Vietnam in October

The north is at its best; Hội An and Huế flood — skip the centre or keep dates loose.

• North · Hanoi, Hạ Long, Ninh Bình, Sa Pabest weather

  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 Nhơnstorm or typhoon risk

  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 Quốcrainy

  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 Anstorm or typhoon risk

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

• Central Coast: South-central · Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang, Mũi Néstorm or typhoon risk

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

• Central Highlands: Đà Lạt plateau · Đà Lạtrainy

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

• Central Highlands: Dak Lak plateau · Buôn Ma Thuộtrainy

  Warmer than Đà Lạt; coffee harvest November–January.

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

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

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

  Typhoon warnings cancel cruises Jul–Sep; winter haze.

• North Vietnam: Northern mountains · Sa Pa, Hà Giangbest weather

  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 Đốcrainy

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

• Southern Vietnam: Islands · Phú Quốc, Côn Đảorainy

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

• Da Nang29° / 23°, 20 rain days
• Hanoi29° / 22°, 9 rain days
• Ho Chi Minh City31° / 24°, 20 rain days
• Hoi An29° / 23°, 19 rain days
• Hue29° / 23°, 21 rain days
• Nha Trang30° / 24°, 17 rain days
• Da Lat23° / 16°, 20 rain days
• Sa Pa20° / 13°, 14 rain days
• Ha Giang28° / 20°, 11 rain days
• Hai Phong28° / 22°, 9 rain days
• Ha Long City28° / 22°, 9 rain days
• Can Tho31° / 24°, 21 rain days
• Phu Quoc30° / 24°, 20 rain days
• Quy Nhon29° / 24°, 19 rain days
• Mui Ne31° / 24°, 13 rain days
• Vung Tau31° / 24°, 16 rain days
• Dong Hoi28° / 23°, 19 rain days
• Ninh Binh City29° / 22°, 9 rain days
• Buon Ma Thuot28° / 20°, 18 rain days
• Chau Doc31° / 25°, 21 rain days
• Con Dao30° / 25°, 18 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.

• Mid-Autumn Festival

  15th day of the 8th lunar month (around 15 September in 2027 — check)

  Not a day off; lantern crowds in Hanoi Old Quarter and Hội An in the evening.

• Typhoon and flood season

  Peak October–November · Da Nang

  Beaches close under red flags; flights, boats and the pass can close.

• Surf season check

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

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

• Liberation of the Capital Day

  10 October · Hanoi

  Flags and some events; not a public holiday.

• Autumn: milk-flower and green-rice season

  Late September to November · Hanoi

  Cốm (young green rice) sold in lotus-leaf parcels; the heavy scent of hoa sữa trees at night.

• City marathons and runs check

  Autumn weekends · Hanoi

  Road closures around Hoàn Kiếm and West Lake on race mornings.

• King tides and floods

  Rainy-season high tides · Ho Chi Minh City

  Knee-deep water for an hour or two after heavy rain at high tide.

• 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.

• Typhoon season

  Mainly September to November · Hoi An

  Storm warnings close the sea and cancel boats; stay indoors for the passage of a storm.

• Flood season

  Peak October–November · Hoi An

  Streets under water for a day or two at a time; boats in lanes; heritage houses close.

• Mid-Autumn

  Sep–Oct · Hoi An

  Lanterns, lion dances and mooncakes; children's parades.

• Floods

  Oct–Nov · Hoi An

  Riverside streets under water; boats in the street; heritage houses close.

Crowds · Vietnam

Low

Prices · Vietnam

Low

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
• A spare day in the plan: storms can cancel flights and ferries

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Rated best or good this month

• North

  Best weather of the year (Hanoi, Hạ Long, Ninh Bình, Sa Pa)

• Hanoi

  Best month for walking.

• 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

• Ha Long City

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

• Ninh Binh City

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

• Chau Doc

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

• Con Dao

  Best months: Mar–Jun (calm sea), turtles May–Oct

Better another month

• Centre

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

• Da Nang

  Wettest; floods and typhoons.

• Hoi An

  Floods most years.

• Hue

  Heaviest rain, floods.