Da Nang Best Time to Visit: Guide to Best Weather in Da Nang

The Best Time of the Year to Visit Da Nang Vietnam

Da Nang has two distinct seasons in the year: the dry, from January to end of August and the wet from September to December. Compared to North Vietnam, these periods with the same weather begin 2 months later. See characteristics of each season in detail and tips in our guide to Da Nang weather. From October to December, typhoons are formed and may hit or largely affect the city, so called “typhoon season”.

The best time of the year to visit Da Nang depends on what travelers want to see, do and experience. If looking for a sunny beach holiday, booking a flight in the span from mid-February to the beginning of the rainy season in September. The hottest months are from June to August, featuring a very high temperature and UV index, so sunbathers may have a shorter visit than earlier and later times. It’s also the best for outdoor adventures and underwater activities because the natural sceneries are at their best. However, the strong midday heat is a concern. In the rest of the year, the temperature decreases a bit but the atmosphere is more humid. It rains more frequently (more than 20 days a month), coupled with dark skies and local floods on the streets. Without much rain, travelers can enjoy the coolest period and relax. 

On the other hand, there are two other famous tourist cities in Da Nang’s proximity (called the Central Vietnam), Hoi An and Hue. Both are Unesco world heritages, attracting some millions of visitors yearly. So, the best time to visit Da Nang also depends on the itinerary which is tailored for at least 2 destinations. Read the article for Hue’s weather and Hoi An’s weather for further information.

The Best Time of the Seasons in Da Nang

Da Nang Dry Season

The dry season in Da Nang is from January to August. During these months, the temperature is 25,5^oC on average, and reaches its peak in June, July and August. In the hottest period, the real feel may be up to 40^oC. Sunny hours are many, starting from the sunrise at around 5:30 a.m and ending with a sunset at around 6 p.m. Skies are nearly always clear, blue and with white clouds. Due to lower temperature, travellers prefer a couple of weeks between January and May. However, two long Vietnamese holidays, the New year festival and the Reunification Day cause an significant increase of travel prices, overbooking of hotels and crowds anywhere. So, the end of February to mid-April may be the best.

Da Nang (Rain) Rainy Season

The wet season in Da Nang begins in September and ends in December. Month by month, it rains more than 20 days and the rainfall rises to the highest rates of the whole year. On many days, the sunlight hours are just around 3. Typhoons may occur from October to December, causing pouring rains, gusty winds, big sea waves and local floods. The sun with full face, light sunshine and clear skies can be expected, between heavily rainy days. Domestic travellers often don’t travel much during this time, and instead, there are millions of foreigners landing to enjoy the holiday (if without typhoons). In the Christmas and New year days, the pace of life becomes more vibrant and graceful. So, when the downpour doesn’t come yet and ends (early September, late December), break time between rainy days may be the best.

The Best Month to Visit Da Nang

The best month to visit Da Nang is March and April or September. If traveling in March and April, visitors will avoid one of the most costly times and hottest times. Average high-temperature is 35^oC and low-temperature is 26^oC. Because it is still in the dry season, it provides all a beach holiday needed. There are sunny days with blue skies, dry and white sands, warm and clear water, gentle waves and opportunities to participate in water sports. Seafood is freshest, most diverse during these months. In September, the heat slows down and heavy rains don’t occur, making it ideal for sightseeing. Read our comprehensive guide to Da Nang’s weather month by month for more details.

The Best Time to Visit Da Nang’s Marble Mountains

The Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) is a group of 5 scenic marble hills not far from Da Nang’s river bridges. It’s famous nationally for impressive caves, old temples, and unique formations that are pieces of a broken dragon egg in the legend. Opening from 7 a.m to 5:30 p.m, visitors have to climb some hundred steep steps to see different sights at the top of this top attraction. Good shoes and comfortable outfits are always necessary. Due to being a Buddhist sanctuary, a dress code is regulated, see details here.

The best time to visit the Marble Mountains are from March to May, and in September. In these periods, travellers can avoid crowded and expensive February (due to the Vietnamese new year), the warmest months (June to August) and the wet season. Between March and May, the temperature increases steadily and slowly, and every day, it reaches the peak at noon. Therefore, domestic tourists often don’t visit the mountains at that time. The most ideal sightseeing is in the early morning. Late afternoon is also okay, giving a chance to watch sunset down the horizon. Not only the heat, it’s perfect to be away from crowds who often come before and after the lunch. However, to catch the moment light falls inside the caves, photography lovers should be there while the sun is high.

From October to December, it rains three weeks a month on average and the possibility of typhoons is high. Except for a cooler temperature than previous times, other conditions are not too great – the skies are cloudy, steps and cave floors are wet and slippery. If you expect good natural light for photography, check the weather forecast and choose the day of most sunshine hours.

Highly recommended: Travel guide to The Marble Mountains

When is the Best Time to Visit Da Nang Beaches?

Da Nang’s coastline is long and consists of a variety of beaches on it. There are lengthy strips of sand along warm water, crescent beaches at the foot of green mountains, stone beaches by the coral reefs and coves hidden away in the jungles. The most visited places are My Khe Beach and Non Nuoc Beach (especially jet setters). See information about all beaches in our guide to beaches in Da Nang.

A wonderful beach pilgrim needs lots of sun, warm water to swim and dry sands to lounge under coconut palms. That all travelers can find from January to September when the rains don’t pour yet and the typhoons don’t cause bad weather. However, this time of the year has some local holidays in which the popular beaches are so packed. There are Tet New year festival (late January/early February), Reunification day (late April/early May) and Independence day (early September). To avoid the crowds, travelers can go to non-touristy beaches in Nguyen Tat Thanh bayfront, private beaches in resorts, hidden gems or visit in “shoulder seasons”. The off-peak periods are mid-February to April, and August to mid-September. Prices are not too expensive like Vietnamese holidays and too humid like May to July.

May, June and July are the hottest months of the year, so if don’t have another time to travel, follow the reschedule of local goers: early morning and late afternoon. Not only to avoid intense rays that harm skin and body, travellers may love brilliant sunrise and sunset. That is for swimming, sunbathing and water sports, if tending to have a stroll along the water edge with bare feet, the evening is also very nice. Read My Khe Beach guide to know the best bars to get a cocktail.

The Best Time to Visit Da Nang’s Golden Bridge (Ba Na Hills)

The Golden Bridge (Golden Hand Bridge, Hand Bridge, Cau Vang) is in the Ba Na Hills, a hill station and entertainment complex. See the best time of the year to visit it here (same article). Although constructed in 2018, this has become a new wonder in Vietnam, and known by every instagrammer all over the world. It has two huge hands holding a golden-plated pedestrian passage, jutting out from the jungle-covered mountain. One of the world-record Ba Na Hills cable cars carry visitors straight to here, browse our guide to know its reschedule.

The best time to visit the Golden Bridge in Da Nang is when it’s sunny and without dense fog. These conditions allow visitors to see and photograph with the whole bridge and hands, and view picturesque surroundings. The morning and noon often meet both, but the crowd is a problem that may face and struggle (to seek good spots to take photos). If see so many people, visitors can decide to go to other areas and come back later when the bridge is much less packed. From 11 a.m to 2 p.m, buffet restaurants serve lunch for guided tours. It may be ideal to take your stroll in this mythical place. Of course, in the rainy season from September to October, almost any day is foggy, rainy and so wet. Views are blocked and the experience around is quite boring.

Note: Bring a selfie stick to deal with the crowds. From a height, your phone can take you, 2 hands and the bridge in one photo.  

The Best Time to Visit Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is a French-established hill station in the summit of Da Nang, Nui Chua at an elevation of 1,487 meters. Only 40 minutes drive is needed to get to its foot and around 15 minutes by world-record cable car to land the first sight. There are two main areas: the lower one filled by beautiful blooming flower gardens and the upper one, a French town with hotels, theme park and restaurants.

The best time to visit Ba Na Hills is from March to the end of August when the weather is most stable in the year. This time is characterized by many sunshine hours, low rainfall (dry) and without typhoons. During it, visitors will have a chance to feel 4 seasons in one day, the morning – spring, the noon – summer, the afternoon – autumn and the evening – winter. Thanks to a mountaintop location, the temperature is always kept around 20^oC and 16^oC at night. Opening hours are from 7 a.m to 9 p.m, so we suggest first timers go sightseeing before sunset and the evening is better for repeaters. The Hills are really famous, and no surprise that crowds and long queues are everywhere. Visitors should try to leave the hotel early, to avoid and have more time to do everything. In the last months of the year, fog covers it, making the tourist experience so poor. See more information in guide to Ba Na Hills.

Note: If possible, don’t visit Ba Na Hills during the Vietnamese public holidays because it’s so packed there. Long ones are Tet holiday (January/February), Reunification day (end of April/beginning of May) and Independence day (early September).

The Best Time to Visit the Lady Buddha (Linh Ung Pagoda)

Similar to attractions along the Da Nang coastline, the best time to visit the Lady Buddha is from March to September when it’s sunny throughout the day. The largest Buddhist temple of the city, Linh Ung Pagoda, is next to this super elegant sculpture. It owns very grand shrines, nicely-carved marble statues, and lots of bonsai trees on an immense paved ground. Visitors would like to wander around these famous places in the morning and after 3 p.m, to avoid the midday heat. If possible, sunrise and sunset are recommended, due to the mesmerizing beauty of nature and cool temperature. Light conditions are also most perfect, to take photos with buildings and panoramic sceneries. If aiming to be away from crowds, the evening is a proper choice. Keep in mind that the Buddha and pagoda open their doors all the time, no matter day or night. See more information in travel guides to Lady Buddha and Linh Ung Pagoda.

Highly recommended: travel guides to Lady Buddha, Linh Ung Pagoda, Son Tra Mountain
Note: If planning to discover the upper parts of the Son Tra mountain, check the weather forecast in advance. Don’t ride up there in heavy rains or typhoons, it’s dangerous. Read our rider guide here to see details.

The Best Time to Visit My Son Sanctuary

My Son Sanctuary is a world heritage site 45 southwest of Da Nang center core. It’s a complex of 70 Hindu temples and ruins dated from 4^th to 13rd centuries, within a valley encircled by mountains. This religious site won the Unesco title due to its universal outstanding values. Especially, it’s the best example of civilization of the Champa Kingdom which ruled the Central coast until 19^th century. Because abandoned for a long time, its natural surroundings are well-kept.  

The best times to visit My Son Sanctuary may be in the dry season, from January to the end of August, September and December. During summer months, visitors can expect lots of sun, dry paths to wander around for sightseeing and possibilities to see beautiful sceneries. Morning and after 3 p.m are recommended to start the visit (leaving Da Nang one hour before) to avoid midday heat. There are not many Vietnamese guided visitors coming to My Son on public holidays, so crowds are just at sometimes. In September, the temperature is lower a bit and rains occur in the last weeks. Bringing a rain gear set if your day of exploration has a high chance of rain. In December, the heavy rainfall comes down slowly, and the sun appears more. It’s also nice to have a day out from the hustle and bustle of Da Nang.

There are several Cham shows held during the day, including festival music, dancings and playing instruments. Performed by artists wearing nice traditional costumes, it’s a must to watch. Therefore, the best time of the day to visit the holy land has to cover these performances. See the reschedule in our guide to My Son Sanctuary.

Note: My Son Sanctuary may be closed in typhoons (October to December), because of floods and visitor’s safety. See latest information if traveling in this span of time, in official webpage disanvanhoamyson.com or social medias (@mysondisanvanhoa – Facebook)

The Best Time to Visit Hai Van Pass

Hai Van Pass (Deo Hai Van) is a 20km-long stretch of 1A highway by the coast between Da Nang and Lang Co of Hue. It’s packed by picturesque outlooks, coupled with cool breezes from the sea, and fascinating rides up and down. The top of it is at an elevation of nearly 1,500 meters. There, a military stronghold with brick gates and bunkers are built, for national defense. For a long time, this joyful coastal route has been loved by motorbike riders, not just since Top Gear is broadcast.

The best time of the year to visit Hai Van Pass is when it’s still sunny, from January to September. During these months, the sun isn’t covered by dark clouds and the rainfall is minimal. Because of that, natural sceneries are full of bright colors and light is perfect for photography. Just for bike riders, the road is dry and non-misty. It is very ideal to cruise along the pass and enjoy a fascinating drive. From October to December, pouring rains and typhoons may cause dense fog, short foresight, wet road surface and dangerous situations. In guided tours, the driver often recommends getting to the other side of the ridge by the tunnel. Read more information in our guide to Hai Van Pass.

In the lower elevations than the pass route, there is a railway running along the coastline. An experience on it is cool, stunning and off the beaten path. The best stretch of track begins in the Da Nang train station and ends in Hue. Definitely, the best time to enjoy this special ride is when it doesn’t rain. See everything about Da Nang to Hue by train to know details.

The Best Time to Visit Da Nang’s Festivals

The most famous celebration in the year is the Da Nang Fireworks Festival. Its semi-final matches are held in June and the female is in the first week of July. These times have the lowest rates of rainfall, clear skies, light winds, and without high humidity, very ideal for eye-popping performances of lights. Every match is wonderful and worth it to see, not only the last one.

Quan The Am Festival is the largest traditional religion event, held yearly in the Marble Mountains. It lasts 3 days, from the 17^th to 19^th day of the second lunar month (March) and the main is the last. So, the best time to attend it is 19^th day when the most exciting celebrations take place.

Like anywhere else across Vietnam, Tet (new year festival) occurs in one week in late January and early February. Due to being the biggest event, travelers have the chance to see a full of life city, from busy roads, chaotic markets, plenty of street decorations and colorful flowers, to smiles on the faces of locals. The atmosphere is joyful, optimistic, and filled with hope for a more successful year. If you are looking to see different slices of people’s life, visit the city sometime in the week before the countdown party and 3 first days of Tet are to know customs and practices. Traditionally, the 1^st day is for the father’s family, the 2^nd day is for the mother’s family and the 3^rd day is for teachers. However, travelers may face sudden increase of prices, overbooking of hotels, crowds anywhere, and unstable business reschedule. Read all festivals during the year in Da Nang and reschedule in our article here.