Why this guide: about 6,600 people a month search Google for “best time to visit vietnam” (US, DataForSEO Labs, September 2026). This is the answer we would give a client, written to be booked from.
The short answer
- Best overallMarch–April and October–November (good almost everywhere)
- CheapestMay–September in the north and south (wet season, fewer visitors)
- AvoidTet (late January–February) unless you want the festival and accept closures; September–November on the central coast for typhoons
The north (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Ninh Binh)
Winter, from December to February, is cool and drizzly — 12–18°C in Hanoi, foggy on Ha Long Bay, cold in Sapa. Spring (March–April) is the sweet spot: warm, dry and clear. Summer (May–September) is hot, humid and wet with occasional storms that cancel Ha Long cruises. Autumn (October–November) is the second sweet spot, with Sapa's rice terraces turning gold in September–early October before the harvest.
The centre (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An)
The central coast runs on a different clock: dry and hot from February to August (the beach season at An Bang and My Khe), then wet from September to January with typhoons most likely September–November and flooding possible in Hoi An's old town in October–November. February–May is the most comfortable stretch.
The south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc)
Tropical and warm all year at 30–34°C. The dry season runs December–April; the wet season May–November brings short afternoon downpours and greener rice fields, with September–October the wettest. Phu Quoc's beach season is November–April.
Tet, the lunar new year
Tet falls in late January or February and is the biggest holiday of the year: trains and flights sell out a month ahead, many restaurants and shops close for up to a week, and prices rise. The flower markets and the fireworks are unforgettable — just book everything early and expect a quieter city for the days after.
Booking from the engine
The Ninh Binh and Sapa destination pages are the engine's gateways to the north; fly into Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), with Da Nang (DAD) for the centre. Overnight Ha Long cruises (see our Ha Long Bay guide) book out in October–November and March–April.
Three things to get right
- March–April and October–November work north to south.
- Sapa's terraces are gold in late September — then harvested.
- Book anything around Tet a month ahead, and expect closures.
Book it
Featured destination: Ninh Binh, Vietnam — hotels, airport and activities on one engine page.
