Best Time to Visit Ha Long

Cool, grey winters: December to February

These are the months our comfort score likes best. Days are mild, around 20 to 22°C, and rain is light. But the sky is often grey and misty, and sun is low, especially in February. Nights on a boat can feel properly cold, so you'll want a jacket on deck.

The mist isn't all bad. Limestone islands fading into haze look moody and quiet on Ha Long Bay. If you want photos with clear blue sky, though, you may be let down. Kayaking around Lan Ha Bay is pleasant now, but swimming is chilly.

Spring and autumn: the in-between months

March and April are warmer and more humid, with drizzly days. Rain starts to build in April. Late April is a good time for Ha Long's Carnival, a street parade and show on the waterfront that opens the tourist season. Check dates, as they shift each year.

October is a mixed month. Rain is easing and sun is at its best of the year. But it's still Fair, not Excellent, because a late storm can drop in. November is the sweet spot. It's our other Excellent month outside winter, with the most sun, mild evenings and little rain. If you can pick any month, think November.

Summer: hot, wet and stormy, June to September

Be honest with yourself here. It's hot, sticky and rainy on most days. August is the wettest month by a wide margin, with rain on 27 days. June and July are the hottest nights, with lows of 27°C. May is a rough start, with rain on 19 days.

This is also typhoon season. Boat trips on the bay can be cancelled at short notice when storms come, so keep your dates flexible and your insurance in order. Cruise companies close the bay when winds are high.

The upside is price and space. Fewer people stay on the water in the wettest weeks. But Vietnamese school holidays in June and July bring domestic families to the beaches at Bai Chay, so those spots can be packed on dry days.

Crowds and high season

Peak season runs roughly October to April, when the weather is kindest. Cruises on the bay fill up most at weekends and around Tet, the Lunar New Year, in late January or February. Travelling with kids? The Carnival season and summer beach holidays suit them, but expect crowds either way. For the best mix of weather and space, aim for early November or early December.