Vietnam
Ha Long Bay in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonWarm, humid and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why May scores 7.6What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort6.6
- ✓Warm (30°C highs / 24.7°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 24.3°C)
- !Wet: ~178 mm rain, ~6 heavy-rain days
- Air quality8.0
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~18 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards9.5
- !Flood: ~6 heavy-rain days in an average May
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Nov | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.6 Very good | 9.0 Excellent |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 30° / 25° | 25° / 19° |
| Rain | 178 mm | 44 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 24° | dew pt 18° |
| PM2.5 | 18 µg/m³ | 18 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- International Labor Day 30 Apr – 3 May · 4 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Ha Long BayEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA UNESCO-listed bay in northern Vietnam with thousands of limestone islands, best explored on an overnight boat cruise.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
National DayEvery year2 September every year
A national holiday marking Vietnam's declaration of independence.
Why go: Domestic travel is busy around the long weekend.
Where: Across Vietnam
Tết (Lunar New Year)Date variesLunar calendar — late Jan to mid-Feb, date moves each year
Vietnam's biggest holiday, when families gather and streets are decorated with flowers and red banners.
Why go: Many shops and restaurants close for several days and domestic travel is very busy, so book transport early.
Where: Ha Long and across Vietnam
Ha Long Bay cruises
Day and overnight cruises through the limestone islands.
💡 Typhoons and storms can cancel cruises roughly June to October.
Sung Sot Cave
One of the largest caves in the bay, with large chambers.
Ti Top Island
An island with a small beach and a viewpoint over the bay.
Kayaking
Kayaking through lagoons and caves such as Luon Cave.
Bai Tu Long Bay
A quieter neighbouring bay with similar limestone scenery.
Cat Ba Island
The largest island in the area, with a national park, reached from Ha Long or Haiphong.
Chả mực
Fried squid cakes, Ha Long's best-known specialty.
💡 Local restaurants and markets
Seafood
Fresh fish, clams, crabs and shrimp from the bay.
💡 Seafood restaurants in Ha Long city
Bánh cuốn chả mực
Steamed rice rolls served with squid cakes.
💡 Breakfast shops
Pearls
Pearls from farms in the bay area.
💡 Pearl shops
Chả mực
Vacuum-packed squid cakes.
💡 Local markets
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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