Best time to visit · Ha Long Bay · Vietnam
The best time to visit Ha Long Bay
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AnhTuan Le, Public domain
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Quick answer
The best months for Ha Long Bay are March to May and October to November, when skies are clearer, seas are calm and temperatures are comfortable for kayaking and hiking. Summer is hot and busy with a risk of typhoons that can cancel cruises, while winter is cool and often misty.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–May and October–November
- Shoulder season
- March, June, September and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 32°C (90°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 20°C (68°F))
- Rainiest month
- August (~18 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January
Seasons
Ha Long Bay has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Winters (December–February) are cool, cloudy and often misty; summers are hot and wet, and the typhoon season from about June to October can close the bay to boats for a day or more.
March–May
Spring
Mist gives way to clearer skies, the sea warms and crowds are moderate apart from the holidays around 30 April.
June–August
Summer
Hot, humid and the warmest water for swimming, but the wettest and busiest season, with typhoons that can stop all boats.
September–November
Autumn
Storms fade through September, leaving dry, clear and warm weather in October and November, the best time for views.
December–February
Winter
Cool, often grey and misty, with low prices outside Tết; too cold for swimming but fine for cruising in a jacket.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°C | 14°C | 6 | 20°C | 11 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 20°C | 15°C | 9 | 19°C | 11.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| March | 22°C | 18°C | 12 | 20°C | 12 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 26°C | 21°C | 11 | 23°C | 12.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 30°C | 24°C | 12 | 27°C | 13.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 31°C | 26°C | 15 | 29°C | 13.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 32°C | 26°C | 17 | 30°C | 13.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 31°C | 26°C | 18 | 29°C | 12.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 30°C | 25°C | 13 | 28°C | 12.2 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 28°C | 22°C | 8 | 26°C | 11.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 25°C | 19°C | 5 | 24°C | 11.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 22°C | 15°C | 4 | 21°C | 10.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Tết — Lunar New Year, when many businesses close for several days (late January or February) |
| February | Tết — Lunar New Year (late January or February); Yen Tu Festival — pilgrimage season at the Yen Tu mountain pagodas (usually from the tenth day of the first lunar month) |
| March | Yen Tu Festival — pilgrimage season continues (usually until the third lunar month) |
| April | Ha Long Carnival — street parade and performances held in some years (usually around late April) |
| May | Reunification Day and Labour Day holidays — busy domestic travel (30 April–1 May) |
| September | National Day holiday — busy domestic travel (2 September) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January, and the sights are quietest in January.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Ha Long Bay?
The best months for Ha Long Bay are March to May and October to November, when skies are clearer, seas are calm and temperatures are comfortable for kayaking and hiking. Summer is hot and busy with a risk of typhoons that can cancel cruises, while winter is cool and often misty.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Ha Long Bay?
Usually in January. Cool, grey and dry, with misty views that some find atmospheric; swimming is too cold for most visitors.
+What is the rainiest month in Ha Long Bay?
August, with about 18 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Ha Long Bay get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 32°C (90°F) and lows of 26°C (79°F).