Vietnam in April: ✅ one of the best months for a north-to-south circuit. Hanoi warms up (28.5 °C, 83 °F, in the afternoon) and leaves the winter drizzle behind, the centre is dry and sunny (59 mm, 2.3 in in Hue, 35 mm, 1.4 in in Da Nang) and the south is finishing its dry season (57 mm, 2.2 in in Ho Chi Minh City). The caveats: the heat builds in the south (34.5 °C, 94 °F), showers return to Phu Quoc at the end of the month, and 30 April and 1 May are public holidays.
April is the month when all three regions of the country are most often pleasant at the same time. We have gathered the official normals for five stations and calculated the rainy days to expect over a week and the daily sunshine. To compare with the other months, see our page on the best time to visit Vietnam.
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Vietnam in April: key facts
- Verdict: ✅ north, centre and south; ⚠️ heat in the south, showers on Phu Quoc at the end of the month
- Hanoi: 28.5 °C (83 °F) / 22.4 °C (72 °F), 104 mm (4.1 in), skies still often overcast
- Centre: 31 °C (88 °F) in Hue and Da Nang, less than 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain
- South: 34.5 °C (94 °F) in Ho Chi Minh City, 4 rainy days
- Public holidays: 30 April and 1 May
- Entry: visa and passport rules differ for US and UK citizens, see our entry requirements guide
- Time difference: in April, Vietnam (UTC+7) is 6 hours ahead of London (BST) and 11 hours ahead of New York (EDT)
Weather in Vietnam in April: region by region
| Station | Region | Max | Min | Rain | Rainy days | Per 7 days | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | North | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 22.4 °C (72 °F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 14.1 | 3 | 3.0 |
| Hue | Centre | 31.1 °C (88 °F) | 22.7 °C (73 °F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 9.2 | 2 | 5.9 |
| Da Nang | Centre (coast) | 31.0 °C (88 °F) | 23.8 °C (75 °F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 5.4 | 1 | 7.0 |
| Ho Chi Minh City | South | 34.5 °C (94 °F) | 26.4 °C (80 °F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 4 | 1 | 8.0 |
| Phu Quoc | South (island) | 32.5 °C (91 °F) | 25.6 °C (78 °F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 11.7 | 3 | 8.2 |
Destination de Voyage calculation from these normals: Da Nang is the most favourable station in the country in April, with about 1 rainy day per week and nearly 7 hours of sunshine a day. Hanoi remains a paradox: 14 rainy days in the month, but for only 104 mm (4.1 in), and 3 hours of sunshine a day. These are mostly drizzle and grey skies inherited from winter, rather than heavy thunderstorms. In the south, Ho Chi Minh City still gets 8 hours of sunshine a day.
April compared with March and May
| Station | March | April | May |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | 25.9 °C (79 °F) / 36 mm (1.4 in) | 28.5 °C (83 °F) / 104 mm (4.1 in) | 32.8 °C (91 °F) / 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Hue | 27.5 °C (82 °F) / 51 mm (2.0 in) | 31.1 °C (88 °F) / 59 mm (2.3 in) | 33.5 °C (92 °F) / 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Da Nang | 28.3 °C (83 °F) / 25 mm (1.0 in) | 31.0 °C (88 °F) / 35 mm (1.4 in) | 33.3 °C (92 °F) / 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 33.6 °C (92 °F) / 18 mm (0.7 in) | 34.5 °C (94 °F) / 57 mm (2.2 in) | 34.9 °C (95 °F) / 202 mm (8.0 in) |
| Phu Quoc | 32.1 °C (90 °F) / 61 mm (2.4 in) | 32.5 °C (91 °F) / 148 mm (5.8 in) | 31.6 °C (89 °F) / 281 mm (11.1 in) |
April is a pivotal month. In the north, Hanoi gains 2.6 °C (5 °F) compared with March and sunshine nearly doubles (47 to 90 hours in the month), but rain triples (36 to 104 mm, 1.4 to 4.1 in) as the wet season approaches. In the centre, April is hotter than March and still dry; rain doubles in May in Hue. In the south, the switch comes in May: Ho Chi Minh City goes from 57 to 202 mm (2.2 to 8.0 in), and Phu Quoc already receives 148 mm (5.8 in) in April. See also our page Vietnam in August for the rainy season.
Where to go in Vietnam in April
The north: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa
In the north it is mild in April (28.5 °C, 83 °F, in the afternoon in Hanoi) and the heat of May (32.8 °C, 91 °F) has not yet arrived. The sky is sometimes hazy over Halong Bay, which can reduce visibility on some days. Ninh Binh follows the same calendar as Hanoi. See our Hanoi guide.
The centre: Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang
The centre is dry and bright in April, with about 7 hours of sunshine a day in Da Nang. It is the right time for the imperial city of Hue, the old town of Hoi An and An Bang beach.
The south: Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc
April ends the dry season in the south: Ho Chi Minh City goes from 57 mm (2.2 in) in April to 202 mm (8.0 in) in May. It is hot and heavy in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta: sightsee in the morning. On Phu Quoc, rain goes from 61 mm (2.4 in) in March to 148 mm (5.8 in) in April: expect about 3 rainy days a week, more at the end of the month.
Things to do in Vietnam in April
- A full north-south circuit: Hanoi and Halong, then Hue and Hoi An, then the south and the Mekong.
- A Halong Bay cruise, before the heavy rains of summer. The UK FCDO advises considering safety standards carefully before an overnight boat trip on Halong Bay (GOV.UK, updated 21 September 2026).
- Beach in the centre: Da Nang and Hoi An, the driest region of the country this month.
- Hiking in Sapa: mild temperatures at altitude, rice terraces being flooded.
- To avoid: long days in full sun in the south and unbooked domestic journeys around 30 April.
Festivals and public holidays in April
30 April (Reunification Day) and 1 May (Labour Day) are public holidays in Vietnam: book trains and domestic flights in advance. The Hung Kings festival, set on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, often falls in April; its date varies every year. Check the calendar for your year of travel.
What to pack for Vietnam in April
- Light cotton or linen clothing
- A light jacket for Hanoi in the evening and for Sapa
- A light poncho for showers in the north and on Phu Quoc
- Sunscreen and a hat for the centre and south
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees for pagodas
- Mosquito repellent: dengue is listed among the mosquito-borne health risks (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 21 September 2026)
Entry requirements and safety
Visa, passport and entry rules differ for US and UK citizens and change regularly: see our guide to entry requirements for Vietnam.
On safety, both the UK FCDO and the U.S. Department of State note that you may need a permit or permission from local authorities to visit areas close to the border, and that such areas are not always marked (GOV.UK, updated 21 September 2026; travel.state.gov, last updated July 2, 2026). The U.S. Department of State rates crime in Vietnam as high and advises the same commonsense precautions as in any major city.
If April does not suit you
Neighbouring months: March is slightly cooler and greyer in the north, just as dry in the centre and south; May becomes hot everywhere and the rains return in the north and south. For the rainy season, see Vietnam in August.
Other destinations in April: Thailand in April, for Songkran, or Bali in April, at the start of the dry season. All our ideas: where to go in April. For the itinerary: our Vietnam travel guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is April a good time to visit Vietnam?
Yes: it is one of the best months for a north-to-south circuit, with a mild north, a dry centre and a south at the end of its dry season.
What is the weather like in Vietnam in April?
28.5 °C (83 °F) in the afternoon in Hanoi, 31 °C (88 °F) in Hue and Da Nang, 34.5 °C (94 °F) in Ho Chi Minh City. It rains little in the centre and south; in the north the sky often stays grey.
Where is the weather best in Vietnam in April?
In the centre: Da Nang has about 5 rainy days in the month and nearly 7 hours of sunshine a day.
Can you go to Phu Quoc in April?
Yes, but it is the end of the dry season: 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain and about 12 rainy days in the month. March is safer.
What are the public holidays in April in Vietnam?
30 April (Reunification Day), followed by 1 May. Book domestic transport in advance.
Do you need a visa for Vietnam in April?
It depends on your nationality. Rules differ for US and UK citizens: see our guide to entry requirements for Vietnam.
Our sources
- Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology (IBST), standard QCVN 02:2022/BXD: normals for the stations of Hanoi (Láng, 1991-2020), Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat) and Phu Quoc
- World Meteorological Organization: rain and rainy days for Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat)
- Safety and health information read on 26 October 2026: UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Vietnam (GOV.UK, updated 21 September 2026), and U.S. Department of State, Vietnam country information (travel.state.gov, last updated July 2, 2026)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.