Best Time to Visit Vietnam

North, centre and south don't match

Vietnam is long and thin, so there's no single best month. The north has four seasons. Hanoi, Ha Long and Haiphong are best from December to February. Days are cool and grey, and you'll want a jumper for evenings by Hoan Kiem Lake. Summer is hot and sticky, with the heaviest rain in August.

The centre runs on a different clock. Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An are best from January to March, and Nha Trang's good run stretches to April. Then the rain arrives. October is the wettest month for Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An, and that's when streets in Hoi An's old town can flood. Nha Trang is wettest a month later, in November.

The south is warm all year. Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa and Can Tho are best in December and January. March is the hottest month, at 37 to 38°C. Rain peaks between July and September, usually in heavy afternoon bursts that clear quickly. On the Mekong Delta near Can Tho, that's when the canals are fullest.

Tet and other busy times

Tet, the Lunar New Year, falls in late January or February. It's the big one. Many shops and restaurants close for a few days, and buses and trains fill with families going home. The streets feel magical, but plan around the closures. Flowers fill Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City just before it.

The other busy stretch is summer school holidays, roughly June to August. Domestic crowds pack the beaches at Nha Trang and Da Nang. National Day on 2 September also brings a long weekend of local travel.

High and low season

High season matches the dry months: December to March for most of the country. If you want one trip covering lots of ground, February and March are a safe bet. Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An and Nha Trang are all at their best then, and Hanoi is mild.

Low season means rain and heat. It's cheaper and quieter, but the central coast in October is a gamble, since storms can disrupt travel. Don't mind showers? The south in the wet season is still very doable.