When to visit Vietnam? Are you planning a trip to Vietnam and want to know when is the best time to visit Vietnam? Keep reading to find out what’s the best time to travel to Vietnam weatherwise.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT VIETNAM CONSIDERING REGIONS AND SEASONS
Weather in Vietnam is a complicated affair. I was traveling Vietnam from the south to the north for a month. And, when someone asks me what is the best time to travel to Vietnam, I often just smile. The answer is not simple and it deserves a blog post to be written about. If you are also one of those who want to know what’s the best time to go to Vietnam and what is the best month to travel to Vietnam, this is a must-read for you.
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In general, Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate with two main seasons: a dry season and a rainy season. But the weather varies a lot from the south to the north of Vietnam and there are even areas with a temperate climate and continental climate as well. While you swim in the sunny south of Vietnam at the same time the far north of Vietnam can be under the snow.
If you are planning to travel 1,030 mi (1,650 km) long Vietnam coastline in one trip, most likely you will not have good weather all the time. On my one-month-long trip from the south to the north of Vietnam, 8 days of rainy Hoi An was, unfortunately, nothing to write home about. The monsoon season and typhoons in Vietnam are certainly not the nicest weather you are looking for on your trip. Therefore, you should seriously check out the weather in Vietnam when planning your trip to Vietnam. And of course, bookmark this post as you will want to thank me later.
But if you have only about 10 days of your vacation, I recommend reading my 10-day Vietnam itinerary. It is a perfect weather-wise itinerary for Vietnam! And of course, if you would love to try traditional Vietnamese cuisine in Vietnam, I’ve listed must-try Vietnams food! And please don’t forget to try authentic Vietnamese coffee in Vietnam!
1. THE BEST TIME TO VISIT VIETNAM BY REGIONS
Vietnam is a long and narrow country with more than 2.000 miles (3.200 km) of coastline. Taking that into account, there are four main regions of Vietnam: far north of Vietnam, northern Vietnam, central Vietnam, and southern Vietnam. And, every region should be taken as a separate destination for the distinctive weather.
1.1 FAR NORTH MOUNTAINS OF VIETNAM
– Sapa, Ha Giang, Bac Ha, Mu Cang Chai
There are two distinguishing seasons in the far north of Vietnam: a dry season and a wet season.
Far North Vietnam dry season
The dry season in the far north of Vietnam goes from October to March. December and January can be really cold with the possibility of snow high in the mountains.
Far North Vietnam rainy season
The wet season in the far north of Vietnam goes from April to September. Visiting Vietnamese mountains in the far north during the rainy season is something that you should not aim for.
The best time to travel to the far north of Vietnam is the dry season between October and March, but keep in mind that it can be very chilly in December and January. Bring warm clothing with you in December and January!
If you are into outdoor activities, the best time to visit Sapa area for trekking or hiking Fansipan (the highest peak in Vietnam) is September, October, November, and March. Even April and May can work well for treks in Sapa.
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Sapa
1.2 NORTH VIETNAM
– Hanoi, Halong Bay, Cuc Phuong, Mai Chau & Ninh Binh
North Vietnam has two seasons too: a dry but cooler season and a wet but hot season.
North Vietnam dry season:
The dry and cooler season in northern Vietnam is between November and April. And, the coldest months are January, February, and March. The peak of the tourist season in Halong Bay and Hanoi is December and January for the Christmas and New Year’s break.
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Hanoi
Northern Vietnam rainy season:
The rainy, hot, and humid season in northern Vietnam is between May and October. The wettest months with the possibility of storms and typhoons are July, August, and September. Occasionally strong rain can mean no sailing in Halong Bay at all. The rainy season means also the low season and lower prices.
The best time to visit Halong Bay is in the dry season from September to November (autumn) and from March to May (spring) for dry and pleasant weather.
The best time to visit Ninh Binh is in dry seson from November to March with pleasant daily average temperatures from 20º C to 26º C.
1.3 CENTRAL VIETNAM
– Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Dalat, Quy Nhon & Nha Trang
Central Vietnam has probably the most diverse climate in all of Vietnam. There are also two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season. But there are a lot of differences between the places in the region.
For example, Nha Trang in the south of central Vietnam has a longer dry season, Dalat which is in the highlands and is known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ gets more rain than other places in the region, while Hue is colder than Hoi An.
Central Vietnam dry season:
The dry and hot season in central Vietnam goes from January to August.
Central Vietnam rainy season:
The rainy season in central Vietnam is between September and December. The rainiest months in central Vietnam are October and November with a high possibility of typhoons.
The dry season in Nha Trang is a little bit extended than the rest of central Vietnam and goes between January and September. The rainy season in Nha Trang in the south of central Vietnam goes from October to November. The best time to visit Nha Trang is from February to May. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Nha Trang
The dry season in Dalat is between November and May. December and January are the coldest months in the central highlands. The rainy season in Dalat is between June and October. The best time to visit Dalat is in the dry season from December to March when you can see flowers blooming and temperatures are ideal for outdoor activities. Dalat is often called ‘Sapa of the South’. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Dalat
The best time to visit Hue in Vietnam is the dry season from January to August. The rainiest weather in Hue you can expect is from September to December. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Hue
The best time to visit Hoi An is the dry season from January to August too, with February, March, and April as the best months to visit Hoi An. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Hoi An
The best time to visit Danang is again in the dry season from January to August. June, July, and August are popular months to visit Danang among domestic tourists when crowds of Vietnamese tourists are expected. Danang is one of the best places to visit in Asia in July and August. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Danang
1.4 SOUTH VIETNAM
– Ho Chi Minh City, The Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc & Con Dao, Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, Ho Tram & Long Hai
Southern Vietnam dry season:
The dry season in the south of Vietnam is between November and April, with lots of humidity from February to April.
Southern Vietnam rainy season:
The wet season in southern Vietnam is between May and October, with lots of rain in June, July, and August.
The best time to visit the south of Vietnam is months of November, December, and January.
The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is during the dry season from December to March with daily temperatures between 21C and 34C. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
The best time to visit Mekong Delta is between November and January.
The best time to visit Phu Quoc in the far south of Vietnam is from November to May. Although it’s fair to say that Phu Quoc is a year-round destination with lots of sunshine all year. The rainy season on Phu Quoc island is between June and October, with the rainiest months of July, August, and September. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Phu Quoc island in Vietnam.
The best time to visit Mui Ne and Phan Thiet is between November and March. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Mui Ne
2. THE BEST TIME TO VISIT VIETNAM BY SEASONS
2.1 VIETNAM IN WINTER (December – February)
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN DECEMBER & WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN JANUARY:
Vietnam in December is a great choice for sunny beaches in the south. The monsoon season has just stopped in the south of Vietnam in November and sunny skies are up in December. Ho Chi Minh City in December and January holds the average daily temperature of 26 C, while Phu Quoc island, Mui Ne and Phan Thiet see a daily average temperature of 30 C. Central Vietnam in December still witnesses monsoons which get to the end at end of December. But still, the average daily temperature in central Vietnam in December is 24 C. Dalat in the mountains is an expectation with dry but chilly weather in December and January.
The dry season starts in central Vietnam starts in January with daily temperatures hitting mid 30 C. While Hanoi and Halong Bay in December hold a daily average of 19 c, the far north of Vietnam and Sapa area can be really cold. Furthermore, Hanoi and Halong Bay in January are still dry with daily temperatures going slightly down than the previous month (around 18 C), and the far north is even more chilly and even foggy.
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN FEBRUARY:
Vietnam in February is an excellent choice for traveling. February is one of the best months to go to Vietnam with sunny beaches and daily temperatures going around 27 C in the south, sunny Hoi An and Danang with a daily average of 25 C, while Dalat and the Central Highlands are a little cooler but excellent for trekking. Hanoi and Halong Bay are cooler as well with temperatures around 18 C but still dry, while Sapa in the north is dry and chilly. And, Vietnamese New Year called Tet is in late January or early February. Late January and early February is a great times to visit Vietnam. (PS: Vietnamese New Year is on 25 January 2020, 12 February 2021, and 1 February 2022…)
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Phu Quoc island in Vietnam
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Mui Ne
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Ho Chi Minh City
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Hoi An
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Hue
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Dalat
2.2 VIETNAM IN SPRING (March – April)
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN MARCH:
Vietnam in March is again a great option. March is one of the best months to travel to Vietnam: excellent weather in southern Vietnam, and good weather in central Vietnam, and northern Vietnam.
Quo Poc island, Mui Ne, Pien Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City, and Mekong Delta in the south of Vietnam hold a daily average of 29 C in March.
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Phu Quoc island in Vietnam.
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Mui Ne
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
Central Vietnam with Hoi An, Hue, and Dalat witness warm summer with an average daily temperature of around 28 C, although humidity is high with the possibility of occasional drizzles.
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Hoi An
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Hue
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Dalat
Northern Vietnam gets more sun in March, and the trekking season in Sapa is at its best in March.
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Sapa
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN APRIL:
Vietnam in April is a good idea. April means the change of the weather in the south of Vietnam. It is a transition period from the dry season to the rainy season. The south starts raining but temperatures are still high, around 31 C. Central Vietnam in April enjoys its best weather with daily temperatures around 28 C. The far north of Vietnam in April averages 24 C with occasional rain.
2.3 VIETNAM IN SUMMER (May – September)
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN MAY:
Vietnam in May is again a good option for visiting most of the country. Most of Vietnam is very hot with nice weather.
The south of Vietnam can be rainy but hot with daily temperatures around 28 c and afternoon rains. Central Vietnam is hot and dry, with an expectation of Dalat in the highlands which starts getting some rain but still is very warm. The rainy season in far north Vietnam also starts but still with average temperatures around 29 C.
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN JUNE:
Vietnam in June is still good for traveling. June is one of the best months to visit Hoi An and Dalat in the central region, but the rainy season starts in the south and the north of Vietnam.
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Hoi An
Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Dalat
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN JULY:
Vietnam in July continues the weather trend from the previous months. The central region swims in the sun, while the far north and far south face the rain.
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN AUGUST:
Vietnam in August means lots of rain in the far north of Vietnam (forget trekking in Sapa in August!), lots of rain in the south too, and lots of sun in the central region (although Hue and Dalat start getting wet too).
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN SEPTEMBER:
Vietnam in September means a transition period. The south is still rainy but with less rain, central Vietnam gets rainier while northern Vietnam goes from rainy season to dry season. Trekking in Sapa can be fine but with some rain along the way. Click here to get the best rates for your stay in Sapa
2.4 VIETNAM IN AUTUMN (October – November)
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN OCTOBER:
October in Vietnam means a change from the rainy season to the dry season in the south and in the north. But in central Vietnam, the weather goes in the opposite direction: from the dry season to the rainy season. Typhoons and strong storms come to Hoi An, with lots of rain in Danang and heavy rain in Dalat.
WEATHER IN VIETNAM IN NOVEMBER:
November in Vietnam continues the weather trend from October. South Vietnam and North Vietnam enjoy good weather, but central Vietnam is to be skipped on your Vietnam itinerary because of possible typhoons.
Traveling to Vietnam in autumn is also a good idea to check out the world-famous Vietnamese Mid-Autumn festival when lightened lanterns illuminate the Vietnamese night sky.
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Nice breakdown Milijana. I visited Hoi An, Hue and Hanoi for a good 3 months during June, July and August, from what I recall. Hot, humid and we got a few big rain storms here and there.
Ryan
Thank you for this helpful post! As someone who hasn’t travelled to Vietnam before, you have answered all my doubts and questions regarding the best time to visit Vietnam.