The Best Time to Visit Vietnam

Visiting Vietnam in February

One of the best times to visit Vietnam, the weather is warm or hot and dry throughout the country. Around Hoi An, in the central region, temperatures hover around 25 degrees whilst in the south around Saigon they’re in the high 20s, both gloriously sunny. Hanoi is cooler but bright and sunny, whilst up in the highlands, around Sapa, the weather and temperatures are perfect for walking.

Festivals and Events

• Tet

  Celebrated in late January – early February, depending on the lunar calendar, Tet sees in the new year, and is Vietnam’s biggest holiday. It’s time to declutter and make a fresh start, throwing a few fire crackers to scare away the evil spirits. If you are travelling at this time, expect plenty of celebrations and beautiful decorations, that some businesses might be closed for the holidays for up to 5 days, and that popular attractions are extra busy.

• We have no events in February matching your criteria, please update your preferences.

Visiting Vietnam in March

The temperatures continue to rise, making it full on beach-worthy weather in the south and central coasts. In the north it is dry and bright, and the very best time to cruise on Halong Bay, as the skies are perfectly blue and the chances of rain very low. Due to how good the weather is throughout the country, this is one of the most popular times to travel in Vietnam, so sights and attractions are likely to be busy.

Festivals and Events

• Thay Pagoda Festival

  The Thay Pagoda Festival commemorates the life Tu Dao Hanh, a Buddhist monk and inventor who lived during the 11th century. The folk hero is celebrated with a procession and water puppetry performances in the small village of Thay just west of Hanoi, in the third lunar month of the year, either March or April.

  Talk to our Tailor-Made team about visiting the Thay Pagoda Festival.

• We have no events in March matching your criteria, please update your preferences.

Visiting Vietnam in April

The end of the peak season, so things can still be pretty busy, the weather remains good throughout the country. The north is now in the mid-20s temperature-wise with a chance of rain towards the end of the month, and things heat up the further south you go. In the very south itself, there is now a greater chance of rain, but it’s still mostly dry if a bit humid.

Festivals and Events

• Thay Pagoda Festival

  The Thay Pagoda Festival commemorates the life Tu Dao Hanh, a Buddhist monk and inventor who lived during the 11th century. The folk hero is celebrated with a procession and water puppetry performances in the small village of Thay just west of Hanoi, in the third lunar month of the year, either March or April.

  Talk to our Tailor-Made team about visiting the Thay Pagoda Festival.

• Hung Kings Festival

  This countrywide holiday celebrates the lives of the ancient Vietnamese rulers said to be the founding fathers of the nation. Ceremonies are held in over 1,400 Hung Kings temples across the country with the key ceremony attending by millions of revellers at the Hung Temple on Nghia Linh Mountain northwest of Hanoi.

  Talk to our Tailor-Made team about visiting the Hung Kings Festival.

• We have no events in April matching your criteria, please update your preferences.

Visiting Vietnam in May

Things start to quiet down as the temperatures and humidity go up across the country. In the north, this is the beginning of the hot, wet summer with the occasional afternoon shower. In the south things are steamy, with the odd downpours at the end of the month announcing the monsoon. The central region and the highlands remain pleasant.

Festivals and Events

• International Labour Day

  International Labor Day is held on May 1. Held to commemorate the international workers’ movement of the 1800s it is marked by celebrations and parades held in central squares throughout the country, whilst many families enjoy the holiday picnicking outdoors.

• We have no events in May matching your criteria, please update your preferences.

Visiting Vietnam in June

The low season means far fewer fellow travellers are exploring Vietnam, and a mixed bag of weather. The north is now hot and wet, with showers and even storms to be expected. In the south it’s daily short, sharp showers, though you can expect sun and high temperatures much of the rest of the time. The central region, around Hoi An, is bright, dry and hot – so good for beach option.

Visiting Vietnam in July

Very similar to June, with hot and wet conditions in the north and south, and lots of rain in the highlands. The central coast remains a good place, with temperatures around 30 degrees and dry, bright days.

Visiting Vietnam in August

This month, Vietnam is warm wherever you go, but the south is in the midst of its wet season and the north is well into its hot, wet summer. The centre of Vietnam, around Hoi An is still dry and sunny, but its showers start up towards the end of the month.

Visiting Vietnam in September

Rain is on the increase in central Vietnam now and the temperatures are starting to go down towards the mid-20s though there is still plenty of sunshine to be had. The north and the south remain wet with the rain beginning to ease towards the end of the month. This is a wonderfully quiet time to travel if you don’t mind a bit of rain.

Festivals and Events

• Mid Autumn Festival

  An ancient celebration of the end of the harvest, the Mid-autumn Festival, known as Tet Trung Thu, can fall in either September or October depending on the full moon. Children take centre stage with gifts of lanterns, masks and toys. Mooncake stands can be found on every street corner and lion dances add to the festival atmosphere.

• Vietnam National Day

  A national holiday celebrating Vietnam’s declaration of independence from France in 1945. Flags and fireworks can be seen all over the country and parades are held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

• We have no events in September matching your criteria, please update your preferences.

Visiting Vietnam in October

In the north of Vietnam, the rains have cleared, the skies are blue and the humidity has dropped; even up in the northern mountains you can head up to Sapa to explore the rice terrace and hilltribe villages. In the south the rains continue to ease off and the central highlands, places like Dalat, are open for business once more. The centre on the other hand is in peak rainy season, with the potential for storms and flooding.

Festivals and Events

• Mid Autumn Festival

  An ancient celebration of the end of the harvest, the Mid-autumn Festival, known as Tet Trung Thu, can fall in either September or October depending on the full moon. Children take centre stage with gifts of lanterns, masks and toys. Mooncake stands can be found on every street corner and lion dances add to the festival atmosphere.

• We have no events in October matching your criteria, please update your preferences.

Visiting Vietnam in November

Entering into its ‘winter’, Vietnam welcomes cool, dry weather that is great for travelling, and so visitor numbers start to go up! The south is now all blue skies and sunshine whilst the north sits at about 25 degrees with low humidity. The mountains of the north and the central highlands also have great weather for trekking. The central region, however, stays pretty wet with the chance of storms.

Visiting Vietnam in December

The rain in the central region is starting to decrease, whilst the rest of the country is warm and dry. This is the driest month for the north and though warm during the day, it gets cool at night. The temperatures are also cool up in Sapa, but that’s all good for trekking and walking. The south is balmy, and is on the cusp of prime beach season in Phu Quoc. With the great weather and the Christmas season, this is a busy month to travel.