Seasonal travelBy Clever Tourists · Published
December is a good month for southern Vietnam and Da Lat, an average month for Hanoi, and the wrong month for Hue and Hoi An. Ho Chi Minh City is dry and about 24 to 32°C (75 to 89°F), Hanoi is cool at about 14 to 21°C (57 to 70°F) and grey, and the central coast is in its rainy season, with Da Nang's normals showing roughly 218 to 272 mm over 19 to 21 rain days. We were in Vietnam from 20 April to 19 May 2023, so we have no December experience; the figures are 1991 to 2020 climate normals and the page applies to December 2026 or 2027 trips alike.
• Best weather: Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Da Lat, which are dry. Da Lat is cool.
• Worst weather: Hue and Hoi An, where December rain and flooding can disrupt plans.
• Hanoi: dry but cool and cloudy; bring layers.
• Fewest crowds: early December. Christmas and New Year raise prices in the big cities.
• Plan around: Tet 2028 is in late January, so Vietnamese domestic travel rises in January and prices lift. Compare with Vietnam in January.
Typical December figures from 1991 to 2020 climate normals:
• Hanoi: about 14 to 21°C (57 to 70°F), around 20 mm of rain over 5 rain days and 124 hours of sun. Evenings feel colder than the numbers suggest because of humidity and wind.
• Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue: Da Nang's table shows about 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F) with roughly 218 mm of rain over 19 rain days. Our existing Vietnam in January page cites 272 mm over 21 rain days from WMO normals, so datasets differ; either way it is the wet end.
• Da Lat: about 13 to 21°C (56 to 71°F), around 36 mm of rain over 6 rain days. Sunny days and cold nights.
• Ho Chi Minh City: about 24 to 32°C (75 to 89°F), around 41 mm of rain over 5 rain days and 226 hours of sun. Hot but less humid than April.
For layers in the north, see what to pack for Hanoi and Sapa in winter. For the south, see what to pack for Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
The central coast has its heaviest rain from about September to December, and floods in Hoi An's old town are common in October and November according to our Vietnam January page. December is better than November but is still the wet end. If Hoi An and Hue are your priority, February to April is safer.
If you do go, book a room that works on a wet afternoon, keep your itinerary flexible and have a plan B. Our Hue to Hoi An guide notes the Hai Van Pass is best on a clear day. Hoi An is where we spent 29 April to 5 May 2023; see how many days in Hoi An and the Hoi An ticket guide.
• Christmas: Vietnam does not treat 25 December as a public holiday, but cities decorate heavily. Ho Chi Minh City's Notre-Dame Cathedral and Hanoi's St Joseph's Cathedral draw large evening crowds on Christmas Eve. See our Christmas in Vietnam guide.
• New Year: 1 January is the public holiday; Tet itself is late January 2028 (a lunar date; confirm closer to the time).
• Tet planning: Vietnamese travellers book trains and flights from December, so travel in late January and February is harder. See Tet 2027 for how closures work.
Start in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, then add Da Lat for cool dry weather. We spent 13 to 19 May 2023 around Ho Chi Minh City (with Can Tho) and 5 to 10 May in Da Lat. See how many days in Ho Chi Minh City, day trips from Ho Chi Minh City, how many days in Da Lat and the Mekong Delta bus guide.
Hanoi and Ninh Binh are fine for a cool-weather trip; see how many days in Hanoi and Hanoi to Ninh Binh. For a short trip, our 2-week Hanoi to Saigon itinerary can be flipped to run south to north.
Early December is the quietest, with lower prices than January. Rates spike around Christmas and New Year in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Lat. Beach towns such as Nha Trang can be unsettled by rain at this time of year; check the forecast first.
For costs, see how much does a trip to Vietnam cost and best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City.
In the wet season the usual pattern is a brighter morning and a heavy afternoon or evening burst, though some days are grey from start to finish. Put outdoor sights, terrace walks and waterfalls in the morning, and keep cooking classes, spas, museums and long lunches for the afternoon. Bring a light rain jacket rather than a heavy poncho, because it is warm all day.
Avoid riding a scooter in heavy rain: roads get slick and drains overflow. Use a driver or ride-hailing app instead; our scooter rental guide covers the checkpoints and licence rules if you do ride. Keep passports, phones and cards in waterproof pouches. If you are travelling with a long list of sights, cut it: a wet-season trip works best with two or three bases rather than six, which is why our 18-day Bali itinerary is better trimmed to Ubud plus one quieter stop such as Sidemen. Read the things to know before visiting Bali and the tipping guide before you arrive.
If your trip is built around Hoi An and Hue, choose February to April.
If you want warm weather in Hanoi, go later; December is cool and grey. See best time to visit Hanoi.
If you want to see Ha Long Bay, fog is the main December risk according to cruise operators. Check our Ha Long Bay cruise guide.
Yes for Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Da Lat. It is cool in Hanoi and wet in Hue and Hoi An.
Yes. Da Nang's normals show about 218 mm over 19 rain days, and flooding in Hoi An is common earlier in the season.
About 14 to 21°C, with dry but cloudy weather and around 124 hours of sun.
Early December is quiet. Prices rise around Christmas and New Year, and Tet in late January 2028 starts driving domestic travel.
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