When's the Best Time to Visit Vietnam? A No-Nonsense Guide

From the Old Quarter of Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, this land of motorcycles and lantern-lit streets holds secrets for those who plan their visit wisely. When is the best time to go to Vietnam? You might ask, and the answer depends on you. Whether you prefer the jasmine-scented breezes of spring, the lively summer festivals, or the golden rice paddies of autumn. Each season paints Vietnam in a new tone, so you have to choose wisely which season you are visiting.

Let’s take a closer look at these seasonal changes and see what travelers can expect in the old city.

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Vietnam’s Weather: What You Need to Know

Vietnam might seem like a small country when you look at it on maps. More so when you compare it with how incredibly big China is. But this doesn’t mean that it is, and in fact, when talking about it, there are three distinct regions, each with its own climate.

• The North: It has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, shaped by the monsoons.

• The Central region: Where a tropical monsoon climate reigns supreme, bringing scorching temperatures that can soar to a blistering 45°C, along with torrential rainfall.

• The South: A tropical monsoon climate creates two seasons: a sun-drenched stretch from December to April, followed by a rainy season from May to November, with average temperatures around a balmy 27°C.

As for activities, there’s always something to do there, no matter the region or the season, so the best time to visit depends heavily on personal preference. If one of the main reasons that you have to travel to Vietnam is the enticing culture, then you’ll love the Spring activities in the northern cities of Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. For the beach lovers, there’s late spring and summer in Central Vietnam, especially in places like Hoi An and Hue.

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Let’s say you want to go to Vietnam this very year, so let’s look at the data on how the weather is behaving in contrast with a regular year in Vietnam. First of all, the whole central and eastern Pacific Ocean area it’s been influenced by La Niña conditions, as you can read on VietNamNet, which means that there’s more rainfall even during the dry months. And the increase in rain means unseasonal flooding and more storms. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go, just that you have to keep an eye on the weather forecast!

 

Best Time to Visit Vietnam Overall

March to April: Best balance of weather across regions

We’ve just discussed how different the weather can be from region to region in certain seasons of the year. But if you want to go from North to South and explore the whole country with consistent weather, your best chance is during the golden months of March and April.

• Northern Vietnam: Mild temperatures and hardly rain, perfect for hiking and soaking up the culture.

• Central Vietnam: It is all sunshine and warm breezes, begging you to hit the beaches and explore.

• Southern Vietnam: It’s hot and dry, which means it’s prime time for coastal adventures and checking out the cities.

 

November to April: Ideal for most travelers

Your next best option is November through April, where the weather is also pretty consistent, and Vietnam sees the most travelers. The whole country’s pretty much sunny and clear that time of year, with small changes.

• Northern Vietnam: It’s cool and dry at this time of year, around 12-25°C, which makes it ideal for long walks and hikes.

• Central Vietnam: It’s a bit rainy at the start of the season, but not as much as other months, and it gets progressively drier after February.

• Southern Vietnam: The perfect months to get lots of sunshine and explore the beauty of the country. Just be careful, as the temperatures go as high as 35°C.

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May to October: Rainy season but ideal for budget travelers

Not all travelers choose the season based only on vibes and activities. Traveling when the prices are lower, even if the weather is not at its best, can be a very interesting experience. First of all, yes, you’ll be saving some bucks, and that’s always a good thing, but also, you can have a more authentic experience than other travelers. Think of how sometimes, when the plans you had didn’t work out, you managed to do something completely different that you didn’t even imagine. That’s how a rainy day in a city like Hoi An can end up for you!

 

Best Time for Each Region

Northern Vietnam

Let’s start our more in-depth exploration of Vietnam’s weather by region, and all the seasonal activities you’d like to do with the Northern side of Vietnam. There you’ll find spectacular natural landscapes, with some of Southeast Asia’s most iconic scenery, as well as many ethnic minority cultures with their own traditions and customs, and plenty of adventures.

Overall, the best time to travel to Northern Vietnam is from September to April, as the skies are clear, the days are long, and both the temperature and humidity are quite pleasant. For the most beautiful time, try spring, when the whole region seems to bloom, with the trees getting greener and exploding in blossoms. In any case, avoid going from May to August, as you’ll hate the humidity. Really, there are fewer people, yes, but there are fewer people for a good reason; it’s all hot and wet.

Activities to do in Northern Vietnam

• Ride a boat in Ninh Binh: Can you imagine a better way to just relax and enjoy the blooming season? Of course not, walking is tiring, as it is hiking. On a boat, you can just lounge and breathe the scent of new flowers.

• Swim in Ban Gioc or Thac Bac: Even when the sun is scorching, the river waters and especially the waterfalls are cold and inviting. And although we said that you shouldn’t go during the summer and the rainy season, when else would you see the waterfalls in all their glory?

• Trek through the rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai: Best do it during the fall, that way you can see the rice cultures turning gold just right before the harvest. And better bring your camera with you, the light is excellent for pictures.

• Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarters: Winter is the perfect season to get lost in the enticing streets of a city like Hanoi. You can’t miss the chance to visit a place like the Temple of Literature, and the festive markets during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.

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Central Vietnam

Let’s do as the birds do when they migrate, and go towards the heat, but first, we have to make a stop at Central Vietnam. This area is pretty well known for its ancient cities, with many UNESCO World Heritage Sites like The Imperial City and Hoi An, where at night the lanterns still light the city like they did centuries ago. But there are also charming coasts, with fast-growing cities like Da Nang.

The best times to visit are spring and summer. During the spring, the temperature is ideal if you want to spend the day at the beaches and walk around without getting burnt to a crisp by the sun. And unlike other regions, the summer in the Central areas is hot, but it’s not as uncomfortable as it’s mostly dry. You do have to wear sun protection, though. Meanwhile, once autumn starts, the rains come with it, and winter is mostly the same.

Activities to do in Central Vietnam

• Explore Hoi An: During Spring, the weather is nice, warm, and dry, perfect for walking and exploring all the little spots in the city. And, if you can plan your trip for the full month, you can enjoy the monthly lantern festival, where the whole city turns off electric lighting, and you can watch traditional performances under the golden light of the lanterns.

• Spend the day at An Bang Beach: Summer is the time for excellence to spend at least a full day at the beach. Breathing in the salt in the air and just relaxing, if that’s what you want. Or you can try some water sports like jet skiing and parasailing.

• Motorbike the Hai Van Pass: With the cooler weather in Autumn, it’s time to take the streets and explore the scenic coastal road between Hue and Da Nang. You’ll need your driver’s license, of course, or you can drive as a passenger with a partner. In Da Nang, you can also visit interesting places like Lady Buddha

• Visit the Imperial City: Definitely best visited in a cold month, and it’s very popular in winter. The cooler atmosphere and the mist add just the right amount of moody charm to this historical site.

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Southern Vietnam

Did you know that Vietnam has tropical islands? Well, yes, it does! Right in the South, you can find these beautiful places, like Phu Quoc and Con Dao. There’s also a surprising amount of new dishes to try, which include tropical and exotic foods like durian and dragon fruit.

We’ve been talking about the four seasons of the year, because that’s what most people are used to. It is a nice way to divide the year, even if the weather doesn’t match exactly the classical ideal of each one. But in Southern Vietnam, we should be talking more about the dry season, from December to April, and the rainy season, from May to November. And generally, people prefer to travel during the dry season, since we collectively don’t like too much water. Also, there’s the risk of flooding in areas like Ho Chi Minh City.

Activities to do in Southern Vietnam

• Explore the Mekong Delta: During the dry season, the rivers are calmer, and the weather is better for exploring them. And in the Mekong Delta, you can explore one of the most unique places in Vietnam, the Cai Rang Floating Market.

• Island Hopping: As we already mentioned, there are plenty of islands to explore, and Spring is the best time to go from one to the other, admiring their landscapes and just relaxing in the warm weather. You can also snorkel at Hon Thom and dive around the Con Dao’s coral reefs.

• Explore Ho Chi Minh City: This city has plenty of activities you can do on rainy days during the summer. You can explore covered markets like Ben Thanh and Tan Dinh, or a more hidden place, like the Cu Chi Tunnels!

 

Practical Travel Tips For Visiting Vietnam

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Booking Flights & Accommodation

Snagging cheap flights and hotels for your Vietnam trip doesn’t have to be a headache. Here are some insider tips to help you save some money on your trip.

• For flights within Vietnam, book about a month and a half beforehand. That’s a perfect amount of time to save money, and you should have your plans pretty clear already. For the cheaper rates, travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

• For international flights, give yourself more time. Around two months in advance. Traveling midweek can also save you some money, and oddly enough, booking on a Sunday can sometimes save you up to 8% on airfare!

• Traveling during the shoulder seasons, like January, February, September, or October, can slash up to 30% off your trip costs. And remember to set up fare alerts in sites like Google Flights to get the best rates.

Check out our full guide on the best day to book flights: myths, tips, and tricks.

What is the worst time to go to Vietnam?

As with most places, you probably don’t want to visit Vietnam when everyone is going. And not only because valuing one’s peace and quiet is important, but also the accommodation and transportation become harder to book and more expensive. In Vietnam, this usually is from mid-December to March. After that, the second worst time is during summer, especially July and August. The weather is extremely hot and humid, and overall just uncomfortable.