Last updated: October 2026
December is a good month for most of Vietnam, but it’s two different trips. The south is in its dry season: Ho Chi Minh City gets only about five rainy days, and Phu Quoc has its best beach weather of the year. The north is winter: Hanoi is dry but cool and often grey, and the mountains get properly cold. In between, Hue and Hoi An are still wet for much of the month.
I live in Hanoi, and to me December is the best time to visit Vietnam. Hanoi is cold by local standards, about 20°C in the afternoon, and dry, which is the best thing about it. The only thing you miss is the rice fields.
This guide covers December weather in each region, where to go, what’s on in December 2026 (the Da Lat Flower Festival, Christmas and New Year, peak buckwheat season in Ha Giang) and a two-week route.
My honest take: Vietnam in December, in short
- Beach trip? Go south. December is the start of Phu Quoc’s best season, and Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta are dry and hot.
- Ha Giang is at its best. The buckwheat flowers on the Dong Van plateau peak in December, after the November festival opens the season.
- Hanoi is cold (for Hanoi) and dry. Around 14–21°C with very little rain, though the sky can be grey. Bring a jacket.
- Sapa is cold. Nights average about 7°C, and frost is possible. Go for clear views, not warmth.
- Hue and Hoi An are still wet. December has nearly as many rainy days as November in Hue. It’s better by late December and much better in January.
- Book Christmas and New Year early, especially Phu Quoc, Da Lat during its flower festival, and Ha Long cruises.
- My blunt verdict: if it’s your first trip to Vietnam, book December. It’s the month I’d send a friend without thinking twice.
Vietnam weather in December by region
| Place | Day / night (°C) | Rain in December | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | 21 / 14 | about 20 mm, 5 rainy days | Dry and cool; often overcast |
| Sapa | 13 / 7 | about 66 mm | Cold; frost possible |
| Hue | 24 / 19 | about 350 mm, 20 rainy days | Still rainy season, easing late in the month |
| Da Lat | 22 / 11 | about 5 rainy days | Dry season; cold nights |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 32 / 24 | about 41 mm, 5 rainy days | Dry season; hot |
| Phu Quoc | warm | about 59 mm | Dry season begins; best beach weather |
Long-term averages from the Wikipedia climate tables for each city (national weather service data). Hoi An and Da Nang follow the same pattern as Hue. Ha Long Bay follows Hanoi: dry and cool, sometimes misty.
North Vietnam: cool, dry and often grey
December is winter in the north. Hanoi gets only about 20 mm of rain in the whole month, so it’s rarely wet, but the northeast monsoon brings a lot of flat grey sky, and sunny days aren’t guaranteed. Days are about 21°C and nights drop to about 14°C, which feels colder than it sounds because most buildings have no heating. Late November and December are also when the white daisies (cúc họa mi) fill the flower bikes around the Old Quarter.
Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay are calm and dry but cool, and some mornings are misty. Cruises run normally; you won’t want to swim. In Ninh Binh, the water lilies on the Ngo Dong river in Tam Coc last until about December.
The mountains are cold. Sapa averages about 13°C in the day and 7°C at night, and the record low is below freezing. On the clearest days the views across the valleys and up to Fansipan are the best of the year.
Ha Giang is the highlight. The buckwheat festival in November opens the season, and the pink and white buckwheat fields on the Dong Van plateau are at their best in December. Bring proper warm clothes for the loop: mornings in the high passes are cold, especially on the back of a motorbike.
Bear in mind that buckwheat season is also peak season for Vietnamese travelers, and the loop can get really crowded. Lo Lo Chai, the village below the Lung Cu flag tower that UN Tourism named one of its Best Tourism Villages in 2025, is always busy with young Vietnamese visitors. Go on weekdays if you can.
For your nights in Ha Giang city before and after the loop, I like Anans Home, a lovely farm stay about 5 minutes’ drive from the Km 0 marker. Private rooms are about $16–23 a night (October 2026), and the same team runs loop tours and motorbike rental. Book on their website with the code JACKNG for a reader discount on both the stay and their tours. I get a small commission when you use the code, at no extra cost to you; I’ve stayed there and done their tours myself.
More: Hanoi in December · Ha Long in December · Ninh Binh in December · Sapa in December · Ha Giang in December
Central Vietnam: wet for most of the month
The central coast’s rainy season doesn’t end with November. In Hue, December still averages about 350 mm of rain and around 20 rainy days. That’s about half of November’s total, and the risk of a big flood drops, but it’s not zero: after the record floods of late October 2025, flooding hit the region on and off until early December.
By the second half of December, the weather usually improves, and January is much drier (about 130 mm in Hue). Days are mild, around 24°C. Further south, Nha Trang’s rain eases to about 165 mm in December, but the sea stays choppy, so island trips are hit and miss.
Our honest take: December is better than November for Hoi An, but if the old town and the Golden Bridge are the main reason you’re coming, January to April is still the safer bet. If you go in December, go late in the month.
More: Hoi An in December · Hue in December · Da Nang in December · Nha Trang in December
South Vietnam: dry season starts
This is when the south gets good. Ho Chi Minh City drops to about 41 mm of rain and five rainy days in December, with highs around 32°C. The Mekong Delta’s flood water goes down and the dry season begins, so boat trips and cycling around the orchards are easy.
Phu Quoc gets about 59 mm of rain in December, a third of November’s, and the sea on the west coast is calm. December to March is the island’s best beach season. Christmas and New Year are also its busiest weeks, so book early.
Da Lat is in its dry season too: sunny days around 22°C and cold nights around 11°C. In 2026 it also hosts the Da Lat Flower Festival (see below).
More: Ho Chi Minh City in December · Phu Quoc in December · Mekong Delta in December · Da Lat in December
What’s on in Vietnam in December 2026
Da Lat Flower Festival: 19–31 December 2026. The 11th edition, held every two years, with flower displays and music around Xuan Huong Lake and the city center. Da Lat fills up with Vietnamese visitors, so book hotels early and expect weekend prices to jump.
Buckwheat season in Ha Giang: all month. The flowers on the Dong Van plateau are at their best in December.
Hoi An full-moon lantern night: Tuesday 22 December 2026. The old town turns off its electric lights and the river fills with paper lanterns. Lunar dates can shift by a day, so confirm locally that week.
Christmas: 24–25 December. Christmas isn’t an official holiday in Vietnam, but the cities decorate beautifully, especially the cathedrals and shopping malls. On Christmas Eve, Hanoi’s streets fill with young couples and young families riding around on motorbikes just to enjoy the atmosphere. Most people head for the center: the Old Quarter and St Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi, and Nguyen Hue walking street in Ho Chi Minh City. In Ninh Binh, the stone cathedral at Phat Diem holds a big midnight Mass.
New Year’s Eve: 31 December. Countdowns at Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi and on Nguyen Hue walking street in Ho Chi Minh City. 1 January is a public holiday.
Looking ahead to Tet: Lunar New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February 2027. December itself is quiet, but if your trip runs into late January or February, book transport and hotels now.
A two-week route for December
This route starts warm and dry in the south and finishes in the north, so you end with the buckwheat at its peak.
- Days 1–3: Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. One night in the delta if you can.
- Days 4–6: Phu Quoc for beach days.
- Days 7–8: Hoi An, if the forecast is good; otherwise swap for an extra night in Da Lat.
- Days 9–10: Hanoi. Old Quarter, street food, and a day in Ninh Binh.
- Days 11–14: Ha Giang loop (three or four days), with a night in Hanoi or on Lan Ha Bay on the way back if you have time.
See the full 2-week Vietnam itinerary or the South Vietnam 7-day itinerary.
Good to know before you go
Pack for two climates. Shorts and sunscreen for the south; a warm jacket, layers and closed shoes for Hanoi; and gloves and a hat for Sapa and Ha Giang.
Book Christmas to New Year early. Phu Quoc, Da Lat (especially during the flower festival) and Ha Long cruises sell out first.
Hotels in the north aren’t heated. Many have air-con units that can blow warm air, but older guesthouses may not. Check the reviews if you feel the cold.
Check the central coast forecast five days out, not a month ahead. Use the national weather service (NCHMF) and English-language news like VnExpress International.
Visa: most nationalities need an e-visa. See our Vietnam e-visa guide.
Is December a good time to visit Vietnam?
Yes. For me it’s the best time of year to visit Vietnam, especially for a first trip, as long as you know which Vietnam you’re getting. For beaches and warm weather, the south is at the start of its best season. For the north, December is cool, dry and grey, with the best clear-sky views in the mountains and the buckwheat flowers in Ha Giang. Hue and Hoi An are the weak spot: wetter than most people expect, improving toward the end of the month.
Skip December if you want warm weather everywhere in one trip, or if Hoi An is the only thing on your list.
My own verdict: December is the best time to visit Vietnam, and it’s the month I’d recommend to any first-timer. It’s dry and cool across most of the country, and the only real downside is that there are no rice fields to see. Just keep Hue and Hoi An flexible.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Vietnam?
Yes, and it’s the month we’d recommend for a first trip. Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City are in their dry season, and Hanoi is dry and cool. Hue and Hoi An still get rain on about two days in three.
How cold is Hanoi in December?
Cool rather than cold: about 21°C in the afternoon and 14°C at night. It feels colder indoors because most buildings have no heating, and the sky is often grey.
Is Phu Quoc good in December?
Yes. December is the start of the island’s dry season, with about 59 mm of rain in the month and calm seas on the west coast. It’s also busy over Christmas and New Year, so book early.
Does it snow in Vietnam in December?
Very rarely, and only in the far north. Sapa averages about 7°C at night and has dropped below freezing, so frost is possible, and on the coldest days there can be a dusting of snow on Fansipan. Don’t plan a trip around it.
When are the buckwheat flowers in Ha Giang?
The season opens with the buckwheat flower festival in November, and the flowers are at their best in December on the Dong Van plateau.
When is the Da Lat Flower Festival 2026?
From 19 to 31 December 2026, around Xuan Huong Lake and the city center.
Is Christmas celebrated in Vietnam?
Yes, in the cities, though it isn’t an official holiday. Cathedrals and shopping malls are decorated, and on Christmas Eve the Old Quarter in Hanoi and Nguyen Hue walking street in Ho Chi Minh City fill with couples and families out on motorbikes.
Read more
- Vietnam in November
- Vietnam in January
- Ideas for Christmas in Vietnam
- Traveling Vietnam during Tet
- Weather in Vietnam by month
Tours & activities in Vietnam
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