What Is the Weather Like in Vietnam in December, January and February, and Where Should You Go?

Vietnam weather in December, January and February by region

These are monthly averages (high / low, then rainfall and rain days) from the WMO World Weather Information Service, which publishes the 1991–2020 normals supplied by Vietnam's national hydro-meteorological service. Only some Vietnamese cities have a WMO station, so nearby stations stand in where noted.

• Hanoi (north): December 22.1 / 15.4°C, 24 mm over 7 days; January 20.0 / 14.6°C, 28 mm over 11 days; February 21.3 / 16.2°C, 19 mm over 12 days.

• Da Nang (central coast, about 30 km from Hoi An): December 25.3 / 20.5°C, 272 mm over 21 days; January 25.2 / 19.7°C, 83 mm over 14 days; February 26.3 / 20.4°C, 22 mm over 7 days. For comparison, November gets 486 mm.

• Ho Chi Minh City (south): December 31.6 / 23.9°C, 41 mm over 5 days; January 32.0 / 23.4°C, 12 mm over 2 days; February 32.7 / 23.1°C, 8 mm over 1 day.

The pattern: the north has many rain days but very little rain, which is the fine winter drizzle Hanoi is known for. The centre is the reverse, with heavy rain in late autumn that tapers through January. The south is in its dry season.

North: Hanoi and Ninh Binh in winter

Hanoi in January averages 20°C by day and under 15°C at night, with overcast skies and drizzle on about a third of days. That is mild by European standards but feels colder than the numbers suggest, because many guesthouses and cafés have no heating and the air is damp. Cold surges from the northeast monsoon can pull temperatures lower for a few days at a time. Pack a light jacket or fleece and a layer for evenings.

Ninh Binh, about 90 km south of Hanoi, has much the same winter weather. The limestone karsts of Tam Coc and Trang An are often softened by mist, which suits photos but means grey rather than green views. Boat trips run through the winter. December is the driest month of the three in the north by rain days.

When we were in Hanoi and Ninh Binh in late April 2023 it was already warm and humid; in winter, expect a cooler, quieter version of the same streets.

Centre: Hue and Hoi An are wet in December

Central Vietnam has its own calendar. The rainy season on this coast runs from roughly September to December, peaking in October and November, when floods in Hoi An's old town are common. The Da Nang normals show December still averaging 272 mm over 21 rain days, January dropping to 83 mm, and February down to 22 mm over 7 days.

Hue has no WMO station, so we don't quote figures for it. It sits north of the Hai Van Pass, which acts as a weather divide, and Hue is typically cooler and at least as wet as Da Nang in these months. Plan indoor time (the citadel's covered halls, the tombs by car rather than bicycle) and keep a spare day.

If your dates are flexible, late January and February are the better months for Hoi An and Hue. A December visit still works, but bring a rain jacket and book a room that is fine to sit in on a wet afternoon. Our Hue to Hoi An guide covers the Hai Van Pass, which is best on a clear day.

South and the highlands: Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Da Lat

The south is the safe bet for sun. Ho Chi Minh City averages about 32°C by day and 23°C at night from December to February, with between 1 and 5 rainy days a month. Can Tho and the Mekong Delta have no WMO station but share the southern dry season; the river markets run year-round and mornings are the coolest time to be on the water.

Da Lat sits at about 1,500 m in the Central Highlands and is the outlier: dry in winter like the south, but cool, with nights cold enough for a jumper or jacket. There is no WMO station for Da Lat, so we don't give numbers; check a current forecast before you pack.

If you only have a week in January and want warm weather, Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Da Lat together make a coherent loop. Nha Trang, on the coast between them, is still wet in December (the nearby WMO station records 224 mm) and dries out from February.

Tết 2027 and how it affects February travel

Tết (Lunar New Year) falls on Saturday 6 February 2027. Vietnam's Ministry of Home Affairs has set a seven-day break for public employees, Thursday 4 to Wednesday 10 February 2027, as reported by the state news agency VietnamPlus; private employers choose their own split around the holiday.

In practice, trains, buses and domestic flights fill up in the days before and after Tết as people travel home, and many family-run restaurants, shops and market stalls close for several days around 6 February. Hotels, larger restaurants and the main sights in tourist areas usually stay open, sometimes with holiday surcharges. If you are travelling in early February, book transport early and expect a quieter, more limited choice of food for a few days.

Where to go in Vietnam in December, January and February

• December: start south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Da Lat) and leave Hoi An and Hue for last, or skip the centre if your trip is short. Hanoi is dry-ish and cool.

• January: the whole country works. Travel south to north or north to south, but expect some rain in the centre and grey skies in the north.

• February: the best month of the three for a full north-to-south route, as the centre dries out. Plan around Tết in the first half of the month.

Our 2-week Hanoi to Saigon itinerary and our own 4-week route north to south give day counts for each stop; in December, consider flying the route in reverse.

Frequently asked questions