Vietnam - When to go

The most pleasant time to visit Vietnam is during the dry season of December to late April since rainfall is at its lowest and the footpaths aren’t overtaken by torrents of storm water. Average daily temperatures in the country range from 17 to 27°C with the cooler temperatures frequenting the northern cities. If you are travelling at this time you may wish to consider starting in the North prior to December and head south or alternatively, from February onwards, start in the south and head north. This will help you to avoid the considerably cooler temperatures of winter in the North.

If you are looking for a special event to experience in Vietnam then Tet Nguyen Dan – ‘the festival of the first day’ or the Vietnamese New Year is well worth a visit. This celebration lasts for 7 days and usually falls around the end of January or the beginning of February on the night of the new moon. Not only is this a New Year’s event but also when everyone in Vietnam becomes a year older – age is reckoned by the New Year and not individual birthdays. It is however a time when much of the country is on the move and accommodation fills up well in advance.

More detailed climate information about Vietnam can be found in our Vietnam country guide.