best place to stay in Phu Quoc is in the central west coast, along the lower parts of Tran Hung Dao Street. Duong Dong town and Long Beach are the most popular bases on the island. You’ll have easy access to many tourist amenities.

I stayed in several hotels and resorts. I recommend looking at the budget-friendly Sea Star, and higher-end hotels like Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach Resort, and Seashells Phu Quoc Hotel.

3. Mekong Delta

Similar to other cities in South Vietnam, the Mekong Delta region (Ben Tre, Can Tho, Chau Doc) has great weather conditions for outdoor activities.

Mekong Delta is located only a few hours by bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City. You can take day trips and stay overnight if you have more time to experience more local river life.

You can explore the floating market, cycle around the countryside, visit temples, try tropical fruits, and eat local dishes.

4. Mui Ne

Mui Ne is a great place to go for beaches and warm weather in January. This month has a great temperature around 27°C, ideal for beaches and visiting the sand dunes. This month also is a great month for watersports such as windsurfing.

Within one to two days, you can see most things in Mui Ne. They include the red sand dunes, the white sand dunes, fishing village, and the Fairy Stream. This small beach town also has many nice resorts, so you can just come here to relax at their pool, spa, and private beach.

Mui Ne is only a 3-4 hours bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City, making it a popular weekend beach getaway for many locals. The best place to stay in Mui Ne is in Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street in Ham Tien ward. This is the tourist strip of Mui Ne, packed with restaurants, bars, and shops.

5. Nha Trang

In addition to Phu Quoc and Mui Ne, Nha Trang is another popular destination for beaches in South Vietnam in January. The sea temperature in Nha Trang is warmer than Da Nang and Hoi An, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

Nha Trang is not only known for its beaches, seafood, and luxury resorts, it is also known for its cultural attraction and healing mud baths. You can explore Nha Trang Cathedral, Long Son pagoda, Dam Market, and Po Nagar Cham Towers.

If you love snorkeling and diving, you can try island hopping. I visited Hon Tre island by taking a cable car ride through the ocean and Monkey island by speed boat. I highly recommend these islands especially if you’re with kids.

The best area in Nha Trang to book hotels is the city center around Tran Phu Beach. You can find many high rise apartments and hotels here. You can look at Liberty Central Hotel (I stayed there for a few nights and enjoyed it). The Vinpearl resort and spa is also great if you have a larger budget.

6. Da Lat

Da Lat, located in the highland center of Vietnam, has cool and dry weather in January, ideal for outdoor activities. Just take a note that it can be chilly in the evening and early morning, so be sure to bring a light jacket with you.

Dalat is known as the city of flowers, and in January, the city often holds the Da Lat Spring Flower Festival. You can admire and enjoy the colorful blooming flowers throughout the entire city.

You can walk around the city center and explore major sights such as Xuan Huong Lake, the night market, Crazy House, and Bao Dai palace. You can take a cable car ride to Truc Lam monastery and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the city, the mountain and valleys.

Some temples like Linh Phuoc pagoda and Linh An pagoda, in my opinion, are also well worth a visit. Their stunning architecture and calming atmosphere create a truly healing experience.

Da Lat is also known for its impressive waterfalls. You can take Grab to Dalanta waterfall, or venture to the countryside to explore Elephant Waterfall and Pongour Waterfall. I also recommend taking a look at the coffee plantation if you are a coffee lover.

The best locations to book hotels and homestay are in the city center around Xuan Huong Lake and the night market. You will be surrounded by delicious restaurants and trendy cafes.

7. Da Nang

Da Nang is a great place to visit in January. This month is the end of the rainy season, so you’ll have comfortable temperatures and little rain.

You can explore the city center of Da Nang including Han River, Dragon Bridge, Love Bridge, and My Khe Beach. You can go shopping at the Han Market and Son Tra night market.

For further exploration, you can visit Ba Na Hill, Golden Bridge, Marble Mountains, Linh Ung pagoda, and Ban Co Peak in Son Tra peninsula. I love the peaceful drive up to Ban Co Peak and Monkey Mountain, where the fresh air makes the journey even more enjoyable.

From Da Nang, you can take day trips to Hue, Hai Van Pass, My Son sanctuary, and Hoi An. I enjoyed taking the heritage train ride between Da Nang and Hoi An. It has stunning views of Hai Van Pass and Lang Co Beach.

When visiting Da Nang, I recommend staying either in the city center near Han River or along My Khe Beach. The city center offers a more authentic atmosphere while the beachfront offers an easy walk to the ocean for early sunrise and beach activities.

8. Hoi An

Similar to Da Nang, Hoi An is a great destination in Vietnam in January. The comfortable weather with little rain makes it ideal for exploring the ancient town and for cycling.

You can wander around the old town, explore the traditional wooden houses, do some shopping, and have your custom suits and dresses made within a day or two. You can try local dishes like Cao lau, Com Ga Hoi An, My Quang, and Banh My Hoi An.

At night, you can take a boat trip on Hoai River to release lanterns, check out the night market, and people watch. There are many nice restaurants and bars along the Hoai river.

You can rent a bike and cycle to the countryside and the beaches of An Bang and Cua Dai. Cam Thanh Coconut Village is a popular place for the famous coconut boat ride.

9. Hanoi

Hanoi is quite cold in January but it is dry with some drizzle, making it good for sightseeing and enjoying the Tet atmosphere. This is a great time to try hot food such as Pho, hotpot, and Egg coffee.

You can explore the old quarter, wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Hoa Lo prison, explore the west lake, visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, and the train street.

From Hanoi, you can take day trips or overnight trips to major destinations such as Ninh Binh and Halong Bay. They are only 2-4 hours drive from the capital city.

10. Sapa

Sapa and the mountainous area in North Vietnam is colder than Hanoi, but dry, so ideal for outdoor activities like trekking and hiking. Just remember to bring warm and waterproof clothes with you.

It can be foggy especially in the morning, so you can enjoy the misty landscape. You can trek through different hill tribe villages to learn more about local culture.

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So, Where to go in Vietnam in January?

Overall, January is a good time to explore Vietnam, especially South Vietnam. The South has the most pleasant weather with lots of sunny days, little rain ideal for sightseeing and beaches. You can explore Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc.

Central Vietnam in January also has comfortable weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities such as cycling and hiking. It is not the best time for the beaches in central Vietnam though. You can explore Da Nang, Hoi An ancient town, and the imperial palace of Hue.

North Vietnam is quite cold in January but it is dry with little rain, ideal for exploring cultural attractions, trekking, and enjoying traditional food like pho and hotpot. You can explore the old quarter of Hanoi, take a cruise on Halong Bay, and go trekking in Sapa.

The temperature is different between different regions of Vietnam, so be sure to pack your clothes accordingly. Also book your tour and accommodation in advance to have the best deals.