Is December a good time to visit Vietnam?

Yes. No region is rated "avoid" in December. Best: HCMC & the south: dry and warm; Ha Giang: cold, clear, quiet; Hanoi & the north: cool, can be cold.

Where is the best weather in Vietnam in December?

HCMC & the south: dry and warm; Ha Giang: cold, clear, quiet; Hanoi & the north: cool, can be cold.

What is a good Vietnam itinerary for December?

Routes that rate good or better in December on our weather data: Southern Vietnam in 10 days: Saigon, the Mekong, Da Lat and Phu Quoc (Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta (Can Tho) → Ho Chi Minh City → Da Lat → Phu Quoc); 10 days in Vietnam: the north, done properly (Hanoi → Ha Giang Loop → Hanoi → Halong / Bai Tu Long Bay → Hanoi); 7 days in Vietnam: Hanoi, the bay, and Ninh Binh — no flights (Hanoi → Halong / Bai Tu Long Bay → Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Hanoi).

Month guide

Vietnam in December

December is prime time in HCMC & the south.

Plan your December trip

Go

HCMC & the south — dry and warm
Ha Giang — cold, clear, quiet
Hanoi & the north — cool, can be cold

Watch

Sapa — cold and foggy
Hoi An & central coast — tapering rain

Skip

Nowhere we would actively avoid in December.

What changes from November

Ha Giang:Prime timeGood
Sapa:GoodMixed
Hoi An & central coast:AvoidMixed
Hanoi & the north:Prime timeGood
HCMC & the south:GoodPrime time

Region by region

Ha GiangGood
Cold, clear, quiet
Stunning but dress for near-freezing nights.
SapaMixed
Cold and foggy
Atmospheric but views are a gamble.
Hoi An & central coastMixed
Tapering rain
Drying out but still wet early in the month.
Hanoi & the northGood
Cool, can be cold
Atmospheric; pack a jacket.
HCMC & the southPrime time
Dry and warm
Back to the good season.

Routes that suit December

Routes whose night-weighted weather rating is good or better in December, with no stop rated avoid.

10days · Southern Vietnam

Southern Vietnam in 10 days: Saigon, the Mekong, Da Lat and Phu Quoc

Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta (Can Tho) → Ho Chi Minh City → Da Lat → Phu Quoc

Best: December–March
From: $390 pp
Pace: Balanced · 3 flights

See the day-by-day

10days · Northern Vietnam

10 days in Vietnam: the north, done properly

Hanoi → Ha Giang Loop → Hanoi → Halong / Bai Tu Long Bay → Hanoi

Best: April, September–November
From: $544 pp
Pace: Balanced

See the day-by-day

7days · Northern Vietnam

7 days in Vietnam: Hanoi, the bay, and Ninh Binh — no flights

Hanoi → Halong / Bai Tu Long Bay → Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Hanoi

Best: April, September–November
From: $293 pp
Pace: Balanced

See the day-by-day

Vietnam in December — common questions

Is December a good time to visit Vietnam?: Yes. No region is rated "avoid" in December. Best: HCMC & the south: dry and warm; Ha Giang: cold, clear, quiet; Hanoi & the north: cool, can be cold.
Where is the best weather in Vietnam in December?: HCMC & the south: dry and warm; Ha Giang: cold, clear, quiet; Hanoi & the north: cool, can be cold.
What is a good Vietnam itinerary for December?: Routes that rate good or better in December on our weather data: Southern Vietnam in 10 days: Saigon, the Mekong, Da Lat and Phu Quoc (Ho Chi Minh City → Mekong Delta (Can Tho) → Ho Chi Minh City → Da Lat → Phu Quoc); 10 days in Vietnam: the north, done properly (Hanoi → Ha Giang Loop → Hanoi → Halong / Bai Tu Long Bay → Hanoi); 7 days in Vietnam: Hanoi, the bay, and Ninh Binh — no flights (Hanoi → Halong / Bai Tu Long Bay → Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Hanoi).