Rainy Season in Ho Chi Minh City: Dates, Rain and Floods

The rainy season runs from May to November and brings about 1,800 mm of rain, 93% of the year's total. Most rain falls from about 13:00 onwards. Storms rarely reach the city, and storms over the East Sea are likely below average from October to December 2026. Streets flood when heavy rain meets a high tide.

By Vincent Nguyen

In the rainy season most rain falls from about 13:00 onwards. Plan the morning for outdoor things and the afternoon for indoors, and carry a poncho for the downpour.

When it rains and how much

The rainy season runs from May to November. It brings about 1,800 mm of rain, 93% of the year’s total.

September is the wettest month, with 333 mm. November is the lowest of the rainy months, at 117 mm. The dry season runs from December to April.

The driest months are January, February and March, around Tet (the Lunar New Year). In those months there are on average only one or two rainy days of under 15 mm.

Storms and the forecast ahead

The city has almost no storms. Storms that enter the central provinces reach the city only as force 4 to 5 winds and heavy rain.

The national seasonal bulletin of 15:00 on 15 September 2026 forecasts:

• Rest of October 2026: moderate and heavy rain may occur across the country.
• October to December 2026: storms over the East Sea, the Vietnamese name for the sea off the coast, are likely below the long-term average.
• That average is 4.5 storms on the East Sea and 1.9 making landfall.
• November 2026: rainfall in the South is generally 5-15% below the long-term average.
• The rainy season may end early in the Central Highlands, the inland plateau, and the South.
• January to March 2027: storms are unlikely over the East Sea.
• From February 2027 hot weather may appear in the South, earlier than average.

When rain floods the streets

Heavy local rain floods urban areas with poor drainage. The tide season runs from the 8th to the 12th lunar month. For dates and named streets, see the flooding guide.

• 30 September 2026: heavy rain over a wide area combined with a high tide, leaving many streets deeply flooded with fast water and stalled vehicles.
• The last 3 days of September 2026 and early October: Go Vap, the Thu Duc market area and Thao Dien flooded, with water above one metre in places.
• Serious flooding and congestion were also reported at the Hang Xanh roundabout, Ba Son bridge, the city centre and the routes to Tan Son Nhat airport.

The highest tide of 2026 is forecast for 27-29 October, 1.70-1.75 m at Phu An station. Many streets in the Thao Dien residential area still flood in heavy rain, especially when it coincides with the tide. Thao Dien, Quoc Huong, Xuan Thuy and Nguyen Van Huong streets are named.

Rides, tours and the daily plan

Grab charges a bad-weather surcharge on rides.

Day tours carry their own weather rules:

• Mekong Smile may change the itinerary because of weather or tide levels.
• A Mekong Smile cancellation due to weather conditions is refunded in full.
• Cable car schedules at Ba Den Mountain can change with the weather.

For an ambulance, call 115, the medical emergency number. If you need English, Family Medical Practice answers *9999 24/7 in English and Vietnamese, and FV Hospital’s ambulance hotline is (028) 35 11 35 00. Family Medical Practice charges non-subscribers VND 3,820,000 for a day call and VND 8,065,000 for a night call. More: emergency numbers, getting around, Grab vs Xanh SM vs Be and best time to visit.

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Not confirmed: Which sights close in heavy rain: no operator publishes a rule beyond Ba Den Mountain's changing cable car schedule. The amount of Grab's bad-weather surcharge is not published.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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