Country guide
Vietnam weather by month
December to March is the best starting point for a Vietnam trip if you want warmth with fewer rainy days. Average daytime temperatures rise from 26°C in January to 29°C in March, while February has the fewest rain days at 6. The catch is that Vietnam does not have a uniform climate: Hanoi is cooler overall than Ho Chi Minh City, and the national seasonal pattern should not be treated as a local forecast.
- Hottest month
- 31.1°CMay
- Coolest month
- 26.3°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 30.6°CMay
- Destinations tracked
- 3warmest: Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam, month by month
A little perspective
Vietnam through the year
Country figures are the mean of the 3 destinations listed below; individual resorts can differ by several degrees.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Januarybest | 26.3°C | 20.3°C | 28.0°C | 4.0 | 35 | 7 | 71% |
| Februarybest | 27.6°C | 21.2°C | 28.3°C | 4.7 | 22 | 6 | 77% |
| Marchbest | 29.3°C | 22.9°C | 29.2°C | 4.8 | 48 | 9 | 84% |
| April | 30.8°C | 24.6°C | 30.2°C | 4.5 | 99 | 14 | 94% |
| May | 31.1°C | 25.5°C | 30.6°C | 2.7 | 255 | 23 | 99% |
| June | 30.8°C | 25.7°C | 29.7°C | 1.7 | 286 | 24 | 100% |
| July | 30.3°C | 25.4°C | 29.0°C | 1.8 | 310 | 26 | 100% |
| August | 30.0°C | 25.2°C | 28.7°C | 1.8 | 324 | 27 | 100% |
| September | 29.5°C | 24.6°C | 28.7°C | 2.1 | 320 | 25 | 99% |
| October | 28.8°C | 23.6°C | 29.1°C | 3.0 | 239 | 22 | 96% |
| November | 28.0°C | 22.3°C | 28.9°C | 3.8 | 105 | 14 | 85% |
| December | 26.6°C | 20.7°C | 28.5°C | 3.7 | 49 | 8 | 71% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
When to go to Vietnam
Daytime highs average 25°C or more in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. The sea reaches a swimmable 22°C from January to December. Winter (December to February) averages 27°C by day - genuine winter sun. August is the wettest month (324 mm) and February the driest (22 mm).
Destinations in Vietnam
Each has a 12-month table; our most searched places have month-by-month detail pages.
| Destination | Hottest month | Coolest month | Months 25°C+ | Sea (warmest) | Flight from London |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | June 33°C | January 20°C | 8 | - | 12 h 18 min |
| Phu Quoc | April 30°C | January 28°C | 12 | 31°C | 13 h 24 min |
| Ho Chi Minh City | March 34°C | October 30°C | 12 | - | 13 h 30 min |
Warmest place in Vietnam each month
| Month | Warmest destination | Day | Coolest destination | Day | Warmest sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ho Chi Minh City | 31°C | Hanoi | 20°C | Phu Quoc 28°C |
| February | Ho Chi Minh City | 33°C | Hanoi | 22°C | Phu Quoc 28°C |
| March | Ho Chi Minh City | 34°C | Hanoi | 25°C | Phu Quoc 29°C |
| April | Ho Chi Minh City | 34°C | Hanoi | 29°C | Phu Quoc 30°C |
| May | Ho Chi Minh City | 33°C | Phu Quoc | 29°C | Phu Quoc 31°C |
| June | Hanoi | 33°C | Phu Quoc | 29°C | Phu Quoc 30°C |
| July | Hanoi | 32°C | Phu Quoc | 28°C | Phu Quoc 29°C |
| August | Hanoi | 31°C | Phu Quoc | 28°C | Phu Quoc 29°C |
| September | Ho Chi Minh City | 30°C | Phu Quoc | 28°C | Phu Quoc 29°C |
| October | Ho Chi Minh City | 30°C | Phu Quoc | 28°C | Phu Quoc 29°C |
| November | Ho Chi Minh City | 30°C | Hanoi | 25°C | Phu Quoc 29°C |
| December | Ho Chi Minh City | 30°C | Hanoi | 21°C | Phu Quoc 29°C |
How the weather changes through the year
The year starts relatively dry, then becomes hotter before rain days increase sharply. April brings average daytime temperatures of 31°C and 14 rain days, making it a transition month rather than a reliably dry choice. From May to September, warmth remains dependable but dry days are harder to count on; July and August each average 26 rain days. That makes this stretch less suitable if your plans depend on spending most of the day outdoors. October still carries a substantial rain risk, before conditions become less wet in November and December. For a flexible itinerary, the wetter months remain an option, but pack rain protection and allow room to change plans.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City need different expectations
Ho Chi Minh City is the warmest of these destinations overall, with an average daytime temperature of 31.5°C, while Hanoi is the coolest at 27.3°C. For travellers who find heat tiring, that makes Hanoi the more promising starting point, though this annual comparison does not establish the best local month. In Ho Chi Minh City, plan for heat rather than expecting a cool city break: favour lighter clothing, shaded breaks and less demanding outings around midday. Phu Quoc also needs its own local weather check before a beach booking. The national monthly pattern helps you shortlist a season, but it cannot settle every regional difference.
When to go for beaches or city exploring
For a beach-led holiday, lower rain frequency is a better guide than chasing the warmest sea. Average sea temperatures stay between 28°C and 31°C, so December to March offers a useful balance of warm water and relatively few rain days. May has the warmest sea, but its 23 rain days are a significant catch for anyone prioritising time on the sand. For cities, January and February offer lower national daytime temperatures than the hotter spring months, making outdoor plans less demanding. Even then, leave space for breaks. During wetter months, keep outdoor plans flexible rather than relying on a fixed schedule.
A little more detail
Vietnam weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
Weighing warmth, low rainfall and sunshine across 3 destinations, the best months for Vietnam are January, February, March. May is the hottest month (average high 31.1°C) and January the coolest (26.3°C).
How many months is Vietnam over 25°C?
12 months average a daytime high of 25°C or more across our Vietnam destinations.
Which is the hottest place in Vietnam?
Over the year, Ho Chi Minh City has the highest average daytime temperature of the 3 Vietnam destinations we track (31.5°C averaged across all months).
Which month has the fewest rain days in Vietnam?
February has the fewest rain days in the country averages, at 6. January and December are also relatively dry choices. Treat February as a strong starting point for outdoor plans, not a guarantee of dry weather in every destination.
Will I need warmer clothing for the evenings?
Average nights range from 20°C in January to 26°C in June, so evenings generally remain warm. Light clothing is a sensible base, with a light layer if you feel the cool. These national figures do not mean every destination has equally warm nights.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 3 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C