The rainy season in Vietnam depends on where you are. In the north (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa) it runs from about May to September, on the central coast (Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An) from September to December, and in the south (Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta) from May to November. Typhoons are most likely between July and November. On most wet days the rain comes as a heavy shower that lasts an hour or two, so you can still sightsee; the exception is the central coast in October and November, when it can rain for days and the old towns can flood.
This guide explains the Vietnam rainy season region by region and month by month, how typhoons can affect your plans, where to go to stay dry, and what to pack.
| Region | Rainy months | Wettest month | What it feels like |
| North – Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh | May to September | August (rain on about 17 days) | Hot and humid, with short, heavy storms |
| North – mountains: Sapa, Ha Giang | May to September | July (rain on about 26 days) | Showers most days, thick fog, slippery trails |
| Centre – Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An | September to December | October (rain on about 21 days) | Long spells of rain and river floods |
| Centre – south coast: Nha Trang | September to December | November (rain on about 18 days) | Rough seas and late-year storms |
| Centre – highlands: Da Lat | May to October | September (rain on about 24 days) | Frequent showers, cool and misty |
| South – Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta | May to November | September (rain on about 18 days) | Short, strong storms, often in the afternoon |
| South – island: Phu Quoc | May to October | August (rain on about 24 days) | Rougher seas and fewer boat trips |
When Is the Rainy Season in Vietnam? Region by Region
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Vietnam is about 1,650 km long, so the Vietnam monsoon season reaches the north, centre and south at different times. If you want the dry months for each region, see our guide to the best time to visit Vietnam.
Northern Vietnam: May to September
In the north, the rain arrives with the summer heat, and the mountains get even more of it than the lowlands.
Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh
Spectacular scenery of Tam Coc, Ninh Binh
June to August are the wettest months, with daytime highs of about 33 to 35°C (91 to 95°F). Most days follow the same pattern: sunshine in the morning, then a short, heavy storm in the afternoon or evening.
- Main risk: typhoons from July to September. When one is close, the authorities keep all tourist boats in port, so a Ha Long Bay cruise can be cancelled at short notice.
- Floods: heavy rain can briefly close boat trips in Ninh Binh, as happened on one of the Trang An boat circuits in late July.
- Good news: the rice fields of Ninh Binh turn gold in late May to early June and again in September.
>>> Planning to sail in summer? Compare the change and refund terms of our Ha Long Bay cruises before you pay.
Sapa, Ha Giang and the Northern Mountains
Sapa and Ha Giang in Vietnam
The mountains are the wettest part of the north. During the wet season in Sapa, it rains on 22 to 26 days a month from May to August, and fog can hide the valleys for days. Mountain roads, including the Ha Giang Loop, can be blocked by landslides after heavy rain.
The reward comes at the end of the season. The Sapa rice terraces turn gold around September, and in Mu Cang Chai the harvest moves through the valleys from mid-August to mid-October.
>>> Our Sapa travel guide explains how to get there and where to stay.
Central Vietnam: September to December
Central Vietnam has a different calendar. While the north and south dry out, the central coast gets most of its rain between September and December, and from February to August, when the rest of the country is wet, it is at its sunniest.
Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An
The enchanting sunset in Hoi An
In Hue, October alone brings about 770 mm of rain, more than London gets in a whole year, and it can rain for several days without a break. October and November are the main flood months: in late October 2025, the river in Hoi An rose above its 1964 record and parts of the old town stood under about 2 m of water. Floods can also stop trains on the north-south railway for a few days.
>>> For hotels, food and day trips, see our Hoi An travel guide.
Phong Nha
Phong Nha Cave
Paradise Cave usually stays open in the wet months, but the boat into Phong Nha Cave stops when the river floods, and multi-day cave expeditions pause until the dry season.
Nha Trang and Da Lat
Pristine beach in Nha Trang City
Nha Trang follows the central pattern: dry from January to August and wettest in October and November. Da Lat, in the hills at about 1,500 m, has a longer rainy season from May to October, but its cool air makes it a pleasant break from the summer heat on the coast.
Southern Vietnam: May to November
In the south, the wet season lasts from May to November, with September usually the wettest month. Storms are strong but short, and the sky often clears within an hour or two.
Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta Flower Market
When heavy rain meets a high tide, some streets in Ho Chi Minh City flood, so keep museums and cafés for the afternoon. The Mekong Delta flood season, from about August to November, is a sight in itself: water spreads across the fields of An Giang and Dong Thap, families fish with nets and traps, and seasonal fish such as ca linh appear on menus.
Our Mekong Delta travel guide shows which river towns make the best base.
Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc is a perfect option for relaxing after a long trip
The wet season on Phu Quoc runs from about May to October, with the heaviest rain in August and September. The sea can turn rough, and boat trips to the southern islands do not run on stormy days.
Does It Rain a Lot in Vietnam? Month by Month
So, does it rain a lot in Vietnam all year? No. Because the regions swap seasons, there is almost always a dry part of the country. Use this table to see what each month is like and where to spend most of your time.
| Month | North | Centre | South | Driest choice |
| January | Dry, cool and often grey | Some rain, cool | Dry and sunny | South |
| February | Light drizzle, cool | Mostly dry | Dry and sunny | Centre, south |
| March | Drizzle, warming up | Dry | Dry and hot | All 3 regions |
| April | Some showers, warm | Dry | Dry and very hot | All 3 regions |
| May | Rain starts | Mostly dry | Rain starts | Centre |
| June | Wet and hot | Mostly dry | Wet, short storms | Centre |
| July | Wet, storm risk | Mostly dry | Wet, short storms | Centre |
| August | Wettest, storm risk | Mostly dry | Wet, short storms | Centre |
| September | Rain easing | Wet, rain building | Wettest | Northern mountains for the rice harvest |
| October | Rain easing, pleasant | Very wet, flood risk | Wet | North |
| November | Dry and pleasant | Very wet, flood risk | Rain easing | North, south (late) |
| December | Dry and cool | Rainy | Dry | North, south |
>>> Once you know which region suits your dates, our list of things to do in Vietnam shows what each one offers.
Typhoon Season in Vietnam: What It Means for Your Trip
Flooding during Vietnam’s typhoon season, which typically runs from late summer through autumn and mostly affects central and northern coastal areas.
A typhoon is the same kind of storm as a hurricane. On average, 6 to 8 typhoons or tropical storms affect Vietnam each year, mostly between July and November. They usually reach the north first, from July to September, and the central coast later, in October and November.
You do not need to cancel a trip because it falls in the typhoon season in Vietnam, but a storm can change your plans for a day or 2:
- Boats: cruises and island ferries stay in port until the storm has passed.
- Flights: airports in the storm’s path can close for several hours, as 4 northern airports did during Typhoon Yagi.
- Trains and roads: floods and landslides can close railway lines and mountain passes.
If you would rather not watch the forecasts yourself, talk to our team in Hanoi. We follow storm warnings for travelers on our trips and change the order of the itinerary when needed.
Is It Worth Visiting Vietnam in the Rainy Season?
For most travellers, yes, as long as you match each region to its dry months and keep a little flexibility. The Vietnam rainy season has real advantages:
- Lower prices: hotels and flights are often cheaper outside the busy dry-season months and the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
- Fewer crowds: popular sights such as Ha Long Bay and the old quarters are calmer outside the peak months.
- Greener scenery: rice terraces turn bright green and then gold, and waterfalls run high.
- Seasonal experiences: the Mekong Delta flood season and the northern rice harvest only happen in the wet months.
The downsides are humidity, the chance of a cancelled cruise or train, and more mosquitoes. Dengue fever is more common in the wet season, especially in the south, so use insect repellent during the day as well as in the evening.
Tips for Travelling During the Rainy Season in Vietnam
What to Pack
What to pack for Vietnam’s rainy season: a light rain jacket, warm layers for the mountains, grippy sandals, zip-lock bags, and insect repellent.
- A light rain jacket or poncho: cheap ponchos are sold everywhere, but a breathable jacket is better for walking.
- Quick-dry clothes and sandals with grip: streets, temple steps and boat jetties get slippery.
- A dry bag or zip-lock bags for your phone, passport and cash.
- Insect repellent with DEET or picaridin.
- A warm layer for the mountains, where summer days in Sapa reach only about 23°C (73°F).
How to Book
- Choose flexible bookings for cruises, trains and hotels on the central coast, where Hoi An floods are most likely in October and November.
- Leave a spare day between the central coast and your flight home in the flood months, in case Hoi An floods or trains are delayed.
- Buy travel insurance that covers weather delays and cancelled tours.
- Plan an indoor back-up for each wet afternoon, such as a cooking class, a museum or a spa.
How to Stay Safe
- Never wade or drive through floodwater, and follow instructions from local authorities.
- Avoid mountain passes in heavy rain, including the Ha Giang Loop, the roads around Sapa and the Hai Van Pass.
- Do not ride a motorbike in a storm, even if you are an experienced rider.
- Save the emergency numbers: 113 for police, 114 for fire and rescue and 115 for an ambulance.
Before each leg of your trip, check the latest warnings from the national weather service and ask your hotel about local roads and rivers.
IDC Travel Tours That Suit the Rainy Months
Each of these trips goes where the weather is on your side during part of the wet season:
- Central Vietnam wellness tour: best for May to August, when the north and south are wet but the central coast is dry. This 10-day trip focuses on rest and healing, and past travellers highlight the hot springs near Hue, a mud bath in Nha Trang and slow days in Hoi An. It suits couples and anyone who wants a gentle pace.
- Mai Chau and Ninh Binh in 3 days: best for September and late May to early June, when the rice fields turn gold. You cycle or walk through the villages and rice fields of Mai Chau, then take a sampan through the caves of Tam Coc. It is an easy add-on to a few days in Hanoi, from $150 per person.
- Mekong Delta in 3 days: best for August to November, during the Mekong Delta flood season. The trip combines a boat ride in Ben Tre, a homestay dinner, a bike ride through fruit gardens and a floating market near Long Xuyen. It starts and ends in Ho Chi Minh City, from $188 per person.
- Northeast Vietnam adventure: best for October and November, when the central coast floods but the north is dry. Over 10 days you visit ethnic minority villages, local markets, waterfalls and rice terraces, then finish on Ha Long Bay. Expect rugged mountain roads and simple homestays.
Plan a Rain-Ready Vietnam Trip with IDC Travel
The rainy season in Vietnam is easier to handle than its reputation suggests. Put each region in its dry months, keep a spare day around the central coast in October and November, and the wet season can mean greener landscapes, quieter sights and better prices.
When you are ready, design your Vietnam itinerary with us, and we will match every stop to the season you are travelling in.
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