Best Time to Visit Can Tho

Two seasons, and a hot gap between them

Can Tho has a dry season and a wet season. There's no real winter. Dry runs roughly December to April, and rain takes over from May to October.

From December to February, days are warm but not harsh, and mornings are the coolest of the year. This is when the Mekong Delta is easiest to enjoy. Dry weather is also what you want for the floating markets.

March and April are the hot squeeze. Highs reach 37°C, and April is the first month the rain starts creeping back. Afternoons on a boat with no shade feel long, so plan your market trip for the morning and spend midday in a café.

The green, wet months

From May to October, rain falls on most days, often 20 days or more a month. It usually isn't a lazy drizzle. Think heavy bursts, then grey skies and sticky air. July, September and October are the wettest stretch, and humidity stays high.

Is that a reason to skip it? Not always. The orchards and rice fields look their greenest, and the river is full. Fruit season peaks in the wet months, so you can try rambutan, mangosteen and durian at Cai Rang or in the orchards near Phong Dien. Just expect boat trips to be cancelled or soggy, and keep a day spare.

November is a messy in-between. It's still wet, with rain on about 20 days, but it's easing off.

Which month for which trip

For floating markets and relaxed boat rides, pick December or January. They're our top two months. You'll get the best odds of dry mornings at Cai Rang, which is busiest at dawn.

Travelling with kids, or hate heat? Stay with December to February. March is fine if you stick to mornings.

On a budget, or happy with rain? June to October is the quiet season for tourists. Homestays are easier to find, and the cycling lanes between orchards are less crowded.

Festivals and crowds

Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, falls in late January or February. Many shops close for a few days, and locals travel home. It's a lovely time to see flower stalls and decorated streets, but transport gets busy, so book your bus or car early. December to Tet is the high season for visitors, and school holidays add domestic crowds in June and July even though it's rainy.