Travel+Leisure reveals best time to visit Vietnam

According to the website, for those hoping to see Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and everything in between, it’s best to go during the dry season.

Melissa Matthews, regional director for Southeast Asia and North America at luxury travel company Red Savannah, shared in the article that February and March are therefore the best months to see the entire country from north to south as guests can do it in relatively dry weather.

She noted that Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, falls during this time and can last for up to 10 days.

“During this time, most of the key sights in the cities are closed, as everyone goes back to their family villages to celebrate,” she says.

The regional director recommended that visitors should head to the beach during the festival and finish their trip with time in the country’s major cities. 

Matthews also revealed that if visitors want to explore Sa Pa, then they should head there from September to November, or in March and April.

She went on to share that a sunny beach visit to Hoi An or Nha Trang in the central region is best from April to August, while the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc Island in the south are warmest from October to April. 

Vietnam is a relatively affordable destination all year round, with an abundance of street food at good prices and comfortable hotels suitable for all budgets.

“For your best chance at scoring low-cost flights and accommodations, consider traveling outside the peak tourist season. April, May, October, and November are excellent times, as you’ll still find warm weather throughout the country, but will have fewer tourists to contend with,” Travel+Leisure recommended.

However, according to Matthews, while the varied local climate means there’s never really a bad time to visit, visitors may want to avoid traveling to the country during the monsoon season. 

“When the monsoon hits, it is hard and heavy and very humid,” says Matthews, who suggested sightseeing in cities during the wet season, where travelers can still visit museums and historic temples between rainstorms. 

The website also shared the opinions of Benjamin Kreuz, general manager of Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, as sayings that if holiday goers do decide to travel during the rainy season, then it’s best to remain flexible in their planning.

“Consider not booking everything in advance due to unpredictable weather,” Kreuz says, adding that staying open-minded may help them to take advantage of potential low-season discounts.