Delta journeys built around the stay
Planning · Seasons
When to go: dry months for Can Tho, flood months for Chau Doc
The delta has a dry season from about December to April and a rainy season from May to November, and the upper delta floods from around September. Which months suit you depends on which stay you are going for.
The year at a glance
Our rating for a stay-led trip: ● good, ◐ workable, ○ hard going. Can Tho is driest January to March; Chau Doc is at its fullest when the floodwater arrives from September.
Can Tho receives about 2,200 mm of rain a year in the climate table we used (another published figure is 1,800 mm), almost all of it from May to November. February averages less than one rainy day; September, the wettest month, averages about twenty-two. Temperatures change much less than rainfall: the average daily high moves between about 30 °C and 34 °C all year.
Sources: Wikipedia, Can Tho (climate table) · checked .
Season by season
| Months | What it is like | Which stays suit it |
|---|---|---|
| December – February | Dry, the least hot months; average highs about 30–31 °C | All six; the easiest time for any journey |
| March – April | Dry and hot; April averages almost 34 °C; salinity peaks near the coast | Can Tho resorts with pools; keep outings early |
| May – August | Rains begin; summer fruit in the orchards | Can Tho and Cai Be for fruit; afternoons indoors |
| September – November | Wettest months; floodwater in the upper delta; high tides flood some riverside streets | Chau Doc and Nui Sam Lodge for Tra Su; Can Tho with flexible plans |
The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism names December to April as the good months for boat trips and floating markets, and May to August for the orchards. For Chau Doc it names September to November, when the floodwater fills Tra Su forest.
Sources: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Mekong Delta; Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Chau Doc; Wikipedia, Can Tho (climate table) · checked .
The flood months, in more detail
The Mekong's annual flood reaches the upper delta, around Chau Doc and Tan Chau, from late summer. In 2025 the main flood peak at Chau Doc was forecast for 8 to 13 October. Further downstream, the rivers at Can Tho rise with the high tides, and in October and November riverside streets in Can Tho and Vinh Long can flood at the peak tides. Authorities advised limiting travel during the high-tide hours, roughly 05:00 to 08:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, in that season.
For a stay-led trip this cuts both ways. Chau Doc is at its most striking, and the hill lodge is above it all. In Can Tho we keep evening plans flexible around the tide, and Nam Bo's riverfront location matters more on those nights. Flood levels change from year to year; we check the forecast before you travel.
Sources: Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, flood outlook, 3 Oct 2025; Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Chau Doc · checked .
Health and comfort by season
- Mosquitoes. Dengue in Vietnam peaks from June to October, and almost all cases are in the central and southern regions. Repellent and long sleeves at dusk matter most in those months.
- Heat. April is the hottest month, with a record of 40 °C at Can Tho. Plan outdoor visits before 10:00 and after 16:00.
- Rain. In the wet season boat trips can be delayed by heavy showers. Mornings are the safer slot for anything on the water.
- Salinity. In the dry season seawater pushes up the river mouths, peaking in March and April. It matters to farmers more than to visitors, but it is part of why March and April feel parched near the coast.
Sources: WHO Viet Nam, dengue; Wikipedia, Can Tho (climate table); National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, 10 Mar 2026 · checked .
Dates that need booking early
Tet, the Lunar New Year, falls in late January or February. Vietnamese families travel then and the flower villages of the delta are at their busiest, so we confirm hotels earlier for those weeks. At Sam Mountain the Via Ba Chua Xu festival runs from the 23rd to the 27th day of the fourth lunar month, centred on the temple at the foot of the mountain; it was added to UNESCO's list of intangible heritage in December 2024. If you want quiet at Nui Sam Lodge, avoid those days; if you want the festival, plan for crowds.
Once you know your month, the journeys page shows which route fits it, and the destination pages go into each base in more detail.
Sources: Viet Nam News, 5 Dec 2024 · checked .
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
What is the driest month in the Mekong Delta?
February, in Can Tho's climate normals: under 4 mm of rain and less than one rainy day on average.
Is the flood season a bad time to go?
Not for Chau Doc. September to November is when Tra Su forest is fullest. In Can Tho, peak tides can flood riverside streets on some evenings, so plans stay flexible.
When is the hottest time?
March to May. April averages almost 34 °C as a daily high in Can Tho. A stay with a pool helps a great deal.
When is fruit season?
Roughly May to August for rambutan, mangosteen, durian and mango, which is also the start of the rains.
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