Head to head

Philippines or Vietnam?

Vietnam, narrowly — 61 vs 56 across the year.

Vietnam edges it overall — 61 vs 56 on the Atlas Ranger Score — but the lead isn't permanent. Vietnam is the better pick in 7 of 12 months; Philippines takes the other 2 (Jun and Aug). Vietnam peaks in March (81); Philippines's best window is February (72). Time the trip to the month, not the average.

Month by month

When to go

Pick a month. The line shows each place's score across the year; the figures below are that month's averages.

Philippines Vietnam

In October, Vietnam is the better bet — 61 vs 53.

Score

High / low

30° / 25°

29° / 22°

Rain

265 mm

196 mm

Sunshine

8.6 h

7.7 h

Philippines: Monsoon easing — typhoons still likely

Vietnam: Mixed — north drying out, central peak typhoon

At a glance

Side by side

Philippines Vietnam

Timing & weather

Year-round score56/10061/100

Best monthFebruary (72)March (81)

Months it leadsJun and AugFeb–May and Oct–Dec

Cheapest monthsJun–OctJun–Sep

Driest monthMarch (39mm)December (18mm)

Wettest monthJuly (447mm)September (387mm)

Hottest monthApril (34°C)June (33°C)

Best for

BeachesBoth are beach destinations — compare the months above for when each is warmest and driestEvenEven

Culture & festivalsPhilippines has the deeper festival calendar (6 vs 5 major events)Stronger—

Mountains & hikingVietnam is the stronger pick for mountains and hiking—Stronger

Off-peak monthsPhilippines has more shoulder and low-season months (9 vs 7), when rates and crowds easeStronger—

Practical

Main airportsNinoy Aquino International Airport (Manila)Hanoi (Noi Bai), HCMC (Tan Son Nhat), Da Nang

CurrencyPHP (Philippine Peso)VND (Vietnamese Dong)

LanguageFilipino (Tagalog) & English — English very widely spokenVietnamese

Time zonePHT (UTC+8)ICT (UTC+7)

ClimateTropical (Köppen Aw / Am) — figures shown: Manila / western LuzonTropical north / monsoon central / equatorial south (figures shown: central Vietnam, not Hanoi or HCMC)

VisaVisa-free entry for 30 days for most nationalities (US, UK, EU, Australia, etc.) with a valid passport and onward ticket30-day or 90-day e-visa available for most nationalities

SafetyLow risk for tourists in the main destinations (Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Siargao, Manila). Government advisories recommend avoiding the far western Mindanao / Sulu Archipelago. Main practical risks are typhoons, strong sea currents and petty crime in cities.Low risk — standard tropical precautions, motorbike safety

Named storms nearby nowNASA EONET, checked hourly. Not a forecast.None tracked within 1,000kmNone tracked within 1,000km

Your trip

Which should you pick?

PickPhilippines

Pick Philippines if you want beaches, plus easy family travel — it leads in Jun and Aug and peaks in February (72).

Philippines full guide

PickVietnam

Pick Vietnam if you want city life and food, plus history and temples — it leads in Feb–May and Oct–Dec and peaks in March (81).

Vietnam full guide

Plan your trip

Hotels, flights and more

Switch between the two. Hotel prices are for a week in each destination's best month.

Book Philippines

$$ · Island-hopping, lagoons, the iconic Philippines

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Our verdict
Pick Vietnam for a land-based journey — cities, food, history and dramatic landscapes strung along an easy north–south route. Pick the Philippines for a sea-and-islands trip built around beaches, diving and boat-hopping. Vietnam's long shape means there is always somewhere dry; in the Philippines you choose the island to dodge the rain.

Questions

Good to know

Is Philippines or Vietnam better to visit?

Vietnam edges it overall — 61 vs 56 on the Atlas Ranger Score, our 0–100 measure of weather, crowds, value, and timing across the year. The gap is modest and the lead flips by month — use the tool above to compare any specific month.

Which has better weather, Philippines or Vietnam?

Vietnam averages a higher weather score (54 vs 50). Weather is the biggest input to the score, but both have strong months and weak months; the month-by-month chart shows exactly when.

When is it cheapest to visit Philippines or Vietnam?

Philippines is cheapest in Jun–Oct; Vietnam is cheapest in Jun–Sep. Those are the low and shoulder months, when hotel rates and crowds ease — usually because the weather is less reliable, so check the month-by-month scores above before you book.

Can I visit both Philippines and Vietnam in one trip?

Often yes — many travellers pair them. The smart move is to time each leg to its own best months. Check each destination's full guide (linked below) for the month-by-month detail, then sequence your trip so each stop lands in its strong window.