Tips · Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City in December–February: weather and prep
Ho Chi Minh City in December–February: 32–33°C days, 23–24°C nights. Monthly normals, what to wear, Tet notes, a short plan, transport and budget.
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Why December to February, and what changes by month
In Ho Chi Minh City the dry season from December to April is best, with December to February slightly less hot. The May to October wet season brings short afternoon downpours, and rain eases from November. For a warm winter escape, December, January and February are a good three-month window.
Each month is a little different. December's normal rainfall is 41 mm, against 12 mm in January and 8 mm in February, and February has the lowest rainfall of the year. Temperatures barely change across the three months: 32–33°C by day and 23–24°C at night. In January or February, many shops close around Tet (Lunar New Year), so check dates. Bookings can fill up around year-end and Lunar New Year — check early.
December, January and February normals side by side
The figures below are 1991–2020 normals for Ho Chi Minh City (WMO city data) from the WMO World Weather Information Service — Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, rounded to whole numbers.
All three months fall within the December to April dry season, and the normals agree: little rain in this period. For reference, the wettest month is September (273 mm on average). Daytime highs are 32°C in December and January and 33°C in February; night lows are 24°C in December and 23°C in January and February, so all three months are summer-clothes weather. The month with the highest daytime highs is May (35°C), so December to February is slightly less hot.
- December: high 32°C · low 24°C · rain 41 mm
- January: high 32°C · low 23°C · rain 12 mm
- February: high 33°C · low 23°C · rain 8 mm
What to wear, and street smarts
With highs of 32–33°C and lows of 23–24°C, light short sleeves work by day, and you will not need a warm jacket at night.
Central District 1 is very walkable, so bring shoes you can walk in all day. To cross the street, walk slowly and steadily without running and traffic will flow around you.
Motorbike phone and bag snatching happens, so keep your phone out of reach of the street and carry bags on the building side. Do not drink tap water; stick to bottled water.
- Light short-sleeved tops and light trousers or skirts
- Shoes you can walk in all day
- A bag you can carry on the building side
- Bottled water (no tap water)
Tet and year-end: what to know
The key date to watch in this period is Tet (Lunar New Year, January or February): many shops close around it, so check dates. For the exact Tet dates and holiday period, check official Vietnamese information.
For December to February festivals and events, year-end events or special opening times, check official information before you go.
Independence Palace officially opens daily without a lunch break, but hours can change for events, so check the official site before you go. The Notre Dame Cathedral interior may be restricted during restoration.
A short 3–5 day plan: 4 days in brief
Plan on 4 to 5 days in Ho Chi Minh City. The detailed day-by-day route and transport tips are in our 4-day Ho Chi Minh City route, so here is just a short version of the 4-day plan. The Cu Chi Tunnels are about 1.5 hours away by road and usually visited on a half-day tour; the Mekong Delta trip around My Tho or Ben Tre needs a full day.
With 3 days, do days 1 to 3. With 5 days, add a day in Thao Dien (former District 2 area) on Metro Line 1, which is handy between District 1 and Thao Dien. If your dates overlap Tet, many shops close, so check dates first.
- Day 1: Independence Palace, the Post Office and cathedral, pho for lunch, War Remnants Museum in the afternoon, then Nguyen Hue and a rooftop bar
- Day 2: half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour → Ben Thanh Market in the afternoon → Bui Vien or a night market for dinner
- Day 3: full-day Mekong Delta tour with boats and orchards → a spa back in the city
- Day 4: District 3 cafe hopping and com tam for lunch → Landmark 81 views → head to the airport
Getting around and budget
Central District 1 is very walkable. Metro Line 1, the city's first metro, runs from Ben Thanh east toward Thu Duc (Suoi Tien). Beyond that, there is a ride-hailing app that locals and visitors both use (motorbike rides are fastest and cheapest for short hops) and green electric taxis you can book in an app or hail on the street. District 3 is about 10 minutes from District 1 by ride-hailing app.
From Tan Son Nhat (SGN) to District 1, you can take a ride-hailing app (about 25-45 min, about 150,000-250,000 VND), Bus 109 (about 45-60 min, check official fare) or a metered taxi from the official taxi rank (about 25-45 min, about 200,000-300,000 VND; make sure the meter is running). Bus 109 now runs from domestic Terminal T3 and no longer stops at the international terminal (T2), so take the inter-terminal shuttle to T3 if you arrive internationally.
Budget levels are about 800,000 VND (hostels, local eateries, ride-hailing motorbikes), about 2,500,000 VND (4-star hotel, restaurants and cafes, spa) and about 6,000,000 VND+ (5-star hotel, fine dining, private tours). Actual costs vary widely with your itinerary and lodging.
Checklist before you go
Markets and street food are cash only; hotels, malls and chain cafes take cards. Change money at banks or licensed exchange counters; exchanging foreign currency at unlicensed places (including some gold shops) can break the law.
- Check the December–February normals: 32–33°C by day, 23–24°C at night
- Entry and visa rules: check official Vietnamese government sources; apply for an e-visa only through the official portal
- Tet (January or February): check the dates and holiday period in official information
- SIM/eSIM: cheap and sold at the airport; activate one on arrival so you can use a ride-hailing app
- Banknotes: the 10,000 and 100,000 notes, and the 20,000 and 500,000 notes, look similar
- Addresses: since July 2025 they use new ward names, so check both the new name and old names like District 1 and District 3 in your map app
- Tipping is not required, but about 50,000-100,000 VND for spa staff or tour guides is appreciated
Plan your Ho Chi Minh City trip
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FAQ
Is Ho Chi Minh City cold at night from December to February?
No. Normal night lows are 23–24°C, so you will not need a warm jacket, and daytime highs are 32–33°C.
Which is better: December, January or February?
Temperatures are similar in all three. December's normal rainfall is 41 mm, against 12 mm in January and 8 mm in February. If you go in January or February, many shops close around Tet, so check dates.
Is it okay to visit during Tet?
Many shops close around Tet (Lunar New Year, January or February), so check dates. For the exact dates and holiday period, check official Vietnamese information.
How many days do I need?
Plan on 4 to 5 days. The 4-day plan includes a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour and a full-day Mekong Delta trip.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Saigon Central Post Office · Yesvn123 / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Saigon Opera House (Municipal Theatre) · Bahnfrend / CC BY-SA 4.0