Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
November Weather in Ho Chi Minh City
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
90°F (32°C)
High Temp
76°F (24°C)
Low Temp
5.0 inches (127 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is November Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + November lands squarely between monsoons, mornings blaze with sunlight and the afternoon showers roll in fast, then vanish before sunset. The light is made for photography.
- + Hotels slash rates by 30-40% from peak season. Yet the city stays lush from October's downpours. Locals nickname it 'the photographer's month' because the light softens and the colors pop.
- + Street-food carts that shut down in October's deluge are back at full tilt. Hunt the best bánh mì thịt nướng, grilled pork sandwiches, at stalls that were padlocked last month.
- + Saigon River cruise companies push their timetables later. By 6 pm the mercury has slipped to a civilized 82°F (28°C) instead of the usual sticky 88°F (31°C).
Considerations
- − Humidity locks in at 70% even in 'dry' November. Cotton shirts glue themselves to your back the moment you step outside, inside District 1's concrete canyons.
- − UV index climbs to 8 every single day. Sunburn arrives faster than you think, on boat trips where the breeze hides the burn until it's too late.
- − Ten million motorbikes generate a heat-island effect that makes 6 pm feel like 3 pm. Dinner shifts later than most newcomers expect.
Year-Round Climate
How November compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°C | 23°C | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Feb | 32°C | 23°C | 0.3 inches (8 mm) |
| Mar | 33°C | 24°C | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Apr | 34°C | 26°C | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| May | 34°C | 26°C | 8.0 inches (203 mm) |
| Jun | 33°C | 25°C | 8.8 inches (224 mm) |
| Jul | 33°C | 25°C | 9.1 inches (231 mm) |
| Aug | 32°C | 25°C | 8.6 inches (218 mm) |
| Sep | 32°C | 25°C | 19.3 inches (490 mm) |
| Oct | 32°C | 25°C | 13.4 inches (340 mm) |
| Nov | 32°C | 24°C | 5.0 inches (127 mm) |
| Dec | 31°C | 23°C | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
Best Activities in November
Top things to do during your visit
Saigon River Sunset Cruises
November's quick afternoon storms finish by 5 pm, sculpting dramatic clouds above the river while the temperature eases to 82°F (28°C). Ninety-minute cruises glide past Bitexco Tower's LED light show at 6:30 pm; local fishing boats glide home with the day's catch as the city lights blink on. The river breeze slices through humidity better than any air-conditioned lobby.
Booking Tip: Reserve 3-5 days ahead through licensed operators (see current options in booking section below). Evening slots fill first, locals also chase the cooler night air.
Cu Chi Tunnels Morning Tours
Leave early to dodge both heat and crowds. The 7 am departures beat the tour buses rolling in from beach resorts. November's lighter humidity lets you breathe in the tunnel sections that feel like a sauna in April. The gun range stays open all morning since showers rarely arrive before 2 pm, and the jungle soundtrack swaps geckos for November cicadas.
Booking Tip: Morning tours usually last 6-8 hours including transit. Licensed guides are compulsory inside the tunnels, book operators who bundle them instead of sorting it yourself.
District 1 Street Food Walking Routes
Evening temperatures mean you can taste your food instead of just tasting heat. The classic route from Ben Thanh Market along Nguyen Trai Street flows better now, vendors aren't scrambling to shield dishes from sudden storms. Follow your nose: grilled pork skewers on Co Giang Street, then che (sweet dessert soup) at the corner of Nguyen Thai Hoc where the same pandan-scented base has been ladled since 1978.
Booking Tip: Evening food walks kick off around 6 pm when charcoal fires glow. Licensed guides know which stalls post English menus and which require a point and a grin.
Mekong Delta Day Trips
November sits between rice harvests, so the delta's canals run clear instead of the muddy brown you'll see other months. Cai Be floating market runs at full tilt, farmers no longer fight monsoon winds to reach the river. You'll catch the scent of fresh coconut candy stirred in copper pots and hear fish slapping onto wooden boats as traders haggle in singsong Vietnamese that bounces off the water.
Booking Tip: Full-day excursions run 10-12 hours with 2.5 hours each way by bus. Small-group tours (under 12 people) squeeze onto narrow canal boats that big groups can't board.
Binh Tay Market (Cho Lon) Wholesale Tours
November's mild weather makes roaming this 1920s Chinese market almost enjoyable, no dripping sweat while bargaining for dried squid. Morning light slants through the art-deco roof in November's clearer air, good for photos. Listen for the sharp clack-clack of abacuses at spice stalls, older vendors still flick beads faster than calculators.
Booking Tip: Show up by 8 am when wholesale trading peaks and before day-trippers clog the aisles. Licensed guides can decode the Chinese-Vietnamese merchant system that has ruled here for three generations.
Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City in November
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for November travellers.
November Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late November (full moon varies by lunar calendar)
Ok Om Bok Festival
District 8's Khmer community marks this moon-worshipping festival with dragon-boat races on the Saigon River. Incense drifts on the breeze while traditional đàn tranh (zither) music mixes with pop from riverfront speakers. Candle-lit paper lanterns glide downstream, their reflections the shot photographers wait twelve months to capture.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Ho Chi Minh City Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The finest ca phe sua da (iced coffee) rolls out of the cart outside the Opera House at 5:30 pm, they brew with filtered-water ice and the condensed milk arrives fresh every morning.
November's quick storms leave perfect puddle mirrors on Nguyen Hue Walking Street around 3 pm when the sky clears but the water lingers.
Locals dodge the afternoon heat in the air-conditioned book street on Nguyen Van Binh, order a 20,000 VND iced tea and watch students drift past.
Ben Thanh Market's night food court opens at 6 pm. Yet vendors fire up their grills at 5:30 pm. Arrive early to watch the setup and score the freshest meat.
Avoid These Mistakes
Book your hikes and bike rides before 10am or after 4pm. Between 1-3pm the UV index spikes and the air turns into wet wool.
Pack pale fabrics, white, sand, stone, because charcoal and navy betray every drop of sweat the moment you step outside.
Don't trust the calendar: even in November, one day in three still throws a 30-minute downpour between 2-4pm.
Book Experiences in Ho Chi Minh City
Top-rated things to do in Ho Chi Minh City this November
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