Vietnam in the Australian School Holidays: Where to Go (2026–27)

Vietnam is a good trip in every Australian school holiday, but not to the same part of the country each time. The weather runs differently in the north, the central coast and the south, so the region you pick should follow your holiday dates.

In short: the December–January summer break suits the south and Phu Quoc. The April break is the best all-round window, with good weather from Hanoi to Hoi An. The June–July winter break belongs to the central coast around Da Nang and Hoi An. The September–October break is best for Hanoi and the northern mountains, while the central coast moves into its storm season.

Key facts: Summer holidays (mid-December to late January): go south, to Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc. April holidays: almost the whole country works, and the north is dry and mild. June–July holidays: the central coast (Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon) has its calmest seas, while the north and the south are in their rainy season. September–October holidays: the north is at its best, and the central coast enters its rainy, stormy season. In 2027, Tet falls on 4–10 February, after most states have gone back to school.

Where to go in each school holiday at a glance

These are the usual patterns. Seasons shift a little from year to year, so check the forecast and any storm warnings in the week before you fly.

School holiday dates for 2026–27

The windows above cover all states, but the exact dates differ. These are the official 2026–27 dates for NSW, Victoria and WA, from each state's education department:

Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT fall in similar windows. Check your state or territory education department for exact dates, and remember that private schools often set their own.

Summer holidays (December–January): go south

The summer break lines up with the dry season in southern Vietnam. Phu Quoc has calm water on its west coast and the widest choice of family resorts. Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta are dry and warm, which makes boat trips and cycling through the orchards easy.

The north is a different trip at this time of year. Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay are cool and often overcast, which some families like after an Australian summer. Pack jumpers. The mountains around Sapa and Ha Giang are cold, with frost possible on the high passes in January, so they suit adults more than young children.

The central coast is cool and grey in December and January, and rain is still common. Hoi An and Hue work for sightseeing, but don't plan a beach holiday there.

Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive weeks to fly. Our Vietnam travel cost from Australia guide has typical fare ranges. Tet, the Lunar New Year, falls on 4–10 February in 2027. By then most states are back at school, so summer-holiday trips miss the closures and crowds that come with it.

April holidays: the best all-round window

April is the one school break where you can plan a north-to-south trip without a weak region. The north is dry and mild, with clear views in the mountains. Ha Long Bay is calm enough for cruising. The central coast starts its beach season, and the south is still dry, though very hot by midday.

A typical 10–14 day April trip is Hanoi, Ninh Binh and a night on Ha Long Bay, then a flight to Da Nang for Hoi An and the beach. Adults and older teenagers can add three or four days in Ha Giang; see our guide to the Ha Giang Loop by private car.

Watch the Vietnamese public holidays. Reunification Day (30 April) and Labour Day (1 May) start a long weekend when Vietnamese families fill hotels, beaches and domestic flights. In 2027 the Victorian, NSW and WA April breaks all end before then, but if your dates run into late April, book those nights early.

Winter holidays (June–July): the central coast

The June–July break is the best time of year for the beaches around Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. The sea is at its calmest and the days are long and sunny. It is hot, often in the mid-30s °C by midday, so plan the beach and the old town for mornings and late afternoons.

Elsewhere, July is harder:

• Hanoi: hot and humid, with heavy downpours. Still fine for two or three days of sightseeing with an air-conditioned car.
• Sapa and Ha Giang: the wettest months, and July carries the highest landslide risk on mountain roads.
• Ha Long Bay: the storm season starts in July, and cruises can be cancelled at short notice.
• Phu Quoc and the south: rainy season, with rougher seas on Phu Quoc.

A good July plan is to base the trip in Hoi An and Da Nang, add Hue for history, and keep the north to Hanoi and Ninh Binh. Vietnamese schools are also on summer holiday, so domestic flights and beach hotels are busy. Book early.

Spring holidays (September–October): the north

The late September break is a good time for Hanoi and the north. The heat eases, and the rice harvest turns the terraces gold in the northern mountains from about mid-September to mid-October. The rains in Ha Giang ease through September, and the buckwheat flowers start in late October, just after the holidays.

This is the wrong time for a beach holiday on the central coast. September to December is its rainy, stormy season, and October and November are the worst months, when flooding can close roads around Hue and Hoi An. The south and Phu Quoc are still in their rainy season too.

A good spring itinerary is Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Sapa or Ha Giang, with flexible dates for the cruise in case a late storm comes through. Keep any central-coast days short and have an indoor plan for wet afternoons.

Flights and booking

School holidays are peak season for flights from Australia, so book early, especially for Christmas and the April and July breaks. Book Vietnam's busiest dates, such as Tet and the 30 April–1 May holiday, 60–90 days ahead. Domestic flights inside Vietnam fill up in the Vietnamese summer holidays, from June to August.

Checklist for a school-holiday trip

• Check your state's exact holiday dates, and your school's pupil-free days, before you book flights.
• Match the region to the month using the table above, rather than fitting the month to a fixed itinerary.
• Check for Vietnamese public holidays inside your dates.
• Pack warm layers for the north from December to February, and light clothes, hats and sunscreen for the central coast in June and July.
• Leave a spare day around any Ha Long Bay cruise from July to October in case of storms.
• Check that your travel insurance covers the activities you plan.

Planning a private family trip

On a private tour, the route follows your school-holiday dates and your family, not a fixed departure. We build the itinerary around the region with the best weather for your break, choose rooms that suit children or grandparents, and move days around if a storm closes a cruise or a mountain road. A guide and driver also mean you are not juggling taxis and bags with children in the heat.

For ideas, see the Vietnam family soft adventure (Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Da Nang, Hoi An and Phu Quoc) or the Da Nang and Hoi An family tour for a July trip.

Related guides

• The best time to visit Vietnam: a region-by-region guide
• Best beaches in Vietnam by season
• Vietnam travel cost from Australia
• Phu Quoc family travel tips
• Welcome to Vietnam: first-time visitor guide