Ho Chi Minh city, formerly known as Saigon, is a largest and vibrant city in Vietnam. The city is divided into 24 districts consisting of 19 inner city districts and five suburban areas. In which, district one and three are considered the modern heart of the city. Some people said that this city is never sleep because it offers many night activities for tourists and locals to hangout. Beside the historical landmarks, you will admire the architectures of many skyscrapers with different designs. This modern metropolis offers exciting and unique travel experiences to international and domestic tourists.
- List tour in Ho Chi Minh: Ho Chi Minh Tours
However, many people often ask a question “When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh city?”. In this article, we will definitely provide a perfect answer based on your personal demand. In addition, we will also introduce some travel recommendations. Let’s take a close look to the article details for your travel tips.
1. Overview about the weather in Ho Chi Minh city
The weather in Ho Chi Minh city is divided to two seasons clearly which are wet and dry. It is considered as a typical of tropical monsoon and sub-equatorial climate. Each season has disadvantages and advantages for your exploration, you can prepare your travel activities according to the weather conditions.
In general, Ho Chi Minh city is hot the whole year with high temperature. Many locals in Vietnam visit this vibrant city to avoid the cold in the winter. In addition, you can expect the rain come suddenly during the hot weather but the rain only occurs in a short time. Therefore, bringing raincoats or umbrellas is one of unmissable items of locals here. Overall, the city’s climate is relatively mild, with no cold winter days of heavy floods or storms.
2. Ho Chi Minh city weather
The location of Ho Chi Minh city belongs to a tropical monsoon region, the climate is divided into 2 seasons. The wet season duration is from May to November and the dry season is from December to April. The city is famous with long sunshine hours and much rainfall. The average annual temperature is about 27.55 celsius. The highest temperature of the city can reach up to 40 celsius in April.
2.1. Ho Chi Minh city in the dry season (December to April)
The duration of dry season in Ho Chi Minh city is from December to April. This is considered as the best time to visit because the weather is quite dry and having little rain during this period. With this season, you can join many outdoor activities of the city. In addition, it also convenient for travel transportations to different locations. Temperatures during this period can fall as low as 17 celsius in the morning and then average 24 – 26 celsius in the afternoons and evenings. Kindly take note that the hottest month is April and the coolest month is December.
Being a favorite duration for visiting Ho Chi Minh city, the dry season promises bring extraordinary travel experiences to your holiday. For example, you can conquer all historical attractions in Ho Chi Minh city center, experience a boat trip around Mekong delta, visiting outskirt Cu Chi tunnels, enjoy street food in vendors, etc…
2.2. Ho Chi Minh city in the wet season (May to November)
The wet season starts from May to November with much rainfall and high humidity. Moreover, the rain usually occurs in a short time, then it will be dry and sunny for the rest of the day. Saigon’s rain does not last from day to day, it just suddenly comes and then goes, so visitors can completely have fun and visit tourist spots. Sometimes, you might expect floods and storms during this period.
While dry season is a favorite period of visitors, the wet period also offers some advantages for sightseeing and enjoy indoor activities. If the rain does not bother your travel discovery, we believe you still have amazing times in Ho Chi Minh city. For example, you can visit some indoor museum, watch water puppet shows, eat local cuisines, participate cooking class, watch A O show, shopping at local markets or malls, etc…Or simply wearing rain ponchos or umbrellas to discover sightseeing attractions.
3. The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh City has a cool climate all year around and is less susceptible to natural disasters, storms or floods. The city has a unique beauty in every season, thus visitors can decide when to visit Saigon depending on their plan and personal preferences.
As we mentioned above, dry season is considered a top choice for travel plans because you can conquer all tourist attractions without the barrier of weather conditions. This favorable period offers many exciting activities such as soaking to visit historical landscapes, explore outskirt areas of Ho Chi Minh city, trying local gastronomy in south region, discover Mekong delta by boat, taking a night dinner cruise trip around Saigon river,..etc…
Compare to the dry season, the wet season can be a choice of some tourists because it has own advantages. You can simply enjoy a relax vacation such as joining luxurious spa services , enjoy local cuisines, taking cooking lessons, watching a movie at the hotel, attending art shows, discovering indoor tourist attractions,…etc… The rain does not occur in long duration, we believe you still enjoy your vacation in Ho Chi Minh city.
4. Special occasions to visit Ho Chi Minh city
- Vietnam Lunar New Year in January – February: This is the biggest holiday in Vietnam for locals. The holiday can be called in Vietnamese which is Tet. It often takes place from the end of January or beginning of February. The whole city will be decorated attractively with flowers and national flags. This is also the time of dry season in Ho Chi Minh city so you can have good weather to discover. There are many events which will happen during a week holiday, you can feel the fresh energy to start a new year with happiness, health and prosperity. However, the price of travel services during this period can be double or even triple because of Tet holiday celebration.
- The Reunification Day (April 30th) : This is a public holiday in Vietnam to celebrate the unification of North and South of Vietnam in 1975 following the Liberation of Saigon. During this holiday, there will be many events such as public performances, parades and flag displays.
- National Independence Day (Sept 2nd) : In order to celebrate independence day of Vietnam, locals will have one day off to enjoy the national celebration. When you travel at this time, national flags are displayed everywhere as an expression of patriotism and pride. There will be fireworks, parades and awesome festivities in Saigon. Therefore, you will have an opportunity to engage the festive atmosphere here.
- Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon cake festival) in September or October: This festival happens on August 15th of lunar calendar. The children of Vietnam look forward to this event because they can buy their beautiful and colorful lanterns. Especially, they can receive gifts such as mooncakes or a pack of candies. The streets will be busy with dragon dances, locals will welcome the festival dance shows to their houses. To sum up, this is a favorite occasion of children.
- Christmas Holiday: This is not a national holiday of Vietnam but locals still celebrate this special occasion. At this time, the weather in Saigon is getting cool, thus it is perfect for walking around the streets and contemplating a different Saigon. The colorful lights will turn up on the pine trees and other festive decorations. Christmas songs will be opened everywhere, and it creates an energetic festival with music. Especially, it is also a special time to visit the churches in Saigon to watch the festival.
5. Must-visit tourist attractions and activities in Ho Chi Minh city
5.1. Historical landmarks in Ho Chi Minh city center
5.1.1. Ben Thanh market
Being an iconic attraction in Ho Chi Minh city, Ben Thanh market is a top list place to explore. With a long history to preserve since 1914, this place has many interesting past stories to learn and discover. It is not only famous as a shopping destination but also has informative historical features.
The location is situated in the city center which is easy to find on digital map. If you stay in district 1, you can walk to this destination around 5 – 10 minutes. Or if you stay further in other districts, you can book a transfer to Ben Thanh market. The openning time is from 5:00am – 11:00pm. It depends on the items of local’s stalls; each seller has their own working hours. Kinldy note that from 5:30pm until late evening will be night market in outside.
Ben Thanh market is renowned as a paradise for shopping, you can purchase souvenirs for yourself or beloved ones at this place. The market sells various goods and items such as clothes, hand-made products, food, textiles,..etc… You can make bargain here when you tend to buy stuffs here. Some sellers at this market speak basic English, it will be easy for communication.
5.1.2. Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)
Another historical landmark in Ho Chi Minh city which you should not miss out is Independence Palace. This attraction was witnessed many war battles in South region of Vietnam. It was built by the French during their colonial era. The Independence Palace symbolizes Vietnam’s victory, peace, and territorial integrity. This place has a glamorous design, hundreds of rooms equipped with luxurious furnishings and decorations, and an enormous and gorgeous exterior space.
During the Vietnam War, the Independence Palace served as the residence and office of South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu. It was designated as a historical monument for having witnessed significant changes in Saigon’s history and keeping the essence of Eastern culture.
5.1.3. War Remnant Museum
The most fascinating attraction you should discover is War Remnant Museum in Ho Chi Minh city. This place will transform and challenge your knowledge about Vietnam war. This is the most visited museum in Saigon for international and domestic tourists. There are three floors to visit with war exhibitions. You definitely will admire how Vietnam overcames such tragic battles. Spending around an hour at the museum to read about the war will be a memorable experience.
The War Remnants Museum is located on the corner of Vo Van Tan and Le Quy Don streets, close to the city center and other tourist attractions of Saigon. It takes 5 minutes to walk from the Independence Palace and about 10 minutes from Notre Dame Cathedral or Saigon Central Post Office.
5.1.4. Notre Dame Cathedral Church
If you are a religious practitioner, Notre Dame Cathedral Church will be a highlight of your travel lists. The church has a distinctive European-style building that serves as both a residence and a place of worship for Catholics. The location is in the heart of saigon which make it easy for transportations.
This attraction is also a symbol of Saigon. With unique designs, the church has catched strong attentions to many tourists. Capturing beautiful photos here is our recommendation because this is one of the world’s 19 most majestic cathedrals. The place serves daily tourists who seek ancient grandeur, holiness and enchanting photography spots.
5.1.5. Saigon Pink Church (Tan Dinh church)
Another Catholic church which you can visit is Pink Church in Ho Chi Minh city. With a colorful pink tone, the place attracts dozens of tourists check-in virtually. The church was built in a Romanian architectural style. A church visit usually brings us serenity, and this church is no exception.
Tan Dinh Church is located in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City. The pink church in Saigon is only 3 kilometers away from Ben Thanh Market, making it conveniently accessible from the city’s major neighborhoods.
5.2. Other attractions outside of Ho Chi Minh city
5.2.1. Mekong Delta
Mekong delta is renowned as a natural beauty. It will take around 3 hours to reach the destination from Ho Chi Minh city. Coming here, you can explore traditional villages, floating markets, and try some famous local dishes. A highlight experience is traveling by boat through all creeks of the village.
Booking Mekong Delta full day trip is our recommendation from Ho Chi Minh city because it has many activities for sightseeing from morning to the afternoon. It is an unforgettable trip to rural villages from bustling city like Saigon.
5.2.2. Cu Chi Tunnels
A vacation in Southern Vietnam will not complete if you do not visit Cu Chi Tunnels. It is a famous war relic to explore during one day trip in Ho Chi Minh city. Being honored in the top 7 most adventurous destinations in Southeast Asia and the top 12 most attractive underground wonders in the globe, the tunnels have impressed million of tourists visit. The decades-old tunnel complex resembles a sophisticated hidden maze, where visitors can glimpse the turbulent Vietnamese history as if they are traveling back to the wartime.
Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the most significant relics of the city, offering first-hand experiences inside the massive underground cave and interesting insights into the lives of Vietnamese soldiers during the war.
5.2.3. Can Gio mangrove forest (Monkey island)
Locating in the southeast area of Ho Chi Minh city, Can Gio mangrove forest is an amazing getaway trip in Vietnam. It is also knowns as a monkey island. This area is divided by a network of canals and rivers. You can rent a motorbike or booking a car transfer service to this attraction, the duration of travel is estimated over an hour. Coming to the forest to explore the rich of biodiversity is an unforgettable memory.
The mangrove forest hosts the highest diversity of mangrove plant species, mangrove-dwelling invertebrates and mangrove-associated fish and shellfish species in the sub-region, and is regarded as the ‘green lungs’ of the city. In addition, there are many activities which you can do at Can Gio district such as watching the monkeys and crocodiles, enjoying local cuisines, discover the war history at guerrilla base in Sac Forest, explore Can Gio beach,..etc…
5.3. Taste local cuisines in Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh is a melting pot of Vietnam. Therefore, it offers the diverse culture of cuisines by locals. This modern city offers a rich gastronomy custom from North to South of our S-shaped country, you can have multiple choices to enjoy dining experiences. In addition, you also can find your nation’s cuisines at this city if you feel missing home foods. The city has influences of foreign cultures such as France, USA, China, Cambodia, Thailand, and others.
Saigon’s foods can be sweet taste compare to other regions in Vietnam, it has created unique cuisines in term of flavors. Basic ingredients of flavor that often use in local foods here are mint, basil, green onions, ginger and turmeric. You will enjoy the distinctive dishes with fragrant locally.
Our highlight recommendation is booking a street food tour by walking or scooter in Ho Chi Minh at night time. There are various cuisines will be served during 3 – 4 hours duration. You will delve to food culture of this chaos city with our local guides. Especially, experiencing the bustling vibes at night is interesting especially watching the vibrant traffic.
6. Conclusion
To sum up, there are clearly two seasons in Saigon which are wet and dry, each season has its own advantages and disadvantages. Traveling to Ho Chi Minh city should be in your bucket lists in Vietnam. This city has been growing fast in term of economic and infrastructure after 1975. Beside historical landmarks, the city offers various tourism activities for visitors. The duration to stay in can be a week if you have a long vacation period. Kindly check weather forecast carefully during your vacation in Ho Chi Minh city in order to book sightseeing activities. Taking a deep look to our article about the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh city to prepare well your holiday.
If you enjoy exploring diverse cultures, trying new foods, and delving into history, Ho Chi Minh City could be a rewarding destination for you. Explore Vietnam Travel company operates many package tours and day trips in Vietnam, you can contact us to plan the itinerary in Saigon and other cities. We hope this article is useful for your trip preparation especially the weather conditions in Ho Chi Minh city.
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