#1Hot
Ho Chi Minh City
- Day
- 31.3°C
- Sea
- -
- Sun
- 4.7h
- Rain days
- 4
Your January weather guide
Weather in Vietnam in January
January is a good month for Vietnam if you choose your region to match the holiday you want. Head south for heat: Ho Chi Minh City reaches 31°C by day, while Phu Quoc offers sea temperatures of 28°C for swimming. Hanoi is a milder choice at 20°C, better suited to travellers who prefer walking without strong heat. The catch is that a country-wide forecast cannot tell you what to pack for both north and south.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 26.3°Cacross 3 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 20.3°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 28.0°Cwarm enough to swim
- Rainy days
- 7days1 mm or more
Vietnam, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in Vietnam in January
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
Vietnam destinations ranked for January
All 3 places we track in Vietnam, ordered by daytime high.
Scroll sideways for more weather, down for more places. Click a heading to sort.
| # | Destination | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ho Chi Minh City | 31.3°C | 22.4°C | - | 4.7 h | 4 | 13 h 30 min |
| 2 | Phu Quoc | 27.8°C | 24.8°C | 28.0°C | 5.0 h | 8 | 13 h 24 min |
| 3 | Hanoi | 19.7°C | 13.6°C | - | 2.4 h | 8 | 12 h 18 min |
3 destinations shownClimate averages, not a forecast.
January climate overview
Daytime highs across Vietnam in January run from 19.7°C (Hanoi) to 31.3°C (Ho Chi Minh City). In Ho Chi Minh City about 100% of January days reach 25°C. Nights average 20.3°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Hanoi fall to 9°C or below.
Rainfall in January
Expect around 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) in January, with Ho Chi Minh City the driest (4 days) and Phu Quoc the wettest (8 days). The wettest January at Ho Chi Minh City between 1991 and 2020 was 2017 with 100 mm; the driest was 1998 with 0 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 28.0°C around Vietnam in January. That is comfortable for swimming.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 11.4 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
January against the rest of the year in Vietnam
January is the 12th warmest month of the twelve in Vietnam. It is 0.3°C cooler than December and 1.3°C warmer in February. The hottest month here is May (31°C) and the coolest January (26°C).
Which part of Vietnam in January?
- Most sunshine: Phu Quoc, 5.0 h a day.
- Driest: Ho Chi Minh City, about 4 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Phu Quoc, 28°C.
- Hottest: Ho Chi Minh City, 31°C by day.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Hanoi, 20°C.
What to pack for Vietnam in January
Based on the averages: summer clothes for the day; a light waterproof for the odd shower; swimwear - the sea is 28°C.
Similar weather elsewhere in January
Within 1.5°C of Vietnam's January daytime average: Bali (28°C, sea 29°C), Koh Samui (28°C, sea 28°C), Maldives (27°C, sea 28°C), Seychelles (27°C, sea 28°C), St Lucia (27°C, sea 27°C). See the full ranking for January.
Choose the south for heat and swimming
Ho Chi Minh City suits travellers who want properly hot days and relatively few interruptions from rain. With daytime temperatures of 31°C and 4 rainy days, plan outdoor time for the morning and leave room for shade or indoor breaks at midday. Nights average 22°C, so light clothing remains useful after dark. Phu Quoc is the better fit if swimming is the priority: both the daytime air and sea average 28°C. Its 25°C nights offer less relief from the warmth, and 8 rainy days mean you should keep beach plans flexible rather than expect an entirely dry stay. Pack breathable clothes, sun protection and a light waterproof.
Choose Hanoi for milder days, not tropical warmth
Hanoi suits travellers who would rather explore in mild weather than spend the day managing heat. Daytime temperatures average 20°C, but nights fall to 14°C, so bring a jumper or light jacket rather than packing only summer clothes. Those cooler evenings are the main contrast with the south, especially if your trip covers both regions. With 8 rainy days, allow some flexibility for outdoor plans and carry a waterproof layer. January can work well for a mixed itinerary, but pack for the regional contrast: Hanoi's mild days and cooler nights call for different clothes from the heat of Ho Chi Minh City.
A little more detail
Vietnam in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in Vietnam in January?
Ho Chi Minh City is the warmest of the 3 places we track in Vietnam in January with an average high of 31.3°C; Hanoi is the coolest at 19.7°C.
Is the sea warm in Vietnam in January?
The sea averages 22°C or more at Phu Quoc (28°C) in January.
Is January dry enough for an outdoor holiday?
January can suit an outdoor holiday, but rain is still part of the picture. Ho Chi Minh City is the stronger choice for fewer wet days, averaging 4, compared with 8 in both Hanoi and Phu Quoc. Keep weather-dependent plans flexible.
Should I expect sunshine all day?
No. Vietnam averages 4 hours of sunshine a day in January, so warmth does not mean uninterrupted sun. That makes it sensible to plan around temperatures and rain as well as sunshine, particularly if beach time is your priority.
How warm is Vietnam compared with London in January?
Vietnam is much warmer on average, with daytime temperatures of 26°C compared with London's 7°C. The regional choice still matters: Hanoi is milder than the south, so a trip there calls for layers rather than an exclusively hot-weather wardrobe.
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