When to go to Vietnam: weather and season by region and month
Vietnam has no single season: the south (Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne) is dry from November–December to April, the centre (Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang) is wet from September to December, and the north is cool in winter. Where to go each month.
Vietnam has no single season: the country stretches more than 1,600 km north to south, and the same month can bring opposite weather in different cities. In the south — Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne — the dry season runs from November–December to April, with rain from May to October. In the centre — Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang — rain and storms come from September to December, while February to August is dry and calm. In the north, Hanoi has a cool winter. So the question isn't "when to go to Vietnam" but "where to go in your month". How the resorts themselves differ is in Vietnam beach resorts. December in detail: Vietnam in December.
| Months | Dry with a calm sea | Rain and waves |
|---|---|---|
| November – December | Phu Quoc (dry from December), Mui Ne | Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An — rainy and stormy season |
| January – March | Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh City; Nha Trang — dry from January, calm sea from February; Da Lat | — (Da Nang is cool, about 21.5 °C in January) |
| April | almost everywhere: Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc | Phu Quoc starts turning to rain |
| May – August | Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An | Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Da Lat — rainy season |
| September – October | — | centre — rain and typhoons; south — peak rain |
When to go to Vietnam for a winter beach holiday?
For a winter beach in Vietnam, go south. From December to March Phu Quoc is dry — 30–32 °C by day, calm sea on the west coast — and so is Mui Ne, where the kitesurfing wind blows from late November to March. Nha Trang is dry from January with a calm sea from February; in November and December it still has rain and storms. More in Phu Quoc month by month, Mui Ne month by month and Phu Quoc or Nha Trang.
When to go to Vietnam in summer?
In summer, May to August, go to central Vietnam: Nha Trang and Da Nang are dry with a calm sea, and Nha Trang has its clearest water for diving from April to June. The south is in its rainy season then: Ho Chi Minh City gets downpours almost daily, usually in the afternoon, and Phu Quoc's west coast has waves up to 1.5–2 m. More in when to go to Nha Trang and when to go to Da Nang.
When is the rainy season in Vietnam?
The rainy season in Vietnam depends on the region. In the south — Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne — it rains from May to October–November. In the centre — Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang — from September to December, and this is the heaviest rain in the country: Da Nang gets about 630 mm in October, with typhoons and floods. Highland Da Lat is wet from May to October. The rainy season isn't a reason to cancel a city trip, but boat trips are cancelled in storms.
What is the weather like in Vietnam in winter in different cities?
In January Vietnam's weather varies widely. Phu Quoc is about 30.5 °C by day and 23 °C at night; daily averages are 27–28 °C in Ho Chi Minh City, about 24 °C in Nha Trang and 21.5 °C in Da Nang, where nights drop to about 19 °C. Highland Da Lat averages 16–17 °C with nights about 12 °C — bring a warm jacket. In the north, Hanoi averages about 16–17 °C in January. More in Ho Chi Minh City weather and when to go to Da Lat.
When are typhoons in Vietnam?
Typhoons in Vietnam mostly hit the central coast from September to December: Da Nang, Hoi An and Nha Trang close the sea in those months, and Hoi An's old town can flood in October–November. The south — Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc — is rarely hit. If you're heading to the centre in autumn, keep spare days and follow the warnings. More in Nha Trang in October and Hoi An month by month.
Monthly sea temperature for five resorts: Vietnam sea temperature by month.
FAQ
When should you visit Vietnam? It depends on where: the south (Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne) from December to April, the centre (Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An) from February to August.
Where is it warm in Vietnam in December? In the south: Phu Quoc is about 30 °C by day and dry, Ho Chi Minh City averages 27 °C. Nha Trang and Da Nang have rain in December.
Where to go in Vietnam in November? Phu Quoc or Mui Ne, where the rain is easing. In the centre — Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang — November is one of the wettest months.
Where to go in Vietnam in summer? Nha Trang and Da Nang: dry with a calm sea from May to August.
When is the rainy season in Vietnam? In the south May to October–November, in the centre September to December, in Da Lat May to October.
Is Vietnam cold in winter? Not in the south, around 30 °C by day. Da Lat nights drop to about 12 °C, and Hanoi averages 16–17 °C in January.