January is winter in Northern Vietnam, the rainy season with cold temperatures in the Central Coast, the dry season with pleasant temperatures in the Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam.
In Northern Vietnam there may be snow or frost in the mountains and it is often windy all over the region. There are often new spells of the cold Northeasterly Wind hitting the North which causes rain in the first couple of days of each spell and drops in temperatures.
In the Central Coast, it is still the rainy season but the rain is much lighter and there are days with clouds and without rain. And in the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam, it is dry season with often lovely sunshine and pleasant temperatures.
The sea is rough all over Vietnam in January and sea exploration tours are not operable in most places.
Monsoons in Vietnam in January
In January there are two main monsoons affecting Vietnam:
- The Northeasterly Wind which comes from Tibet or Siberia and which makes real winter in northern Vietnam and long-lasting rainy season in the Central Coast of Vietnam. The Northeasterly Wind may be strong and in which case the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam are to have dry weather with pleasant or chilly temperatures.
- The sea and the offshore islands are to come mostly under impact of the active Northeasterly Wind: rough sea mostly.
What to expect from your holidays to Vietnam in January, where to go in Vietnam in January?
Taking the general weather conditions in Vietnam into consideration, for those travelers planning trips to Vietnam or those who are on holiday in Vietnam in January, then there are some notes as follows:
- January is a good time to travel to northern Vietnam where winter weather prevails : mild sunshine, windy, pleasant or very cold temperatures. It is mostly dry in northern Vietnam in January which is great for all kinds of outdoor activities. Those who embark on hiking and trekking adventures are to marvel at the amazing clouds which envelops the unreal mountainous beauty. Take precaution though as it may snow in the mountains in the first 10 days of January.
In the lowland, the winter weather in northern Vietnam are lovely for all kinds of activities : biking, sightseeing, boat cruising, trekking, birding...
January is among the best times for birdwatching in northern Vietnam given the presence of endemic bird species and migratory species. The beautiful weather does help to make birds more active and gregarious.
Those who go to the sea should know that except for Halong Bay, the sea is rough all over Vietnam. So if you have to travel by boat and vulnerable to sea sick, you are to be prepared before the journey then. It is possible that sea exploration tours like scuba-diving, snorkeling... are to be disrupted due to rough sea.
- The Central Coast of Vietnam is to experience the rainy season still with pleasant or cold temperatures. While it is rainy season in the Central Coast, the rain is much lighter in January compared to that in November, December. There are days that the Central Coast enjoys dry weather.
For those who plan a trip to the Central Highlands, expect sun, cloudy and dry weather with very comfortable temperatures. The beautiful weather may make you wish to go out most of the time !
Those planning holidays to Southern Vietnam in January, then you are likely to have a great time. The temperatures are more likely to be pleasant. It may be sunny or cloudy in the region.
The beaches in Vung Tau, Long Hai and Mui Ne, Phan Thiet are good options near Saigon Ho Chi Minh City. As the temperatures may get chilly sometimes, these beaches are not that crowded.
Con Dao Islands, Phu Quoc Island are to have cloudy days with lovely temperatures of 26-29oC. The sea is rough though.
Below you can find Paradissa’s reviews and statistics of the weather in different regions in Vietnam in January 2025
1/ Vietnam Weather in the First Decade of January 2025
Disclaimer: Vietnam weather summary is for reviews of Vietnam weather by month on the basis as “it is” to the best of our knowledge. Paradissa does not guarantee the accuracy of our monthly reviews of Vietnam Weather. Our Vietnam Weather Reviews by month must not be used for making travel decisions or for any other purposes. Paradissa disclaims any liability in connection with with the use of our information.
