Following up on my guide to visiting Ho Chi Minh City in December, this one covers January. If you’re planning to visit Ho Chi Minh City in January, I’ll go over what you can expect regarding the weather and crowds. All the info and tips below are firsthand from my years living in HCMC.
Every photo and video in this article was taken by me during January in Ho Chi Minh City.
Is January a Good Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City?
January is one of the best months to visit Ho Chi Minh City. Two other great choices are December and February. These three months have low rainfall combined with the coolest relative temperatures. If I were, which I sort of am, advising you on when to visit HCMC, it would be December, January, or February.
Read about things to do and where to stay in HCMC.
Ho Chi Minh City Weather in January
January is firmly in the dry season in Ho Chi Minh City, which usually lasts from December to April. The rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City is not nearly as bad as in central cities like Da Nang and Hoi An. So if you can only visit HCMC between May and November, don’t worry about it. There’ll be rain, but it’s usually on-and-off showers.
In January, you can expect one day of rain totaling about 5 mm. I was in Ho Chi Minh City for all of January 2025, and I can’t remember if it ever rained. The temperatures are also as cool as they’ll ever be in HCMC, with January highs of 32°C (89°F) and lows of 22°C (72°F).
The weather chart below highlights January compared to other months in Ho Chi Minh City. If you have any questions about visiting HCMC, ask me and other travelers in my Ho Chi Minh City travel planning Facebook group.
| Month | Avg. High | Avg. Low | Days of Rain* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°C (89°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 1 (5 mm) |
| Feb | 33°C (91°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 (5 mm) |
| Mar | 34°C (93°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 2 (10 mm) |
| Apr | 34°C (94°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 (32 mm) |
| May | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 (110 mm) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 16 (159 mm) |
| Jul | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 17 (159 mm) |
| Aug | 32°C (89°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 16 (147 mm) |
| Sept | 32°C (89°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 17 (166 mm) |
| Oct | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 17 (164 mm) |
| Nov | 32°C (89°F) | 23°C (74°F) | 8 (70 mm) |
| Dec | 31°C (88°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 (20 mm) |
Is Ho Chi Minh City Crowded in January?
Ho Chi Minh City is always busy. It’s the biggest city by population in Vietnam, with around 10 million residents, and draws tourists all year long. For the three best months to visit (Dec, Jan, Feb) that I mentioned above, expect the city to be at its tourist peak.
All of HCMC’s popular attractions will likely be at their busiest — the Independence Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Saigon Central Post Office, Nguyen Hue Street, Bui Vien, and others. But like I said, these attractions maintain steady popularity year-round.
As a long-time resident of HCMC, I’ve barely noticed the difference in crowds between these three great months and any other month. Again, the city is always busy. But the chaos is part of Vietnam’s charm! Read about more reasons to visit HCMC here.
Any Special Festivals or Events in January?
Tet is the biggest possible event in Ho Chi Minh City in January. I phrased it this way because Tet’s date changes every year. Some years, it falls in January. Others, in February. This article talks about the Lunar New Year (Tet).
Tet 2025 (Year of the Snake) was on January 29. For Tet 2026 (Year of the Horse), the holiday falls on February 17. Celebrations and activities are going on for at least the week prior and for days after. Many restaurants and shops close as locals travel out of town to visit family. And in my experience, this is the only time Ho Chi Minh City gets noticeably quieter.
To coincide with Tet, Vietnam also has Spring Flower Festivals. In Ho Chi Minh City, this happens at Tao Dan Park.
