Vietnam in December: Weather by Region, Where to Go, and Where to Spend Christmas and New Year

1. Where to go in Vietnam in December

If you want warm sea and sunshine over the Christmas holidays, head south. December is when the rains finish in southern Vietnam, and Phu Quoc is the easiest beach choice of the month.

The north is dry too, but it gets chilly. Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh are lovely for city walks, cruises and scenery, and you will want a jacket in the evening. The central coast is the main part of the country still getting regular showers.

A quick guide by region

South coast and islands. Phu Quoc, Mui Ne and Con Dao, along with Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, move into the dry season. For a beach holiday, this is where to go, and Phu Quoc is the most reliable choice.

Da Lat and Mang Den. Up in the highlands the rain almost stops. Days are fresh and nights are cold. In even-numbered years December brings the Da Lat Flower Festival, and in some years the first cherry blossoms open at the end of the month.

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Cat Ba. Little rain, cooler air and more grey days as the month goes on. This is good weather for sightseeing and cruising, and too cold for swimming.

Sapa and Ha Giang. Properly cold, with frost or ice possible up high. Go if you enjoy cold mountain weather, and pack for it.

Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Phong Nha and Nha Trang. Much less rain than in November, although showers are still common, and on some days the wind stops boats to the islands. The end of the month is usually better than the start.

Rooms on Phu Quoc for the week between Christmas and New Year fill up early. If your dates are fixed, book the hotel as soon as your flights are confirmed.

2. Why the weather is so different from north to south

A traveller who starts in Hanoi and finishes on Phu Quoc in December needs two sets of clothes. Vietnam is a long country, and in December the north, the centre and the south each get their own kind of weather.

Cold air from the north

In December, cold and dry air often blows down from mainland China. Forecasters call it the northeast monsoon. In everyday terms, it is the time of year when cold wind comes down from the north.

In northern Vietnam this wind brings clear, dry and chilly weather. The drizzly, overcast spell that Hanoi is known for comes later, from January to March.

Rain on the central coast, dry season in the south

The same wind crosses the sea and turns into rain when it meets the mountains along the central coast. That is why the rainy season there runs from late autumn into early winter, and why it is winding down in December.

The south and the islands get their rain in summer. By December the wet months are over and the dry season begins.

For a forecast close to your travel dates, check Vietnam’s national weather forecast centre a few days before you set off.

3. December weather by destination

The table covers 18 popular destinations, with typical daytime highs and night-time lows for December and a word on rain. Use it to decide which clothes to pack as much as where to go.

Temperatures are average December highs and lows from Vietnam’s national building climate standard, QCVN 02. Mang Den has no figures in the standard, so the table just says cool and cold.

Good in December

Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba, Da Lat, Mang Den, Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc all have dry weather in December. Pick the north for cool sightseeing and the south for warm sea.

Fine if you plan around the weather

Sapa and Ha Giang are good if you come dressed for real cold. Con Dao is lovely if you fly in and don’t need the sea for diving.

Da Nang and Hoi An work well for sightseeing with a rain plan. Phong Nha and Nha Trang are fine if you accept that some caves or boat trips may not run.

Better another month

Of the central cities, Hue stays rainy the longest. You can still visit in December, and you’ll enjoy it more between February and April.

4. Hanoi in December: Christmas, the last daisies and New Year

You’ll want a light jacket in Hanoi in December, especially in the morning and after dark. Days are dry and comfortable for walking, with some clear blue days and more grey ones as the month goes on.

The city is heading into its coldest stretch, which peaks in January. The damp drizzle Hanoi gets from January to March usually hasn’t started yet, so December is a good month to explore on foot. Our Hanoi travel guide and northern Vietnam guide cover the basics.

The last of the white daisies

Hanoi’s small white daisies, called cúc họa mi, flower in November and December. Early December is the tail end, and by the middle of the month most have finished, apart from a few photo gardens (VnExpress on daisy season).

The flower sellers who ride through the Old Quarter with bicycles loaded with daisies are mostly a late November and early December sight. If you arrive after mid-December, don’t plan a day around them.

Christmas at St Joseph’s Cathedral

From early December, St Joseph’s Cathedral📍Map (Nhà thờ Lớn) puts up a big Christmas tree and a nativity scene. On the night of 24 December the streets in front of it, Nha Chung and Ly Quoc Su, are packed with people and closed to cars (Tuoi Tre report on Christmas Eve in central Hanoi).

A few days before Christmas, the evenings on Hang Ma Street📍Map in the Old Quarter get very busy. This is the street that sells decorations, and people come to take photos among the stalls.

New Year’s Eve at Hoan Kiem Lake

In recent years Hanoi has held its countdown on the walking streets around Hoan Kiem Lake📍Map and at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, with fireworks around midnight from several spots around the lake. The city sets the plan again each year, so check local news in late December.

Wild sunflowers at Ba Vi

Wild sunflowers bloom at Ba Vi National Park📍Map from late October to early December, according to the park’s visitor guide. Go in the first days of December or skip it, as the flowers are gone by mid-month.

For Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, stay in the Old Quarter or near the lake so you can walk back after the crowds. See where to stay in Hanoi for the areas.

5. Ninh Binh and Phat Diem Cathedral

The rowing boats at Trang An📍Map run through December as usual. They only stop around Tet, the Lunar New Year. The cool air makes it a comfortable time for a boat ride in and out of the caves.

Ninh Binh works well as a day trip from Hanoi. Our Ninh Binh day trip guide covers how to get there and back.

What the rice fields look like

The fields at Tam Coc are bare in December. Farmers here grow one rice crop a year, and it turns gold around late May and early June.

Photos of golden rice below the limestone peaks are taken in early summer. In December you’ll see the cliffs and the river without the rice, which is still a lovely boat ride.

Christmas at Phat Diem Cathedral

Phat Diem Cathedral📍Map is an old church built of stone and wood, a little over 2 hours’ drive south of Hanoi. From early December it’s decorated with lights, lanterns, a large tree and a nativity scene.

On Christmas Eve a stage goes up for performances and thousands of people come (Tien Phong on Phat Diem before Christmas). You can see the decorations on a day trip from Hanoi, and for the evening programme it’s easier to stay the night in Ninh Binh.

If you want Christmas Eve at Phat Diem, book your Ninh Binh room early and arrange your ride back before you go, since roads near big churches jam that night.

6. Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba

Ha Long Bay cruises sail through December. There is no seasonal break, and boats only stay in port on days when the authorities issue a weather warning.

Wrap up for the deck. The wind off the water is cold, and the sea is too chilly for most people to swim. Kayaking depends on the boat company and runs on fine days.

What the bay looks like in December

Expect a mix of clear days and grey ones, with more grey as the month goes on. The misty, drizzly look you see in many winter photos is more common from January to March.

Many cruises board at Ha Long International Cruise Port📍Map or Tuan Chau, so check your booking for the boarding point.

Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay📍Map, next to Cat Ba town📍Map, has the same December weather as Ha Long, and so does nearby Hai Phong. If you’d like to stay on an island for a night or two, read our Cat Ba Island guide.

Booking for the holidays

December is one of the quieter months on the bay, so it’s easier to get the boat you want. The exception is Christmas to New Year, when the good cabins fill first. Our guide to choosing a Ha Long Bay cruise helps you compare.

7. Sapa and Fansipan in December

Sapa is cold in December. Daytime in town feels like early winter, and nights are cold, though usually above freezing. Fog and light drizzle are common, so the cold feels damp.

Check that your room has proper heating before you book. Our Hanoi to Sapa transport guide compares the ways up, and the Sapa travel guide covers the rest.

Frost on Fansipan, and the rare snow

The first frost on the summit of Fansipan📍Map usually appears in November, and it’s frequent through December. Snow is rare. A light dusting has fallen on the summit in some winters, in December or January, and snow in Sapa town📍Map is very unusual.

Go for the frost and the crisp mountain air, and count any snow as luck.

Check the cable car before you go

The Fansipan cable car closes every year for scheduled maintenance, and the dates change. Twice in recent years the maintenance closure ran into December, once until the middle of the month. Check the Sun World maintenance notice before you plan your summit day.

Christmas and the weekend market

The stone church in the middle of Sapa town is decorated for Christmas, and the area around it is busy on the night of 24 December. In some years a winter festival with artificial snow runs from late December into New Year, though its name and format change.

The Bac Ha market runs on Sundays. The horse races there take place every Saturday afternoon, so a weekend trip can cover both.

8. Ha Giang in December

Pack gloves and a windproof jacket for Ha Giang. It is a cold highland in December, the Dong Van📍Map plateau is much colder than Ha Giang town, and on the back of a motorbike it feels colder still.

For administrative purposes the area is now part of Tuyen Quang province, though travellers still call it Ha Giang.

A quiet gap between the flowers

Buckwheat flowers are at the tail end in early December, and the timing changes from year to year. Don’t count on seeing them in full bloom.

The yellow mustard flowers (cải vàng) are sown in December and bloom from late January into February. Plum and peach blossoms come after Tet. December falls in between, so there are fewer visitors and the roads are quieter.

Riding the loop

The province has tightened the rules on motorbike trips around the loop. Only licensed travel companies may run the tours, with easy rider drivers working under contract, and riding after drinking or while exhausted is banned (VnExpress on the new rules).

Up at the Lung Cu flag tower📍Map, mornings are cold, so put your warm layers on before you set out. Our Ha Giang Loop guide covers routes and booking.

9. Da Lat and Mang Den: flowers and cold nights

Da Lat is dry and bright in December, the start of its sunniest months. Days are fresh and good for walking, and nights and early mornings are cold, so bring a proper jacket for the walk around Xuan Huong Lake📍Map.

Read our Da Lat travel guide for the main sights.

The Da Lat Flower Festival

The Da Lat Flower Festival is held every two years, in December of even-numbered years. Dates change each time, the main events are around Lam Vien Square📍Map, and the closing often falls around New Year (Da Lat city information page).

In odd-numbered years there is no festival, though Lam Vien Square has still held a New Year’s Eve countdown with fireworks.

Pink grass, sunflowers and early cherry blossom

Pink grass (cỏ hồng) turns the hills pink from early November to late December and is at its best in late November. The easiest place to see it is Golden Valley (Thung Lũng Vàng), close to town. Ta Nang is further out (VnExpress guide to pink grass season).

Wild sunflowers (dã quỳ) are finishing in early December. Cherry blossom (mai anh đào) normally opens in late January or early February, and in early years the first flowers appear in late December around Cau Dat.

Christmas and year-end crowds

The cathedral known as the Chicken Church and the Domaine de Marie church are decorated for Christmas. The cool weather makes Da Lat a favourite year-end trip for Vietnamese travellers, so rooms for the last week of December go early. See where to stay in Da Lat.

Mang Den

Mang Den is a highland town that used to be in Kon Tum province and is now part of Quang Ngai. December is dry here, and at over 1,000 metres the nights are cold, so mornings by Dak Ke Lake📍Map are chilly.

October to December is Mang Den’s busiest season with Vietnamese visitors. The cherry blossom usually comes in January, around the end of the lunar year, and can start as early as late December.

10. Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue in December

Bring a rain jacket to the central coast. December gets much less rain than November here, although showers are still common and the sea is often rough.

Da Nang

Da Nang’s rainy season runs from August to December, and its dry season from January to July. The city is cool in December, so a light jacket helps in the evening.

From late December to late March the weather is cool and pleasant, according to VnExpress’s Da Nang travel guide. Waves at My Khe Beach📍Map are high on many days, so plan on sightseeing more than swimming.

In some years heavy rain has flooded city streets in early or mid-December, and the central coast has had December heavy-rain warnings in recent years. Leave room in your plans early in the month, since the last part of December is usually better.

For more detail, read Da Nang in December, the rainy season in Da Nang and Hoi An and the best time to visit Da Nang. Our Da Nang travel guide covers the rest, and Da Nang in November explains the wetter month before.

Hoi An

Floods in Hoi An’s old town mostly happen in October and November. In a year when the heavy rain comes late, the riverside can still flood in early December. Our Hoi An flood guide explains what to do.

The old town holds its full moon night on the 14th day of every lunar month, December included. The electric lights go off, lanterns are lit, and people float lanterns on the Thu Bon River (Hoi An heritage centre).

The date on the Western calendar changes each year, so check it against your trip. More in Hoi An lantern festival.

That evening, walk from the Japanese Covered Bridge📍Map down to the river. See our Hoi An travel guide for the rest of the old town.

Hue

Hue is still in its rainy season in December. The city has no clear dry season, only months with less rain, and the best time to visit is early in the year, from February to April.

It’s cool and damp. The Imperial City📍Map and the royal tombs stay open in the rain, but you walk a lot, so a raincoat and shoes that cope with water matter most (VnExpress Hue travel guide).

See our Hue travel guide and where to stay in Hue. For the wider region, the central Vietnam guide has more.

Christmas and New Year in Da Nang

In recent years Da Nang has run a year-end festival along Bach Dang Street by the river, with lights, Christmas trees, a Santa parade, and a New Year’s Eve countdown with fireworks and a drone show. Dates and programme change each year, so check the Da Nang tourism board’s event page.

If Da Nang or Hoi An is on your route, put it in the second half of December and keep one free day for rain.

11. Central islands and caves: Cu Lao Cham, Ly Son and Phong Nha

The day boats to Cu Lao Cham mostly don’t run in December, and boats to Ly Son are often cancelled. The caves of Phong Nha, further north, are an easier plan this month.

Cu Lao Cham

Cu Lao Cham📍Map is best from March to August. In the other months the sea is rough and most tourist boats stop, so a December trip is hard to pull off. Our Cu Lao Cham guide has the details.

Ly Son

Ly Son Island📍Map has rain and rough seas from September to December. Boats get cancelled, and visitors can be stuck on the island for a few days.

From late December to April, green moss covers the rocks along the shore, and it’s one of the island’s sights. If you want to see it, go after late December and watch the forecast.

Don’t book a non-refundable flight for the day after a Cu Lao Cham or Ly Son trip in December. If the boats stop, you may not get back to the mainland in time.

Phong Nha caves

Rain eases a lot in Phong Nha in December, and it gets cool, with some cold days. Phong Nha Cave📍Map, which you enter by boat, and Thien Duong Cave are usually open. See our Phong Nha caves guide.

The adventure caves follow their own seasons. With Oxalis, the licensed operator, Son Doong runs only from January to August, so there are no Son Doong trips in December. Hang En reopens from December, Tu Lan from mid-November, and Hang Va from 1 January (Oxalis tour details).

The water inside the caves is cold in winter, and some swimming sections are swapped for boat crossings.

12. Nha Trang in December

Nha Trang gets much less rain in December than in November, although the first part of the month can still be wet. For most visitors the wind is the bigger issue.

Island boats and the cable car

On days with high waves, the port authority stops tourist boats from leaving, and island tours are cancelled. The Hon Tre cable car also stops in strong wind. More in our Nha Trang in December guide.

Book Nha Trang island trips after you arrive, a day or two ahead, once you’ve seen the forecast.

On a windy day, try the mud baths, or the churches and markets in town. VinWonders is on Hon Tre island, so it needs the boat when the cable car stops.

If a calm beach is the main point of your trip, Phu Quoc is the safer choice. Our Da Nang vs Nha Trang comparison helps if you’re choosing between the two.

Floods and crowds

In recent years the big floods in Khanh Hoa province have come in November, and tourism got back to normal quickly afterwards, with hotels lighting their Christmas trees in early December. Our Nha Trang rainy season guide explains the wetter months.

December isn’t a busy month for Vietnamese travellers here, according to VnExpress, which makes it a relaxed time for a break. Winter visitors from Russia and Kazakhstan are plentiful, many of them on charter flights into Cam Ranh. See getting from Cam Ranh airport to the city.

Christmas and New Year in Nha Trang

Nha Trang Cathedral📍Map, the stone church in town, fills up on Christmas Eve. In recent years the New Year’s Eve countdown and fireworks have been at April 2 Square (Quảng trường 2/4) on Tran Phu beach road📍Map, and traffic on Tran Phu jams that night.

For hotels, see where to stay in Nha Trang. The Nha Trang travel guide covers the sights, and Nha Trang in January is worth reading if your trip runs into the new year.

13. Mui Ne and Phan Thiet: sun, wind and kites

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are dry and sunny in December, with hardly any rain. The wind is strong, though, so think about what kind of beach trip you want.

Kitesurfing season

Kitesurfing is at its best from mid-December to late March, sometimes into early April. Many kitesurfers from Russia, Germany and elsewhere spend the winter here (VietnamPlus on kite season). You can watch them from the kite beach📍Map.

For calm, quiet swimming this is the wrong season. The sea at Mui Ne is calmest in summer.

Check the beach before you book

The beach along Ham Tien has been badly eroded. Many resorts have built sandbag, concrete or stone walls, and there are long stretches where you can’t walk along the sand. Some seawalls have collapsed in storms. Before you book, check that there is still sand in front of the hotel (VnExpress report).

Keep this in mind as you read our guide to Mui Ne hotels.

The sand dunes

The red sand dunes📍Map and the white dunes at Bau Trang are good in December, with many clear days. The wind throws sand around, so bring sunglasses and a thin long-sleeved top.

Our Mui Ne and Phan Thiet guide covers the dunes, the beaches and how to get there.

14. Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta

December is the start of the dry season in Ho Chi Minh City, which lasts until April. Mornings and evenings are about as cool as they get all year, so early walks are pleasant.

Notre-Dame Cathedral and Christmas Eve

Notre-Dame Cathedral📍Map has been under restoration for a long time, and the inside may be closed. Check before you go and plan to see it from outside. Around Christmas it stays lit until late at night (Thanh Nien report).

On Christmas Eve the streets around Tan Dinh Church, the pink church, around Notre-Dame, and the Catholic neighbourhoods of Go Vap fill up so much that traffic police step in.

New Year’s Eve on Nguyen Hue

In recent years the countdown has been held on Nguyen Hue walking street📍Map, with crowds spreading to Le Loi and the Opera House. At midnight there were about 15 minutes of fireworks from several points across the city (Tuoi Tre report).

By day, Ben Thanh Market📍Map in the same central district is good for shopping and street food. Check which airport is printed on your ticket for Ho Chi Minh City, and read our Long Thanh airport guide.

See the Ho Chi Minh City guide, where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City and the southern Vietnam guide.

The Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is at the start of the dry season. Floodwater has drained away and the roads are dry. The floating market at Cai Rang📍Map near Can Tho runs as normal.

Sa Dec is a flower village that grows plants for Tet, and its gardens fill up with flowers towards the end of the year. In some years there’s a flower festival (Festival Hoa kiểng Sa Đéc) over New Year. It isn’t held every December.

15. Phu Quoc in December

Phu Quoc is heading into the middle of its dry season in December. Rain is light and the sea is calm, especially along the west coast around Duong Dong📍Map, Bai Truong and Sunset Town, which stays calm from November to April.

The east coast beaches, such as Bai Sao📍Map and Bai Khem, can get waves on windy days. It depends on the day.

Vietnamese authorities issue jellyfish warnings for April to August. Local dive operators say jellyfish also turn up from late November to mid-December, so a rash vest is a good idea for snorkelling.

Island hopping in the south

Boat trips around the An Thoi islands in the south and the cable car run reliably at this time of year. See our Phu Quoc island hopping guide for routes.

Sunset Town and the Kiss of the Sea show

The Kiss of the Sea show at Sunset Town📍Map starts at 9pm every day except Tuesday, followed by fireworks. The schedule can change, so check the Sun World show page.

In recent years New Year’s Eve countdowns have been held at Grand World, Sunset Town and beach bars around the island.

Book early for the holidays

At year end, visitors from Korea, China, Taiwan, Russia, Europe and Australia all arrive at once. Flights and rooms around 1 January cost more, so book your hotel early with help from our Phu Quoc hotel guide.

For planning, read the best time to visit Phu Quoc, things to do on Phu Quoc and Phu Quoc airport. Our Phu Quoc travel guide and Da Nang vs Phu Quoc cover the rest.

16. Con Dao in December

Con Dao is warm in December, with little rain. The dry season runs from October to April, although the wind is strong and waves are high, so it’s a quieter time for sea activities (Con Dao tourism portal).

Diving is best from March to September, and turtles nest from April to October, so neither is in season in December.

Getting there by air

The fast boat from Vung Tau to Con Dao has stopped every recent winter, so don’t plan on it. Boats from Tran De port📍Map (now part of Can Tho city) do run, but in winter rough seas can delay or cancel them. In December, flying from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi is the reliable way in (VietnamPlus notice).

Once you land, the weather in Con Dao town📍Map is warm and mostly dry. A December trip suits a slow, quiet stay on land more than a diving holiday.

Read our Con Dao travel guide and where to stay on Con Dao before you book.

17. Where to spend Christmas and New Year in Vietnam

Christmas Day is not a public holiday in Vietnam. The public holiday is 1 January, under Article 112 of the Labour Code, and in some years the government swaps working days to make a longer break around it, often announcing it late.

Christmas Eve is still a big night out. The streets around the large churches are packed on the night of 24 December, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City especially.

For a Christmas Eve church atmosphere

Hanoi. St Joseph’s Cathedral, with its tree, nativity scene and packed streets around it.

Ninh Binh. Phat Diem Cathedral, built of stone and wood, with a large nativity scene and an evening stage show.

Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Dinh pink church, and the lights outside Notre-Dame, which you see from the street.

Da Lat, Nha Trang and Sapa. The Chicken Church in Da Lat, Nha Trang’s stone cathedral and the stone church in Sapa town.

If you’d like to attend a Christmas service, ask the church or your hotel for times, and expect big crowds outside.

For the New Year’s Eve countdown

In recent years countdowns have been held at Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, on Nguyen Hue in Ho Chi Minh City, along Bach Dang by the river in Da Nang, at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, at Lam Vien Square in Da Lat, and at Sunset Town and Grand World on Phu Quoc. The cities and provinces set the programme and firework spots again each year.

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, streets around the churches and squares are closed or jammed, and Grab cars are hard to get. Stay within walking distance, or head back early.

18. December calendar: flowers, festivals and events

Use this table to line up flowers and events with your dates. Flower timing shifts from year to year, so treat it as a guide.

Holidays to keep in mind

Tet, the Lunar New Year, doesn’t fall in December. It usually comes in late January or February, so December is before the Tet rush.

Hoi An’s full moon night moves with the lunar calendar. Look up the date for your year before you build a day around it.

For the Da Lat Flower Festival, check the official city page for dates in even-numbered years. In other years, plan for the New Year’s Eve countdown at Lam Vien Square instead.

19. Crowds, prices and the Christmas gala dinner

The first half of December is fairly quiet across Vietnam. From Christmas to early January it gets busiest and most expensive, and domestic flights around 1 January jump in price on routes such as Hanoi to Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc, Da Nang and Nha Trang get the biggest crowds. Winter charter flights from Russia and Central Asia land at Cam Ranh (for Nha Trang) and Phu Quoc from late September into spring, so late December brings many Russian visitors to both.

The compulsory gala dinner

Many beach resorts add a compulsory gala dinner on the nights of 24 and 31 December, charged on top of the room rate. It is usually charged per adult with a discount for children, and often paid at check-in. Not every resort does this, and some sell it as an option. Read the compulsory gala dinner terms before you book.

The charge is easy to miss on booking sites. Look in the hotel policies, or message the hotel and ask before you pay.

When to book

For the week from Christmas to New Year, book rooms and domestic flights as early as you can, especially for Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Da Lat.

If your dates are flexible and you’re heading to the north or the south, travel in the first half of December, when prices are lower and boats and hotels are easier to book. On the central coast (Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang) the second half of the month is better.

20. Visas, what to pack and staying connected

Entry rules depend on your passport, so check yours before you book anything that can’t be refunded.

Visas

If your passport is on Vietnam’s 45-day visa-free list, you can stay up to 45 days from the day you arrive. The list includes the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

The list has grown in recent years, and some countries were added under a tourism scheme with an end date, so check the current list before you book (Resolution 44/NQ-CP and Resolution 229/NQ-CP).

Otherwise, check the other exemptions (ASEAN passports have their own) or apply for an e-visa, which is open to all nationalities and valid for up to 90 days, through the official e-visa portal.

Phu Quoc has a separate rule. Travellers of any nationality who enter Vietnam through Phu Quoc and stay on the island can visit for up to 30 days without a visa.

Our Vietnam entry requirements and Vietnam e-visa guide explain the steps.

What to wear in each region

If you’re covering the north and the south in one trip, pack for two seasons. Travellers flying in from a northern winter arrive in heavy coats they won’t need in the south, so plan for luggage storage or bring a thin, packable down jacket instead.

If you’re coming from an Australian summer, the north will feel cold, especially Sapa and Ha Giang, so bring at least one warm layer.

Staying connected

A local eSIM makes it easier to book Grab rides and check boat cancellations and the weather on the move. See our Vietnam eSIM guide.

21. Sample December routes

Start with the part of the trip that matters most to you, whether that’s warm sea, cool cities or both, and build the route around it.

One week of warm sea

1. Days 1 to 5 Phu Quoc, or Mui Ne if you want to try kitesurfing. Beach days on the west coast, one island-hopping trip, and the Sunset Town show one evening.
2. Days 6 and 7 Ho Chi Minh City. If your dates include Christmas or New Year’s Eve, walk past the lights at Notre-Dame and Tan Dinh, and spend New Year’s Eve on Nguyen Hue.

This is the easiest December plan. Everything on it is in the dry south, so the weather is unlikely to change your days.

North and south in ten days to two weeks

1. Days 1 to 3 Hanoi. The cathedral, the Old Quarter and Hang Ma Street, plus a day trip to Ba Vi if you arrive in the first days of December.
2. Days 4 and 5 An overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay.
3. Days 6 and 7 Ninh Binh. Trang An by boat, and Phat Diem Cathedral, with a night in town if it’s Christmas Eve.
4. Days 8 onward Fly to Phu Quoc for the rest of the trip.

This route skips the central coast, where the weather is least reliable in December. Pack a jacket for the north and swimwear for Phu Quoc.

Highlands and the coast

Fly into Ho Chi Minh City, go up to Da Lat (with an evening at Lam Vien Square in a festival year), come down to Mui Ne for sun and dunes, and finish back in Ho Chi Minh City with a day in the Mekong Delta.

If you want the central coast on your trip, place it late in the month, plan indoor options for rainy days and keep one spare day in Da Nang or Hoi An.

22. December compared with November and January

If your dates are flexible, it helps to know how November and January compare, especially in the north and on the central coast.

In many years Tet falls in late January or February, and travel gets busy around it. Read Vietnam in November for the month before.

For single cities, see Da Nang in December, Nha Trang in December and Nha Trang in January.

Who December suits

December is a great month for a beach holiday on Phu Quoc, for a Christmas trip that mixes Hanoi’s cathedral with the southern sun, and for anyone who enjoys cool, dry sightseeing in the north.

It’s less suited to a beach holiday on the central coast, a dive trip to Con Dao or a Son Doong expedition. For those, look at spring and summer, and start from our Vietnam travel guide.

Vietnam in December: your questions

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