Month guide · Ha Long Bay · Vietnam
Ha Long Bay in December
What December is really like in Ha Long Bay: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Schwede66, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 15°C (59°F), about 4 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. Cool and dry with clear days mixed with grey ones; evenings on deck need a jacket.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 15°C (59°F)
- Rainy days
- About 4
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Ha Long Bay: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 15°C (59°F). Rain falls on roughly 4 of its 31 days. Compared with November (25°C (77°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:21
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:13
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea
- 21°C (70°F)
Winter (December–February). Cool, often grey and misty, with low prices outside Tết; too cold for swimming but fine for cruising in a jacket.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
December has no major recurring festival in Ha Long Bay, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · Bo Hon Island
Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot, or Surprise Cave, is one of the largest caves in the bay, reached by steps up the side of Bo Hon Island.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
Nature · Dau Go Island
Thien Cung Cave
If your cruise visits Sung Sot, you do not need both; pick whichever is on the quieter route that day.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
Historic site · Cat Ba Island
Hospital Cave
A natural cave reinforced with concrete during the American War to house a secret hospital and shelter, with operating rooms, wards and a small cinema spread over three levels.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · Hon Gai
Quang Ninh Museum
The marine floor with skeletons and models is the part children enjoy most.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
The sea averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Ha Long Bay.
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 15°C and 4 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Ha Long Bay?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, April–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Ha Long Bay in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Ha Long Bay?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cool and dry with clear days mixed with grey ones; evenings on deck need a jacket.
+How warm is Ha Long Bay in December?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Ha Long Bay in December?
Expect rain on about 4 days of the month, so it is usually dry.