Weather in Ho Chi Minh City: Best time to visit?

Ho Chi Minh City (former was Saigon) has typical tropical weather with 2 seasons in a year: dry season and wet season. It is warm all year around with long sun light time. Ho Chi Minh City is great destination for visitors from North America or Scandinavian countries for holidays during the New Year and Christmas.
Vietnam Travel provides a source of weather in Ho Chi Minh City to help you plan a better holiday to this biggest city in Vietnam.

Weather in Ho Chi Minh City by Season

Saigon has a tropical monsoon climate, but unlike Hanoi in the North, it has just 2 seasons: dry season and rainy season. The weather is relatively humid and warm all year round.

Dry Season (December – April)

Dry season in Saigon lasts from December to April, and February is the driest month. The weather is always hot and quite dry during this time. The hottest month is April when the temperature can reach up to 40°C at noon. December is the most pleasant month of the year as the temperature fluctuates from 21°C to 30°C, even drop to 16-18°C in some few days. Dry season is also considered as the best period to visit Saigon.

Rainy Season (May – November)

The rainy season lasts for 7 months from May to November. The temperature is around 26-32°C. The weather is characterized with high rainfall and humidity due to tropical storms. The showers sometimes suddenly come and go in very short time, often in the afternoon.  It is still hot and sunny in the other time of the day. The heaviest rains often occur between mid-August and mid-September, so it is best to avoid this period if you are not a fan of rain.

Ho Chi Minh City Weather by Month

January
January is the wonderful time for tourists to visit Ho Chi Minh City. Much different from wet and cold weather in Hanoi, you will enjoy mild weather with full of warm sunshine. There are only a few light rains during the whole month. Traditional Vietnamese Tet holiday often falls at the end of this month and the beginning of February, so tourists will have chance to experience the tropical spring and joy in lively atmosphere in Saigon. Remember that the airfare and accommodation rate is much higher and can be fully booked during this greatest holiday, so it is better to book ticket and room 2-3 months in advance.
Average low temperature: 21°C
Average high temperature: 31°C
Rainy days: 2
Precipitation: 10mm.

February
February is the driest month of the year in Saigon with precipitation of 6mm. Tourists are advised to use moisturizing cream, drink more water and bring along a water bottle on the trip, especially in walking city tour. The beginning of February is still in festive time of Tet holiday. If you had experienced Vietnamese Lunar New Year in Hanoi, you will see much difference in Tet’s atmosphere of Saigon, full of yellow apricot flowers under sunshine.
However, many shops, stores, restaurants… are closed during Tet holiday and many locals come back their hometown so the city is not as crowded as normal days. You can see another vibe of Saigon at this time.
Average low temperature: 21°C
Average high temperature: 32°C
Rainy days: 1
Precipitation: 6mm.

Cycling on old Ho Chi Minh trails

March
The weather in March is quite similar to that in February, warm, dry and very little rain. March is also the favorite time for many travelers visiting Saigon. The average temperature is around 28°C, which is ideal for a sightseeing trip to some famous attractions like Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Post Office, Independence Palace…
Average low temperature: 23°C
Average high temperature: 33°C
Rainy days: 2
Precipitation: 11mm.

April
April is the hottest month in Saigon. The temperature significantly increases and sometimes reaches up to 40°C. It is hotter and more humid than that of previous months. At the end of April (30^th April) and the beginning of May (1^st May) are 2 Vietnamese public holidays. Local people often take a short vacation to nearby beach, Mui Ne, or come to highland, Dalat to enjoy fresh and cool air.
Average low temperature: 24°C
Average high temperature: 35°C
Rainy days: 5
Precipitation: 49mm.

Saigon Central Post Office

May
May is officially the first month of rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City. The rainfall amount rises remarkably and somehow cool down the temperature. The showers pour occasionally so remember to bring a light umbrella or raincoat along with you to avoid getting wet. May might not be the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City, but it is proper time for anyone who wants to taste the flavor of the hot-humid climate in the tropics.
Average low temperature: 24°C
Average high temperature: 33°C
Rainy days: 18
Precipitation: 215mm.

June
The weather in June is typical for rainy season, with high humidity at 83% and a large amount of rainfall with average precipitation at 294mm. Frequent rains and daily tide may cause some streets in the city flooded; therefore, umbrella, raincoat and rain boots are best friends these days, for sure. However, there are still some sunny, which offers tourists chance to explore the city. In addition, this month is fruit harvest season, so if you visit Saigon during this time, let’s try some famous tropical fruits such as durian, avocado, mango, rambutan, mangosteen…
Average low temperature: 23°C
Average high temperature: 31°C
Rainy days: 22
Precipitation: 294mm.

July
Like June, the weather in July is quite humid, hot and rainy. However, the pouring rains that never last for all day give tourists chance to go out for sightseeing though might dampen your time there once in a while.
Average low temperature: 23°C
Average high temperature: 31°C
Rainy days: 23
Precipitation: 281mm.

August
It remains hot, humid and rainy during 4 months: June, July, August and September. The temperature is stable at high level (23 – 31°C) with high humidity, making the weather become hotter and atmosphere become fairly oppressive, especially in the daytime. Umbrella and raincoat are still good companions of tourists this month.
Average low temperature: 23°C
Average high temperature: 31°C
Rainy days: 22
Precipitation: 271mm.

September
September marks an end to the high domestic tourist season which starts from June when students have summer vacation. While Hanoi is experiencing the mild autumn weather with warm sunshine and gentle wind, Saigon is still hot and rainy. If visit Saigon during this month, you will have chance to enjoy festive atmosphere of National Independence Day (2^nd September), when national flags are hung out every corners of streets, and joyful Mid-Autumn Festival with a lot of lanterns.
Average low temperature: 23°C
Average high temperature: 31°C
Rainy days: 23
Precipitation: 309mm.

October
The weather in October remains the same as that of previous months, still hot and rainy. This month seems to be a better time to visit Ho Chi Minh City than the other summer months, though it is not the best yet.
Average low temperature: 23°C
Average high temperature: 31°C
Rainy days: 21
Precipitation: 265mm.

November
Ending the rainy season, the rainfall amount of November decreases significantly to about half of that in previous months. The temperature is still high, about 22 – 30°C but low humidity makes the weather more pleasant and cooler, especially at night. This is a great time to enjoy a cruise dinner along Saigon River and admire the sparkling city at night.
Average low temperature: 22°C
Average high temperature: 30°C
Rainy days: 12
Precipitation: 105mm.

December
The coolest month of the year in Saigon is December. It stills expects warm in daytime but the temperature sometimes drops under 20°C at night. December is the first month of dry season as well as the perfect time to visit Ho Chi Minh City. In contrast with the coldness of winter in North Vietnam, it is very pleasant with sunshine here, perfect for waking around the city.
Average low temperature: 21°C
Average high temperature: 30°C
Rainy days: 7
Precipitation: 34mm.

Best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City

Most tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City in the dry season when the weather is almost dry, pleasant and warm, and rain will not have chance to interrupt your trip. It allows you to enjoy a full day of sightseeing and explore this largest metropolis of Vietnam without worrying about getting wet. This time is also the high tourism season in Saigon particularly and Vietnam generally. You should plan your trip and book related services such as flight ticket, hotel, transfer… in advance. However, you can absolutely come here in the rainy season. Most of the rains are quick showers, don’t last the whole day and you still have chance to explore the city in sunshine when rain stops.

Best time to visit Saigon

Each time of the year will offer the different experience and perspective of the city. Hope that you can choose the best suitable time to come here and explore this energetic and dynamic city – Saigon!