If you’re thinking about visiting Hoi An in September, this brief guide covers the weather, crowds, and other little tidbits. Having lived in Da Nang for years, I’ve been down in Hoi An during a few Septembers.
Every photo in this article, including the featured image above, was taken by me during September in Hoi An.
Is September a Good Time to Visit Hoi An?
In a purely black and white way of answering — no, September is not a good month to visit Hoi An (you can read about the best months here). Going into more detail, it depends on how long you’re visiting and what goes on weather-wise during your trip. It could end up being great, or it could be a wash, literally. It depends.
It is possible, though, to hit a few days of nice, clear weather in September, as you can see from some of my photos. I went down to Hoi An during a nice day in September — so they do exist. But trust me, there are a lot of gray days in September.
The biggest negative is that September is usually when the rainy season begins in Hoi An and elsewhere in central Vietnam. On the plus side, September has slightly cooler temperatures compared to the previous four months in Hoi An.
If you’re OK rolling the dice and don’t mind the chance of periodic rain, September has cooler temperatures, better hotel prices, and slightly fewer crowds. If you get lucky and have a few days of nice weather, it could be a great trip. You’ll want to pick up a poncho when you land, though. Just in case. All of the convenience stores have them. Here’s my guide on where to stay in Hoi An.
Hoi An Weather in September
The rainy season in central Vietnam usually starts sometime in September. But some years, when I’ve been in the Da Nang/Hoi An area, it’s started in August. In general, for September, you can expect about 16 days of rain, totalling about 283 mm.
September has highs of 31°C (88°F) and lows of 25°C (76°F). It’s still hot enough that if you hit a stretch of clear weather days, you can swim at An Bang Beach. But it’s not nearly as hot as June, July, and August, when the temperatures regularly hit the mid to upper 90s°F (35°C+).
I put together this weather table so you can compare September to other months in Hoi An. You can see the rainfall begins to pick up in August, then more than doubles in September, which leads to October, the worst month to visit Hoi An (and Da Nang).
| Month | Avg. High | Avg. Low | Days of Rain* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 20°C (67°F) | 4 (37 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 20°C (69°F) | 2 (12 mm) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 (13 mm) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 (26 mm) |
| May | 33°C (91°F) | 25°C (78°F) | 7 (58 mm) |
| Jun | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 7 (62 mm) |
| Jul | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 7 (58 mm) |
| Aug | 33°C (92°F) | 26°C (78°F) | 11 (117 mm) |
| Sept | 31°C (88°F) | 25°C (76°F) | 16 (283 mm) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 24°C (74°F) | 19 (446 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 14 (300 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 20°C (69°F) | 10 (140 mm) |
Is Hoi An Crowded in September?
Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so Hoi An draws tourists year-round. But in September, you can expect fewer tourists in Hoi An compared to the best months to visit (February, March, and April).
Here’s a video I filmed on An Hoi Island in Hoi An in September. I’m looking over the Thu Bon River at Old Town. It’s about 1:30 PM, and you can see that the Old Town across the way is pretty quiet.
Many locals and some travelers avoid the hottest times of the day, so from 11 AM to about 2 PM, the town is at its quietest. This is usually when I’m exploring the city, as I don’t mind the sun in exchange for fewer crowds.
The city closes the Old Town to foot traffic only at 3 PM. This is when the Old Town starts getting busy. It will remain busy until late at night. Read about getting around Hoi An here.
Any Special Festivals or Events in September?
In September, there aren’t any major festivals or unique cultural events happening in Hoi An.
The Hoi An Lantern Festival is a monthly event on the 14th day of each lunar month (not calendar month!). Restaurants and shops turn off their electric lights, and the lit lanterns light up the Old Town.
It isn’t a typical “festival,” so don’t expect a ton of excitement. The event starts around 6 PM and lasts until around 10 PM.
