Month guide · Ha Long Bay · Vietnam
Ha Long Bay in January
What January is really like in Ha Long Bay: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AnhTuan Le, Public domain
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Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Cool, grey and dry, with misty views that some find atmospheric; swimming is too cold for most visitors.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea temperature
- 20°C (68°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Ha Long Bay: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with December (22°C (72°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 06:30
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:30
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea
- 20°C (68°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, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Tết — Lunar New Year, when many businesses close for several days (late January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Experience · Ha Long Bay
Overnight bay cruise
Ask which route the boat takes and how many hours are spent cruising rather than at stops; quieter routes through Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha are worth a slightly longer transfer.
- Time needed
- 2 days, 1 night
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Couples
- Views
- Photo spot
- After dark
Viewpoint · Central Ha Long Bay
Ti Top Island
Named after the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited in 1962, Ti Top has a small crescent beach and a stairway of around 400 steps to a summit pavilion.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Experience · Bo Hon Island
Luon Cave kayaking
Choose a kayak if the tide allows; the bamboo boats are better for young children and nervous paddlers.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Landmark · Central Ha Long Bay
Fighting Cocks Islet
Hon Trong Mai, two rocks facing each other like a rooster and hen, is the most photographed formation in the bay and was once used on Vietnamese banknotes and stamps.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Free
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 14°C and 6 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Ha Long Bay?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. 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 January a good time to visit Ha Long Bay?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool, grey and dry, with misty views that some find atmospheric; swimming is too cold for most visitors.
+How warm is Ha Long Bay in January?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Ha Long Bay in January?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.