Best time to visit Vietnam

When it comes to choosing the best time to visit Vietnam, you’re spoilt for choice. As a rule, you can pick a winter holiday between December and February, or a spring break in March or April. However, Vietnam’s a huge country with multiple climates – which makes it a great year-round destination. Just make sure you double check the forecast for the areas you’re planning to visit before you book, especially if you’re looking to dodge the wet season – it’s different in the north and south. We’ve put together a handy guide to help you decide on the best time of year to jet off. So if Vietnam is at the top of your travel wish list, read on.

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Central Vietnam is flavour of the month in July and August, with hours of sunshine and next to no rain. So, if you’re planning a visit to Nha Trang or Hoi An, a summer holiday is spot on. When you arrive in Hanoi, you’ll notice how it has preserved practically all of its foreign flair. Think French-style houses with shutters, Japanese bridges and pagodas, and Chinese temples. It’s also known as the Yellow City of Vietnam due to its canary-coloured architecture. And if you’re in need of some R&R, there are plenty of caramel-tinted beaches within easy reach.

Find out about the best places to visit in Vietnam

It’s pretty easy to distinguish between the summer and winter seasons in Hanoi and northern Vietnam. Summers are hot and humid while the winters are cooler and drier. This area is also home to Halong Bay – one of those places you’ll never forget. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is made up of 1,600 towering limestone pillars that rise up out of emerald-green waters, which are perfect for kayaking and boat trips. To see the bay at its best, book your break between March and May for clear blue skies and balmy temperatures. For the country’s capital, Hanoi, on the other hand, October and November are ideal.

Hungry? These are the best things to eat in Vietnam

The weather’s pretty dry and warm in most of Vietnam in between December and February – the northern regions being the exception. Phu Quoc, on the other hand, is the place to be for guaranteed sunshine. Here, you can look forward to a dry season with temperatures in the high 20s, and very little rain. It’s a great time to make the most of Vietnam’s best beaches – think flour-white sand backed by a seam of tropical greenery. Or, if you’re a hiker at heart, head to Phu Quoc National Park and explore the forest covered mountains.
 

Ho Chi Minh City’s pretty close to the equator, and with that comes year-round warm temperatures. However, the city doesn’t escape the southern monsoon season, which sees tropical downpours in the afternoons between May and November in Southeast Asia. After dry weather? Pick a trip between late November and early May. While you’re there, watch locals whizz past on scooters as you explore must-see sights and taste your way around the local street food stalls.

 

Decided when to visit?

It’s time to book your holiday to Vietnam, or one of our Asia tours. Plus, discover the best things to do in Phu Quoc and find out about the best tours in Asia.

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Author: Danielle Penny

Last updated: 22.05.2019