When is the best time to travel to Vietnam?

The North Vietnam
Hanoi – capital city of Vietnam and other places in the North has distinct winter and summer season. The summer lasts from May-September with hot and humid weather and temperature can reach 34 - 35◦C or even higher, the rainfall is also at its highest. Normally, the short, refresh and heavy rain showers arrive in the afternoon and despite of them, the summer months still have the highest number of sunshine hours. The winter is around late December – February with cool but mostly dry climate. The sky is often cloudy or foggy and the average temperature is about 17◦C. So, the best time to visit this part of Vietnam is around October – November when the weather is quite pleasant for all kind of activities and average temperature is 22◦C.

If you travel to Halong Bay in the autumn (October – November), sometimes you see the mist which may reduce your visibility but the weather can be very pleasant for a relaxing cruise time. In the winter (December – February), the climate can be cold and will affect your experience. Another perfect time to visit Halong Bay on a Vietnam Customized Holidays is during the spring time (March - May), as the sky is clearly blue and the days are warm, such great conditions for cruising on the emerald water. In the summer, severe weather such as typhoons or heavy rain may prevent the junk from sailing, though such weather is quite rare.

The far north mountainous destinations with stunning landscape like Sapa, Ha Giang or Mu Cang Chai are divided into two seasons: the dry and cold season from October to April and the wet season from May to September, the weather in December to February can be very cold and frost, especially at night. So, the best time for a hiking or trekking tour is around March – April when the weather is warmer and drier while the October – November period offers the cool and clear days.

The Central Vietnam
The centre of Vietnam has gorgeous beaches for traveler seeking for great beach breaks or romantic Vietnam Honeymoon Vacations which stretch from Hue to the far south of centre in Nha Trang. The weather here is hot and dry from January to August, with temperature reaches around 30◦C. For travelers prefer the heat can plan the beach break in the end dry season, while the beginning of dry season can have milder climate. During the rainy season (September – November), the rainfall increases and reach peak level around October and November, occasionally typhoon may hit the region.

Hue is often cooler than the rest of Central Vietnam, especially early of the year. The mountain range between Hue and Danang can make the weather greatly different between two cities on the same day when you take the drive from one place to another.

The far south of Central Vietnam where you can find Nha Trang or Quy Nhon often has a longer dry season (January – September), with higher temperature around 32◦C and little rain. So, this is the perfect time for a Vietnam Family Holidays as you can have great time on the beach with your loved ones. The rainy season here lasts from October to December with almost half of the rainfall in a year falling in October and November.

The South Vietnam
Being closer to the equator, the South Vietnam has constantly warm weather year-round. Visiting this part of the country on your Vietnam Tour, you will experience the average temperature around 28◦C. This tropical climate is similar to Thailand or Cambodia which is split into dry season and wet season. The dry season lasts from November to early May and the period of late February to May is slightly hotter and more humid. The wet season begins in May and ends in November with the months June, July and August see the most rainfall of the year. However, the heavy downpours often occur in mid-afternoon and short lasting which rarely impact travelling activities and everything stay green and fresh during this time of year.

So, the famous destinations in the South Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta and Phan Thiet – Mui Ne can be visited all year round, just remember to keep an umbrella or rain poncho with you in case of heavy downpours.

The islands of Phu Quoc and Con Dao in the South which are great destinations for Honeymoon Holidays or Beach Breaks can be enjoyed all year with high chances of sunny days, though short lasting tropical rains can be expected in the afternoon.

Conclusion
There is not really a right or wrong time to visit Vietnam as most months of the year you can visit different parts of the country. It all depends on how cleverly you plan your Vietnam Tours to enjoy the best of each destination in its best time.

Read more: Things to be aware of when traveling in Vietnam