Season guide · Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City in the hot season
April–early May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The hottest weeks of the year, with temperatures in the mid-30s and building humidity before the rains. Expect highs up to 35°C (95°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F), with about 21 rainy days across April–early May.
Key facts
- Months
- April–early May
- Temperatures
- 26°C (79°F) to 35°C (95°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 21
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the hot season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 35°C (95°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 | 12.4 h | 3/5 |
| May | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 | 12.6 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 35°C (95°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 21 of the year's roughly 145 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in the hot season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Reunification Day and Labour Day holidays — busy domestic travel (30 April and 1 May)
Good choices for the hot season
Market · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Bến Thành Market
Bargain with a smile and compare prices; eat at the food stalls inside rather than the restaurants around the edge.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
- Rainy day
Architecture · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Saigon Opera House
The Municipal Theatre, opened in 1900 at the top of Đồng Khởi street, is a flamboyant French colonial building that now stages concerts, ballet and the long-running AO Show, a bamboo acrobatics performance inspired by southern village life.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours for a show
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- After dark
- Couples
- Rainy day
_(2).jpg){kind=link}
Gallery · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
Visit during the midday heat; it is quiet and makes a good break from the market.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · District 1 (Đồng Khởi)
Ho Chi Minh City Museum
Housed in the neoclassical Gia Long Palace from the 1890s, the museum covers the city's history, crafts and wars.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
.jpg){kind=link}
Viewpoint · Bình Thạnh
Landmark 81 SkyView
Go late in the afternoon to see the city in daylight and after dark on one ticket.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Day trips in the hot season
- Mekong Delta (Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre) (About 2 hours each way by road) — Small boats thread through coconut-palm canals, with stops at coconut-candy workshops, fruit orchards and river islands.
- Cần Thơ and Cái Răng floating market (About 3.5–4 hours each way by road) — The Mekong Delta's largest city is the base for Cái Răng, a wholesale floating market where boats sell produce from poles at dawn.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the hot season a good time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?
It is a trade-off: The hottest weeks of the year, with temperatures in the mid-30s and building humidity before the rains. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Ho Chi Minh City in the hot season?
Highs of up to 35°C (95°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F), with about 21 rainy days over the season.