When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?

Quick answer by priority

• Best weather: December to February: dry and the least humid.

• Driest: February and March, with about 5 to 10 mm of rain.

• Fewest crowds: late February to April, after Tết.

• Cheapest: June to September, the wettest months.

• Festivals: Tết on 6 February 2027 (official holiday 4 to 10 February), with the Nguyễn Huệ flower street in the days before.

• Avoid: April if you struggle with heat (highs around 35°C), and the first days of Tết if you want restaurants open.

Ho Chi Minh City month by month

Typical averages from long-term climate normals.

• December and January: about 22 to 32°C (72 to 90°F), around 15 to 50 mm. The most comfortable months, with cooler mornings. High season for international visitors.

• February: about 23 to 33°C (73 to 91°F), around 5 mm. Driest month. Tết falls on 6 February in 2027, so the first half of the month is festive but partly shut.

• March and April: about 24 to 35°C (75 to 95°F), around 10 to 50 mm. Still dry but the hottest stretch; plan outdoor sights like the Cu Chi Tunnels for early morning.

• May: about 25 to 35°C (77 to 95°F), rain jumping to around 220 mm as the monsoon arrives, usually as afternoon storms. Our stay ran 13 to 19 May.

• June to August: about 24 to 33°C (75 to 91°F), around 270 to 310 mm a month. Short, heavy downpours most afternoons, cooler evenings after. Lowest hotel prices.

• September and October: about 24 to 32°C (75 to 90°F), around 265 to 325 mm. September is the wettest month; street flooding after heavy rain and high tides is common in some districts.

• November: about 23 to 32°C (73 to 90°F), around 115 mm. The rains end by mid-month: a good shoulder month.

Saigon, the Mekong Delta and the south

The Mekong Delta (Can Tho, Ben Tre, Chau Doc): follows the same dry and wet calendar as Saigon. The floating markets, such as Cái Răng near Can Tho, run year-round in the early morning. From about September to November the river is at its highest, which is when the delta's floodplain is fullest; boat trips still run. We went on from Saigon to Can Tho for two nights.

Phu Quoc and the southern beaches: the island's dry season roughly matches Saigon's, with the calmest west-coast seas from about November to April. Beach time there pairs well with a winter trip to the city.

Da Lat and the central highlands: a few hours north of Saigon but far cooler because of the altitude; dry from about December to March. We spent five nights in Da Lat before Nha Trang and Saigon.

Combining the south with Hanoi and Hoi An: December to February is Saigon's best weather but Hanoi's grey, cool season, while Hoi An is still finishing its rainy season in December. February to April is the best compromise for a north-to-south trip. See our Vietnam in January guide, the 4-week Vietnam route and the Reunification Express guide.

Festivals, holidays and closures in 2027

• Tết: Saturday 6 February 2027. The official public-sector holiday is 4 to 10 February. In the days before, Nguyễn Huệ walking street usually becomes a flower street. During the holiday, many family-run restaurants, markets and shops close for several days; malls, chain cafés and international hotels stay open. Saigon also empties as workers go home to the provinces, so the city is unusually quiet. See our Tết 2027 guide.

• Reunification Day and Labour Day: 30 April and 1 May. The anniversary of the end of the war is marked in Saigon; domestic travel peaks.

• National Day: 2 September, with a 2 to 5 September 2027 break for civil servants.

• Mid-Autumn Festival: September, with lanterns in Cholon (District 5).

Prices and crowds

Hotel prices peak from December to February and around Tết, when domestic flights and trains are full from late January to mid-February. The cheapest stretch is June to September.

Saigon is less seasonal than the beach towns, so the price gap is smaller than in Phu Quoc or Hoi An. The shoulder sweet spots are March (dry, after Tết) and November (rains ending). For planning your days, see how many days in Ho Chi Minh City and day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.

When not to go, honestly

There is no bad month for Saigon itself. The rainy season is the easiest monsoon in Vietnam to work around: storms are short and mostly in the afternoon, and typhoons rarely reach this far south.

April is the most uncomfortable month for heat, and September for rain and street flooding. If you are only in the city for two or three days, both are still workable with early starts and indoor afternoons in the War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market or a café.

Tết week is the one to think about: the city is pretty and calm, but many street-food stalls and family restaurants close. Before you go, check what to wear in Vietnam, tipping in Vietnam and our Ho Chi Minh City guide.

Frequently asked questions