January is one of the best months to visit Vietnam, as long as you know which Vietnam you're getting. The south is dry, sunny and warm. The centre is drying out after the rains. The north is cool and grey, and properly cold up in the mountains. In 2027 there's a bonus: Tet falls on 6 February, so the whole of January is the run-up, with flower markets, red lanterns and a country getting ready to party, but without the shops and restaurants closing. Here's how to plan it, region by region, with a 10-day route and a map of the best stops in each city.
The short version
Best weather: the south. Saigon, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc and Con Dao are at their best: dry, sunny, 30 to 32°C.
The north: Hanoi runs 14 to 20°C, often under grey skies and light drizzle. Sapa can drop close to freezing at night.
The centre: Hoi An and Da Nang are mild and improving, with showers. The second half of the month is better.
Tet 2027: Saturday 6 February. January is the build-up, and the last week gets busy and pricier.
Sweet spot: 6 to 25 January. Normal high-season prices, good weather in the south, calm in the north.
Pickleball: January is peak outdoor season in Saigon and on the south coast, and Hanoi's cool mornings are perfect for long games.
January at a glance, region by region
Vietnam is over 1,600 kilometres from top to bottom, so "the weather in January" depends on where you stand. These are typical January averages; any single year can be warmer, wetter or greyer.
| Place | Typical temps | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phu Quoc | 24–30°C | Very little | Best month of the year |
| Saigon & Mekong | 22–32°C | Very little | Peak dry season |
| Da Lat | 11–22°C | Very little | Cool mornings, bright days |
| Nha Trang | 22–27°C | Some showers | Drying out |
| Hoi An & Da Nang | 19–25°C | Showers, 5–10 days | Improving, better late in the month |
| Hue | 17–24°C | The wettest stop | Pack an umbrella |
| Hanoi | 14–20°C | Light drizzle, grey skies | Cool, atmospheric |
| Ha Long Bay | 16–20°C | Light | Calm, often misty |
| Sapa | 0–15°C | Mist and drizzle | Coldest month, frost likely |
The south in January: as good as Vietnam gets
If you want sun, go south. January sits in the middle of the dry season, the humidity is lower than at any other time of year, and the afternoon storms of the wet season are long gone.
Ho Chi Minh City is hot in the middle of the day, around 31 or 32°C, but the mornings and evenings are lovely. Late in the month the city starts dressing up for Tet, and Ben Thanh Market and Cholon fill with red and gold decorations, sweets and gifts. Our things to do in Ho Chi Minh City guide has the full list.
The Mekong Delta is easy now: dry roads, calm rivers and full fruit markets. Phu Quoc and Con Dao are at their best, with calm water on the west-facing beaches, which makes January one of the few months when the islands are almost guaranteed to be good.
Up in the highlands, Da Lat is cool and bright: sweater mornings, warm afternoons and very little rain. See our Da Lat guide.
The north: cool, grey, and cold up high
Visitors are often surprised by how cool Hanoi is. Days are usually 17 to 20°C and nights drop to around 14°C, sometimes lower when a cold wave comes down from China. It doesn't rain much, but there's often a fine drizzle and the sun can disappear for days at a time. Hanoi houses aren't heated, so a cold snap feels colder indoors than the number suggests.
We think it's a lovely time to visit anyway. The Old Quarter is cosy, egg coffee makes sense, and late January brings the Tet flower markets. Just pack a proper jacket. One thing to check: Hanoi's air quality is often poor in winter, so if you have breathing problems, look at the daily readings and plan more time outside the city. Our Vietnam in December guide explains the air and the weekend motorbike-free zone in more detail.
Ha Long Bay is calm and the cruises run normally, but expect mist in the mornings and water too cold for most people to swim. Sapa is the coldest place in the country in January: mornings near freezing, frost most weeks and, on a few days a year, snow on Fansipan. The terraces are bare and brown now. Go for the cold, clear mountain air, not for green rice fields, and bring thermal layers.
The central coast: the quiet improver
The heavy rains of October and November are over, but the central coast isn't quite dry yet. Expect mild days around 20 to 25°C and a few showery days a week, fewer as the month goes on. The sea is still rough and cold for swimming.
Hoi An is at its calmest in January, before the spring crowds, and the lanterns look even better on a cool evening. Hue is the wettest of the central stops, so leave some slack in your plans if you're going there. Da Nang sits in between: good for sightseeing and with plenty of indoor courts for wet mornings. See things to do in Da Nang and things to do in Hoi An.
Crowds and prices: three Januaries in one month
January is high season everywhere, but it isn't one block. In 2027 it splits neatly into three:
- 1 to 5 January: New Year holiday rates. Beach resorts are full, domestic flights are busy and prices are at their highest.
- 6 to 25 January: the sweet spot. Normal high-season prices, the south at its best, and the north quiet.
- 26 to 31 January: the pre-Tet rush begins. Millions of Vietnamese head home for the holiday, so trains, buses and domestic flights fill up and prices climb.
If your dates are flexible, aim for the middle of the month and book domestic flights for the last week early.
Tet 2027 falls in February, and January is the run-up
The Lunar New Year, Tet, falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat. That's good news for a January trip. You get the build-up, which is the most beautiful part, without the days around New Year when many family restaurants, shops and small businesses close.
- Flower markets: from late January, Hanoi's Quang Ba night market and the Hang Luoc market in the Old Quarter fill with peach blossom and kumquat trees. In Saigon, the flower stalls arrive in the last days of the month.
- Kitchen Gods Day: Saturday 30 January 2027. Families send the kitchen gods to heaven with offerings, and in Hanoi you'll see people releasing live carp into the lakes.
- Shopping and sweets: markets sell candied fruit, sticky rice cakes and red envelopes. It's a busy, happy time to wander.
Staying into February? Our Tet 2027 guide explains what closes, what stays open and how to enjoy it.
What's on in January 2027
- 1 January, New Year's Day: a public holiday. Countdowns and fireworks the night before in Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang.
- Early January, Sapa: the winter festival season often runs into the first days of the year, with music and New Year events. The programme comes out late, so check locally.
- Around 21 January, Hoi An Lantern Night: held on the 14th day of each lunar month, when the old town turns off its electric lights. Confirm the date when you arrive.
- 30 January, Kitchen Gods Day: offerings and carp release.
- Late January, flower markets: free, colourful and best early in the morning or, at Quang Ba, late at night.
A 10-day January route: Hanoi, Hoi An, Saigon
For a first trip in January, this is the classic shape, and it works well because the weather improves as you travel: start cool in Hanoi, get milder in Hoi An, and finish in the sun in Saigon.
- Hanoi, 3 nights. Add an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay if you have 12 days.
- Hoi An, 3 nights. Fly Hanoi to Da Nang (about 1 hour 20 minutes), then 45 minutes by car.
- Saigon, 3 nights. Fly Da Nang to Saigon (about 1 hour 20 minutes). Add Phu Quoc or the Mekong if you can.
Book the longest flight first and keep travel days free of anything timed. Below, each city has a map of the places we'd put first in January. Tap a number on the map, or a name in the list, to see what it is, when it's open and how long to give it.
Hanoi in January: the map
Cool, damp and full of character. Most of what you want is in or near the Old Quarter and Ba Dinh, so you can walk a lot of it. Plan museums for the greyest days, and the lakes for the rare sunny ones.
1Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
The heart of Hanoi. Walk the lake early to watch locals doing tai chi and dancing, then cross the red bridge to the little temple on its island. On Friday to Sunday evenings, the streets around the lake close to traffic.
2Old Quarter & Dong Xuan Market
Narrow streets once named after the goods sold on them, tube houses, street food on tiny stools and the big Dong Xuan Market at the top. In late January, Hang Luoc street turns into a Tet flower market.
3Temple of Literature
Founded in 1070 and home to Vietnam's first university. Quiet courtyards, old trees and stone turtles carrying the names of scholars. Go between 8 and 9:30am, before the school groups.
4Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda
The marble mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's stilt house and the tiny One Pillar Pagoda, all in one complex. The mausoleum opens mornings only and is closed on Mondays and Fridays. Dress modestly and expect a queue.
5West Lake & Tran Quoc Pagoda
Hanoi's oldest pagoda sits on a little island in the city's biggest lake. Come late afternoon, then walk or cycle along the shore and stop at a lakeside café for sunset.
6Vietnamese Women's Museum
One of the best small museums in the country: family life, ethnic minority dress, street vendors and women in the war, all well explained in English. Perfect for a drizzly morning.
7Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
The story of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, with full-size traditional houses in the garden behind. A 20-minute ride from the centre and well worth it. Closed on Mondays.
8Quang Ba Flower Market
Hanoi's wholesale flower market, open through the night. In the last week of January it's packed with peach blossom and kumquat trees for Tet. Go late in the evening or very early in the morning.
For more, read our Hanoi Old Quarter guide. Ha Long Bay fits neatly after Hanoi, and Ha Long Bay or Cat Ba helps you choose.
Hoi An in January: the map
Mild and sometimes showery, which suits a town best explored slowly. The old town is small enough to walk, and the villages and the beach are an easy bicycle or Grab ride away. One old-town ticket (120,000 VND) covers several of the historic houses and halls below.
1Japanese Covered Bridge
Hoi An's symbol, a little roofed bridge from the early 1600s, freshly restored. Come early in the morning to see it without a crowd.
2Tan Ky Old House
A merchant's house that has stayed in the same family for generations, mixing Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese design. Marks on the wall show how high the floods have reached.
3Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
The grandest of the Chinese assembly halls, with a dragon fountain and coils of incense hanging from the ceiling. Colourful and photogenic even on a grey day.
4Hoi An Central Market
Fish, herbs and fruit by the river in the morning, and a food hall inside for cao lau and mi quang. Busy and full of Tet shopping in late January.
5An Hoi Night Market
Across the bridge from the old town, with lantern stalls and street food every evening. Go after dinner, when the river is full of candle boats.
6Tra Que Vegetable Village
Herb gardens just north of town, where many cooking classes start. A gentle bike ride on a dry morning.
7Thanh Ha Pottery Village
A riverside village that has made pottery for 500 years. Try the wheel, and see the terracotta park. Busy before Tet, when families buy new pots.
8An Bang Beach
The nearest beach, with relaxed cafés on the sand. In January the sea is rough and cool, so come for a long lunch and a walk rather than a swim.
Saigon in January: the map
Dry season at its best. Do the sights in the morning, rest at midday, and go back out around 4pm when it cools. Most stops are in the old District 1, within walking distance of each other. Cholon is a short ride west.
1War Remnants Museum
The American War from the Vietnamese side, told through photographs. Hard going and important. Not for young children. Go at opening time.
2Independence Palace
The former presidential palace, frozen in April 1975, with 1960s meeting rooms, a rooftop helipad and the command bunker below.
3Notre-Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office
The red-brick cathedral is still under restoration, so admire it from outside. Across the square, the yellow Post Office with its iron roof and painted maps is open and still works.
4Nguyen Hue Walking Street & City Hall
The city's big pedestrian boulevard, with the French-era City Hall at the top. Best in the evening, when families come out. The cafe apartment building at number 42 is worth a climb.
5Ben Thanh Market
The famous covered market from 1914: coffee, dried fruit, fabric and food stalls. In late January it fills with Tet sweets and decorations. Haggle with a smile.
6Saigon Skydeck, Bitexco Tower
The view from the 49th floor of the tower with the helipad. Go just before sunset to see the city in daylight and then lit up.
7Jade Emperor Pagoda
A smoky, atmospheric Taoist temple full of carved gods. Locals come to pray for children and luck, especially before Tet.
8Cholon: Binh Tay Market & Thien Hau Temple
Saigon's Chinatown. A huge wholesale market and a beautiful temple to the sea goddess, with incense coils hanging from the roof. Very lively in the weeks before Tet.
Playing pickleball in January
January is a great month to play in Vietnam, just in different ways.
- Saigon and the south: peak outdoor season. Dry courts and lower humidity, but the sun is strong, so play from 6 to 8am or after 4pm. See where to play in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Hanoi: the cool mornings are perfect for long sessions. Courts can be damp after drizzle, so warm up well and bring a light layer. See pickleball in Hanoi.
- Da Nang: mild and pleasant, with indoor courts for showery mornings. See pickleball in Da Nang.
Many club players travel home for Tet in the last week of the month, so open play can be thinner then. Mid-January is ideal.
Want January planned around your game?
Every trip we plan is private: just you, your partner or a few friends, on your own dates. We book the courts, the flights and the guides, and route you from the cool north to the sunny south.
See the Top to Bottom tripWhat to pack for January
- For the north: a warm jacket, a jumper and long trousers. Thermals and a hat if you're going to Sapa.
- For the centre: a light rain jacket or a small umbrella.
- For the south: light, breathable clothes, sun cream and a hat.
- For temples: something that covers shoulders and knees.
- For the courts: your shoes and a long-sleeve layer for Hanoi mornings. Our what to wear for pickleball in Vietnam guide has the details.
Where to go, and where to think twice
Go: Saigon, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Da Lat, Ha Long Bay, and Hoi An and Da Nang, especially in the second half of the month.
Think twice:
- Sapa and the high passes, unless you're happy with real cold and bare terraces.
- Hanoi as a sun stop. Go for the atmosphere, not the weather.
- Hue, if you can't cope with a rainy day changing your plans.
- The last week of January for long overland trips, when transport is full of people heading home for Tet.
Comparing months? Our best time to visit Vietnam guide covers the whole year.
Vietnam in January FAQ
Is January a good time to visit Vietnam?
Yes, one of the best. The south is dry and sunny, the centre is improving and the north is cool. Just pack for all three, and avoid the last week if you want quieter transport.
How cold is Hanoi in January?
Usually 14 to 20°C, sometimes colder during a cold wave. With grey skies, damp air and no heating indoors, it feels cooler than it sounds. Bring a warm jacket.
When is Tet in 2027?
Saturday 6 February 2027. January is the run-up, with flower markets and decorations, but businesses stay open as normal until the final days.
Where is the warmest place in Vietnam in January?
The south. Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City reach 30 to 32°C, with very little rain.
Can you swim in Vietnam in January?
Yes, in the south. Phu Quoc and Con Dao are calm and warm. On the central coast and in Ha Long Bay, the water is cool and the sea at Da Nang and Hoi An is often rough.
Is it busy in January?
It's high season, so popular places are busy. The first five days and the last week are the busiest and most expensive. The middle of the month is the sweet spot.
The bottom line
Vietnam in January 2027 rewards a north-to-south plan. Start in cool, atmospheric Hanoi, slow down in Hoi An, and finish in the dry heat of Saigon or on a Phu Quoc beach. Travel between 6 and 25 January for the best value, and enjoy the Tet flower markets at the end of the month. Play early in the south and long in the north. When you're ready, we can plan it as a private trip around your dates and your game.
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