The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is from December to April, the dry season. Rainfall drops from around 250 mm a month in the wet months to 8–65 mm, days are sunny and highs sit at 31–34°C. January and February are the most comfortable; April is the hottest month.
May to November is the rainy season, but it rarely rains all day: most falls in short, heavy afternoon storms. Plan around Tet (6 February 2027), when many shops close, and the autumn high tides, when low streets can flood.
Ho Chi Minh City weather, month by month
These are long-term averages for the city: total rainfall, the number of days with some rain, and the average daytime high and night-time low. Individual years vary, and the switch between seasons can come a few weeks early or late.
| Month | Rain | Rain days | High / low | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15 mm | 5 | 31 / 21°C | Dry, breezy mornings; one of the two best months |
| February | 8 mm | 4 | 32 / 22°C | Driest month; Tet falls on 6 February in 2027 |
| March | 23 mm | 5 | 33 / 23°C | Dry and getting hotter |
| April | 63 mm | 8 | 34 / 24°C | Hottest month; the first storms arrive late in the month |
| May | 183 mm | 15 | 33 / 25°C | Rains begin; humid and heavy |
| June | 261 mm | 16 | 32 / 24°C | Regular afternoon downpours |
| July | 257 mm | 17 | 31 / 24°C | Wet afternoons, cooler days |
| August | 249 mm | 18 | 31 / 24°C | Wet afternoons |
| September | 270 mm | 20 | 31 / 24°C | Wettest month; high tides start |
| October | 255 mm | 18 | 31 / 23°C | Still wet; high tides can flood low streets |
| November | 156 mm | 13 | 31 / 23°C | Rain easing; tides still high |
| December | 65 mm | 9 | 31 / 22°C | Dry season begins; Christmas crowds |
Two numbers matter more than the temperature, which barely moves: rain falls from about 260 mm a month in the wettest stretch to under 25 mm from January to March, and sunshine runs at four hours a day in the wet months against six in the dry ones.
December to April: the dry season
December to February
This is the easiest time for walking the city. Mornings are fresh by Saigon standards, humidity drops, and you can plan a whole day outdoors without watching the sky. It is also the busiest time: Christmas and New Year fill the central streets, and the weeks around Tet bring Vietnamese families travelling home or on holiday.
March and April
Still dry, but the heat builds. April averages 34°C in the afternoon and is the month most visitors find draining. Do your sightseeing before 11 am and after 4 pm, and keep the middle of the day for a pool, a long lunch or a museum with air conditioning.
May to November: the rainy season
The wet season looks worse on paper than it feels on the ground. A typical day starts bright, clouds build after lunch, and a heavy downpour lasts an hour or two before the evening clears. Mornings are usually dry enough for markets, museums and the river.
Street flooding and high tides
The bigger nuisance is water in the streets. From late September to around December the Saigon River runs at its highest tides of the year: on 29–30 September 2026 the Phu An gauge forecast 1.60–1.65 m, just above the top flood-warning level, with peaks at 6–8 am and 5–7 pm. When a downpour coincides with a peak, low-lying riverside streets flood for a few hours. Avoid crossing the city at those times on high-tide days.
Why some travellers prefer it
The city is greener and the heat is softer under cloud. If you are flexible and do not mind an afternoon break, June to August is a perfectly good time to come.
Holidays that change the city: 2026–2027
| Date | Event | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 24–25 December 2026 | Christmas | Crowded central streets on Christmas Eve; most things open |
| 31 December 2026 | New Year’s Eve | Countdown crowds in the centre; slow traffic |
| 4–10 February 2027 | Tet, the Lunar New Year (6 February) | Seven-day national holiday; many family shops and restaurants close for several days |
| 30 April – 1 May 2027 | Reunification Day and Labour Day | Busy domestic travel; resorts near the city fill up |
| 2–5 September 2027 | National Day holiday | Four days off; busy roads out of the city |
| 15 September 2027 | Mid-Autumn Festival | Lanterns and mooncakes; aimed at children |
Tet is the one date to plan around. The week before is festive, with flower markets and decorated streets, but for the first days of the new year much of the city shuts while people visit family. Hotels, transport and anything outside the city book out early.
Where the seasons meet the river
North of the centre, the river changes the picture. At An Lam Saigon River, 14 km up the Saigon River, the resort itself recommends October to April, when sunny mornings suit yoga on the decks and the evening sunset cruise. In the rainy months the garden is at its lushest, but mosquitoes are at their worst and storms can delay the speedboat from Bach Dang pier.
Whatever the month, the resort’s shared boat must be requested 48 hours ahead; the boat and check-in rules explain how it works.
Questions about the weather in Ho Chi Minh City
Is it worth visiting Ho Chi Minh City in the rainy season?
Yes, if you can be flexible. Rain from May to November usually comes as one heavy afternoon storm rather than a wet day, so mornings stay usable for sightseeing. The real disruptions are street flooding when a downpour meets a high tide, mostly from late September to December, and the extra humidity. Plan outdoor visits early and keep an indoor option for the afternoon.
What is the hottest month in Ho Chi Minh City?
April, with average highs around 34°C and nights that rarely fall below 24°C. March and May are close behind. The heat is fiercest between late morning and mid-afternoon, so plan walking for the early morning and the evening, drink more water than you think you need, and use the middle of the day for a pool or an air-conditioned museum.
When is Tet in 2027, and is the city closed?
Tet, the Lunar New Year, falls on 6 February 2027, and the official holiday runs from 4 to 10 February. The city does not close, but many family-run shops, street food stalls and smaller restaurants shut for several days, and transport out of the city is packed. Larger hotels, malls and attractions mostly stay open.
Do typhoons hit Ho Chi Minh City?
Rarely. Most typhoons that reach Vietnam make landfall further north, in the central and northern provinces. The south does get the edges of tropical storms, mainly from October to December, which bring heavy rain and wind for a day or two. Check the forecast in those months and allow some slack in your plans.
Climate averages, tide forecasts and 2026–2027 holiday dates checked October 2026. Weather varies from year to year.