Most travel sites say “November to April is the dry season, go then.” That is true, but it is not how people on Hon Son think about the year.
I’m Giang, and I have lived and worked on the island for more than 30 years. Out here we don’t count dry and rainy seasons. We count three wind seasons, and we count them by the lunar calendar, because fishermen live by the tides and the tides follow the moon. Once you understand the three winds, you know when to come, which beach to swim at, and what you will see.
The short answer
- Clearest, calmest sea: roughly November to March.
- Quietest, fewest visitors: roughly January to March.
- Busiest: the summer months, when Vietnamese families are on holiday.
- You can come all year. The island is big and mountainous, so one side is always sheltered from the wind.
The lunar months shift a little against the Western calendar every year, so treat the months below as approximate.
North wind season (lunar months 9 to 12, roughly November to January)
The wind comes down from the north. The air is cool, and on the island it rarely drops below 21°C. The sea turns so clear you can see the white sand on the bottom.
This is the island’s most beautiful season, and there are few visitors. If you want photos of the sea, this is when to come.
The floating fish farms move to Bai Thien Tue, a cove sheltered from the north wind. It is also squid season: fishermen say squid are “as plentiful as grass” in the north wind months, and night squid fishing is at its best on dark, moonless nights.
“Chuong” wind season (lunar months 1 to 3, roughly January to March)
The quietest time of the year. Small boats can go out comfortably, so this is when it is easiest to see real fishing life up close.
The fish farms move to Bai Gieng, on the west side of the island. Go early for the market there: it is busiest from around 6:00 to 6:30 in the morning and finished soon after. If you arrive late and find it empty, you haven’t missed a closed market, you have missed a finished one.
South wind season (lunar months 4 to 8, roughly May to September)
The southwest wind blows hard and this is the busiest season for visitors, because it matches the summer holidays.
The south side of the island can get big waves, but the mountains block the wind, so the north side stays calm. Choose your beach by the wind and you can still swim well. The fish farms move to Bai Bang, which is sheltered from the south wind.
Two days to avoid for the boat crossing in this season: the 17th and the 23rd of the lunar month. Those two tides bring the roughest sea of the month. You can find the lunar date on any Vietnamese calendar app, or ask your guesthouse.
How the wind decides where to swim
| Season | Where the fish farms shelter | Where to look for calm water |
|---|---|---|
| North wind | Bai Thien Tue | the cove at Bai Thien Tue |
| Chuong wind | Bai Gieng | Bai Gieng, on the west side |
| South wind | Bai Bang | Bai Bang and the north side |
Islanders have a saying for it: when the wind hits Bai Nha, the sea on the far side is completely still. If your beach is rough, ride to the other side of the island.
Boats and bad weather
The fast boats run up to around wind level 5 to 6 and are usually cancelled from level 6 to 7. Cancellations are less likely in the calm months, but if you have a flight to catch, keep a spare day. More on the Rach Gia to Hon Son ferry page.
Festivals
- Nghinh Ong (Whale Worship) Festival: the 14th to 16th day of the 10th lunar month, at the Nam Hai Whale Temple. Fishing boats carry the procession out to sea. In 2026 that falls on 22 to 24 November. It is the biggest festival of the year on the island, and accommodation fills up.
- Ba Co Chu Temple festival: the 9th day of the 9th lunar month.
Which season would I choose?
For a first visit, I would come in the north wind season: cool, clear and quiet. If you want to see the island at work, with the early market and the boats going out, come in the chuong season. If summer is your only choice, come anyway and pick your beach by the wind.
For what to do once you are here, see things to do on Hon Son. For everything else, start with the Hon Son island guide or the FAQ.
Quick questions
What is the best month to visit Hon Son?
Roughly November to March for the clearest, calmest sea.
Can I visit Hon Son in the rainy season?
Yes. One side of the island is always sheltered, so you choose your beach by the wind. Boats may be cancelled on very windy days.
Which days should I avoid for the boat?
In the south wind season, the 17th and 23rd of the lunar month bring the roughest sea.
When is the Nghinh Ong festival?
The 14th to 16th of the 10th lunar month. In 2026 that is 22 to 24 November.
Sources
Checked on 12 October 2026. Island details come from my own life on Hon Son and from the articles on this site.
- Đảo Hòn Sơn: Nên đi Hòn Sơn mùa nào (our Vietnamese article)
- Đảo Hòn Sơn: Người Hòn Sơn sống theo gió (our Vietnamese article)
- Superdong booking and timetable
- Đảo Hòn Sơn: Lăng Ông Nam Hải (our Vietnamese article)
Giang (Giang Bien Dao) has lived and worked on Hon Son island for more than 30 years. The three wind seasons described here come from island practice, not from weather statistics. Every year the winds come a little earlier or later, but the pattern holds.