TLDR
Hoi An has two simple weather modes — dry and pleasant (February to August) or wet and moody (September to January). The very best months are March, April and May. Here’s every month broken down, including flooding risk, festival highlights and price movement.
Insider Tip
If you can time your visit around the 14th of a lunar month, you’ll see the full lantern festival when the Old Town goes dark and candles float on the river. Check a lunar calendar before booking.
Planning your stay? Check current rates at Shining River Side Hotel — a convenient base on the river in Cẩm Châu.
The Quick Answer
Best overall: March, April, May. Warm (25–32°C), dry, jasmine blooms, ocean warm enough to swim, paddies green. Prices are mid-range and crowds manageable if you dodge Easter.
Best for low crowds: early June and late August — hot, but half the visitors of peak.
Best for atmosphere: any month containing a full-moon Lantern Festival (14th of lunar calendar). January–February sometimes aligns with Tết (Vietnamese New Year) — a very particular experience.
Avoid: mid-October to mid-November (flood risk, river too high for boats, beach windswept).
January — Cool and Quiet
18–24°C, occasional drizzle. Jackets at night. Airfares still moderate. Tết usually lands in late January or early February — if you hit Tết, many shops and tour operators close for 4–7 days. Pros: atmospheric, cheap, low crowds. Cons: some things closed, beach too cool for swimming.
February — Shoulder Into Spring
20–27°C, drier. Tết in early February in most years — worth checking. By mid-month Hoi An is at its best.
March and April — The Sweet Spot
25–30°C, dry, warm sea. This is why people rebook. Early April sees the Reunification Day break (April 30) — expect domestic crowds.
March and April are the genuine sweet spot for most travellers. Daytime highs climb from 25 degrees Celsius in early March to 31 degrees Celsius by late April, with overnight lows of 19 to 22 degrees. Rainfall averages 30 to 40mm per month, which is almost nothing. Sea temperatures rise from 23 to 26 degrees Celsius across this window. The light stays gentle from around 5pm onwards, which is why this is also the best season for lantern photography in the old town.
May — Last of the Easy Weather
28–32°C, humid rising. Sunsets spectacular. Lantern festivals drawing larger foreign crowds by now.
June to August — Hot and Energetic
32–36°C, high humidity, afternoon thunderstorms common but short. Prices drop, crowds thin except for European school holidays. Beach days are excellent early morning and after 4pm.
September — The Transition
28–33°C, first typhoons possible. Still mostly workable. Prices at their lowest of the year. Gamble on weather for 40% off.
October and November — Rainy, Sometimes Flooded
22–28°C, heavy rain. The Thu Bon River typically rises and sometimes floods parts of the Old Town. Riverside hotels upstairs stay dry. Cua Dai Beach closed to swimmers; waves are fierce. Boat tours suspended during peak flooding.
Don’t rule out the shoulder weeks — early October can still be lovely. Just have flexibility and travel insurance.
October and November are Hoi An’s rainy months and some streets in the old town flood when the Thu Bon river rises. In a bad year, boats ferry residents along Bach Dang Street and the covered bridge sits just above the waterline. Most businesses adapt and stay open. Cam Chau itself is on slightly higher ground but Trần Phú and parts of An Hoi see water. Check with your hotel on arrival for current road conditions and plan for backup indoor activities like a cooking class or the Hoi An silk village.
December — Cooler Returns
20–26°C, drying out. Christmas and New Year see a modest spike in visitors and prices. A pleasant month if the sea doesn’t matter.
Festivals Worth Planning Around
Tết Nguyên Đán (Lunar New Year, Jan–Feb) — local, quiet, memorable. Lantern Festival (14th of every lunar month) — the iconic Hoi An image. Mid-Autumn Festival (late September) — lion dances, mooncakes. Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1) — Vietnamese holiday crowds.
For official tourism information, see the Hoi An World Heritage Centre website.
“My wife and I stayed here a full month while she completed her dissertation and we were so very happy with our stay. The staff is incredibly warm and accommodating. The hotel itself is very well maintained and has a beautiful fengshui that hits some middle point between being cosy, spacious and communitarian. The location is great and the room overlooking the rice paddies and gardens was very relaxing and serene.”
Alexander Bon-Miller — verified guest, Shining River Side Hotel · 5/5
Check current prices at Shining River Side Hotel
Shining River Side Hotel sits right on the Thu Bon River in Cẩm Châu — a convenient base for everything in this guide.
Check Available RoomsWe may earn a small commission if you book through this link — it doesn’t cost you anything extra.
Related reading: Best Day Trips from Cẩm Châu, Best Restaurants in Cẩm Châu, Cẩm Châu Neighborhood Guide.
The Hoi An Lantern Festival happens on the 14th day of each lunar month and is the single most atmospheric night to be in the old town. Electric lights on the main streets switch off and the town is lit only by paper lanterns and candles floated on the river. Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese New Year) usually falls in late January or early February and is festive but logistically tricky because many small restaurants close for three to five days. Check exact dates before booking flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the single best month to visit Hoi An?
April. Warm, dry, green paddies, swimmable sea, and the Easter spike fades quickly.
When is the rainy season?
September to January, peaking in October and November. Brief afternoon showers June to August are a different, milder thing.
Will I see floods?
Most years the Thu Bon River rises enough to flood parts of the Old Town between mid-October and mid-November. Most of Cẩm Châu stays dry.
Is Lantern Festival a specific date?
It falls on the 14th of every lunar month. Check a lunar calendar — it shifts each Gregorian month.
When is it cheapest?
September, through the first half of October — just before the worst rain.
Is December a good month?
Yes if you’re not chasing beach weather. Cooler, drier, lovely for Old Town walking.