TGWhen to go to Vietnam: seasons by region
The country stretches almost two thousand kilometres, and it has no single season. When the south is dry, the centre can be raining for weeks.
Vietnam runs along the coast for almost two thousand kilometres — from the tropics in the south to subtropics with a real winter in the north. So the best month for Vietnam depends on where exactly you are flying: on the same day Hanoi can be +16 and drizzling while Phu Quoc is +32 and sunny.
The south: Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, Vung Tau
The dry season runs from November to April. Daytime temperatures are +30…33, there is almost no rain and the sea is calm. This is the high season: in December and January accommodation costs more and the beaches are busy.
- May to October is the rainy season: the downpours are usually short and come in the afternoon
- The wettest months are June, July and August
- There is no cold season at all in the south — +28 counts as cool here
The centre: Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang
Here it is dry from January to August, and the rain arrives in autumn — September to November — together with typhoons. Hoi An floods regularly in October, and red flags often go up on the beaches of Da Nang.
- February to May is the most even period: warm but not yet exhausting
- June to August is dry but hot, up to +35
- Nha Trang runs on a slightly shifted calendar: its rainy period is October to December
The north: Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa, Ninh Binh
The north has a real winter: from December to February it is +15…20, damp and overcast, and in the mountains around Sapa it can drop to +5. The best times are spring, March and April, and autumn, September to November: dry, warm and without the heavy humidity.
The short version
- November to April — the south
- February to May — the centre
- March to April and September to November — the north
March and April are the only months when it is more or less dry across the whole country at once. If your route covers all three parts, plan it for then.
What about the visa
Russian citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 45 days, so the trip can be decided a week before departure. For a longer stay or several entries you need the 90-day e-visa: we arrange it online, with no embassy visit.