Last updated: 11 October 2026
The best time to play golf in Ho Chi Minh City is December to February, when the air is at its driest and the heat is easiest on a full round. Saigon has no cold season, though, and its rain mostly arrives as short afternoon storms, so golf works here all year as long as you tee off early. The courses around the city stay open year-round; what changes is the hour you tee off.
Quick Answer
The best time to play golf in Ho Chi Minh City is December to February: dry, daytime highs of about 26–32°C and the lowest humidity of the year. March and April stay dry but reach 35–38°C, so tee off by 6:30–7:00. May to November is the rainy season, yet storms usually break around 3–4pm and last 30–60 minutes, so morning rounds still work. September and October bring longer rain.
Saigon golf weather at a glance: two seasons, not four
The dry season runs from about December to April and the rainy season from about May to November, and daytime temperatures rarely leave the 25–35°C band either way (VietnamTourism.com, updated August 2026). What changes through the year is the rain and the humidity, and those two decide when you should be on the first tee.
| Season | Months | Weather | For golf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool dry season | December–February | Highs about 26–32°C, nights 22–24°C, rain rare, humidity at its lowest | The best window; any morning tee time works |
| Hot dry season | March–April | Highs about 35–38°C, April the hottest, humidity rising | Dry fairways, but tee off by 6:30–7:00 |
| Rainy season | May–November | Sunny mornings, storms around 3–4pm lasting 30–60 minutes; longer rain in September–October | Playable with a morning round |
Sources: VietnamTourism.com (updated 29 August 2026); Local Vietnam (updated February 2025). Typical patterns, not forecasts.
Best time to play golf in Ho Chi Minh City, month by month
Here is how we read the calendar when a golfer asks about specific dates. We only give temperatures where a source publishes them; the rest is the pattern our team plans around.
| Month | Weather | Golf verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Peak dry season, highs about 26–32°C | Excellent; Tet can fall late in the month |
| February | Dry, warm rather than hot | Excellent; check the Tet dates |
| March | Dry, heat building towards 35°C+ | Good with a 6:30–7:00 start |
| April | Hottest month, up to about 38°C; first showers late in the month | Playable early only |
| May | Still hot; afternoon storms begin, mornings usually dry | Good for morning rounds |
| June–July | Frequent but short afternoon downpours | Good for morning rounds |
| August | Heavy rainy-season rain | Fair; finish before mid-afternoon |
| September–October | The wettest stretch; storms can last hours, though dry days still come | The weakest months; keep a spare day |
| November | Rain tapers off; dry pattern back by about mid-month | Good, improving through the month |
| December | Dry, low humidity | Excellent |
One honest caveat: the sources disagree on the single wettest month. VietnamTourism.com names September and October; Local Vietnam calls August the peak. Treat August to October as the late, heavy end of the rainy season and you will plan correctly either way.
Golf in the Ho Chi Minh rainy season: why morning rounds still work
Because Saigon’s rain keeps a timetable. On a typical rainy-season day the morning is clear, cloud builds after lunch and the storm breaks around 3 or 4pm. It is heavy, usually over in 30 to 60 minutes, and done by evening (VietnamTourism.com). A 6:30 tee time finishes around 11:00, hours before the usual storm window.
That is why we do not tell golfers to avoid May to July. Mornings in those months are usually dry and the courses are green. The trade-off is humidity: a 32°C day in June feels far heavier than the same number in January.
September and October are different. Rain can set in for hours, and a dry morning is likely but not guaranteed. If your trip falls then, book a three- or four-round trip with one free day you can swap a round into, and keep the last afternoon before your flight empty.
When lightning comes close, courses call players off the course and play resumes once it passes. A storm usually means a pause in the round, not a lost round.
Beating the heat: tee times and what to bring
The heat matters more than the rain for most of the year. Even in December daytime highs reach about 30°C, and in March and April they run to 35–38°C. Humidity makes 30°C feel closer to 38°C (VietnamTourism.com). Our default is simple: the first tee at about 6:30–7:00 from March to November, and up to 8:00 in December to February if you prefer a later breakfast.
Remember the drive. On Google Maps in October 2026, daytime traffic from Ben Thanh Market took about 45 minutes to Tan Son Nhat Golf Course near the airport, about 1 hour 10 minutes to Long Thanh and about 1 hour 50 minutes to West Lakes. Early starts are usually quicker, but a 6:30 tee time at Long Thanh still means leaving the hotel around 5:15.
- Two gloves at least. Grips get wet from sweat long before rain.
- A wide-brim hat and sunscreen, reapplied at the turn.
- Electrolytes as well as water. Plain water alone is not enough on a humid back nine.
- A compact umbrella from May to November, for the walk between cart and ball if a shower comes early.
- A dry shirt for after the round, because the car ride back is long enough to get cold in air-conditioning.
Caddie and cart are mandatory at every Ho Chi Minh City course we book, and both are included in the green fee, so you will not walk 18 holes in the heat.
Do any Saigon courses have lights?
Some golfers ask about playing in the evening to avoid the sun. Evening and twilight tee times depend on the course and the date, so ask us when you send your dates and we will tell you what is available for that week. For planning, assume the morning is the reliable slot.
Ho Tram and the coast: The Bluffs in each season
The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, Greg Norman’s dunes course, sits on open coastal dunes about two hours from District 1, and it follows the same two-season pattern as the city. The difference is the wind. It is more exposed than the courses around Saigon, and the breeze off the sea is part of how the dunes play. The dry months give the firmest, clearest days on the coast; in the rainy season, a morning tee time there beats the afternoon storms just as it does in the city. The drive, day-trip timing and hotels are covered in planning the drive from Saigon to Ho Tram.
Saigon vs Hanoi vs Da Nang: where to golf in Vietnam by month
Vietnam’s three golf regions peak at different times, which is useful if your dates are fixed. In short: go south from December to February, go north in October and November, and go to Da Nang from February to April.
| Months | Ho Chi Minh City | Hanoi | Da Nang |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec–Feb | Best: dry, lowest humidity | Cold, foggy mornings (10–15°C) in Dec–Jan; February improves | Cool, wetter, busy high season |
| Mar–Apr | Dry but hottest; tee off early | Very good spring weather | Best months of the year |
| May–Aug | Afternoon storms; mornings work | Hot and wet; early or evening golf | Dry and hot, May–June hottest |
| Sep–Oct | Wettest; keep a spare day | Excellent; October the pick | Rains start in October |
| Nov | Rain easing by mid-month | Excellent: cool and dry | Heavy rain |
Combining two cities? December pairs Saigon with Da Nang well, and late February to April works for all three. For the northern details, see when Hanoi’s golf season peaks; for central Vietnam, see Da Nang’s golf calendar, where the cool wet months are high season.
Holidays and busy weeks
Tet, the Lunar New Year, falls in late January or February (6 February in 2027) and lands in the best weather of the year. Many shops and restaurants close for several days and domestic transport books out early. Courses keep running, but book tee times, cars and hotels well ahead for that week. The 30 April and 1 May holidays, and 2 September, create long weekends when roads out of the city are busier. Weekdays are the easiest time to find good morning tee times all year.
If your dates are short, a three-day Saigon golf weekend with two rounds fits any season; we set the tee times around the weather of the week you travel. For longer trips, browse our Ho Chi Minh City golf packages that run all year.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best month to play golf in Ho Chi Minh City?›
January, with December and February close behind. All three are dry, with daytime highs of about 26–32°C and the lowest humidity of the year, so any morning tee time works.
2. Can you play golf in Saigon in the rainy season?›
Yes. From May to November most rain falls as a short afternoon storm, usually around 3–4pm for 30–60 minutes, so a round that starts at 6:30–7:00 normally finishes dry. September and October bring longer rain, so keep a spare day then.
3. What time does it rain in Ho Chi Minh City?›
In the rainy season, mornings are usually sunny, cloud builds after lunch and storms tend to break around 3 or 4pm, clearing by evening. In September and October rain can last for hours.
4. What is the hottest month in Saigon?›
April, with March close behind. Daytime highs reach about 35–38°C and rain is still rare, so tee off by 6:30–7:00 and finish before midday.
5. Is July a good time for golf in Ho Chi Minh City?›
It is a good month for morning golf. July rain comes as frequent but short afternoon downpours, and the courses are green. Expect high humidity and plan to finish by early afternoon.
6. What time should I tee off in Saigon?›
Around 6:30–7:00 from March to November, to beat both the heat and the afternoon storms. From December to February you can start up to about 8:00. Allow 45 minutes to almost 2 hours for the drive, depending on the course.
7. Is Saigon or Hanoi better for golf in December?›
Saigon. December there is dry and warm with low humidity, while Hanoi mornings can drop to 10–15°C with fog that delays first tee times. Hanoi is the better choice in October and November.
GoGolfVietnam, a local golf tour operator based in Da Nang, arranges tee times, transfers and hotels across Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Tram.
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