Ho Chi Minh City Rainy Season (May–Nov): How Much Rain and What to Do

When exactly is the rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City?

Based on the 1991–2020 climate normals that Vietnam's meteorological agency supplied to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Ho Chi Minh City's monthly rainfall starts at 202 mm in May, peaks at 273 mm in September, and continues through 128 mm in November. From December to April it is only 8–57 mm a month. Rainy days number 13–19 a month from May to November and 1–5 in the dry season. That is why May–November is usually called the rainy season and December–April the dry season. The Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center forecast that the 2026 rainy season would begin in early May and end around the first week of November.

Temperatures do not drop much in the rainy season. Normal monthly average highs are 31.6–34.9°C year-round, and lows 23.1–26.4°C. Rain cools things briefly, but humidity rises once it stops.

Monthly normals (rainfall · rainy days) are as follows.

• Jan–Mar: 8–18 mm · 1–2 days
• Apr: 57 mm · 4 days
• May–Aug: 202–231 mm · 13–19 days
• Sep–Oct: 240–273 mm · 16–18 days
• Nov: 128 mm · 9 days
• Dec: 41 mm · 5 days

Does it rain all day in the rainy season?

No. Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction figures (first half of 2026) show that heavy rain is usually concentrated in 1–2 hours, during which some roads flood and then drain. The Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center notes that thunderstorms, gusts, and downpours are more frequent from May to August. Planning outdoors in the morning, indoors in the late afternoon cuts the time you spend in the rain. Ride-hailing fares rise and cars are hard to get when it rains, so once rain starts it is faster to wait 30 minutes to an hour somewhere indoors nearby.

Around the former District 7, some roads flood because of tides (high tide) rather than rain. Tidal flooding roads named by the Department of Construction include Trần Xuân Soạn, Huỳnh Tấn Phát, and Phạm Hữu Lầu. Inner Phú Mỹ Hưng is relatively fine, but if you must pass these roads in the evening, allow extra time.

What should I do on a rainy afternoon?

Among GayoGayo stores, massage and nail shops and cafes are good places to spend 1–2 hours indoors. The two stores in front of Bến Thành Market are walkable if you are staying in District 1, and the Phú Mỹ Hưng cafe can be combined with the shopping malls for a half day.

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Get your coupons in the app in advance. Your coupon screen opens without hunting for Wi-Fi outside a store on a rainy day. The steps for showing the coupon before paying are in Massage and Nails near Bến Thành Market: Prices, Tipping, and Coupons.

What should I pack for the rainy season?

• A thin rain poncho is handier than a folding umbrella, both on a motorbike and on foot. Local convenience stores sell them.
• Keep your phone and passport in a waterproof bag or zip bag.
• An extra pair of sandals or quick-drying shoes helps after crossing a flooded road.
• Indoor air conditioning is strong, so bring a light outer layer.

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Verified date and sources

Verified on: 2026-10-10.

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Weather Information Service — Ho Chi Minh City normals (1991–2020), data provided by the Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration: worldweather.wmo.int
• Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center 2026 rainy season outlook (PLO report, 2026-04-17) — start in early May, end in the first week of November, thunderstorms concentrated May–August: tuoitre.vn/plo
• Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction announcement (VietNamNet report, 2026-06-25) — concentrated rainfall hours in the first half of 2026, 34 flood-prone roads and tidal flooding roads in the former District 7: vietnamnet.vn
• Tiền Phong (2026-10-05) — Department of Construction publishes 159 regularly flooded points: tienphong.vn

Photo: A canal in the former District 7 on a rainy day, Wikimedia Commons (CC0).