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When to go · Vietnam

Vietnam in October

Mixed month. The north is at its best; Hội An and Huế flood — skip the centre or keep dates loose.

Key facts

Verdict
Mixed
Crowds
Low
Vietnam
Prices
Low
Vietnam

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Vietnam

The north is at its best; Hội An and Huế flood — skip the centre or keep dates loose.

Is another month better than October?

October is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

Weather in October

  • North · Hanoi, Hạ Long, Ninh Bình, Sa Pabest weather

    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 Nhơnstorm or typhoon risk

    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 Quốcrainy

    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 Anstorm or typhoon risk

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

  • Central Coast: South-central · Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang, Mũi Néstorm or typhoon risk

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

  • Central Highlands: Đà Lạt plateau · Đà Lạtrainy

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

  • Central Highlands: Dak Lak plateau · Buôn Ma Thuộtrainy

    Warmer than Đà Lạt; coffee harvest November–January.

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

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

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

    Typhoon warnings cancel cruises Jul–Sep; winter haze.

  • North Vietnam: Northern mountains · Sa Pa, Hà Giangbest weather

    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 deltabest weather

    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 Caibest weather

    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 Phongbest weather

    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 Đốcrainy

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

  • Southern Vietnam: Islands · Phú Quốc, Côn Đảorainy

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

  • Da Nang29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 20 rain days
  • Hanoi29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Ho Chi Minh City31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 20 rain days
  • Hoi An29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 19 rain days
  • Hue29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 21 rain days
  • Bac Ha19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days
  • Bao Loc29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 15 rain days
  • Ben Tre33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 10 rain days
  • Ca Mau32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days
  • Ca Na30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days
  • Cai Be33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days
  • Cai Rong28 °C (82 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Cam Pha28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 9 rain days
  • Cao Bang24 °C (75 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days
  • Cat Ba28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Co Loa29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 9 rain days
  • Co To Island28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Cu Chi30 °C (86 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 2 rain days
  • Cua Ong28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dien Bien Phu28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 7 rain days
  • Dong Dang28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days
  • Dong Ha28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Gia Nghia29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 15 rain days
  • Giao Xuân28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days
  • Ha Tien30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days
  • Khâm Đức28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 14 rain days
  • Khe Sanh28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 16 rain days
  • Kon Tum28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Lăng Cô28 °C (82 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 19 rain days
  • Lao Cai25 °C (77 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days
  • Long Xuyen31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days
  • Lý Sơn29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days
  • Mong Cai28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days
  • My Tho31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Na Meo29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Ngoc Hoi29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days
  • Phan Thiet32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Pleiku27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 15 rain days
  • Quan Lạn26 °C (79 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days
  • Quảng Ngãi28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 18 rain days
  • Rach Gia31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days
  • Soc Trang32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Tam Dao23 °C (73 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 11 rain days
  • Tam Kỳ30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Tây Ninh30 °C (86 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 9 rain days
  • Thac Mo30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Thái Nguyên28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days
  • Thanh Hoa29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days
  • Tra Vinh31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days
  • Tuan Chau Island28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days
  • Vinh Long32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days
  • Vinh29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Y Ty22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days
  • Nha Trang30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 17 rain days
  • Da Lat23 °C (73 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 20 rain days
  • Sa Pa20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 14 rain days
  • Ha Giang28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 11 rain days
  • Hai Phong28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Ha Long City28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Can Tho31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 21 rain days
  • Phu Quoc30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 20 rain days
  • Quy Nhon29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 19 rain days
  • Mui Ne31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days
  • Vung Tau31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days
  • Dong Hoi28 °C (82 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 19 rain days
  • Ninh Binh City29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Buon Ma Thuot28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 18 rain days
  • Chau Doc31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 21 rain days
  • Con Dao30 °C (86 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 18 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.

  • Mid-Autumn Festival

    15th day of the 8th lunar month (around 15 September in 2027 — check)

    Not a day off; lantern crowds in Hanoi Old Quarter and Hội An in the evening.

  • Typhoon and flood season

    Peak October–November · Da Nang

    Beaches close under red flags; flights, boats and the pass can close.

  • Surf season check

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

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

  • Liberation of the Capital Day

    10 October · Hanoi

    Flags and some events; not a public holiday.

  • Autumn: milk-flower and green-rice season

    Late September to November · Hanoi

    Cốm (young green rice) sold in lotus-leaf parcels; the heavy scent of hoa sữa trees at night.

  • City marathons and runs check

    Autumn weekends · Hanoi

    Road closures around Hoàn Kiếm and West Lake on race mornings.

  • King tides and floods

    Rainy-season high tides · Ho Chi Minh City

    Knee-deep water for an hour or two after heavy rain at high tide.

  • 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.

  • Typhoon season

    Mainly September to November · Hoi An

    Storm warnings close the sea and cancel boats; stay indoors for the passage of a storm.

  • Flood season

    Peak October–November · Hoi An

    Streets under water for a day or two at a time; boats in lanes; heritage houses close.

  • Mid-Autumn

    Sep–Oct · Hoi An

    Lanterns, lion dances and mooncakes; children's parades.

  • Floods

    Oct–Nov · Hoi An

    Riverside streets under water; boats in the street; heritage houses close.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Vietnam
Low
Prices · Vietnam
Low

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Oct: Mixed

    Mar: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Oct: Low

    Mar: Medium

  • Prices

    Oct: Low

    Mar: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Oct: 12

    Mar: 12

October: The north is at its best; Hội An and Huế flood — skip the centre or keep dates loose.

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

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
  • A spare day in the plan: storms can cancel flights and ferries

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in October

Rated best or good this month

  • North

    Best weather of the year (Hanoi, Hạ Long, Ninh Bình, Sa Pa)

  • Hanoi

    Best month for walking.

  • Bac Ha

    Best months: Oct–Apr (dry season)

  • Cai Rong

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

  • Cam Pha

    Best months: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

  • Cao Bang

    Best months: Oct–Apr (dry season)

  • Cat Ba

    Best months: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

  • Co Loa

    Best months: Oct–Apr

  • Co To Island

    Best months: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

  • Cua Ong

    Best months: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

  • Dien Bien Phu

    Best months: Oct–Apr (dry, cooler)

  • Dong Dang

    Best months: Oct–Apr (dry season in northern Vietnam)

Better another month

  • Centre

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

  • Da Nang

    Wettest; floods and typhoons.

  • Hoi An

    Floods most years.

  • Hue

    Heaviest rain, floods.