Vietnam in December

North and south dry, centre wet; Christmas to New Year lifts beach prices.

• North · Hanoi, Hạ Long, Ninh Bình, Sa Pacool

  Four seasons: cool grey winters (Sa Pa can reach 0 °C), humid hot summers with storms Jul–Sep; Hạ Long cruises cancel on storm warnings.

• Centre · Huế, Đà Nẵng, Hội An, Quy Nhơnrainy

  Monsoon runs Sep–Feb, the opposite of the south; Hội An's old town floods most Octobers and Novembers.

• South · Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong, Phú Quốcbest weather

  Hot all year; wet May–Nov means a 1–2 h afternoon downpour, rarely a lost day.

• Central Coast: Huế to Hội An · Huế, Đà Nẵng, Hội Anrainy

  Dry February–August; typhoons and floods September–December; Huế is wetter than Đà Nẵng.

• Central Coast: South-central · Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang, Mũi Nérainy

  Drier than the north of the coast; Mũi Né is one of the driest places in Vietnam.

• Central Highlands: Đà Lạt plateau · Đà Lạtbest weather

  Mild all year (highs 22–25 °C); dry December–March; rainy afternoons May–October.

• Central Highlands: Dak Lak plateau · Buôn Ma Thuộtbest weather

  Warmer than Đà Lạt; coffee harvest November–January.

• North Vietnam: Hanoi and the Red River delta · Hanoi, Ninh Bình, Hải Phòngcool

  Grey drizzle Feb–Mar; storms Jul–Sep; October–November clear and dry.

• North Vietnam: Coast and bays · Hạ Long, Lan Hạ, Cát Bàcool

  Typhoon warnings cancel cruises Jul–Sep; winter haze.

• North Vietnam: Northern mountains · Sa Pa, Hà Giangcold

  Near freezing in Dec–Jan; rice terraces green May–Jul, golden mid-Sep to early Oct; buckwheat flowers in Hà Giang Oct–Nov.

• Southern Vietnam: Saigon and the delta · Ho Chi Minh City, Cần Thơ, Châu Đốcbest weather

  Hot all year; wet May–November with afternoon storms; delta floods Sep–Nov raise the rivers.

• Southern Vietnam: Islands · Phú Quốc, Côn Đảobest weather

  Phú Quốc's west coast is calm November–April; rough in the south-west monsoon.

• Da Nang25° / 20°, 18 rain days
• Hanoi22° / 16°, 5 rain days
• Ho Chi Minh City31° / 23°, 5 rain days
• Hoi An25° / 20°, 16 rain days
• Hue24° / 19°, 20 rain days
• Nha Trang27° / 22°, 14 rain days
• Da Lat22° / 14°, 5 rain days
• Sa Pa14° / 7°, 8 rain days
• Ha Giang21° / 13°, 5 rain days
• Hai Phong21° / 15°, 5 rain days
• Ha Long City21° / 15°, 4 rain days
• Can Tho30° / 23°, 6 rain days
• Phu Quoc30° / 23°, 5 rain days
• Quy Nhon25° / 21°, 15 rain days
• Mui Ne30° / 23°, 2 rain days
• Vung Tau30° / 23°, 3 rain days
• Dong Hoi22° / 18°, 15 rain days
• Ninh Binh City22° / 16°, 5 rain days
• Buon Ma Thuot27° / 18°, 4 rain days
• Chau Doc30° / 23°, 5 rain days
• Con Dao28° / 24°, 9 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Surf season check

  About October to March, on the winter swell · Da Nang

  Surf schools run lessons on calmer days; swimming is often closed.

• Christmas Eve

  24 December · Da Nang

  Crowds around the pink cathedral from dusk.

• New Year countdown check

  31 December · Da Nang

  Music, crowds and road closures around the bridges (check).

• Typhoon and flood season

  Sep–Dec · Da Nang

  Beaches close, the pass and some flights stop at short notice.

• Daisy season (cúc họa mi)

  About mid-November to mid-December · Hanoi

  Photographers stop traffic; flowers ₫50,000–100,000 a bunch.

• Full-moon lantern night check

  14th of each lunar month · Hoi An

  Streetlights off and lanterns on from about 18:00, candles on the river, folk music and games; motorbikes kept out. The most crowded evening of the month.

• Christmas and New Year

  24–31 December · Hoi An

  Busy with international visitors; resort gala dinners; book restaurants.

Crowds · Vietnam

High

Prices · Vietnam

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• South

  Best weather of the year (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong, Phú Quốc)

• Hanoi

  Cool; bring a layer.

• Ho Chi Minh City

  Dry and busiest; Christmas lights.

• Da Lat

  Best months: Dec–Mar (dry, clear)

• Hai Phong

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Can Tho

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Phu Quoc

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• Mui Ne

  Best months: Nov–Apr (wind) or Dec–Mar (dry)

• Vung Tau

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Buon Ma Thuot

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• Chau Doc

  Best months: Sep–Nov (flooded forest) or Dec–Apr (dry)