Best Time To Visit Vietnam

The peak season in Vietnam is from December to January and then again from March till the end of May. The western New Year sees a large number of trips being planned to the country of Vietnam. March to May is spring season when the entire nation is in full bloom. However, the period from May to July is a period of peak domestic travel which drives up the prices for international tourists.

Events during Peak Season in Vietnam

• Vietnam Military Day is celebrated on the 22nd of December.
• January is a month of celebration as it marks the Western New Year.
• In March, Perfume Pagoda festival is celebrated extensively in North Vietnam. 
• The 8th of March which celebrates International Women?s Day is a significant event in Vietnam.
• Reunification Day is celebrated on April 30th. 
• May 1st, the International Labour Day, is a public holiday in Vietnam.
• May 19th is witness to a widely celebrated event in Vietnam, Uncle Ho?s Birthday.
• The Chem Temple festival is held in Hanoi in June.
• Hue festival also takes place towards the end of June or early July.

The remaining months of February, August, September, October and November constitute the low season for tourism in Vietnam. The cheapest time to visit Vietnam, however, would be from September to November. The monsoon repels a majority of the travellers. You can expect to get an extremely cheap deal on the accommodation. The deals continue to be offered until February when the weather starts getting better.

Events during Offseason in Vietnam

• February, the month of the Tet holiday, is a period of celebrations and relaxation for the Vietnamese.
• Tet Nguyen Tieu is celebrated precisely two weeks after the New Year. Hoi An holds a lantern festival whereas other places have live music and traditional games at the centre squares.
• The 3rd of February marks the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party.
• Vietnam Revolution Day is celebrated on August 19th.
• Vietnamese Independence Day is proudly celebrated on 2nd September.
• The Mid-Autumn festival takes place towards the latter half of September.
• Hanoi?s Liberation Day is celebrated on the 10th of October and is a day of significance and major celebrations for Hanoi.
• The International Tea Festival is celebrated in Thai Nguyen in the second week of November. Certain regions of Vietnam, like Hanoi and Hoi An, lavishly celebrate Thanksgiving.

The northern part of Vietnam is best visited from March to May and from September to November when the weather is generally warm and sunny.
March marks the beginning of Spring season in North Vietnam. Parts of North Vietnam, especially Hanoi, see their best weather in March. The conditions remain favourable until Mid-May. The sea temperature starts to rise with an increase in humidity; this season is considered to be a quiet one for tourism. May to October experiences hot and humid temperature with heavy rainfall hence not an ideal time to plan your trip. The beginning of September is the blooming season when the weather conditions start easing with balmy days and cold nights. The north provinces experience mild sunlight and a considerable decline in humidity. By November, the winters have begun to set in with pleasant days cooler nights making it another best time to visit the region.

Province of Northern Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Cuc Phuong, Mai Chau and Ninh Binh.

If you prefer the tropical climate, then Central Vietnam is the best choice. January - June is the best time to visit Central Vietnam when it flaunts sunny beach weather. This is a suitable time for biking and trekking activities. By March, there's a slight increase in temperature as compared to February; however, it's mostly pleasant until April. April marks the beach season of Vietnam, especially in Hoi An. The conditions are deemed extremely favourable for swimming and other water activities. In May, temperatures begin to rise in the central provinces of Vietnam with occasional rainfall and a slight increase in humidity. June is said to receive the largest amount of heat in a year. Since this region experiences heavy rain, the latter half is prone to unpredictable monsoons and typhoons. One must take care to make a note of the typhoon season as it can get particularly difficult to travel during this time. With the end of the Typhoon season in November, the weather conditions become more favourable for outdoor activities. November to January is the coldest period for Central Vietnam.

Provinces of Central Vietnam: The towns of Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Dalat, Quy Nhon & Nha Trang form Central Vietnam.

The southernmost part of Vietnam does not experience much variation in climate annually. December to April is considered to be an ideal time to travel the south. December marks the beginning of the dry season for the southern parts of Vietnam and might be the best time for a trip. Ho Chi Minh City sees a hike in tourism by January for the New Year Eve while February is the driest month in South Vietnam. With favourable weather for beach activities; March and April are optimal months for outdoor activities and sightseeing too. By the end of April, there are slight drizzles and occasional rainfall. Tourists are advised to carry rain gears while visiting in April. Warm to hot temperatures dominate this region with a dry spell from January to April and downpours from June up to November; hence the latter half is not an ideal time to visit.

Provinces of South Vietnam: The southern part is made up of Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc & Con Dao, Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, Ho Tran & Long Hai.

January is a great time to visit Vietnam. You can expect warm sunshine and clear blue skies as Vietnam is in its prime dry season during January. The whole of Vietnam, however, does not have great weather in January. While the southern and coastal parts of Vietnam have great warm and balmy weather ranging between 20° C and 30° C, the central part of Vietnam is relatively cooler. The northern part is slightly colder, with temperatures below 16° C, whereas Sapa, Mau Son, may even experience snow. Visiting Halong Bay is not a great idea in January since it has very hazy and foggy weather, and you cannot click pictures. In general, January is excellent as you can escape from the humidity Vietnam is known for.

Read more about Vietnam in January

The weather in Vietnam is excellent in February. Blue skies, balmy sunshine minus the humidity, and very few spells of rain make it a wonderful time to be in Vietnam. Central and South Vietnam are blessed with the perfect ‘beach weather’, and summer is almost about to begin. This is the perfect time to visit your favorite beach resorts. Northern Vietnam is relatively calm but not very chilly. They are a little misty, foggy, and apt for trekking and hiking. The few spells of rain, usually in the afternoon, help the weather optimally, although these rains are not as bad as the wet season.

Read more about Vietnam in February

Winter in Vietnam typically falls between late November to mid-March, with January being the coldest month. The temperature generally falls below 20 degrees Celsius. The cold in the winter season isn’t freezing cold, but some northern mountainous places like Sapa do experience some snowfall. The rest of the country remains warm and dry compared to the weather Vietnam has the rest of the year.

Read more about Vietnam in Winter

December marks an end to autumn and welcomes winter in Vietnam. In December, this South-Eastern Peninsula is slightly affected by Southeast Monsoon, leading to wet weather in Central Vietnam. However, it is the best month to visit Vietnam, which glistens under clear skies and sunshine - superbly suitable for highlands trekking, beach vacations, and exotic adventure. The weather is cool and dry in Vietnam, with an average temperature of around 26°C this month, and the average humidity level remains 85%. However, the Highlands become chilly at night.

Read more about Vietnam Weather in December

November marks an end to autumn and welcomes winter in Vietnam. In November, this South-Eastern Peninsula is sharply affected by Southeast Monsoon, leading to wet weather in Central Vietnam. However, it is the best month to visit North and South Vietnam, which glistens under clear skies and sunshine and is superbly suitable for highlands trekking, beach vacations, and exotic adventure. The weather is cool and dry in Vietnam, with an average temperature of around 25°C this month, and the average humidity level remains 90%.

Read more about Vietnam Weather in November

Vietnam in October experiences both autumn and monsoon. Neither too hot nor too cold, the weather is fine for every traveler. It is one of the peak times to visit North Vietnam and the Central Highlands for hiking and other recreational activities. October marks an end to the monsoon and welcomes autumn in Vietnam. In October, Southeast Monsoon moderately affects this South-Eastern Peninsula, leading to wet weather in Central Vietnam and less rainfall in South Vietnam. North Vietnam gets clear skies making the highlands worth visiting. The average temperature of Vietnam remains around 25°C this autumn month, and the average humidity level is 90%.

Read more about Vietnam Weather in October

Vietnam in September is a blend of autumn and monsoon. During this time, it is neither too hot nor too cold. It is one of the peak times to visit North Vietnam and the Central Highlands for hiking and other recreational activities. In September, this South-Eastern Peninsula is moderately affected by Southeast Monsoon, leading to wet weather in Central Vietnam and slightly lesser downpours in South Vietnam and North Vietnam, making highlands worth visiting. The average temperature of Vietnam remains around 24°C this autumn month, and the average humidity level is 94%.

Read more about Weather in Vietnam in September

August is the wettest month of the year; nevertheless, it is one of the peak times to visit Vietnam. This is when this South-Eastern Peninsula is moderately affected by Southwest Monsoon, leading to daily downpours in South Vietnam while Typhoons affect North Vietnam. But Central Vietnam remains best for beach vacations. Different parts of the country experience a range of temperatures between 27 and 32 degrees Celsius.

Read more about Weather in Vietnam in August

Weather in July is a blend of warmth and plentiful monsoon in Vietnam, which is somewhat similar to June. This is the time when this South-Eastern Peninsula is moderately affected by Southwest Monsoon leading to daily downpours in South Vietnam. Different parts of the country experience a range of temperatures, but 31 degrees is the average temperature that hovers over Vietnam in July. 

Read more about Vietnam Weather in July

Weather in June blends hot summers and plentiful monsoons in Vietnam. The country is less visited in the first half of the month than other appropriate months, so it's a golden period to go and rejuvenate with your family and friends in Vietnam. Different parts of the country experience a range of temperatures, but 30 degrees is the average temperature that hovers over Vietnam in June. 

Read more about Vietnam Weather in June

May in Vietnam is a blooming time in the north and dry and slightly wet in the central part. Although May is not part of the peak tourist season in Vietnam, numerous places such as SaPa, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, and Ho Chi Minh City are excellent to visit now. The weather in May is a blend of spring, summer, and monsoon in Vietnam. The country is less visited this month than other appropriate months, so it's a golden time to go and enjoy with your family and friends in Vietnam. Different parts of the country experience a range of temperatures, but 29°C is the average temperature that hovers over Vietnam in May. 

Read more about Vietnam Weather in May

March is the Goldilocks month in Vietnam. Perfectly warm weather with crystal blue skies and plenty of sunshine. The weather is still approaching the hot summer and is not very humid. The mild and dry weather makes it a fantastic time to indulge in activities and destinations. Southern Vietnam has the perfect beach weather, and central and Northern Vietnam has warm, cozy weather that allows you to take part in trekking and visiting the cities.

Read more about Vietnam Weather in March