You can take a tour to Vietnam any time of the year and each season has its own special appeal.
Generally, there’s no ‘best’ time for traveling in Vietnam as the seasons are a little vague and vary considerably from north to south, and within regions. You can take a tour to Vietnam any time of the year and each season has its own special appeal.
The most popular time for travel is from October to April next year. We recommend that you should book well in advance if you wish to travel to Vietnam at this time. Because this time is widely favorite travel by tourists then you may deal with issues getting your desired availability.
General guide of Vietnam weather
The northern regions of Vietnam have four seasons. Winter is from December to February – temperatures are generally lower. The mountainous regions such as Sapa can be remarkably cold. Halong Bay is usually covered in mist, which reduces visibility but adds to the atmosphere. Mid of summer is June to August – expect hot and humid conditions at this time, with temperatures averaging between 27°C to 30°C and high humidity. In the monsoon season (May to November), you can expect days to be warm and humid with refreshing afternoon showers. Travel is rarely affected by the rain and everything is lush and green at this time. Skies over Halong Bay are usually clear and blue.
In the south including Sai gon (Ho Chi Minh city), Nha Trang, Cu Chi, Mekong delta etc. Days are usually warm and clear. The weather is divided into 2 seasons. The dry season generally runs from December to June with March to May being particularly hot and humid. Temperatures usually range from 27°C to 36°C during this time. The wet season brings short and heavy rain showers from July to November, with temperatures averaging between 22°C and 27°C.
In Central Vietnam, such as Hue, Hoi an, Danang and Phong Nha, you should be well prepared for some instability and possible flooding during the months of October and November.
National holidays and Festivals
During National holidays and festivals, there are millions of local tourists flocking at popular tourist destinations. That often cause the serious problems of lacking services, especially accommodations and flight tickets. In our biggest holidays such as Tet holiday, all offices and banks are closed; restaurants, shopping centers, and local markets are closed for some most important days. HIT Vietnam strongly recommend you should look up the list below for the better preparation of your holiday so that you can avoid the frustration.
- 1st January is International New Year’s Day. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. Hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers are open.
- January/February (last day of last Lunar month) is Lunar New Year’s Eve, the beginning of Tet or the Vietnamese New Year period. The Reunification Palace will be closed in Saigon.
- January/February (first day of the first Lunar month) is Tet, or Lunar New Year, Vietnam’s major annual vacation. Banks & public offices will be closed, as will most businesses. Cao Dai temples will be closed six days before the Lunar New Year, and floating markets in the Mekong Delta will not operate. Most of restaurants, local markets, and shopping centers are closed. Almost hotels are open. (Learn about traveling during Tet holiday in Vietnam)
- March/April (10th day of the 3rd lunar month) is the anniversary of Hung Kings, Vietnam’s ancient rulers. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
- 30 April is Independence Day, commemorating the fall of Saigon and reunification of the country in 1976. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
- 1 May is Labour Day, marking the contribution made by workers. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
- 2 September is National Day, marking the day Vietnam declared its independence forming the Democratic Republic of Northern Vietnam. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
- 31 December is International New Year’s Eve. While not a public vacation, it is celebrated in Vietnam with festive meals, parties, and fireworks as it is in most parts of the world.
