Useful times and dates

Tourism seasons

Vietnam is a country where tourists can visit in all four seasons. The country's tourism service offers a range of programmes convenient to your circumstances.

In the North, the best tourist season lasts from November to April the next year. Spring time is especially pleasant because of the cooler, drier climate. Also at this time there are a lot of ritual ceremonies and folk festivals of many diverse forms; such as: Festivals to commemorate national heroes and heroines, folk cultural festivals, spring festivals, as well as prayer ceremonies for good crops, to cite just a few.

The most interesting one is the Lunar New Year Festival.

Visiting Vietnam in that season, you are recommended to bring along warm clothes. The temperature in Winter is around 10-15 degree Celsius. It becomes warmer in March and April.

Meanwhile in the South, the average temperature throughout the year is about 27 degree Celsius, so you just need thin garments, sun glasses and may be a hat or two.

Office hours: All Government offices are open from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays, except for a one-hour lunch break.

Public holidays

January 1: New Year Day, one day holiday.

April 30: Saigon Liberation Day, one day holiday.

May 1: International Labor Day, one day holiday.

September 2: National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, one day holiday.

Vietnam Traditional lunar New Year Festival (Tet Nguyen Dan): Four day holiday. It often falls between January and February. The holidays begin on the Eve and the first three days of a Lunar New Year.

Other major anniversaries

February 3: Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party

May 19: Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh

December 25: Christmas

VN Embassy : Learn about Vietnam : Travel to Vietnam : Useful times and dates