Season guide · Ha Long Bay · Vietnam
Ha Long Bay in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Schwede66, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cool, often grey and misty, with low prices outside Tết; too cold for swimming but fine for cruising in a jacket. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 19 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 19
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°C (68°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 6 | 11 h | 2/5 |
| February | 20°C (68°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 9 | 11.4 h | 3/5 |
| December | 22°C (72°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 | 10.9 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 19 of the year's roughly 130 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- 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)
- February: Yen Tu Festival — pilgrimage season at the Yen Tu mountain pagodas (usually from the tenth day of the first lunar month)
Make the most of the weather
Historic site · Central Ha Long Bay
Cua Van fishing village
Ask your cruise whether the visit includes a rowed boat tour or only a pass-by; the rowed tour gives the better sense of village life.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Experience · Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay by kayak and boat
Day boats from Cat Ba harbour take you into Lan Ha Bay to kayak between karsts, through low caves and into lagoons, with stops at small beaches only reachable by sea.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Park · Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba National Park
Wear proper shoes; the path to Ngu Lam is rocky and steep near the top. Bring water, as there are few stalls on the trail.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Historic site · Cat Ba Town
Cannon Fort
A hilltop fortification above Cat Ba Town with gun emplacements and tunnels used by French and later Vietnamese forces.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Hon Gai
Bai Tho Mountain
Go in the late afternoon for softer light, and ask locally which path is open, as access has varied over the years.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- History
- Active
Day trips in winter
- Co To Island (About 2.5–3 hours by car and fast boat) — One of the furthest inhabited islands off Quang Ninh, with clear water, cliffs, a lighthouse and sandy beaches.
- Yen Tu Mountain (About 1 hour by car) — The sacred mountain where King Tran Nhan Tong founded the Truc Lam school of Zen Buddhism in the 13th century has pagodas, stupas and forest paths climbing to the bronze Dong Pagoda near the 1,068-metre summit.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Ha Long Bay?
It is a trade-off: Cool, often grey and misty, with low prices outside Tết; too cold for swimming but fine for cruising in a jacket. The best months overall are April–May and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Ha Long Bay in winter?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 19 rainy days over the season.