February is Hoi An’s driest month and, when it overlaps with Tet, one of its most extraordinary. The Ancient Town transformed for Lunar New Year — yellow apricot blossoms in every shophouse doorway, incense burning at the assembly halls, red lanterns strung across the narrow streets — is a genuinely special experience that’s worth planning a trip around. Outside of Tet, February is simply outstanding: clear skies, cool evenings, and the lightest rain chance of the year.
Weather in Hoi An in February
- Temperature: 20–25°C (68–77°F) — warm and comfortable
- Rainfall: Very low (22% chance) — the driest month of the year
- Humidity: 85%
- Wind: 10.7 mph — light sea breeze
- Daylight: 11.6 hours
Events in February
- Tet — Vietnamese Lunar New Year (early February, exact date varies): The Ancient Town’s assembly halls and temples are at their most active with offerings and ceremonies. The monthly Lantern Festival falls during Tet week and is particularly spectacular. Some shops and restaurants close for 2–3 days around the main Tet holiday, but the town itself is beautiful in the celebration period
- Tet holiday week: Domestic tourism surges in the week after Tet — the Ancient Town and beach fill with Vietnamese families. Book accommodation well ahead if dates overlap
Best Things to Do in Hoi An in February
Hoi An Ancient Town
The UNESCO old town in February — and especially around Tet — is Hoi An at its most extraordinary. The Fujian Assembly Hall, Cantonese Assembly Hall, and other community halls are decorated with offerings, incense, and New Year decorations. The lantern streets and the Thu Bon River bank are beautifully lit at night. February’s cooler evenings make long walks through the old town comfortable; the streets are at their most atmospheric in the 30 minutes after sunset. Ancient Town ticket: 120,000 VND.
Japanese Covered Bridge
The 16th-century bridge is decorated for Tet in February — flower arrangements and lanterns fill the small temple inside, and the approach streets are lined with blossoms. Visit in the early morning for the clearest photographs before the festival crowds arrive. The bridge is particularly beautiful after dark, lit by lanterns and reflected in the canal below. Included in the Ancient Town ticket.
An Bang Beach
February’s exceptional sea conditions make An Bang Beach unusually good — the water is calm and clear, the sand is clean after months of dry weather, and the relaxed beach bar atmosphere is at its most appealing. A morning at An Bang followed by lunch at one of the thatch-roofed beachside restaurants (fresh seafood, cold beer) is one of Hoi An’s most pleasurable February experiences. Lounge chairs available; no entry fee.
My Son Sanctuary
February’s dry weather and comfortable temperatures make the My Son day trip one of its best months — the jungle vegetation is at its most accessible, the stone temples are dry and easy to explore, and the 4th–14th century Cham ruins feel appropriately remote in the valley setting. Consider arriving for the 8 AM opening to have the site largely to yourself before tour buses arrive. Allow 3 hours including the 40-minute drive from Hoi An.
Also Worth Doing
- Thanh Ha Pottery Village: Tet is a meaningful time to visit — potters traditionally make ceremonial pieces for the New Year period and the village is active
- Tet Lantern Festival night: The Lunar New Year Lantern Festival in February is the most spectacular of the year — thousands of lanterns on the river and streets with the Tet decorations adding extra colour
- Cham Islands: February’s calm seas are the best conditions of the year for the boat trip to the islands — snorkelling visibility is excellent
Practical Tips for February
- Tet closures: Some restaurants and tailor shops close for 2–3 days around the main Tet holiday — confirm opening hours before making plans
- Tet accommodation: Book months ahead for Tet week — Hoi An is very popular for the holiday
- Lantern Festival: The most popular night is around the 15th of the lunar month; check the exact date for your visit year
Tours & activities in Hoi An
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