Vietnam in March

Best compromise for a north-to-south trip: north warming, centre and south dry.

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

  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 Nhơnbest weather

  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 Anbest weather

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

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

  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 Phòngfine

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

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

  Typhoon warnings cancel cruises Jul–Sep; winter haze.

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

  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 Nang28° / 21°, 5 rain days
• Hanoi23° / 18°, 15 rain days
• Ho Chi Minh City34° / 24°, 2 rain days
• Hoi An29° / 21°, 4 rain days
• Hue28° / 21°, 8 rain days
• Nha Trang29° / 22°, 2 rain days
• Da Lat25° / 15°, 5 rain days
• Sa Pa19° / 11°, 13 rain days
• Ha Giang25° / 17°, 11 rain days
• Hai Phong22° / 18°, 14 rain days
• Ha Long City22° / 18°, 13 rain days
• Can Tho33° / 23°, 2 rain days
• Phu Quoc32° / 25°, 4 rain days
• Quy Nhon28° / 22°, 4 rain days
• Mui Ne32° / 24°, 1 rain days
• Vung Tau31° / 25°, 1 rain days
• Dong Hoi25° / 20°, 10 rain days
• Ninh Binh City23° / 18°, 14 rain days
• Buon Ma Thuot32° / 20°, 3 rain days
• Chau Doc34° / 24°, 2 rain days
• Con Dao30° / 25°, 2 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.

• Cầu Ngư (whale-worship) festivals check

  Early in the lunar year, dates by village · Da Nang

  Processions, boat races and offerings for a safe season at sea.

• Quán Thế Âm festival check

  Around the 19th of the 2nd lunar month · Da Nang

  Large Buddhist festival with processions and pilgrims; the hill is packed for three days.

• Liberation of Đà Nẵng day

  29 March · Da Nang

  Flags and events; not a public holiday.

• Lantern full moon (Rằm tháng Giêng) check

  15th of the 1st lunar month · Hanoi

  The busiest pagoda day of the year: Trấn Quốc and Quán Sứ are packed; go on a different day to look around.

• Perfume Pagoda pilgrimage season check

  From the 6th of the 1st lunar month to about the 3rd month · Hanoi

  Tens of thousands a day on the boats and cable car; do the trip outside the season or on a weekday.

• Gióng festival check

  Early 1st lunar month (Sóc temple) and 9th of the 4th month (Phù Đổng) · Hanoi

  UNESCO-listed procession and mock battles; a half-day out by car.

• 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.

• Nguyên Tiêu (first full moon) check

  15th of the 1st lunar month · Hoi An

  Ceremonies and offerings at the Fujian, Cantonese and Chaozhou halls; the biggest lantern night of the year.

• Quan Công temple festival check

  13th of the 1st lunar month (also the 24th of the 6th month) · Hoi An

  Incense, offerings and lion dances; the temple is crowded.

• Fishermen's festivals (Cầu Ngư) check

  1st–3rd lunar months, by village · Hoi An

  Whale-worship rites and boat races before the fishing season.

• Cù Lao Chàm island season check

  About March to September · Hoi An

  Speedboats run in calm seas; daily visitor caps apply (check).

• Điện Hòn Chén spring festival check

  3rd lunar month · Hue

  Boat processions to the goddess temple; spirit-medium rituals. The river is busy.

Crowds · Vietnam

Medium

Prices · Vietnam

Medium

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Centre

  Best weather of the year (Huế, Đà Nẵng, Hội An, Quy Nhơn)

• South

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

• Da Nang

  Dry, mild; sea calming.

• Hanoi

  Mild, drizzle.

• Ho Chi Minh City

  Dry; hot afternoons.

• Hoi An

  Mild and dry: the best month.

• Hue

  Dry and mild; best month.

• Nha Trang

  Best months: Feb–Aug

• Da Lat

  Best months: Dec–Mar (dry, clear)

• Sa Pa

  Best months: Sep–Nov, Mar–May

• Ha Giang

  Best months: Sep–Nov (buckwheat flowers Oct–Nov), Mar–May

• Hai Phong

  Best months: Oct–Apr