Vietnam has3 different climate zones: north (Hanoi, Halong, Sapa), center (Hoi An, Huế, Đà Nẵng), south (Sajgon, delta Mekongu, Phú Quốc). There is no “best time” — depending on the route. Below is a guide month after month and region after region.
Climate of 3 regions
NORTH (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Bình, Sapa)
- Winter(December-February): 10-20°C, fog, precipitation 20-50 mm, cool in the evening
- Spring(March-April): 18-28°C, MGGLA over Halong (effective but limited views)
- Summer(May-August): 25-35°C, HIGH VULGITY, monsoon, rains 150-350 mm/mies. Typhoon August
- Autumn(September-November): 20-30°C, dry, pleasant — BEST TIME FOR THE NIGHT
CENTRUM (
- Winter(December-February): 18-25°C, rains and floods (even Hội An flooded)
- Spring(March-April): 22-30°C, dry, sunny
- Summer(May-August): 28-35°C, hot, dry
- Autumn(September-November): typhoons + floods, rains 400-600 mm/mies. UNIQUE
SOUTH (Sajgon, Mekong Delta, Phú Quốc)
- Dry season(November-April): 25-32°C, sunny
- Rain season(May-October): 25-35°C, storm 1-2 hours each afternoon. Not continuous rains
Month after month
January
Cool month in the north (10-15°C in Hanoi, in Sapa can -5°C, snow). High season in Saigon and Phú Quốc — sunny, dry.NOTE: Tết (Vietnam New Year)— 21 January-4 February 2026 — ALL 5-7 days, hotel prices x3, transport overcrowded. If possible, avoid the week Tết.
February
Like January. Great for the south. It's still cold up north.
March
UniversalLY GOOD MONTHS. All regions acceptable. Moderate prices (before peak summer season).
April
Best time for CENTRUM (Hoi An perfect). In the north the fog begins. South: hot but dry.30 April — Day of Unification(State holiday, many local tourists).
May
Universally warm. Rice starts greening in Sapa (best pictures)! Center: hot. The South: The beginnings of monsoon, but short rains.
June
Green rice in Sapa. Halong: The beginning of rains. Saigon: short afternoon showers. Center: OK but hot. Hoi An 32-35°C.
July
HAPPY YEARS in the north — very hot (33°C + 90% humidity in Hanoi = feeling 40°C). Rain. South: monsoon fully. Halong: cruises can be cancelled.
August
The Greatest Risk of Typhoons. Halong Bay is often closed. Hoi An: The beginnings of floods. UNIQUE the entire central region + Halong. Saigon and Mekong: OK, though wet.
September
Sapa: OLD rice ready for harvesting —BEST MONTHS for photography of terraces. Halong: A pleasant season begins. Center: typhoons, floods in Hoi An. South: the end of the rainy season.
October
North:♪ Golden Autumn ♪. Dry, pleasant 22-27°C. Sapa: rice harvesting (brown fields). Halong: Excellent. Center:Frightened— historically the biggest floods in Hoi An October-November. South: dry season begins.
November
A universally good month. North: Cool Evenings (12-20°C). Center: still risking rain. South: Perfect. Phú Quốc: The beginning of high season.
December
Cold in the north (10-18°C in Hanoi). There could be snow in Sapa. The South and Phú Quốc: A HAPPY SEASON — sunny, dry but x2 prices. European holidays: hotels sold out early.
Recommended Seasons for Popular Routes
Classic “All Vietnam” (2-3 weeks)
Best time: March-April or October-November— all regions acceptable.
Only Halong Bay + Hanoi
September-November(good visibility, no typhoons) orMarch-April(avoid summer).
Only Hoi An + center
February-JulyDry. UNIKAJ October-January (flood).
Only Saigon + Mekong + Phú Quốc
November-March— dry season. April-October acceptable (short afternoon storms).
Sapa (for rice photography)
May-June(green) orSeptember(yellow, PEAK). Never December-February ( fog, cold).
Christmas and Events
Tết Nguyên Đán (Vietnamese New Moon Year)
Vietnam's most important holiday, 7 days off. 2026: 17-23 February.NOTE: practically everything closed 3-5 days. Prices of hotels x3-5. Transport's overcrowded. The native cities are ravaged (the residents return to the village). DO NOT COME this week, unless it is for Tết himself.
Reunification Day (30.04)
National Day: the anniversary of the unification of Vietnam 1975 Many free (30.04-3.05), local tourism flourishes.
Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival)
Autumn Day — the end of September or the beginning of October. Moon cakes (bánh trunk thu), lanterns for children. Not a state holiday, but a big celebration in cities.
Festival of Water Campfires Hội An
Monthly, the 14th day of the lunar calendar — lanterns on water and in the city.
Practical seasonal tips
- Book 2-3 months in advanceon peak season (December-February to the south, September-October to the north)
- Halong cruises during the typhoon season— compulsory insurance with force majeure
- Sapa in winter: fog every day, but magical atmosphere. Take your warm clothes
- Vietnam's got Christmas week on its stomach- Check the dates!
- The monsoon season does not mean “don't go”— rains usually afternoon/evening, sunny mornings. Green scenery, less tourists, lower prices