Thanks to the tropical monsoon climate, you can travel to Vietnam for 12 months of the year. Besides, with the diverse terrain stretching from the highlands to the plains and a coastline covering, each region of Vietnam has its own characteristics in each season. Let’s read our article to find yourself the best time to visit Vietnam!

Time to travel to Vietnam

Through this article, you will learn these pieces of information below.

Vietnam weather overview

Vietnam is located in the active area of the monsoon and is deeply influenced by the sea. Therefore, Vietnam has typical humid tropical monsoon climate characteristics with an average temperature of 21 Celcius degree, high rainfall, and air humidity. 

Vietnam’s weather varies significantly from the North to the South, with different climate conditions. While Northern Vietnam has four distinct seasons, the Centre and the South of Vietnam only have dry and rainy seasons. For this reason, the best time to visit Vietnam depends on which areas you will visit. Please refer to the detailed information on the best time to visit each part of Vietnam below.

Best time to visit Northern Vietnam

Northern Vietnam has hot summers with high rainfall and cold winters with low rainfall. More specifically, the period from May to September is hot and rainy. It is dry with little rain from November to February next year. So, what is the best time to visit Northern Vietnam? Let’s see the area's beauty during each season to answer this question. 

Northern Vietnam’s spring

Spring, which lasts from January to March, has an average temperature of 20 Celsius with drizzle and pleasant sunshine. Thanks to the mild climate, fresh atmosphere, and charming landscape, spring is indeed an ideal time to visit Northern Vietnam. This time, you will catch up with the brilliant scenery of flowers blooming, from the city to mountainous areas. Hanoi, Ha Giang, Mai Chau, Bac Ha, and Sapa are some destinations to visit in Northern Vietnam this time. 

Peach blossom in Bac Ha

Moc Chau in spring

See more: The ideal time to visit Bac Ha - Bac Ha in four seasons

Exploring the ideal time to visit Mai Chau with Handspan Travel Indochina

Summer in Northern Vietnam

Summer in Northern Vietnam is from April to June. It is not the best time to visit Northern Vietnam due to the high temperature and blazing sunshine. If you want to travel this time, you can choose some destinations in the Northwest or Northeast area, such as Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Ba Be, Moc Chau, etc. Visiting these destinations this time, you can admire magnificent waterfalls and clear streams running into the fields. 

Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang)

Ba Be Waterfall

Autumn in Northern Vietnam (July - September)

Thanks to the chilly atmosphere and cool weather, autumn is the most beautiful and best time to visit Northern Vietnam. Visiting the North of Vietnam in autumn, you can appreciate the falling yellow leaves and colorful flowers in Hanoi, yellow terraced rice fields, green tea hills, and many other stunning sceneries in the Northwest and Northeast areas. Ha Giang, Sapa, and Cao Bang are some destinations you should not miss. 

Terraced rice fields in Sapa

Rice field in Mai Chau

See more: Sapa through each season - What is the best time to visit Sapa

Northern Vietnam’s winter (October to December)

In winter, the temperature decreases to 15 Celsius degree on average, and sometimes, you will even catch up with the rain. However, the scenery still has unique characteristics compared to other times. Visiting Northern Vietnam in winter, you can immerse yourself in the sight of mountains and forests covered in fog.

To conclude, each season has its own characteristics and elegance. However, if you would like to enjoy every corner of Northern Vietnam, the times from January to March and October to December are ideal. 

Best time to visit the Centre of Vietnam

The center of Vietnam has three main areas: North Central, South Central, and the Highlands. Although each region has its own terrain, the weather and climate conditions have common characteristics. In the dry season, from January to August, the weather is hot, and the air humidity is low. Whereas in the rainy season, the weather is cold with heavy rain. The most intense rainfall in the Central region falls in October and November. This is not the ideal time to visit the North Central and South Centre of Vietnam, as you can catch up with storms and floods. However, at this time, you can visit the Central Highlands with wild yellow sunflowers on the roads. Let’s find out the best time to visit some featured destinations in Central Vietnam!

The best time to visit Hoi An and Da Nang

The best time to visit Hoi An and Da Nang is from February to April when the weather is cool and pleasant with no rain. The temperature rises between May and July, so it's suitable for beach lovers to enjoy the best beaches in Da Nang and Hoi An, such as My Khe Beach, Non Nuoc Beach, An Bang, and Cua Dai Beach. 

Non Nuoc Beach

An Bang Beach

Best time to visit Hue

Tourists travel to Hue Imperial City during different periods of the year. Domestic guests typically go to Hue from May to the end of September, while from October to the end of April, many foreigners choose to visit Hue. The best time to visit Hue Imperial City is from September to November. 

Trang Tien Bridge in Hue

Thuan An Beach in Hue

The best time to visit Nha Trang

Nha Trang’s weather is mild, with little rain and warm sunshine. The dry season, from January to August, is the most suitable time to visit Nha Trang. More activities are available at this time, such as swimming, diving under the sea, surfing, floating on the beach, etc. 

Scuba diving in Nha Trang

Nha Trang Fishing Village

In conclusion, if you want a complete experience, the time from February to May is the perfect time to visit the center of Vietnam. At this time, you can avoid heavy rain and enjoy exciting activities in most areas. 

Best time to visit Southern Vietnam

Southern Vietnam has a humid tropical climate with stable temperatures from 25 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius. There are two seasons in the areas, dry and rainy seasons. Let’s see detailed information about each season to find the best time to visit Northern Vietnam. 

Rainy season in Southern Vietnam

The rainy season in Southern Vietnam lasts from May to November, with the heaviest rainfall occurring from June to August. Visiting Southern Vietnam at this time, you can enjoy a variety of tropical fruits right in the garden and admire the life of local people in the river areas. Besides, Ho Chi Minh City is also an ideal destination to visit in the rainy season. Do not forget to bring your umbrella and raincoat to avoid the sudden rain.

The dry season in Southern Vietnam

Compared to the rainy season, the dry season is ideal for visiting Southern Vietnam. At this time, the average temperature is from 23 to 38 Celsius with low humidity. From the end of November, the rain is less, and the whole region is full of sunshine. Let’s find some best places to visit in Northern Vietnam during this time. 

• Phu Quoc

The rain stops, the sea is peaceful, and the waves are not strong in the dry season. Choosing to travel to Phu Quoc this time, you will have the chance to discover the full beauty of Phu Quoc, from the mountains, the range connecting the North to the South of the island, the national park with various types of flora and fauna, the sandy beaches, etc.

Dai Beach in Phu Quoc

Ham Ninh Fishing Village in Phu Quoc

• Ho Chi Minh City

During the dry season, Saigon is full of sunlight, covering most of the corners in the daytime. Although the temperature is relatively high, up to 40 degrees, the climate is not as sultry as in North or Central Vietnam. In the nighttime, the temperature decreases, and the atmosphere is more pleasant. Visiting Ho Chi Minh City at this time, you can comfortably visit famous Saigon tourist attractions such as Bui Vien West Street, Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, etc., without having to worry about sudden rains. 

Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street

• Ho Tram

Although you can visit Ho Tram at any time of the year due to the mild climate, it is ideal to come here in the dry season. Let’s immerse yourself in the crystal-clear water of the beach, relax in the Binh Chau Hotsprings, and enjoy seafood in Ho Tram. 

Ho Tram Beach

Besides Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, and Ho Tram, you can also visit the Mekong Delta areas and join exciting activities on the river. 

In conclusion, each area of Vietnam has its own weather climate conditions, and beauties to explore. Therefore, depending on your itinerary, you can choose a suitable time to visit Vietnam. Let’s plan for your trip and travel to Vietnam. If you want to book a grand tour in Vietnam or use any service, please do not hesitate to contact our Handspan team!