Not a big change from January, February in Halong Bay is dry and cold. The humidity rises a bit but it doesn't matter at all. Travelers take advantage of the dry weather to enjoy outdoor activities.
Halong is beautiful all year round, but coming in February, travelers have a chance to witness the bay in a very different way - a mystical Halong bay.
Halong Bay’s Weather in February
"Cold and misty" could describe the typical weather in February. Although it is a bit warmer than in January, the average temperature is just 18°C, only 1°C higher than in January. Some days can be very cold at 15°C while some shining days can reach 21°C.
Drizzles come more often this month with a slight rise in the rainfall level. The average rainfall is 22mm throughout 11 rainy days per month. Along with that, humidity increases remarkably from 65% in the previous month to 80% in February. That may make travelers feel a bit colder than it really is.
Nevertheless, 7 hours of sunlight per day is still an ideal number for visiting Halong Bay. The early morning usually comes with heavy fog but light sunshine comes out during the day, making it perfect to join a kayaking or biking trip, visit a cave, or climb to the top of the mountain.
The average sea temperature keeps unchanged at 19°C compared with that in January. Swimming activity is not popular during February in Halong Bay.
Advantages of visiting Halong Bay in February
- Reliable weather - no chance of trip delays or cancellations.
- Dry weather with low rainfall makes outdoor activities more enjoyable.
- Chance to join some traditional festivals in Vietnam and Halong such as Tet, Cua Ong Festival, Yen Tu Festival.
And what are disadvantages?
- It could be very cold some days.
- Mostly misty, rainy and cloudy - your landscape photos might not be as perfect as in sunshine
- High season for international travelers, thus Halong Bay is quite busy.
- Peak season surcharge is applied if you travel on Tet Holiday.
Local tips while planning your trip to Halong in February
- Make sure you have enough warm clothes for the cold weather in February.
- Bring a waterproof jacket in case of drizzles.
- Book the trip in advance to get your favorite cruise, especially if you want to travel during Tet holiday.
- Brings proper shoes or sandals for hiking activities because it might be slippery due to foggy and rainy weather.
Some festivals you may join in February
Yen Tu Festival: Held at Yen Tu Mountain, Uong Bi, Quang Ninh Province, this festival takes place from the 10th Lunar January until the end of Lunar March and is among the popular festivals in Vietnam. This is the occasion for Vietnamese to pray for good luck and health for themselves and their family in the new year.
Cua Ong Festival: Lasting for 3 months from the 2nd Lunar January to the end of Lunar March, this festival is held annually at Cua Ong Temple, in order to preserve and promote the cultural features and long-standing identity of the nation. Joining this festival, tourists can learn about the history and traditions of Vietnamese people as well as watch interesting folk games and art performances.