What to pack for Vietnam in March, north to south

From February to April, Vietnam runs from about 15 °C (59 °F) in Hanoi, drizzly early in the season, to 35 °C (95 °F) in Ho Chi Minh City, with a mostly dry Hoi An in between. Pack light clothes for the center and the south, then layers and a light rain jacket for the north.

The story

Hanoi in late February is gray and soft. It’s 16 °C, and a fine drizzle hangs in the air all morning without ever quite turning into rain. You sit on a low plastic stool by the pavement with a bowl of phở, in a light jacket, watching thousands of motorbikes flow around Hoan Kiem Lake. Crossing the street takes a new skill: you walk at a steady pace, and the traffic bends around you.

The next day, on a boat in Ha Long Bay, the limestone islands appear and disappear in the mist. On deck it’s cool and damp, and the sweater you nearly left at home stays on all day.

A short flight south and everything changes. In Hoi An it’s 27 °C and dry, and in the evening lanterns light up the old town along the river. You spend an afternoon at a tailor’s, choosing fabric for a shirt that will be ready the next day, and you’re glad you left space in your bag.

Your last stop is Ho Chi Minh City, where it’s 34 °C at two in the afternoon. You switch to your lightest clothes, drink water all day and duck into air-conditioned cafés. Before visiting a pagoda, you put a scarf over your shoulders and swap your shorts for long trousers.

Vietnam in spring is really three trips: a cool, drizzly north, a warm and dry center, and a hot south. Layers for the first and light clothes for the rest cover all of it.

What to pack for Vietnam in March

Pack light clothes for the center and the south, then add layers and a rain jacket for the north.

Clothes

Light, breathable T-shirts and shirts.
A sweater or fleece and a light jacket for Hanoi and Ha Long Bay.
A light rain jacket for the northern drizzle.
Long trousers or a long skirt, and a scarf, to cover your knees and shoulders at temples and pagodas.
Shorts and swimwear for the beaches around Da Nang and Hoi An.

Shoes

Comfortable walking shoes.
Sandals that are easy to slip off: some temples and homes ask you to take your shoes off.

For health and comfort

Insect repellent: mosquitoes can carry dengue.
Sunscreen and sunglasses for the center and the south.
Something for an upset stomach; drink bottled or filtered water.
A pack of tissues, since not every restroom has paper, and a face mask for heavy traffic.

Documents, money and tech

Passport, and your e-visa if you need one.
A plug adapter: sockets are types A and C, at 220 V.
A power bank, and a ride-hailing app for getting around the cities.
Space in your bag, if you plan to have clothes made in Hoi An.

Good to know

Weather: from February to April, Hanoi runs from about 15 to 28 °C (59 to 82 °F), with drizzle and gray skies early in the season; Hoi An is around 20 to 30 °C (68 to 86 °F) and mostly dry; Ho Chi Minh City is 24 to 35 °C (75 to 95 °F), hottest in April.

Stop	Weather	What changes in the bag
Hanoi	15 to 28 °C (59 to 82 °F), drizzle early in the season	A sweater or fleece, a light jacket and a light rain jacket
Hoi An	20 to 30 °C (68 to 86 °F), mostly dry	Shorts, swimwear, sunscreen, and space for tailored clothes
Ho Chi Minh City	24 to 35 °C (75 to 95 °F), hottest in April	Your lightest clothes, with long trousers and a scarf for pagodas

Tết: the Lunar New Year falls in late January or February (February 17 in 2026, February 6 in 2027). Many shops and restaurants close for several days, and trains, flights and hotels fill up early.
Plugs: types A and C, 220 V.
Money: Vietnamese đồng (VND). Cash rules at markets and street stalls; hotels and larger restaurants take cards. The 20,000 and 500,000 notes are both blue, so check before you pay.
Entry: some nationalities can visit without a visa for a limited time; everyone else applies online for an e-visa. Check which applies to your passport (checked September 30, 2026).
More of Asia: what to pack for Japan in cherry-blossom season, late March to early April, and for Thailand in the rainy season, June to October.

Questions

What’s the weather like in Vietnam in March?

Cool and drizzly in the north, warm and dry in the center, and hot in the south. From February to April, Hanoi runs from about 15 to 28 °C (59 to 82 °F), Hoi An around 20 to 30 °C (68 to 86 °F) and Ho Chi Minh City 24 to 35 °C (75 to 95 °F), hottest in April.

Is it cold in Hanoi in March?

It’s cool: from February to April, Hanoi runs from about 15 to 28 °C (59 to 82 °F), with drizzle and gray skies early in the season. Pack a sweater or fleece and a light jacket for Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, and a light rain jacket for the drizzle.

What should I wear to temples in Vietnam?

Clothes that cover your knees and shoulders: long trousers or a long skirt, and a scarf. Sandals that are easy to slip off help too, since some temples and homes ask you to take your shoes off.

Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

It depends on your passport: some nationalities can visit without a visa for a limited time, and everyone else applies online for an e-visa. Check which applies to you before you go.

Do I need cash in Vietnam?

Yes, at markets and street stalls, where cash rules; hotels and larger restaurants take cards. The 20,000 and 500,000 đồng notes are both blue, so check before you pay.