Ho Chi Minh City · Month comparison
April vs February
February ranks #1 overall vs April at #6. Tết transforms the city — the driest month of the year meets Vietnam's biggest festival.
April
#6 of 12 months
Strong option
The hottest month of the year — 36°C peaks before the first rains arrive in late April.
- ↑The last full dry-season month before rains begin: mornings are still excellent for sightseeing before the afternoon heat peaks
- ↑Easter week and spring school holidays bring an influx of European and Australian visitors, but crowds are still manageable
February
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Tết transforms the city — the driest month of the year meets Vietnam's biggest festival.
- ↑Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) typically falls in February — the most spectacular festival in Vietnam; flower markets, firecrackers, and the entire city in red and gold
- ↑9 sunshine hours a day and only 5mm of rain: the driest and sunniest month of the year
| Factor | April | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 6 | 9 |
| Value score | 6 | 4 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 7 |
| Events score | 5 | 10 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 36°C | 34°C |
| Monthly rain | 45mm | 5mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7hrs | 9hrs |
April trade-offs
- ↓Peak heat: 36°C highs are the hottest of the year, and afternoon outdoor movement is genuinely uncomfortable
- ↓Rainfall begins to arrive in late April — expect 45mm and occasional heavy afternoon thunderstorms
- ↓Easter holiday pricing begins creeping up; accommodation fills faster than in February or March
February trade-offs
- ↓Tết week means many restaurants, shops, and services close for 3–7 days — plan around this or embrace the shutdown
- ↓Hotel prices spike sharply around Tết; book 2–3 months ahead for any decent accommodation
- ↓Tết holiday creates domestic travel surge: bus stations, airports, and markets are chaotic in the week before the new year
Scores compare months within Ho Chi Minh City. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →