Best Time to Visit Da Nang

Feb to April: the sweet spot

February is the best month here, and March comes close. Days are warm but not heavy, around 26 to 28°C, and the rain mostly stays away. The sea is calm enough for My Khe Beach, and you can ride out to the Marble Mountains without melting. Nights are mild, so a walk along the Han River to see the lit-up Dragon Bridge feels easy.

Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, usually lands in late January or February. Many shops and restaurants close for a few days, and locals travel home. It's quiet in the city but lively around temples. Hotels and flights can be tight right around it, so check the lunar calendar before you pick dates.

May to August: hot, beachy and busy

It gets properly hot from May. June is the warmest month, with highs of 33°C and sticky afternoons. It's also the time most people come for the beach, and Vietnamese school holidays push crowds up in June, July and August. Expect full sands at My Khe and busy rooms near the coast.

Rain falls more often than you might expect, but it's usually in short bursts rather than all day. If you're travelling with kids and need the beach, this is your window. Swim early or late, and spend the middle of the day in the shade at Hoi An's old town, about 30 minutes away. Late June often brings the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, with teams lighting up the sky over the Han River. Dates change each year, so confirm before you book.

September to December: the wet months

This is the real rainy season, and October is the worst. It gets 693 mm of rain on 25 days. Storms and typhoons can hit the central coast, and flooding sometimes affects Hoi An. Seas get rough, and the Ba Na Hills cable car can close in bad weather. Hotels are cheaper and the beach is nearly empty, but you won't get many sunny hours.

December is cooler but still gloomy, with only 1.8 hours of sun a day. If you don't mind grey skies, you can enjoy cafés, mi quang (turmeric noodles with pork or shrimp) and spa days. January is drier than December but still damp and cool, so it suits city breaks better than beach trips.