The best time to visit Vietnam is between November and April. This is when the country experiences the least amount of rain.
Northern Vietnam

There are two distinct seasons. It’s hot from May to October, but the high humidity leads to significant rainfall.

The weather cools down from November to April and it’s much drier. December and January are the coldest months – temperatures drop as low as 50°F in most areas.
Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam’s summer season lasts from January until the end of August. The weather is hot and dry, with temperatures between 70°F and 95°F.

Conditions between September and December are much wetter, although temperatures remain balmy.
Southern Vietnam

Southern Vietnam’s hot and dry season starts in November and finishes at the end of April, with temperatures often reaching 86°F.

Rain falls between May and October, but the weather still remains warm, usually between 77°F and 90°F.

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When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

Curious about the ideal time to explore Vietnam? Well, the golden window falls between April and June. During this period, the northern regions are shaking off the winter chill, offering clear skies and pleasant temperatures – not too hot or humid. However, post-June, it’s wise to be mindful of tropical storms, especially in the southern parts, which bring bouts of heavy rainfall.

While Vietnam is synonymous with a tropical climate, the northern areas can surprisingly get quite cold from November to January, sometimes dipping below 10ºC. So, it’s advisable to pack a jacket during these months. If Sapa, with its mesmerizing flower fields, is on your travel radar, consider planning your trip around spring to witness the blossoms in full bloom.

Remember, planning your Vietnam adventure during the right season ensures a delightful experience with comfortable weather and avoids unexpected rainy surprises.

The Ultimate Month-by-Month Cambodia Travel Planning Guide

Vietnam Weather Summary

Despite being a relatively small country, Vietnam holds a variety of climates that differ depending on location. Within its over 3,200 kilometres of coastline and dense, tropical inland, three distinct weather patterns can be found.

While one end of the country is experiencing tropical patterns of hot weather and thick humidity, the other end could be on the brink of freezing temperatures and light snowfall. First-time visitors to Vietnam seldom grasp this great difference in climates, but understanding Vietnam’s varying weather patterns can make (or break!) one’s experience of travelling here.

What’s the best means of understanding the different climates of the country? Breaking down the weather variations depending on the four different regions of travel: the mountainous north, the traditional north, central and south Vietnam. The question on all first- time travellers:

Mountainous North

When referring to Vietnam’s mountainous north, there are two distinct climates to keep in mind for travel. The far-north region known by many as Sapa has a dry season, running from October to late March, and a wet season, running from April to September. As mentioned previously, the months of December and January can get very cold (snow is possible, but not always likely), particularly in the evenings.

Generally speaking, for those who are looking for more ideal conditions for visiting the north, the period between October and early April, which marks the traditional ‘dry season’ is the better time to visit. Rainfall is less likely, though appropriate clothing will be required in the colder months. The rainy season (May-September) can make for a beautiful visit as well, however it may make for more soggy explorations.

Trekking and adventure:

For travellers looking to do trekking in the far northern regions of Vietnam, the best conditions are when the weather is cool and dry. September-November is the ideal time to visit, when daytime temperatures hover around 15 to the high 20’s, with cooler nights betwee 10 to low 20’s. While trekking and adventure sport is possible year-round, the late winter months and wet season can make for more trying conditions.

Traditional North

The region of Hanoi and its surrounding provinces are marked by clear winter and summer months. From November to April (winter), temperatures are much cooler, with average temperatures around the low 20’s. Summer spans between May and October, when humid weather, high rainfall and hot temperatures are predominant. For travellers looking to visit Halong Bay, the experience is best avoided between the months of July-September when the rainfall can be heavy and unpredictable (sometimes cancelling trips.)

Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam generally refers to the region spanning from Hue to Nha Trang, including the very central regions of Danang and Hoi An. The hot season of the country’s midsection ranges from mid-January to late August (temperatures and humidity climbing as the months carry on), ultimately rolling into the wet season between September-late December. The months between October and November see the most rainfall, often coming in swells alongside typhoons from the east.

Being a touch farther north, Hue’s temperatures tend to be slightly cooler than those of Danang and Hoi An, with a grand mountain range separating the two provinces (creating its own erratic weather patterns).

Farther south down the coast from Hoi An in Quy Nhon, the weather stays strikingly similar, with a dry season the lasts just a touch longer. Extending a bit further to Nha Trang, and the dry season carries on even longer, spanning from early January to late September. Most of the region’s rains fall between the months of October and November, however the rainfall is considerably less than that in Danang and Hoi An.

Finally, in the central highland region of Dalat, the wet season runs between June to October and the dry season from November to May. December and January are also dry, however temperatures can get quite chilly as well. For outdoor adventure seekers, the wet season in Dalat can prove to be a bit more testing.

South Vietnam

South Vietnam is an anomaly compared to the rest of the country, with more steady conditions observed throughout the year. The dry season runs from November to early May, with the highest temperatures being between late February and May. The wet season runs between May to November, with June-August receiving the most rainfall. Unlike its northern neighbours, however, the rainfall in the south is often heavy, but short lived. This means for the travellers who don’t mind braving the squalls, they may still be treated to good weather in the ‘rainy’ season.

The far south of Vietnam (the islands of Phu Quoc and Con Dao) are beautiful year round, enjoying temperatures between the mid 20s and 30’s- ideal for vacations! While there is a small rainy season, squalls are also heavy and short lived.

What is the best time of year to visit Vietnam?

Because the weather of Vietnam greatly varies by region, there is no exact ‘best time’ to visit. In the mountainous north and traditional northern regions (i.e. Sapa and Hanoi, respectively), May to October marks a period of hot and humid weather, accompanied by high rainfall. The opposite period of November to April is defined by cooler, more dry weather, with more extreme variations existing in the mountainous north. Whilst Hanoi can certainly get chilly, December & January in the Sapa region of Vietnam can get properly cold, creating the potential conditions for snow. A bit further down the coast in Central Vietnam, January-August marks a period of hot, semi-humid weather (temperatures hovering in the 30’s), while the opposite period of September-December sees cooler temperatures and potential heavy rains. Finally, in the southern Vietnam regions, November to August means hot and semi-humid weather (central and southern Vietnam are seldom dry), May-October marks the very hot and humid period, with the heaviest rainfall between June-August.

Best places to visit in January

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We had a great time biking through the Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat. Bob was a fantasic tour guide who took us through Angkor Wat and showed us a different side of the delta in his own way. We visited temples and a floating market many delicious snacks. It was really fun ! A great tour !

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We spent 12 days with Amazing Bike Tours from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh via Battambang. Our tour was perfectly tailored to our route and physical condition and on the last day, we were safely transported to our beach accommodation in Sihanoukville. The organization was flawless from start to finish. The accommodation was also comfortable, allowing us to rest well after eventful days. The tour provided great value for money. The experiences were unique and could fill two vacation reports! The bikes were perfectly adjusted to our needs, with well-maintained gears and brakes. If there was a minor issue, the guide promptly addressed it. The minivan support was modern and very comfortable. The driver was excellent and we felt safe! Besides the visual impressions, we learned a lot about the country and its people.

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We had a custom and private 3-day bike tour in the Mekong Delta with Loc, our expert bike tour guide who organized, coordinated, and led three days of fantastic bike touring. Our tour of the the Mekong Delta included Cai Lay, Cai Be, Can Tho, and My Tho, before catching a luxury Mekong River cruise up to Cambodia. Loc was a great guide who really helped us appreciate the culture of the untouched tourist areas of the delta where we met fantastic people and toured through incredible villages, markets, Khmer temple, and even a local school. Loc did an excellent job of pacing the bike ride to our activity level and we enjoyed some great lunches at some local residences, even picking up some rat at a local market we toured and having it expertly prepared at a local home. Our best, most authentic Vietnamese meals were enjoyed on this biking tour. We had a van w/driver following us throughout the bike rides to ensure we had plenty of water and picked us up when we were ready to be done for the day. Loc also gave us a tour of Saigon as well as the underground Vietnam war tunnels at Cu Chi. I can't say enough about the biking tours and Loc was just a fantastic guide. We hated to say good-bye as we continued our tour of Southeast Asia but will always cherish the bike tour we had with Loc in Vietnam.


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    • James
    • Asia Specialist
    • Linh
    • Thailand and Asia Specialist
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    • Vietnam Specialist

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