Is January the best time to visit Vietnam? January, the first month of the Gregorian calendar, is as good a time as any to travel to Vietnam. The North may be colder, but the warmth of the holiday season makes up for it. Central and Southern Vietnam remains a tropical paradise of sand and sea for those wishing to escape the chill and dreary weather elsewhere.
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Vietnam weather in January
January marks the beginning of Vietnam’s return to top form. As the North and the South both bask in the sunshine (to varying degrees – temperatures increase the further South you travel), Central Vietnam emerges from the rainy season and allows visitors back on its beaches again. That being said, the North can get quite cold, averaging 64°F/18°C with foggy nights and icy rain but there are chances of getting sunny days!
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Watch out for Tet (Lunar New Year) while travel-planning – the first three days of the new year can sometimes fall at the end of January or beginning of February. The country practically shuts down and roads seem deserted. Some sites of interest can still get very crowded: for example, locals flock to temples and pagodas around the country to pray for an auspicious new year. Tet is also the reason prices might go up: locals take advantage of the public holidays to travel and/or visit their families. Plane and bus tickets will be in high demand, and businesses may add holiday surcharges to the bill.
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Where to go in Vietnam in January
Hanoi
Having been the capital of the country for over a thousand years (give or take, given that some dynasties moved out of Hanoi), the City of the Ascending Dragon is an eclectic living museum of old dwellings and royal institutions coexisting with modern shops, houses, and skyscrapers. The Old Quarter is a good place to visit any time for a stroll along the ancient streets. You can get two of Hanoi’s delicacies by the massive, mirror-like West Lake: fried shrimp cakes and ice cream. The closer to Tet your visit takes place the better, as the city throws itself into preparations for one of the most important celebrations of the year, and the frenetic excitement is almost palpably electric.
Moc Chau
Peach and damson plum flowers bloom in January in these beautiful lands. (Hurry to see the plums coating the mountain slopes at the end of January – they will only wait a short time before fading away.) Some farms are open for tourists to learn more about the production of Moc Chau’s delicacies: strawberries, beef, and dairy. Hiker and trekkers can journey to Pha Luong or Ta Xua, the tallest places in the region, and immerse themselves in thick, fluffy white clouds.
Sapa
Owing to its location in the Northern mountains, Sapa can be bitterly cold in January. In a country that almost never sees snow, Sapa is an exception – the faintest dusting of white flakes makes the national news and draws visitors. Come to this land and you will have stepped into a fairytale (albeit one with a slightly spooky atmosphere). This is also home to Fansipan Peak, “the roof of Indochina” (modern-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia).
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Phu Quoc Island
If you’re not interested in the bracing cold, take a flight to Phu Quoc for a dose of Vitamin D (and Sea). Bai Sao beach is popular with visitors – rent a chair, relax under an umbrella, and perhaps sip on a coconut as you enjoy a good book. The island is also home to world-famous fish sauce and VinWonders Phu Quoc, the largest theme park in Vietnam. Its night market is a good place to sample local delicacies and bring home interesting souvenirs.
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What to do in Vietnam in January
Attend a photography tour in Sapa
Wrap up warm against the bone-chilling cold, and you’re almost guaranteed to have a good time. Sapa doesn’t lack opportunities to take good shots of your heart’s desires: rustic and colorful villages, vibrant festivities, stunning cloud-wreathed mountains, vast forests, and so much more.
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Snorkeling
Vietnam’s 3,260-km long coastline boasts some stunning beaches, and some of them are prime areas for snorkeling. Nha Trang is perhaps the most famous choice because of its dizzying variety of corals, fish, and marine species. Phu Quoc island is also a good option for snorkeling, as well as Cu Lao Cham Marine Park off the coast of Hoi An.
Celebrate Tet
Depending on the year, this holiday can fall at the end of January or the start of February. Many expats and travelers caught unawares have found themselves stranded and struggling. However, public events are still available if you know where to look. Firework shows are held in places like Sword Lake (Hanoi), some roads are bedecked with flowers (Nguyen Hue Flower Street in Ho Chi Minh City), and historical sites such as the Hue Citadel may let visitors in free of charge. If you’re lucky enough to be invited into a Vietnamese family to celebrate Tet, follow your host’s instructions as carefully as possible. According to Vietnamese beliefs, whatever happens during Tet can influence whether your luck will be good or bad for the rest of the year.
January Events & Holiday
Vietnamese New Year
The ancient Vietnamese celebrated the new year using a lunisolar calendar, which is still in use today in spiritual matters. The first day of the lunar year falls on the new moon of the first month, and the first three days are especially important celebrations. It’s a time to cleanse yourself of the old and bad luck, express gratitude for what you have and were given, and hope for a new and better year.
People pray before ancestral altars and in places of worship, decorate their homes, dress up in their most beautiful clothing to visit their family, teachers, or bosses, and eat a lot of delicious, cozy food. The old and the young are given lucky money in red envelopes. (Note: Try not to refer to it as the Chinese New Year. China and Vietnam have a very complicated “frenemy” relationship, and referring to a Vietnamese institution as “Chinese” is likely to ruffle some feathers.)
Da Lat Flower Festival
This biennial event is a mainstay of Da Lat, one of Vietnam’s resort towns. As a celebration of floriculture and springtime, it draws massive crowds and celebrity guests there to sightsee or perform. Each year comes with its own theme; for example, the 2022 festival revolves around Da Lat as “The City with Four Seasons of Flowers”. After a COVID-19 induced delay, the organizers went all-out in making sure everyone had a good time. Some activities on offer Were: a helicopter tour of Da Lat City, a hot-air balloon festival, performances from young artists, street carnivals with dancers from around the world, national trade fairs to showcase and promote the handicrafts and industries of Vietnam, and even a football tournament.
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Vietnam in each month
Learn about detailed weather information for each area in Vietnam for 12 months & seasonal tourist destinations.
Frequently asked questions about Vietnam in January (FAQs)
Is January a good time to visit Vietnam?
Yes, January is a good time to visit Vietnam. As the North and the South both bask in the sunshine
How hot is Vietnam in January?
Vietnam’s January weather is pretty nice, with no bright sun. The North can get quite cold, averaging 64°F/18°C with foggy nights and icy rain but there are chances of getting sunny days!
What event & festival takes place in Vietnam in January?
Vietnam lunar new year & Da Lat Flower Festival are events in Vietnam in January.
Because of its incredible diversity, Vietnam in January is almost never a bad time to visit this country. If you plan your trip carefully with the assistance of and advice from local experts, you will be able to curate an itinerary perfectly suited to your needs.
