The summary
| Region | December weather | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi and Ninh Binh | 14 to 22 °C, dry, grey sky | Good for the city, bring a jacket |
| Ha Long Bay | Cool, frequent mist | Possible, but visibility can be very low |
| Sapa and Ha Giang | Sapa 5 to 15 °C by day, frost possible at night | Cold, for equipped hikers |
| Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An | 18 to 26 °C, rain mostly early December | Better after the 15th |
| Dalat | 12 to 22 °C | Cool, pink grass hills in bloom |
| Nha Trang, Mui Ne | 22 to 30 °C, fairly dry | Good |
| Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc | 24 to 33 °C, dry season | The best weather in the country |
The north: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay
It is cool and dry, but the sky is often overcast. Hanoi is best on foot: the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. For Christmas, St. Joseph's Cathedral is lit up and nearby streets are closed to traffic on Christmas Eve according to one guide.
Ha Long Bay in December: mist is the main risk and can sharply reduce visibility or cancel a departure; Hanoi is then your plan B. A day cruise costs about 24 to 60 USD according to one guide. See the day cruise from Hanoi and the overnight cruise; choose free cancellation. On site, see also Ha Long Bay.
Ninh Binh is about 2 to 3 °C milder than Hanoi: Ninh Binh in one day. Sapa can freeze and homestays fill up in early December: Sapa trek.
The centre and the south
The centre is the wettest region: about 19 rainy days in Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An according to one guide, with a clear improvement after 15 December. In the south, Ho Chi Minh City is in its dry season, and Phu Quoc has about 8 to 9 hours of sun a day with the sea at 27 °C; Phu Quoc, Hoi An and Hanoi's Old Quarter are very crowded from 24 December to 2 January.
Itinerary from Hanoi (about 2 weeks)
- Days 1 to 3: Hanoi. See Hanoi in 3 days.
- Day 4: Ninh Binh as a day trip or an overnight stay.
- Days 5 to 6: Ha Long Bay, with Hanoi as a fallback if mist stops the outing.
- Days 7 to 10: Da Nang and Hoi An by flight from Hanoi, preferably in the second half of December.
- Days 11 to 14: south, Ho Chi Minh City or Phu Quoc, by flight; Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City costs 32 to 100 USD one way according to one guide.
Christmas, New Year and Tet
Ho Chi Minh City has the biggest Christmas decorations. Tet falls on 6 February 2027: see Tet in Hanoi. To sleep, read where to stay in Hanoi; for the other seasons, when to visit Hanoi.
FAQ
Is December a good time to go to Vietnam? Yes for the south and for a city like Hanoi, with a jacket. The centre can be rainy, especially before the 15th.
Is Hanoi cold in December? About 14 to 22 °C, with an overcast sky that feels colder.
Can you do Ha Long Bay in December? Yes, but mist can reduce visibility; choose free cancellation.
When should I book? 4 to 6 weeks ahead for the period from 20 December to 5 January.
