Three climate zones · map not to scale
At a glance
- North
- Hanoi, the bays and Sapa have a real winter
- Centre
- Hue and Hoi An: watch the autumn storm season
- South
- Saigon and the Mekong: warm all year, dry and wet seasons
- Best for
- Choosing the month for a north-to-south trip
The short answer
For a long route through north, centre and south, March to May is the easiest window, according to Vietnam's national tourism authority, and April is often the simplest single month. Outside spring I choose the month so the region with weaker weather is short and sits in the middle of the route, and I plan around Tet.
A long trip from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta crosses three climates. A good month in Hanoi can be a wet one in Hoi An. When I choose the month for a two- or three-week route, I am not looking for perfect weather everywhere. I am looking for the month where the weak region is short, flexible or easy to skip. This is how I do it, based on the climate guide published by Vietnam’s national tourism authority.
The best month for a north to south Vietnam trip: my short answer
Vietnam’s national tourism site puts it simply: March to May offers the best weather countrywide, and there is always some part of the country with good weather. For a route that runs the whole length of the country, spring is the easiest window, and April is often the easiest single month.
- North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa): best April to June and September to November. Cool to cold and misty from December to March; hot, humid and rainy from June to August.
- Centre (Hue, Hoi An): warm and sunny from about February or March to August. Rainy from September, when tropical storms hit Central Vietnam, with flooding possible from September to November.
- South (Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta): dry and sunny from December to April; a wet season from May to November with a dependable afternoon downpour.
Three climates, month by month
Condensed from the regional descriptions on Vietnam’s national tourism site; typical patterns, not a forecast.
| Month | North: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay | Sapa | Centre: Hue and Hoi An | South: Saigon, Mekong, Phu Quoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cold, misty, cloudy; lows around 10°C in Hanoi | Chilly and misty; occasional snow | Rainy and cool; Hoi An at its coldest | Dry, hot and sunny; Phu Quoc at its best |
| February | Cool to cold, misty | Chilly and misty | Hue still wet and cool; Hoi An turning sunny | Dry and sunny |
| March | Cool to cold, misty, cloudy | Chilly, misty, cloudy | Warm and sunny; an excellent month in Hoi An | Dry and sunny |
| April | Warm to hot, clear skies | Warm and clear; flowers in late April | Warm to hot, sunny | Dry, hot, sunny |
| May | Warm to hot, clear | Warm and clear | Hot and sunny | Wet season begins; afternoon showers |
| June | Hot, very humid; rainy season in full swing | Warm; stormy season from June | Hot and sunny | Afternoon showers; Phu Quoc still clear |
| July | Hot, humid, rainy; stormy on the bay | Stormy, warm, humid | Hot; beach weather, highs near 35°C in Hue | Afternoon showers; Phu Quoc stormy |
| August | Hot, humid, rainy; stormy on the bay | Stormy, warm, humid | Hot and sunny | Afternoon showers; Phu Quoc stormy |
| September | Cooler, clearer; mix of sun and cloud on the bay | Cool, clear, dry | Rain and tropical storms begin; flood risk | Afternoon showers; Phu Quoc stormy |
| October | Cool, clear, around 25°C in Hanoi | Cool and clear; golden rice terraces early in the month | Rainy; flood risk | Afternoon showers; Phu Quoc clear again |
| November | Cool, clear, sunny | Cool, clear, dry | Rainy; flood risk | Last month of the wet season; Phu Quoc clear |
| December | Cool, misty, atmospheric; colder late in the month | Chilly and misty | Rainy and cool | Dry, hot and sunny; Phu Quoc at its best |
Nha Trang, on the south-central coast, is a useful exception: the tourism authority notes it has the shortest rainy season in Vietnam, with some monsoon weather between September and December and sun for most of the rest of the year.
North: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa
For Hanoi, the tourism authority recommends April to June or September to December. Autumn is the season our guides like most: around 25°C and clear skies suit walking the Old Quarter. From late December to March Hanoi is surprisingly cold, so pack warm layers; in June, expect high heat and humidity.
On Ha Long Bay the sunniest windows are April to June and September to November. Between June and August the bay is stormy, and tropical storms can sometimes cause cruise cancellations; from December to March heavy mist is common, which some guests find beautiful. Because of this, I never put a cruise on the last day before an international flight. What I check before booking a cabin explains how I choose the ship.
Sapa is much cooler than the rest of the country and can see occasional snow in January. Late April, when flowers bloom, and early October, when the terraced paddies turn golden before harvest, are the two moments the tourism authority singles out. For Sapa we choose a central 4–5★ hotel and name it in your quote.
Centre: Hue, Hoi An and the storm season
The centre is where timing matters most. From September, tropical storms hit Central Vietnam hard. Hue is wet and cool from September to February, with occasional flooding from September to November. Hoi An sees a lot of rain and even a few small floods from September to November, and is coolest in January. The reward comes in the first half of the year: March is excellent in Hoi An, and from May to August both towns are hot and sunny, with July perfect beach weather.
If you travel in autumn, I keep the central section short, choose hotels with good indoor space, and our team checks the storm bulletins from Vietnam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting before each transfer.
South: Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc
Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta are hot all year, normally around 30°C. December to April is dry and sunny. From May to November the wet season brings an afternoon downpour that usually lasts a few hours, so our guides plan Mekong boat trips for the morning. Phu Quoc runs on its own calendar: stormy from July to September, then clear and hot from October to June, and at its finest in December and January. That makes it the natural finale for a winter trip.
Which direction: north to south, or south to north?
On a long trip the direction matters as much as the month. My rule is to put the region with the riskiest weather in the middle of the route, never at either end, so a stormy or misty day can be absorbed without touching flights. In winter I often reverse it and start in the dry south, as in Metta Voyage’s 11-day Saigon-to-Hanoi itinerary; for spring dates, see the 14-day north-to-south tour for the current from-price.
Tet: the holiday I plan around
Tet, the Lunar New Year, is Vietnam’s most significant celebration and falls in late January or February. According to the national tourism authority, celebrations begin three days before New Year’s Day and last a few days after; transport is overflowing, tickets can sell out and many businesses close for at least the first few days. We recommend booking cruises and boutique resorts about six months ahead for December to April, and earlier if your dates touch Tet.
Best month for a north to south Vietnam trip, by travel season
- March to May: the full north-to-south route works well. This is the season for two weeks at a steady pace or three weeks built around rest days.
- June to August (school holidays): weight the centre and its beaches, keep Hanoi short, and choose a two-night cruise so a stormy day can be absorbed.
- September to November: more time in Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Sapa, a short Hue and Hoi An, and Phu Quoc at the end from October.
- December to February: start or end in the dry south, add Phu Quoc, and bring layers for Hanoi and Ha Long.
Mistakes I see most often
- Choosing the month for one region only. A clear, cool October in Hanoi falls in Hoi An’s rainy, flood-prone months. Check all three columns of the table, not one.
- Putting the beach in the centre in autumn. From September to November tropical storms hit Central Vietnam; Phu Quoc, clear again from October, is usually the better finish.
- Packing only for heat. Hanoi and Sapa in January need a warm jacket, even if Saigon is 30°C the same week.
- Ignoring Tet. Check the date of Lunar New Year before you fix anything.
Where to stay in each season
- Hanoi in the cool months: Fairmont Hanoi, open since February 2026 near Hoan Kiem Lake, has a wellness floor with a bathhouse and a 20-metre lap pool, welcome on a grey January afternoon.
- Before or after a winter cruise: Hilton Quang Hanh Onsen Resort, about 30 minutes from Ha Long, has a private hot-spring bath in every villa and room.
- Central beaches, February to August: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai has a kilometre of beach between Da Nang airport and Hoi An.
- Ho Chi Minh City: we choose a central 4–5★ hotel and name it in your quote. More in how I choose 4–5★ hotels.
Season tips for older travellers and families
- Heat: in the hot months our guides start sightseeing early and plan a rest in the middle of the day. The US CDC advises seeking shade between 10 am and 4 pm and limiting physical activity in high temperatures.
- Cold: Hanoi and Sapa in January need a warm jacket; Sapa hotels have heated blankets, according to the tourism authority.
- Mosquitoes: the WHO notes that the mosquitoes that spread dengue are active during the day, so repellent matters in daytime as well as at dusk.
More on pace and health is in my checklist for parents in their seventies.
What it costs
Our private trips start from 140 USD per person per day, confirmed in your private quote, based on two travellers sharing 4★ hotels with a private guide and driver. Fourteen days works out from 1,960 USD per person; groups of four save 5% and groups of six save 8%. Top-tier resorts and ships start from 350 USD per person per day and are quoted individually. Domestic flights are quoted separately. Booking needs a 30% deposit (balance 45 days before arrival) and a non-refundable 100 USD holding fee per traveller (kept even if you cancel early); card payments carry a 3.5% fee. See how I price 10, 14 and 21 days.
Sample itinerary, price from and a quote
If you want to see this advice turned into a bookable plan, start with a two-week north-to-south private tour: Vietnam Tour in Two Weeks: My Private 14-Day Route and Prices. It has a day-by-day sample itinerary, the hotels I would use and the price logic.
As a guide, a private trip of 14 days starts from 1,960 USD per person (14 days × 140 USD, 2 travellers sharing, 4★ hotels, private guide and driver), about 1,862 USD per person for a group of four and 1,803 USD for a group of six, confirmed in your written quote. Domestic flights are not included and are quoted separately; 5★ and luxury stays are quoted individually.
Request a quote for this route
Sources
Regional weather and seasons: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism – Weather and climate in Vietnam. Tet: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism – Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year. Storm and flood bulletins: National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (Vietnamese). Heat advice: US CDC – Travelers’ Health: Vietnam. Dengue: World Health Organization – Dengue fact sheet. Hotel details: Metta Voyage luxury collection pages linked above.
Questions we are often asked
What is the best month for a north to south Vietnam trip?
March to May gives the best weather countrywide, according to Vietnam's national tourism authority. April is often the easiest single month for a full north-to-south route.
When is typhoon season in Vietnam?
Central Vietnam is hit by tropical storms from September, with flooding possible in Hue and Hoi An from September to November. Ha Long Bay is stormy from June to August, when storms can sometimes cancel cruises.
Should I travel north to south or south to north?
In spring, north to south works well. In winter we often start in the dry south and finish in Hanoi, keeping the region with the riskiest weather in the middle of the route.
Is it cold in Hanoi in winter?
Yes. From late December to March Hanoi is cool to cold and misty, with lows around 10°C, and Sapa can see occasional snow in January. Bring warm layers.
Should we avoid travelling during Tet?
Not necessarily, but book well ahead. Celebrations start three days before Lunar New Year, transport is very busy and many businesses close for the first few days.
David — for The Metta Voyage team. Checked against our itineraries and the sources above on 11 November 2026.
