From our field notes
When to go to Vietnam: weather region by region, month by month
Published 6 October 2026 · updated 6 October 2026 · 4 min read
By Clément Lacaille, publisher · our method
There is no perfect month for all of Vietnam: the country stretches over 1,600 km and layers three climates. When Hanoi is cool and grey, Ho Chi Minh City is hot and dry; when the south gets its monsoon showers, the centre can be glorious, before it in turn tips into the season of rain and storms. So the real question is not “when to go?” but “which direction to travel depending on the month?”. Here is the answer, region by region.
The month-by-month table
These are average trends: a year can run early or late, and a storm can upset a week.
| Month | North (Hanoi, bay, Sapa, Ha Giang) | Centre (Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang) | South (Saigon, Mekong, Phu Quoc) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cool and grey | End of rains | Dry, ideal |
| February | Cool, drizzle (Tet) | Dry | Dry |
| March | Mild | Dry | Dry, hot |
| April | Mild to hot | Dry | Very hot |
| May | Hot, showers | Dry, hot | Rains begin |
| June-July | Hot, rain | Dry, very hot | Rain |
| August | Rain, possible storms | Hot | Rain |
| September | Golden rice terraces, possible rain | Rains begin | Rain |
| October | Ideal | Rain, possible floods | End of rains |
| November | Ideal | Rain, floods | Dry |
| December | Cool | Rains easing | Dry, ideal |
The north: October-November and March-April
The north has a real winter: from December to February it can be around 15 °C in Hanoi under low skies, and close to 0 °C in the mountains of Sapa and Ha Giang, where mist often hides the views. Ha Long Bay is then often hazy. Summer (May-September) is hot, humid and rainy, and it is the tropical storm season, which can cancel cruises.
The best times are therefore October-November (clear skies, harvested rice) and March-April (mild spring). For Sapa's rice terraces, September brings gold before the harvest, May-June the green of flooded paddies.
The centre: February to August
Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang have a dry season from February to August, hot or very hot in summer. From September to December comes the rainy season: floods regularly hit Hoi An's old town and Hue in October-November, and the French foreign ministry's travel advice notes that tropical storms mostly strike the central provinces in autumn. Some of the Phong Nha caves close during this period.
The south: December to April
Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc have a dry season from December to April, the best for beaches. From May to November, showers are heavy but often short, in the late afternoon: travel remains possible, and the Mekong is even greener.
The right direction for your month
Since most trips cross the country, the order of the stops matters as much as the dates.
- March-April: the whole country, in any direction — the easiest period.
- October-November: start in the north (ideal), skip or shorten the centre (rain), finish in the south by plane.
- December-January: south and centre first, the north at the end, well wrapped up.
- May-August: the centre first, the northern mountains, the south accepting showers.
- September: the north for golden terraces, caution in the centre at the end of the month.
Mosquitoes follow the seasons too
Dengue is present in Vietnam, and it is seasonal. The study by Do Thi Thanh Toan and colleagues (BMC Public Health, 2014), based on eight years of cases in Hanoi, showed a strong seasonality, with incidence following temperature and rainfall with a lag of eight to ten weeks. In other words, risk rises after the hot, rainy season. In practice: repellent, covering clothes in the evening all year round, and a consultation before departure for the vaccines recommended by health authorities.
Tet and public holidays: plan ahead
The Lunar New Year (late January or February depending on the year) is the country's biggest festival: for about a week before and after, trains, buses and flights are packed, and many businesses close for a few days. The 30 April-1 May and 2 September holidays also saturate transport and beaches. If your dates fall in these periods, book all transport very early.
Sources
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Before you go
Readers' questions
What is the best month to visit all of Vietnam?
March and April: the north is mild, the centre is dry and the south is still in its dry season. It is the easiest time for a north-to-south trip.
Can you go to Vietnam in summer?
Yes, focusing on the centre (Hoi An, Hue), dry from February to August, and the northern mountains. The south gets showers, often short, and the north is hot and rainy, with possible storms in the bay.
When should you avoid central Vietnam?
From September to December, especially October-November: it is the season of rain, floods in Hoi An and Hue, and tropical storms.
Is it cold in northern Vietnam in winter?
Yes: from December to February it can be around 15 °C in Hanoi and close to 0 °C in Sapa or Ha Giang. Pack warm clothes.
Is Tet a good time to travel?
It is a strong cultural experience, but transport is full and many businesses close for a few days. Book everything very early and stay put during the public holidays.