Vietnam
Best Time to Visit Hoi An
Hoi An's best window is the dry season (October to April), when weather is stable and the UNESCO town is fully navigable on foot. The city's proximity to the coast means monsoons and flooding are serious constraints outside this period, making timing essential rather than optional.
✦ Visit October to November for the genuine sweet spot: dry weather, fewer tourists, and reasonable prices without sacrificing experience.
✅ Best months
October to November and February to March. October–November offers post-monsoon clarity, cooler temperatures (23–28°C), and lower humidity; hotels drop prices by 20–30% after September's rains. February–March delivers similar conditions with Lunar New Year atmosphere but slightly higher rates as families travel.
🔥 Peak season
December and January. Northern visitors escape cold, school holidays drive bookings, and the Ancient Town reaches saturation (8,000+ daily tourists in peak weeks). Hotel rates climb 40–60% above low season; mid-range rooms hit £50–80/night. Lantern Festival (late January/early February, lunar calendar) draws crowds specifically to photograph the town's iconic water lanterns.
💷 Shoulder (best value)
April and May. Prices remain reasonable (£35–60/night), crowds thin noticeably, and temperatures are warm (28–32°C) but manageable with early starts. Late April Hoi An Silk Festival offers cultural value without December's chaos. Trade-off: approaching monsoon means occasional afternoon rain by late May.
Hoi An season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Weather: 23–32°C, increasingly humid; occasional showers by May
Crowds: low to medium
Ideal for budget travellers and walking the Ancient Town. Late-month rain becomes more frequent.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Weather: 28–34°C, 80–90% humidity; heavy southwest monsoon June–August
Crowds: low (due to weather)
Flooding common in town centre; local ferries replace streets. Budget hotels plentiful but rain limits sightseeing. Best avoided.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Weather: 22–30°C; residual rain in September, clearing by October
Crowds: medium (Oct–Nov surge)
October is sweet spot—post-monsoon freshness, manageable numbers, excellent visibility for photography.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Weather: 18–27°C, dry, low humidity
Crowds: high (Dec–Jan peak)
Most popular season. Coolest, driest, most crowded. Lantern Festival (late Jan) is signature event but amplifies congestion.
🎭 Events worth timing a trip around
Lantern Festival (late January or early February, lunar calendar)—the town's lanterns illuminate the Thu Bon River in a once-monthly ceremony; book 2–3 months ahead. Hoi An Silk Festival (late April)—fashion shows and silk exhibitions with lower crowds than Lantern Festival.
🧳 What to pack
Bring a compact rain jacket year-round; even 'dry season' months see isolated showers, and monsoon season (Jun–Aug) turns streets into canals within minutes.
Found your dates? Get your hotel briefing.
Room tips, the 14-day forecast for your exact stay, dining, transport and more — free for any Hoi An hotel.
Guide last updated June 2026.