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When to go · Vietnam

Vietnam in December

Good month. North and south dry, centre wet; Christmas to New Year lifts beach prices.

Key facts

Verdict
Good
Crowds
High
Vietnam
Prices
High
Vietnam

Verdict

GoodVoykit month rating for Vietnam

North and south dry, centre wet; Christmas to New Year lifts beach prices.

Is another month better than December?

December is rated good. These months rate higher:

Weather in December

  • North · Hanoi, Hạ Long, Ninh Bình, Sa Pacool

    Four seasons: cool grey winters (Sa Pa can reach 0 °C (32 °F)), humid hot summers with storms Jul–Sep; Hạ Long cruises cancel on storm warnings.

  • Centre · Huế, Đà Nẵng, Hội An, Quy Nhơnrainy

    Monsoon runs Sep–Feb, the opposite of the south; Hội An's old town floods most Octobers and Novembers.

  • South · Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong, Phú Quốcbest weather

    Hot all year; wet May–Nov means a 1–2 h afternoon downpour, rarely a lost day.

  • Central Coast: Huế to Hội An · Huế, Đà Nẵng, Hội Anrainy

    Dry February–August; typhoons and floods September–December; Huế is wetter than Đà Nẵng.

  • Central Coast: South-central · Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang, Mũi Nérainy

    Drier than the north of the coast; Mũi Né is one of the driest places in Vietnam.

  • Central Highlands: Đà Lạt plateau · Đà Lạtbest weather

    Mild all year (highs 22–25 °C (72–77 °F)); dry December–March; rainy afternoons May–October.

  • Central Highlands: Dak Lak plateau · Buôn Ma Thuộtbest weather

    Warmer than Đà Lạt; coffee harvest November–January.

  • North Vietnam: Hanoi and the Red River delta · Hanoi, Ninh Bình, Hải Phòngcool

    Grey drizzle Feb–Mar; storms Jul–Sep; October–November clear and dry.

  • North Vietnam: Coast and bays · Hạ Long, Lan Hạ, Cát Bàcool

    Typhoon warnings cancel cruises Jul–Sep; winter haze.

  • North Vietnam: Northern mountains · Sa Pa, Hà Giangcold

    Near freezing in Dec–Jan; rice terraces green May–Jul, golden mid-Sep to early Oct; buckwheat flowers in Hà Giang Oct–Nov.

  • Northern Vietnam: Hanoi and the delta · Red River deltacool

    Oct–Dec is the driest and clearest; Feb–Apr is damp with drizzle; May–Aug is 35 °C (95 °F)+ and humid; Jul–Sep brings typhoons that can cancel bay cruises.

  • Northern Vietnam: Northern mountains · Sa Pa, Ha Giang, Lao Caicold

    Cooler than Hanoi all year; Dec–Feb can drop near freezing at night; Sep–Nov is the clearest for terraces and passes.

  • Northern Vietnam: Coast and islands · Ha Long, Cat Ba, Hai Phongcool

    Mar–Jun and Sep–Nov are the best windows; Jul–Aug storms can ground boats and close beaches.

  • Southern Vietnam: Saigon and the delta · Ho Chi Minh City, Cần Thơ, Châu Đốcbest weather

    Hot all year; wet May–November with afternoon storms; delta floods Sep–Nov raise the rivers.

  • Southern Vietnam: Islands · Phú Quốc, Côn Đảobest weather

    Phú Quốc's west coast is calm November–April; rough in the south-west monsoon.

  • Da Nang25 °C (77 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 18 rain days
  • Hanoi22 °C (72 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Ho Chi Minh City31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Hoi An25 °C (77 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 16 rain days
  • Hue24 °C (75 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 20 rain days
  • Bac Ha8 °C (46 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 9 rain days
  • Bao Loc28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 5 rain days
  • Ben Tre31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 7 rain days
  • Ca Mau30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • Ca Na29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days
  • Cai Be30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cai Rong21 °C (70 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cam Pha22 °C (72 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days
  • Cao Bang18 °C (64 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cat Ba22 °C (72 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days
  • Co Loa19 °C (66 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days
  • Co To Island22 °C (72 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days
  • Cu Chi30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 0 rain days
  • Cua Ong22 °C (72 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days
  • Dien Bien Phu23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days
  • Dong Dang21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days
  • Dong Ha23 °C (73 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 6 rain days
  • Gia Nghia27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days
  • Giao Xuân18 °C (64 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days
  • Ha Tien28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Khâm Đức25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days
  • Khe Sanh24 °C (75 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 10 rain days
  • Kon Tum24 °C (75 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days
  • Lăng Cô24 °C (75 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 15 rain days
  • Lao Cai19 °C (66 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days
  • Long Xuyen29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Lý Sơn25 °C (77 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 14 rain days
  • Mong Cai22 °C (72 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days
  • My Tho30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Na Meo23 °C (73 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Ngoc Hoi27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 2 rain days
  • Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days
  • Phan Thiet30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days
  • Pleiku25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days
  • Quan Lạn19 °C (66 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 9 rain days
  • Quảng Ngãi24 °C (75 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 16 rain days
  • Rach Gia30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Soc Trang30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days
  • Tam Dao17 °C (63 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days
  • Tam Kỳ24 °C (75 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 10 rain days
  • Tây Ninh27 °C (81 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days
  • Thac Mo26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Thái Nguyên21 °C (70 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Thanh Hoa22 °C (72 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 13 rain days
  • Tra Vinh31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days
  • Tuan Chau Island22 °C (72 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days
  • Vinh Long30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Vinh23 °C (73 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 7 rain days
  • Y Ty16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 5 rain days
  • Nha Trang27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days
  • Da Lat22 °C (72 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days
  • Sa Pa14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ha Giang21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days
  • Hai Phong21 °C (70 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Ha Long City21 °C (70 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 4 rain days
  • Can Tho30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Phu Quoc30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Quy Nhon25 °C (77 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 15 rain days
  • Mui Ne30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 2 rain days
  • Vung Tau30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days
  • Dong Hoi22 °C (72 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 15 rain days
  • Ninh Binh City22 °C (72 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Buon Ma Thuot27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days
  • Chau Doc30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Con Dao28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • Surf season check

    About October to March, on the winter swell · Da Nang

    Surf schools run lessons on calmer days; swimming is often closed.

  • Christmas Eve

    24 December · Da Nang

    Crowds around the pink cathedral from dusk.

  • New Year countdown check

    31 December · Da Nang

    Music, crowds and road closures around the bridges (check).

  • Typhoon and flood season

    Sep–Dec · Da Nang

    Beaches close, the pass and some flights stop at short notice.

  • Daisy season (cúc họa mi)

    About mid-November to mid-December · Hanoi

    Photographers stop traffic; flowers ₫50,000–100,000 a bunch.

  • Full-moon lantern night check

    14th of each lunar month · Hoi An

    Streetlights off and lanterns on from about 18:00, candles on the river, folk music and games; motorbikes kept out. The most crowded evening of the month.

  • Christmas and New Year

    24–31 December · Hoi An

    Busy with international visitors; resort gala dinners; book restaurants.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Vietnam
High
Prices · Vietnam
High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Vietnam, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Dec: Good

    Mar: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Dec: High

    Mar: Medium

  • Prices

    Dec: High

    Mar: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Dec: 7

    Mar: 12

December: North and south dry, centre wet; Christmas to New Year lifts beach prices.

March: Best compromise for a north-to-south trip: north warming, centre and south dry.

Vietnam: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • Layers: a fleece or light jacket
  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in December

Rated best or good this month

  • South

    Best weather of the year (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong, Phú Quốc)

  • Hanoi

    Cool; bring a layer.

  • Ho Chi Minh City

    Dry and busiest; Christmas lights.

  • Bac Ha

    Best months: Oct–Apr (dry season)

  • Bao Loc

    Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)

  • Ben Tre

    Best months: Dec–Apr

  • Ca Mau

    Best months: Dec–Apr

  • Cai Be

    Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season, pleasant river trips)

  • Cai Rong

    Best months: Oct–Apr (dry season, calmer seas)

  • Cao Bang

    Best months: Oct–Apr (dry season)

  • Co Loa

    Best months: Oct–Apr

  • Cu Chi

    Best months: Dec–Apr (dry, cooler)