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Vietnam travel guide

A long, narrow country of cities, coast and highlands, best explored slowly

Best: Mar

Photo: Wphoto / Pixabay

Capital
Hanoi
Language
Vietnamese
Currency
Vietnamese đồng
Time zone
UTC+07:00
Plugs
Type A, C, F, G · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
115 / 113 / 114

Why visit Vietnam

Vietnam stretches from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south, with coastal stops like Da Nang, Nha Trang and Hội An, plus the hill town of Đà Lạt inland. It suits travellers who like a mix of cities, beaches and mountains in one trip. March is the best month to go, when conditions tend to work well across most regions. One honest limit: the country is long, so weather and travel times vary a lot between north and south.

  • Two Giant Cities, Two Personalities

    Hanoi has 8717600 people and centuries of history as the capital, while Ho Chi Minh City in the south holds 14002598 residents and a faster, more commercial pace. Visiting both shows how different Vietnam's north and south feel.

  • Coastal Towns With Real Character

    Da Nang, a coastal city of 2819900 people, sits between the old trading port of Hội An and the beach resort town of Nha Trang. Each has a distinct coastline and a different scale, from small lanes to open beachfront.

  • Highland Escape in Đà Lạt

    Đà Lạt, home to 406105 people, sits in the central highlands at altitude, giving it a cooler climate than the coast or the Mekong Delta cities. It's a practical stop if you want a break from lowland heat.

  • March for Easier Travel

    March is listed as the best month to visit Vietnam, a useful anchor point for planning a trip that spans the whole country, from Hanoi in the north to Cần Thơ in the Mekong Delta.

  • A Large, Diverse Country

    Vietnam covers 331212 square kilometres and has a population of 102300000 people. That scale means climate, food and landscape change a lot as you move from Hanoi to Cần Thơ's delta further south.

Is Vietnam right for you?

Great for

  • Spring trips: March brings highs near 25°C, 9.6 sun hours a day and about 13 rain days.
  • Travellers who dislike strong heat: average highs peak at just 28.2°C in June.
  • City lovers who want to see both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in one trip.
  • Mixed trips of city and coast, with Da Nang, Hội An and Nha Trang by the sea.
  • Early summer sun seekers: June averages 11 sun hours a day, the most of any month.

Less ideal for

  • Autumn trips: October averages 687 mm of rain over about 27 rain days.
  • Winter visitors wanting warmth: December highs are 18.5°C, with only 4.1 sun hours a day.
  • Anyone needing dry summer days: May to August has 22 to 25 rain days a month.

Vietnam right now: November

6.7/10
Avg high
22°C
Avg low
17°C
Rain days
25

Averages for Vietnam.

Weather by month

This data is for a central Vietnam location (likely Da Nang or Hue). March is the standout month, with warm highs near 25°C, only 91mm of rain and 9.6 hours of sunshine a day. October brings the toughest weather, with a huge 687mm of rain spread over 26.7 days, while September and November also see heavy downpours of 363mm and 425mm.

Average highs and lows in Vietnam by month January: high 19°C, low 13°C , 21 rain days . February: high 21°C, low 14°C , 13 rain days . March: high 25°C, low 17°C , 13 rain days . April: high 27°C, low 19°C , 16 rain days . May: high 28°C, low 20°C , 25 rain days . June: high 28°C, low 20°C , 22 rain days . July: high 27°C, low 20°C , 25 rain days . August: high 27°C, low 20°C , 24 rain days . September: high 26°C, low 19°C , 26 rain days . October: high 23°C, low 18°C , 27 rain days . November: high 22°C, low 17°C , 25 rain days . December: high 19°C, low 14°C , 26 rain days . 19°C 13°C JAN 21d 21°C 14°C FEB 13d 25°C 17°C MAR 13d 27°C 19°C APR 16d 28°C 20°C MAY 25d 28°C 20°C JUN 22d 27°C 20°C JUL 25d 27°C 20°C AUG 24d 26°C 19°C SEP 26d 23°C 18°C OCT 27d 22°C 17°C NOV 25d 19°C 14°C DEC 26d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Vietnam (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Vietnam: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Capital to coast in one week

  1. Day 1–3

    Hanoi

    Start in the capital. Spend your first days on foot, getting used to the traffic, trying local food and choosing a few sights at a slow pace.

  2. Day 4–5

    Huế

    Move south to Huế, a smaller inland city. Two days give you time to explore without rushing and to compare it with the capital.

  3. Day 6–7

    Hội An

    End in Hội An, the smallest city on this route and on the coast. Walk, eat well and keep your last day free for rest.

10 days

North to south in ten days

  1. Day 1–2

    Hanoi

    Begin in Hanoi, the capital. Use two days to walk the centre, try local food and adjust to the time zone, UTC+07:00.

  2. Day 3–4

    Huế

    Travel to Huế, an inland city much smaller than Hanoi. Take two unhurried days to explore at your own pace.

  3. Day 5–6

    Da Nang

    Continue to Da Nang, a large coastal city. Split your time between the city and the sea, and use it as a base to rest.

  4. Day 7–8

    Hội An

    Head to nearby Hội An, a small coastal town. It suits slow days of walking, eating and relaxing after the bigger cities.

  5. Day 9–10

    Ho Chi Minh City

    Finish in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city on this route. Spend your last two days eating, walking and shopping before you fly home.

Food to try in Vietnam

Phở

A noodle soup with broth, rice noodles and beef or chicken. It is eaten at any time of day across Vietnam, often for breakfast.

Bánh mì

A baguette sandwich filled with meat, pâté, pickled vegetables and herbs. It is a popular street food snack found on corners in Hanoi, Saigon and smaller towns.

Bún chả

Grilled pork patties served with rice noodles, fresh herbs and a dipping sauce. This dish is closely linked to Hanoi, where it is often eaten at lunch.

Cao lầu

A noodle dish with thick noodles, pork slices and local greens, found mainly in Hoi An. The noodles are said to use water from a specific local well.

Cà phê sữa đá

Vietnamese iced coffee made with strong coffee and condensed milk. It is drunk throughout the day in cafés across the country, including Hanoi and Saigon.

Gỏi cuốn

Fresh spring rolls wrapped in rice paper with shrimp, pork, herbs and vermicelli noodles, served cold with a peanut or fish sauce dip. Common as a starter or light meal in southern Vietnam.

Know before you go

  • Currency: The currency is the Vietnamese đồng. Notes come in large numbers, so check the zeros carefully when paying.
  • Language: Vietnamese is the official language. English is spoken in tourist areas, but it helps to learn a few basic phrases for smaller towns.
  • Plugs and voltage: Vietnam uses plug types A, C, F and G, with a voltage of 220 V. Bring an adapter if your devices use a different plug shape.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Vietnam. Motorbikes dominate the roads, so cross streets slowly and predictably.
  • Emergency numbers: Emergency numbers are 115 for ambulance, 113 for police, and 114 for fire. Save these before you travel.
  • Calling code: Vietnam's international calling code is +84. Add this before the local number when dialing from abroad.
  • Timezone: Vietnam runs on UTC+07:00 year-round, with no daylight saving changes to worry about.

Vietnam: frequently asked questions

Is Vietnam good in August?

Yes, August is rated good, with a score of 6.3 out of 10. Expect highs of 27.4°C and lows near 19.9°C. It's wet, with 23.5 rain days and 228mm of rain, plus 10 hours of sun a day, so pack for sudden downpours between sunny spells.

What is the best month to visit Vietnam?

March is the top-rated month, scoring 7.5 out of 10, the only month marked 'best'. Daytime highs reach 24.7°C and lows 16.8°C. Rainfall is lower too, at 91mm over 12.7 rain days, with 9.6 hours of sunshine, making for drier, more comfortable conditions than the months before or after.

When is the rainy season in Vietnam?

The wettest stretch runs from September to December. October is the peak, with 687mm of rain over 26.7 rain days, the highest of any month. September brings 363mm and November 425mm. Sun hours drop too, down to 6.5 in October and 4.1 in December, so expect grey, wet days during this period.

Is June a good time to visit Vietnam?

June is the lowest-scoring month, rated 'ok' at 4.9 out of 10, the only month not marked 'good' or 'best'. It's hot, with highs of 28.2°C, and wet, with 21.8 rain days and 165mm of rain. Humidity and heat together make June the least comfortable month on the calendar.

Is Vietnam cold in January?

January is Vietnam's coolest month, with highs of just 19°C and lows of 13.4°C. It's also one of the drier months by rain days, with 21.4 rain days but only 150mm total, and the lowest sun hours of the year's early months at 5.9. It still scores 'good' overall at 6.5.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Vietnam.