I’ve gone through several weather seasons in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s hot all year round. Some months (like April) are hotter than most, and certain periods, like the rainy season, are more humid than the rest of the year.
Compared to the weather in Da Nang and Hoi An (central Vietnam), Ho Chi Minh City is less extreme — especially the rainy season. The rainy season in HCMC is longer, but it produces on-and-off showers. Whereas in Da Nang and Hoi An, it will rain for days on end during the rainy season.
The chart I made below gives an overview of monthly weather patterns and my recommendations on when to visit. The best months to visit Ho Chi Minh City are December, January, and February. If you have total trip flexibility, choose January or February (but avoid Tet).
The worst months to visit Ho Chi Minh City are May to October because these coincide with the rainy season and the most humid time of the year. However, it’s still not a terrible time to visit. As mentioned, the rain is usually brief.
If you’re planning a trip to HCMC, here’s my sample one-day itinerary and three-day itinerary. You’ll also need to know how to get from HCMC airport to District 1. Read on for more specifics on visiting HCMC, or ask me and other travelers your questions in my travel planning Facebook group.
Ho Chi Minh City Weather: Seasons, Best & Worst Months
| Dry Season | December to April* |
| Rainy Season | May to November* |
| Hottest Months | March, April, May |
| Wettest Months | June to October |
| Lowest Humidity Months | January, February, March |
| Highest Humidity Months | June to October |
| Best Time to Visit | December, January, February |
| Second Best Time to Visit | March, April |
| Worst Time to Visit | May to November (and during Tet) |
Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City: December, January, February
What to expect: hot temperatures, low chance of rain, lowest humidity
| Month | Average High | Average Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 31°C (88°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm |
| January | 32°C (89°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 15 mm |
| February | 33°C (91°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm |
The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is December, January, or February. The rainy season will have just ended in November, and these three months provide the coolest temperatures combined with the lowest amount of rainfall.
If you have trip flexibility, choose either January or February — these two months also have the lowest humidity — December isn’t bad for this, either.
The average temperature for December, January, and February will be about 80° to 82°F (27° to 28°C). And if it does rain (very low chance), it will likely be a brief shower.
Be aware of the Lunar New Year. The only caveat to these three months being the best is Tet (Lunar New Year), which happens sometime in January or February every year. There are celebrations leading up to and through the day itself, locals leave town to visit family, and a lot of businesses close. Unless you are interested in experiencing Vietnamese Tet, then you shouldn’t plan a trip during this window.
Read about the Lunar New Year and future dates here. For Tet-specific information, see this page.
It would be OK if your travel dates overlapped Tet for a couple of days so you can experience a bit of it if you want. But I would avoid planning the bulk of your visit during the Tet holiday — and probably about three to five days before, too.
Second Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City: March, April
What to expect: hottest temperatures, low chance of rain, rising humidity
| Month | Average High | Average Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 34°C (94°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm |
| April | 35°C (95°F) | 26°C (78°F) | 50 mm |
The second best time to visit HCMC is March or April. It will be dry, but it starts getting hotter, and March, April (and May) are the hottest months of the year.
This is also the period of the year when the humidity begins to rise. March is still OK humidity-wise, but I grouped it into the second best time to visit because the temperature is hotter than the previous three months. By April, the humidity begins escalating slowly to the highest yearly levels.
If you’re OK with the intense heat, this is still a good time to visit because it will be dry. The good news is that there are a lot of buildings to get shade cover and cold drinks if you stay in District 1 or 3. District 3 has a lot more tree shade than District 1, too.
See my guides on where to stay and how to get around HCMC.
Worst Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City: May to November
What to expect: hot temperatures, daily sporadic rain, highest humidity
| Month | Average High | Average Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 34°C (94°F) | 26°C (78°F) | 220 mm |
| June | 33°C (92°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 310 mm |
| July | 33°C (91°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 295 mm |
| August | 33°C (91°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 270 mm |
| September | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 325 mm |
| October | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 265 mm |
| November | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (74°F) | 115 mm |
The worst time to visit HCMC isn’t necessarily a bad time to visit. What I consider a bad time to visit is when it rains all day for days on end, and you’re unable to be outside or visit attractions because of it. This doesn’t really happen in Ho Chi Minh City. It happens in Da Nang and Hoi An in October — and sometimes September and November, too.
According to the site Weather & Climate, the yearly rainfall in Ho Chi Minh City is actually less than in Da Nang, even though HCMC’s rainy season is longer. This is because, in HCMC, there’ll be periods of an hour or two of semi-daily rain, then nothing. In Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hue, it can rain practically non-stop for days, especially during October.
From May to November in Ho Chi Minh City, there will be periods of brief daily rain, it’ll be hot, and it’s the most humid time of the year. September is regarded as the worst month humidity-wise.
If you have total trip flexibility, I would not plan a trip to Ho Chi Minh City for June, July, August, September, or even October. It’s totally doable — but it will be hot and humid, and there’ll be daily sporadic rain.
