Hoi An December — lanterns illuminate an Ancient Town building at night, warm golden light glowing in the cool winter dark

Hoi An · Vietnam

December

Christmas Hoi An is genuinely magical — lanterns and festive lights, though rain is still frequent.

Strong option

#4 of 12 months

There are better months for Hoi An — see the full ranking below.

See when to go instead →

Climate

High

24°C

Low

18°C

Rain

193mm

Sun

5.3hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How December scores in Hoi An

Weather
Above average
Value
Very good
Crowds
Good
Events
Excellent
Atmosphere
Excellent

What you gain in December

  • December Full Moon Lantern Festival combined with Christmas decorations: the Ancient Town is at its most atmospheric
  • Temperatures cooling to 24°C — the most comfortable walking conditions since April
  • Visitor numbers moderate: not the chaos of July, and the rain keeps casual tourists away — those who come tend to be intentional

What you sacrifice

  • 193mm of rain is still significant — beach days at An Bang are unreliable and some rural cycling routes remain waterlogged
  • Humidity at 87%: the cool temperatures feel damp rather than refreshing
  • Christmas week prices spike for river-view and Old Town hotels; book 6–8 weeks ahead for the best guesthouses

How December compares to February (best month)

FactorDecemberFebruary
Weather
5
9
Value
7
7
Crowds
6
6

December in other destinations

Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Hoi An, not across destinations. Methodology →