Vietnam has three rainy seasons, and they rarely line up. Vietnam’s north, central, and south regions each turn wet at different times of year, which matters most if your trip crosses all three.
This guide breaks the Vietnam rainy season down region by region, month by month. You’ll also see the one stretch of the year when the whole country tends to be dry at once.
- North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay): rainy May–September, heaviest in July–August.
- Central (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue): rainy September–December, peak October–November, with real typhoon and flood risk.
- South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta): rainy May–November, but showers are usually short, intense afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.
- The only months all three regions are dry together are roughly February–April.
Vietnam Rainy Season by Region: The Month-by-Month Grid
The grid below shows which region is dry, wet, or at its rainy peak for every month of the year.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Notice the gap: only February, March, and April are dry in all three regions at once. Outside that window, one region is always going to be wet, so plan your route around it rather than your dates alone.
Hanoi Rainy Season: Northern Vietnam and Ha Long Bay
Hanoi’s rainy season runs from May to September, with July and August the wettest months. Hanoi averages around 1,610mm of rain a year, and August alone typically brings over 270mm.
| Months | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| May–June | rain builds steadily but is still workable between showers. |
| July–August | the heaviest downpours of the year, often as short, intense afternoon bursts rather than all-day rain. |
| September | rainfall starts easing off as the region heads into autumn. |
| October–April | the dry season, though December–February turns cool and grey, with occasional light drizzle locally known as “crachin.” |
Ha Long Bay sits in the same wet window as Hanoi. Cruise operators sometimes cancel sailings during storms between May and September, so it’s worth building a spare day into your schedule if a cruise is the priority.
Central Vietnam Rainy Season: Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hue
Da Nang’s rainy season flips the calendar compared to the north and south. It runs from September to December, peaking in October and November, and this window doubles as typhoon season on the central coast.
Hoi An’s flooding season falls squarely in this same October–November stretch. In November 2025, the Ancient Town flooded three times within 20 days, with water reaching the Japanese Covered Bridge and rising over half a metre on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.
| Months | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| September | the wet season begins, rainfall picks up noticeably. |
| October–November | the peak — this is when Hoi An’s Old Town is most likely to flood, and typhoons are most likely to make landfall. |
| December | still wet, though rainfall is tapering. |
| February–August | the dry season, with March widely considered the prettiest time to see Hoi An’s Ancient Town. |
Hue sees a similar pattern to Da Nang and Hoi An, since all three sit on the same stretch of central coast under the same northeast monsoon.
Ho Chi Minh City Rainy Season: Southern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta
Ho Chi Minh City’s rainy season runs from May to November — longer than the north’s — but the rain itself behaves differently. Showers are typically short and intense, often just an hour or two in the afternoon, rather than the prolonged rain further north.
| Months | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| May | the wet season opens, rain becomes a daily possibility. |
| June–September | the peak, each month averaging 270–325mm of rain, with September typically the wettest at around 325mm. |
| October–November | rainfall eases but afternoon showers are still common. |
| December–April | the dry season, hot and sunny, and the least likely of the three regions to disrupt an itinerary. |
Because southern rain tends to fall in short bursts, mornings are usually clear even during the wettest months. Plan outdoor activities before early afternoon and you’ll dodge most of it.
Best Time to Visit Vietnam for a Multi-City Trip
Most Vietnam itineraries follow the same route: Hanoi, then Hoi An or Da Nang, then Ho Chi Minh City. February to April is the easiest window for this trip, since all three regions are close to their driest at the same time.
Traveling outside that window doesn’t rule out the trip. It just means routing more time toward whichever region is dry that month.
| Months | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| June–August | Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are at their wettest; central Vietnam is actually your driest option this time of year. |
| October–November | central Vietnam carries the highest typhoon and flood risk of the year; lean your itinerary toward Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City instead. |
| February–April | all three regions are close to their driest — the simplest stretch to book without working around the calendar. |
| Always check the short-range forecast a few days out. Typhoon warnings on the central coast can prompt schedule changes at short notice. | |
Wherever you land, compare Vietnam hotels with flexible cancellation policies if you’re booking close to a region’s wet window.
Why Vietnam Doesn’t Have Just One Rainy Season
If you’ve searched “Vietnam monsoon season 2026” hoping for one simple date range, here’s why there isn’t one. Vietnam stretches more than 1,600km from north to south, so it sits under two separate monsoon systems at once.
The southwest monsoon brings summer rain to the north and south, roughly May to September or October. The northeast monsoon then turns central Vietnam wet from September to December, while the north and south are already drying out.
Vietnam is also hit by an average of six to eight tropical storms and typhoons a year. Most make landfall on the central coast, which is why Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hue carry the heaviest storm risk of the three regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Vietnam to avoid the rain?
February to April is the only stretch when North, Central, and South Vietnam are all in their dry season at the same time. Outside that window, one region is usually wet, so plan around whichever region you’re visiting.
Does it rain every day during Vietnam’s rainy season?
No. In the south especially, rain usually falls as a short, intense downpour for an hour or two in the afternoon. Mornings are often dry and sunny even during the wettest months.
When does Hoi An flood?
Hoi An’s Ancient Town is most at risk of flooding in October and November, when heavy rain and swollen rivers combine with typhoon season. Streets near the river, including around the Japanese Covered Bridge, are usually the first to flood.
Is Ha Long Bay worth visiting in the rainy season?
Ha Long Bay’s rainy season runs May to September, and cruise operators occasionally cancel sailings during storms. Outside of storm days, cruises still run, though skies are hazier than in the cooler, drier months.
Can I visit Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City in one trip?
Yes, this is the most common multi-city route, and February to April works best since all three cities are close to their driest. Traveling at another time of year just means routing more days toward whichever region is dry that month.
What causes Vietnam’s rainy season to vary so much by region?
Vietnam sits under two separate monsoon systems. The southwest monsoon brings summer rain to the north and south, while the northeast monsoon brings rain and typhoons to the central coast in autumn and winter — which is why the country never has just one rainy season.
Sources
- Vietnam Tourism (official) — Weather and Climate in Vietnam
- Climates to Travel — Hanoi Climate: Monthly Averages
- Climates to Travel — Ho Chi Minh City Climate: Monthly Averages
- Climates to Travel — Da Nang Climate: Monthly Averages
- Wikipedia — Climate of Vietnam
- VietnamNet — Hoi An Floods Again as Residents Rush to Move Belongings, Tourists Wade In
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