If you can only choose one month for a trip from Hanoi to Saigon, choose March. It's the rare stretch when the north, the centre and the south are all comfortable at the same time. Tet is over, the spring festivals are winding down, and the crowds don't build until Easter, which falls on 28 March 2027. Here's what March really looks like, region by region, and how to make the most of it.
The short version
Why March: the best month for a whole-country trip. Mild in the north, dry on the central coast, hot and dry in the south.
The north: Hanoi is 18 to 25°C and humid, with drizzle early in the month and more sun later.
The centre: Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An are dry and warm. The sea is swimmable from about mid-March.
The south: Saigon and Phu Quoc reach 32 to 34°C. Late March starts the hottest stretch of the year.
Crowds: calm in early and mid-March, busier around Easter on 28 March 2027.
Is March a good time to visit Vietnam?
Yes. March is the best month for a trip that covers the whole country. In most other months, at least one region is too cold, too wet or too hot. In March, Hanoi has shed its winter, Hue and Hoi An are into their dry season, and Saigon is still in the dry months before the heat peaks in April and May. You can pack one wardrobe, plus a light layer for the north.
The only trade-offs are humidity in Hanoi, where walls and floors can sweat in early March, and rising heat in the south as the month goes on.
March 2027 at a glance
| Region | Typical day / night | Weather | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi, Ninh Binh | 22–25°C / 17–19°C | Humid, drizzle early, brighter later | Very good |
| Sapa | 17–20°C / 10–12°C | Mild days, cool nights, some fog | Good for trekking |
| Ha Long Bay | 21–24°C / 17°C | Calm sea, mist easing | Good, clearer late in the month |
| Hue | 25–27°C / 19–20°C | Mostly dry | Very good |
| Da Nang, Hoi An | 26–28°C / 21°C | Dry, sea warming | Excellent |
| Da Lat | 24–25°C / 13–14°C | Dry and sunny | Excellent |
| Saigon, Mekong Delta | 33–34°C / 23–24°C | Dry, hot afternoons | Good, play early |
| Phu Quoc | 31–32°C / 25°C | Dry, calm sea on the west coast | Excellent |
These are typical averages, and any single year can run warmer or cooler. Our best time to visit Vietnam guide has the rest of the year.
The north in March: mild, humid, coming back to life
Hanoi in March is mild, usually 18 to 25°C, and noticeably humid. Early in the month the city often has a few days of nồm, a damp spell when the air is so wet that tiled floors and walls sweat. It's harmless, just a little sticky; hotels run dehumidifiers. By late March the drizzle fades and there's more sun. The trees around Hoan Kiem Lake are in fresh leaf, and the 6am crowd of walkers, dancers and badminton players is out in force.
It's a good month for the countryside around Hanoi. In Ninh Binh, the new rice is bright green below the limestone karsts, and the rowing boats at Trang An and Tam Coc are less crowded than in the festival weeks of February. In the north-west, around Dien Bien and Son La, the hillsides turn white with ban flowers (a kind of bauhinia) through March. Sapa is mild for trekking, though the terraces are bare until they're flooded for planting in April and May.
Ha Long Bay improves through the month: the sea is calm and the mist of winter starts to lift, so late March usually gives clearer views. Read our Ha Long Bay cruise guide to choose a boat, and our northern Vietnam itinerary for a week in the north. The Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long trip and Valleys to the Bay both suit March well.
The central coast in March: the dry season settles in
March is when the central coast comes into its best stretch: dry, sunny and 21 to 28°C, with the sea warm enough to swim from about mid-month. The winter swell at Da Nang and An Bang calms down, Ba Na Hills has clearer days for the Golden Bridge, and the long evenings in Hoi An are warm but not yet humid.
- Hue: one of the best months to visit, mostly dry and not yet hot. Give the Imperial City and the royal tombs two full days. See is Hue worth visiting?
- Hoi An: the lantern night falls on Sunday 21 March 2027. Book a cooking class, a bicycle ride through the rice fields and a basket boat; our guide to things to do in Hoi An has the rest.
- Da Nang: swim at My Khe at sunrise, then see the Marble Mountains and Son Tra. See things to do in Da Nang and our Ba Na Hills guide.
Our Da Nang and Hoi An trip is at its best from March to May. If you're torn between the two towns, read Hoi An or Da Nang.
The south in March: hot and dry
Saigon, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc are still in the dry season in March, at around 32 to 34°C by day. The humidity starts to climb in the second half of the month, the beginning of the hottest weeks of the year in April and May. Plan the south the Vietnamese way: out early, a long lunch and a rest, then back out after 4pm.
It's a good month for the Mekong Delta, with dry roads and fruit in the orchards, and for Phu Quoc, where the west coast stays calm and clear. In Saigon, the Cu Chi Tunnels are best done first thing, before the forest heats up. See things to do in Ho Chi Minh City for the rest.
The Central Highlands: coffee blossom and cool air
Up on the plateau, March is dry, sunny and comfortable. Da Lat sits at around 13 to 25°C, cool enough for a jacket in the evening and warm enough to walk all day. Our Da Lat guide covers the town. Around Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam's coffee capital, the coffee trees flower white in the early months of the year, and the city has held its coffee festival in March in recent editions; check the 2027 dates before you plan around it. Read Vietnamese coffee culture before you go, and our second-trip guide for more on the highlands.
Crowds, prices and Easter 2027
Early and mid-March are among the calmest weeks of the dry season. The Tet rush is long gone, domestic flights are back to normal prices, and hotels are easy to book a month or two ahead.
That changes in the last ten days of the month. Easter falls on Sunday 28 March 2027, and the European and Australian school holidays bring more visitors to Hoi An, Ha Long Bay and Phu Quoc. If your dates include Easter week, book cruises and boutique hotels in Hoi An early. International Women's Day on Monday 8 March is a big occasion in Vietnam too: florists are busy and restaurants fill up that evening, so book ahead if you're eating out.
The Perfume Pagoda pilgrimage season continues through March, and weekdays are much quieter than the first weeks after Tet.
Playing pickleball in March
March is one of the best months to play anywhere in Vietnam. Courts are busy from 5:30am in every big city, and the weather lets you play outdoors almost everywhere.
- Hanoi: mild mornings, ideal for outdoor courts. On the damp nồm days, choose an indoor club. See where to play in Hanoi.
- Da Nang and Hoi An: dry and warm. Play from 6am, then swim. See Da Nang and Hoi An.
- Saigon: hot by 9am. Finish by 8am, or play under a roof. See Saigon's clubs.
In 2026, the PPA Tour Asia's Hanoi stop ran in the first week of April. The 2027 calendar hadn't been published as of October 2026, but if it follows the same pattern, a late-March trip could end with a tournament. Our guide to entering a tournament in Vietnam explains how visitors sign up.
A 12-day March route, north to south
March is the month to go from top to bottom, and twelve days is enough to do it without rushing. Fly into Hanoi and out of Saigon to avoid backtracking.
| Days | Where | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Hanoi | The Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn, a first morning game |
| 4 | Ha Long Bay | An overnight cruise on a calm spring sea |
| 5–6 | Hue | Fly from Hanoi. The Imperial City and royal tombs in dry weather |
| 7–9 | Hoi An and Da Nang | Drive the Hai Van Pass. Lantern town, the beach, morning play |
| 10–12 | Saigon | Fly from Da Nang. The city, Cu Chi or a Mekong day |
This is close to our twelve-day Top to Bottom trip, which includes three pickleball sessions. Want more time? See two weeks in Vietnam. Landing in Hanoi, Da Nang or Saigon, we can meet you at the airport.
March is the month to do it all
Every trip we plan is private, on your dates. Tell us when you can travel and we'll build the north-to-south route around your game.
See the Top to Bottom tripWhat to pack for March
- Light, breathable clothes for most of the trip, and swimwear for the coast.
- One warm layer for Hanoi evenings, Sapa and an early cruise.
- A light rain jacket for Hanoi's drizzle early in the month.
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for the south and the beaches.
- Something covering shoulders and knees for Hue's temples and pagodas.
- Court shoes and your paddle. Read flying with a paddle first.
Our Vietnam packing list has the rest.
Vietnam in March: FAQ
Is March a good time to visit Vietnam?
Yes. March is the best single month for a trip that covers the whole country. The north has warmed up after winter, the central coast is in its dry season, and the south is dry and hot before the peak heat of April and May.
What is the weather like in Vietnam in March?
Hanoi is mild and humid, around 18 to 25°C. Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An are dry and warm, around 21 to 28°C. Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc are hot and dry, around 32 to 34°C by day.
Is Ho Chi Minh City too hot in March?
It's hot, usually 32 to 34°C by mid-afternoon, and late March is the start of the hottest stretch of the year. Do your sightseeing and play before 10am and after 4pm. Our guide to playing in the heat has more.
Can you swim in Da Nang and Hoi An in March?
Yes, from about mid-March. The sea warms to around 24 to 26°C and the winter swell calms down. Early in the month the water can still be cool and choppy.
Is March a good month for Ha Long Bay?
Yes, and it gets better as the month goes on. Days are mild, around 20 to 24°C, and the sea is calm. Early March can still be misty; by late March the views are usually clearer.
Is Vietnam crowded in March?
Early and mid-March are among the calmest weeks of the dry season, between the Tet rush and the spring holidays. It gets busier towards Easter, which falls on Sunday 28 March 2027, when many European and Australian travellers arrive.
The bottom line
Vietnam in March 2027 is the best month of the year for a trip from Hanoi to Saigon. The north is mild, the central coast is dry and swimmable from mid-month, and the south is hot but dry. Come in early or mid-March for the calmest weeks, book ahead if your trip includes Easter on 28 March, and play early in the south. If March doesn't fit, February has Tet and the spring festivals, and our month-by-month guide covers the rest of the year.
Find a game in Vietnam
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