Visiting Da Nang During Tet: Prices, Weather, and What to Know

Every year around January we get the same message: "Is it worth coming to Da Nang for Tet, or does everything shut down?" The short answer is that it's absolutely worth it — but the Da Nang you'll get is not the Da Nang in the summer photos. If you know what you're walking into, Tet is one of the most interesting times to be here.

Here's what we usually tell guests who ask.

When Tet falls, and how long "Tet season" really lasts

Tet in 2027 falls on Saturday, 6 February 2027 — the Year of the Goat. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the date shifts every year, usually landing somewhere between late January and mid-February.

More useful than the date itself is understanding that Tet stretches out over a couple of weeks in practice:

• The week or so before Tet: the busiest, most colourful stretch of the whole year. Flower markets appear, streets get decorated, everyone is shopping and cleaning house. This is the best window if you want to see Tet.
• The first three days of the new year: the city goes noticeably quiet. This is when Vietnamese families are at home, visiting relatives, and going to the pagoda.
• From roughly day four onward: things reopen gradually, and by the second week it's more or less business as usual.

If you can pick your dates, we'd aim for the run-up to Tet or from the third or fourth day onward. Those first three days are a genuine pause.

The weather: this is not beach season

This is the part that surprises most visitors. Tet lands at the cooler end of the year in Da Nang. Expect temperatures in the low twenties Celsius — some days mild and sunny, others grey with a cold wind off the sea.

Practically speaking:

• The sea is chilly. Some people still swim, but most visitors stick to walking the shoreline.
• The water is choppier and windier than in summer, so water sports are much quieter.
• On the upside, the cool air is excellent for actually doing things. Walking, riding, going up Son Tra, heading to Ba Na Hills — all far more pleasant than in the June heat.

Bring a light jacket or long sleeves. It sounds odd advice for central Vietnam, but evenings by the beach in February really do get cool.

Prices: what goes up, what doesn't

Let's be direct: flights are the biggest cost and the first thing to sell out. Tet is when the entire country travels home, so domestic routes in the days right before the holiday and at the end of the break get very tight. If you're flying, book early — two or three months ahead is normal for this period.

Accommodation varies a lot by type. Big beachfront hotels and resorts usually apply a clearly stated Tet surcharge. Small homestays and guesthouses tend to raise prices more gently, but availability is thinner because many hosts are also on holiday. Worth asking before you book:

• Is there a Tet surcharge, and exactly which nights does it cover?
• Will the host be around during the holiday, or is it self check-in only?
• What's the cancellation policy for peak dates?

Food and transport also drift up during the first few days. Places that stay open through the holiday often charge a little more, and there are fewer ride-hailing drivers on the road, so fares run higher. This isn't tourist gouging — it's ordinary holiday supply and demand. But it's a very practical reason to sort out your own transport.

Photo: H&CO / Unsplash

What's open and what isn't

This is the question guests worry about most, so here's the specific version:

Usually open:

• Major attractions and theme parks — Ba Na Hills, Asia Park, the big tourist complexes — generally run right through Tet, often with extra decoration. Expect crowds.
• Pagodas and temples: open, and very busy. Visiting a pagoda at the start of the lunar year is a big deal here.
• Dragon Bridge, the Bach Dang riverside walk, the public beaches: all still there, and full of local families out for the evening on the first couple of nights.
• Hotels, homestays, large supermarkets, convenience stores: mostly open.

Often closed for a few days:

• Small local restaurants, sidewalk stalls, and breakfast places — many shut from day one to day three, sometimes longer.
• Traditional markets: Han Market and Con Market typically take a few days off, then reopen patchily.
• Independent cafes, repair shops, family-run stores.

The fix is simple: for the first few days of the new year, don't build your plans around one specific restaurant. Head out and see what's open. Streets near the beach and in tourist-heavy areas generally have more options running than purely residential neighbourhoods.

Why Tet is still worth it

Set the inconveniences aside, and Tet gives you things July never will:

• The atmosphere. Pre-Tet flower markets, kumquat trees and yellow apricot branches outside every doorway, lights strung along the Han River. The city is dressing up for itself, not for tourists.
• Empty streets on the first two days. If you've ever wanted to ride across Dragon Bridge without traffic, this is the one window in the year.
• Cool weather. Son Tra, the Marble Mountains, the Hai Van Pass — all much easier without the summer sun.
• Locals in their best mood of the year. You'll get offered food, wished a happy new year, and drawn into conversation far more than usual.

Conversely, if the whole point of your trip is swimming and eating your way through the city, Tet isn't the optimal choice. April–May or September will serve you better.

Small things that make a real difference

• Get cash out before the holiday. Many of the small places that do stay open prefer cash, and ATMs in busy areas can run dry.
• Sort out your own wheels. This is the single most practical tip we have. Having your own transport in those first few days means you can go hunting for whatever's open, get to the beach early, or visit a pagoda without waiting for a driver.
• Pack basic medicine. Small pharmacies may close for a few days.
• Keep the schedule loose. Any plan that depends on "that place opens at 7" is fragile during Tet.
• If someone offers you tea or a slice of cake, take it. That's the best part of the holiday.

If you're looking for somewhere to stay

Lapin Homestay is at 73 Duong Tri Trach, An Hai, Da Nang — a few minutes from My Khe beach and Dragon Bridge. During Tet that location does a lot of work: you can walk to the beach in the morning and get across to the decorated riverside in the evening without depending on a ride-hailing app. Guests can rent an electric scooter here too, which is particularly handy over the holiday when you're improvising your way to whatever's open.

Rooms over Tet tend to fill up earlier than people expect, so if you're considering it, message us on Zalo or give us a call to check availability. We're also happy to tell you honestly if the dates you've picked aren't the best ones to come.

Whatever you decide, we hope your Tet in Da Nang is cool, quiet in the right places, and full of red and gold.