Skip to content When it rains in the south
In Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and the south coast, the wet season starts around late May and finishes in November. Saigon gets about 1,950 mm of rain a year, with more than 200 mm a month from May to October (Climates to Travel, checked October 2026), and September is the wettest month. The dry season runs from December to April.
Temperatures stay warm: a typical day in the wet season is 29 to 33°C with high humidity. For a month-by-month view, see the best time to visit Vietnam.
What the rain is like
It doesn’t rain all day. The usual pattern is a clear, hot morning, clouds building in the afternoon and a downpour that lasts an hour or two. The street clears again by early evening. Occasionally there are days of steady rain when a storm passes.
When it falls, it falls hard. Roads can flood for a few hours, especially in low parts of Ho Chi Minh City at high tide, and motorbikes pull over under flyovers. This is the time when the traffic slows to a crawl, so allow extra time for the airport. The Saigon traffic guide covers the hours.
Is it a good time to visit?
For the south it can be. Prices for hotels are lower, the countryside is green, the Mekong waterways are full and waterfalls in the highlands run strongly. Plan sightseeing for the morning and have an indoor plan for the afternoon. The Cu Chi tunnels and the museums in the city are fine in a shower.
The downsides are the sea (rougher, with less visibility for diving and snorkelling, and some ferries cancelled), and the mud on forest trails such as Cat Tien National Park. If you are going to the beach, Mui Ne is drier than the rest of the south.
Rainy season by region
| Region | Wet months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saigon and the Mekong Delta | May to November | Afternoon showers; September wettest; delta high water September to November |
| Mui Ne and Phan Thiet | May to October, mild | About 1,070 mm a year; February and March nearly dry |
| Da Lat and the highlands | May to October | Cool and misty, September the wettest |
| Nha Trang and the south-central coast | September to December | Peak in November; storms from September to about 10 December |
| Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue | September to December | Peak in October and November; typhoon and flood risk |
| Hanoi and the north | May to September | Hot and humid, heaviest July and August |
| Phu Quoc | May to October | Rough seas July to September |
For the highland passes in the wet months, see when the rain falls in Da Lat.
Typhoons and storms
Typhoons mostly hit the north and the centre. The south sees the tail of a storm or a tropical depression now and then, mainly between October and December, but direct hits are much rarer. If a storm is forecast, flights and ferries are the first things to change. Check the airline and the ferry operator the day before, and leave a margin before an international flight. Con Dao ferries stop in rough seas.
Tips for travelling in the rain
- Carry a light waterproof or a poncho. Street sellers and convenience stores stock cheap ponchos.
- Start early. Mornings are the driest part of the day.
- Waterproof your electronics and your bag, and pack quick-drying clothes.
- Leave extra time on the road. A trip that takes three hours in the dry can take four in a storm, and a driver who is calm and unhurried matters more than a fast one. A booked airport transfer tracks your flight and has a fixed price, which helps when rain makes timing uncertain.
- Keep an eye on the tide in low-lying areas.
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