Vietnam is a beautiful country with lots to offer visitors. However, as with any destination, there are certain times of the year that are seen as less ideal for travel. If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, you’ll want to avoid visiting during the worst times so that weather, crowds, costs and other factors don’t put a damper on your experience.
Summer Months: Too Hot, Wet, and Crowded
The summer months of June through August are considered the worst time to visit most parts of Vietnam. This southeast Asian country has a tropical monsoon climate, which means it is generally hot and humid year-round. However, the summer takes the heat and rainfall to the extreme.
Temperatures routinely rise over 100°F (38°C) during these months throughout the country. Humidity levels also shoot up, creating a stifling, oppressive heat. If heat and humidity aren’t your thing, you’ll want to plan your travels outside of summer.
This hot and wet weather also brings dense crowds to Vietnam during summer. School is out so families flock to the popular beaches and tourist sites. Hotel rates and flights also jump up in price due to peak demand. If you’re trying to avoid crowds and higher prices, summer is hands down the worst time to visit Vietnam.
Major Holidays: Difficult Travel Logistics
Vietnam’s major national holidays, including Vietnamese New Year (Tet) in January or February as well as Labor Day (May 1st) and Independence Day (September 2nd), are times most locals are on holiday. This can cause traveling to be more challenging during these peak times.
Transport and lodging will be stretched to accommodate domestic travelers. You’re likely to encounter traffic jams, crowded buses or trains, sold out flights, and fully-booked hotels. Prices also elevate around the holidays.
Attractions and businesses may alter their hours or even close down for a few days around these major holidays as well. If you’re hoping to have a smooth, relaxing trip seeing the top sites, then avoiding Vietnamese holiday periods is wise.
Mid-Winter Months: Chilly Weather in the North
For the majority of Vietnam, winter is considered the ideal and most comfortable season for sightseeing. However, the northern mountainous regions do get quite chilly for a few months. Places like Sapa and Ha Giang province can have below freezing temperatures from December to February.
If cold weather isn’t your cup of tea or you weren’t prepared to pack warm layers, traveling north during mid-winter could put a damper on your experience. You may be confined indoors or unable to fully enjoy the sights during the coldest stretches.
While the winter chill is far less extreme in Hanoi, it’s still cooler here than in central or southern Vietnam. When averaging the north’s winter with the excellent weather elsewhere in Vietnam during this season, mid-winter comes out as one of the worst visitation times across the country as a whole.
Shoulder Seasons: Weather Disruptions
The periods between Vietnam’s high and low seasons are referred to as the “shoulder seasons.” This includes April/May and September/October. During these stretches you may encounter more rain, storms, and fluctuating temperatures across Vietnam.
In spring, humidity and heat begin to intensify while late summer storms become more common by September. Typhoons reaching mainland Vietnam usually happen in October as well, bringing heavy rain and winds. Overall, the shoulder seasons see the most volatile, unpredictable weather changes during the year.
While hotel rates and flights are cheaper and crowds thinner, the erratic weather may cause disruptions to outdoor sightseeing plans. If perfect climate is essential to enjoying your vacation or you have your heart set on certain activities, shoulder season travel brings more risk of disappointment.
Major Cities Around Lunar New Year: Extreme Crowds
We’ve already established that visiting Vietnam around Lunar New Year or Tet is not ideal due to the major holiday closures, traffic, airport crowds, etc. However, there’s one aspect that makes this season specifically the worst time for exploring the major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Tet festivities like fireworks displays, festivals, and flower markets primarily take place in the big cities. Hundreds of thousands of people flood into places like Hanoi to celebrate the advent of spring and the new lunar year. It’s by far the most crowded week of the year in Vietnam’s urban centers.
Streets become impassible rivers of people, attractions have hours-long lines, and hotel rates skyrocket. With so many locals having family in the cities, rooms also book up months in advance. If you want to actually be able to sightsee or just navigate efficiently, don’t visit Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or other major locales during the Tet holiday week.
Conclusion
While Vietnam is an incredible country to visit virtually any time of year, the worst times are undoubtedly summer, major holiday periods, mid-winter in the north, and the shoulder seasons. Braving the heat, rain, cold temperatures or unpredictable climate won’t do your experience any favors.
Similarly, trying to explore the packed streets and attractions around holidays like Tet or during the mid-summer crowds will be frustrating and stressful. By avoiding Vietnam’s worst times you’ll be setting yourself up for the vacation of a lifetime!