Vietnam serves up a generous dose of Southeast Asian magic at any time of year, but some seasons are easier for travelers than others.
A lot depends on what you are looking for from your trip – if it’s time on the beach on the central coast, you probably want to stick to the drier months from February to June, before the peak summer crowds arrive; if you’re here to go trekking in the highlands, October to March is the optimum season.
It's important to be aware that the weather can vary widely as you travel around Vietnam. The country spans 1650km (1025 miles) from north to south, taking in tall mountains in the north and flat, tropical wetlands in the Mekong Delta. In the north, it can be positively chilly in winter; from December to February, the highlands around Sapa can see snow while the Delta basks at 25°C (77°F).
To help you plan a perfect trip, here’s our guide on the best times to visit Vietnam.
The hot, sticky high season from July to August is the busiest time of year to visit Vietnam, coinciding with favorable beach weather on the central coast. Demand for flights soars and prices for accommodations can increase by as much as 50% in resort areas such as Danang and Nha Trang. Book flights and hotels well in advance and expect crowds on the sand at all the popular resorts.
The rest of the country is warm and humid, and sunny days are punctuated by spectacular summer monsoon downpours and even the odd typhoon on the coast. This is a poor time of year for visiting the north, as trekking trails turn into quagmires, and Hanoi and Halong Bay are drenched by heavy showers. On the festival calendar, Trung Nguyen (Wandering Souls Day, also known as Vu Lan) in August sees huge spreads of food left out for the spirits.
Winter in Vietnam tends to be drier and cooler than the sticky summer, and the weather can be downright chilly in the north, particularly at higher elevations. However, this is the perfect time to explore Vietnam’s characterful northern and southern capitals, with manageable temperatures and low humidity taking the sting out of exploring Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) on foot.
If you want to see more of the country, this is also a great time to head out to the Mekong Delta and the island of Phu Quoc, with warm (not scorching) temperatures and clear skies. As April approaches, however, the mercury starts to climb to uncomfortable levels down south.
Another obstacle to easy travel is the Tet festival – officially, Tet Nguyen Dan – marking the Vietnamese lunar New Year, in late January or early February. The whole country is on the move and prices for transport and hotels shoot skywards.
In December, the biennial Flower Festival brings fragrant blooms, pageants, wine and music to Dalat, while
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