Vietnam in December: Weather by Region, Where to Go and Holiday Crowds

On the same late-December day, you might want a down jacket for an early walk in Sa Pa, sit out a wet afternoon in Hoi An and still find sunshine on Phu Quoc. Vietnam has no single December weather.

Vietnam weather in December, region by region #

These averages are calculated from Open-Meteo model data for 2015-2024: the average daily low and high, total rainfall for the month and the number of days with at least 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain.

In this dataset, December is the driest month of the year in Hanoi. Up in Sa Pa and Dong Van, the average overnight low is only 8-9°C (the mid-40s °F). From Da Lat south, rain is light.

In central Vietnam, weather station averages published in Vietnam's national building standard QCVN 02:2022/BXD show December getting about half of November's rain, which is still a lot: around 350 mm (14 in) in Hue and 220 mm (8.7 in) in Da Nang (Đà Nẵng). January then drops to less than half of December at both stations. The model figures in the table average grid cells a few tens of kilometers across, run higher than the stations in places, and are not a forecast for your week.

Where to go in Vietnam in December for a beach: Phu Quoc first #

If you want one beach for December, we would pick Phu Quoc. The island is in its dry season and the west coast sees small waves: in marine model data for December 2021-2024, about 94% of days had offshore wave heights under 1 m (3.3 ft), against about 17% in Nha Trang. Swim only in buoyed areas while lifeguards are on duty, and follow the flags.

The catch is finding a room: over the 2026 New Year break, 99% of Phu Quoc hotels on Booking.com were already sold out by December 29 (VnExpress). If you are going between Christmas and early January, book your room in November and choose free cancellation.

Con Dao (Côn Đảo) suits travelers who want quiet, history and forest walks, but its sea is far less calm in December: in the same data, only about 11% of days had offshore waves under 1 m. Last season the Vung Tau (Vũng Tàu) to Con Dao fast ferry was suspended for more than five months (VTV), so in December we would fly and treat any boat trips around the islands as weather-permitting.

If you do not need a beach, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho in the Mekong Delta usually have less rain by December, with afternoons around 30°C (86°F), good for street food and an early boat to a floating market. Da Lat is dry and cool, about 15°C (59°F) at night, and an easy add-on to a southern trip.

Northern Vietnam in December: dry, cool and cold in the mountains #

Sa Pa is much drier in December than in summer, but the rice terraces were harvested back in early autumn. If golden rice is the point, go in September. If you like crisp air, morning mist and a hot bowl of noodle soup at the end of a walk, December is worth it. Choose a room with a heater, and compare the sleeper bus and the night train from Hanoi before you book.

Photo: Eerin25

The Ha Giang (Hà Giang) area, now part of Tuyen Quang (Tuyên Quang) province, still has buckwheat flowers in December: this year about 400 hectares were sown in three batches to stretch the bloom into December. Dong Van has nights below 5°C (41°F). On the Ha Giang Loop, wait for the sun before riding on cold mornings and ride only in daylight. Thick fog, heavy rain or landslide warnings are reasons to delay a leg, whether you drive yourself or ride pillion.

Hanoi is cool and dry, good weather for walking the Old Quarter. It is also the start of smog season: the city's environment department says air pollution episodes usually appear from October, especially in the dry months from November to March (Viet Nam News, October 2026). If you have asthma or another respiratory condition, check the air quality index before long days outdoors and bring a suitable mask.

Central Vietnam in December: still rainy, so stay flexible #

From Hue down to Hoi An, December is still the rainy season. Book rooms, transport and tours you can change, keep a spare day, and save museums, food tours and cooking classes for wet days.

Photo: RG72

Hoi An's Old Town Night in December falls on Tuesday, December 22, 2026 (the 14th day of the 11th lunar month), and the town's first international lantern festival is planned for December 3-6. For either, pack a rain jacket and check Da Nang city flood warnings before you set off.

Farther south, Nha Trang gets less rain in December than in November, but it is the windiest month of the year there and the sea is often rough, so it suits walks and seafood dinners better than daily swims.

Christmas and New Year in Vietnam: busiest on December 24 and January 1 #

Christmas is not a public holiday in Vietnam, but on the evening of December 24 the streets around the big churches fill up like a festival. On Christmas Eve 2025, private vehicles were restricted around St. Joseph's Cathedral (Nhà thờ Lớn) in Hanoi, and churches in Ho Chi Minh City were packed from around 7pm.

Photo: Peter Addor

To attend Mass, arrive early or choose a church outside the center. For the lights, get dropped off a few blocks away and walk in, and keep your bag on the side away from the road: bag snatching tends to rise around Christmas.

New Year's Day falls on Friday, January 1, 2027, giving many people in Vietnam a three-day weekend from January 1-3 (Tuoi Tre, October 2026). If your dates are flexible, we suggest traveling before December 20 or after January 4 to avoid both Christmas Eve and that weekend.

What to pack for Vietnam in December #

• Hanoi: a light jacket and a thin sweater. Sa Pa and Ha Giang: an insulated or down jacket, a warm hat, gloves, thick socks and closed shoes with good grip; wear layers, since days are about 6°C (11°F) warmer than nights.
• Hue and Hoi An: a rain jacket or poncho, quick-drying shoes or sandals, a waterproof pouch for your phone and a light layer for evenings around 20°C (68°F).
• Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta: summer clothes, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent, plus a light layer for night buses, air-conditioned rooms and Da Lat.

On a trip through all three regions, pack layers rather than a bulky coat from day one; you can buy a warm jacket in Hanoi before heading up to the mountains.

Vietnam in December: your questions #