What is the best time to visit Bac Lieu?

January through March and December offer the best conditions, with lower rainfall and comfortable temperatures around 25–27°C. February is the driest month with only 18mm of precipitation. The monsoon season from May through October brings heavy rainfall and is less suitable for travel.

What is the climate like in Bac Lieu?

Bac Lieu has a tropical monsoon climate with warm temperatures year-round, averaging 25.8–28.5°C. The dry season (January–March, December) receives 18–105mm of rain monthly. The monsoon season (May–October) is wet, with October recording 356mm of rainfall over 29 days.

How far is Bac Lieu from the nearest airport?

Cà Mau Airport is the nearest commercial airport, located approximately 38km from Bac Lieu. This airport provides access to the region for international and domestic travelers.

What is the population of Bac Lieu?

Bac Lieu had a population of approximately 156,110 as of 2019. The city functions as a medium-sized provincial hub and regional administrative and commercial center in the Mekong Delta.

What economic sectors drive Bac Lieu's economy?

Agriculture and fishing form the foundation of Bac Lieu's economy, supported by the region's extensive waterway network and rice paddies. The city also serves as a regional commercial and administrative hub for surrounding agricultural areas.

Bac Lieu: Mekong Delta Provincial City

Bac Lieu is a provincial city located in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam, with a population of approximately 156,110 as of 2019. Situated at coordinates 9.3°N, 105.5°E, the city occupies a strategic position in one of Southeast Asia's most important agricultural regions. Formerly known as Vĩnh Lợi, Bac Lieu served as the capital of the former Bạc Liêu Province and retains a provincial character while functioning as a regional hub for commerce and local administration. The Mekong Delta is characterized by extensive waterways, rice paddies, and a distinctive river-based culture that has shaped settlement patterns and local livelihoods for centuries. The city's cultural heritage reflects its position as a crossroads of Vietnamese traditions and economic life centered on agriculture and fishing.

Updated 2026-05-03 · Source: GeoNames, Wikipedia

Image: Wikimedia Commons contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikipedia

Population: 156K
Climate: tropical monsoon
Best months: Jan–Mar, Dec

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Timezone

Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh

Bac Lieu: Mekong Delta Provincial City: 9.300, 105.500Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

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Climate

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Monthly normals (10-year window). Bars show precipitation, lines show average and max temperature.

Best months to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec

What's around (within 10km, 3 POIs)

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Nearest airports

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Cà Mau Airport
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Quick facts

Bac Lieu is a provincial city in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam with a population of 156,110 as of 2019.
The city is located at coordinates 9.3°N, 105.5°E in one of Southeast Asia's most important agricultural regions.
January is the driest month with an average of 25.8°C and only 45mm of precipitation over 9 days.
February receives the lowest annual rainfall at 18mm spread over 5 days, making it optimal for travel.
October is the wettest month, recording 356mm of rainfall over 29 days during the monsoon season.
Average temperatures in Bac Lieu range from 25.8°C in January to 28.5°C in April throughout the year.
Cà Mau Airport, located 38km from Bac Lieu, serves as the nearest commercial airport for the region.
The city was formerly known as Vĩnh Lợi and served as the capital of the former Bạc Liêu Province.
Bac Lieu's economy is centered on agriculture, fishing, and rice cultivation supported by extensive waterways.
The Mekong Delta's river-based culture has shaped settlement patterns and local livelihoods for centuries.
The monsoon season from May through October brings substantial daily rainfall exceeding 200mm monthly.
March averages 27.6°C and receives only 26mm of precipitation, providing favorable travel conditions.

Geography and Climate

Bac Lieu is positioned in the heart of the Mekong Delta, where flat topography and extensive waterway networks define the landscape. The region experiences a tropical monsoon climate with warm temperatures year-round. Average monthly temperatures range from 25.8°C in January to 28.5°C in April. The dry season spans January through March, with January recording approximately 45mm of precipitation over 9 days and February receiving just 18mm over 5 days. The monsoon season from May through October brings significantly higher rainfall, peaking in October at 356mm over 29 days. This climate pattern reflects the seasonal rhythm that has governed agricultural and fishing activities in the Mekong Delta for centuries.

Coordinates: 9.3°N, 105.5°E
Avg temperature range: 25.8–28.5°C annually
Driest months: January–February (18–45mm)
Wettest month: October (356mm)
Nearest commercial airport: Cà Mau Airport (38km)

Population and Economy

With a population of 156,110, Bac Lieu functions as a medium-sized provincial hub in the Mekong Delta. The city serves as a regional center for commerce and local administration, drawing its economic foundation from the surrounding agricultural and fishing industries. Rice cultivation and fish farming are primary livelihoods, supported by the region's extensive waterway network. As a crossroads of Vietnamese traditions, the city reflects both historical settlement patterns and contemporary regional economic activity. The local economy remains tied to the seasonal agricultural cycle and the distinctive river-based culture characteristic of the Mekong Delta.

Population (2019): 156,110
Primary economic sectors: Agriculture, fishing, commerce
Regional role: Provincial administrative and commercial hub

Best Time to Visit

The optimal months to visit Bac Lieu are January, February, March, and December, when rainfall is lower and temperatures remain comfortable. January averages 25.8°C with minimal precipitation, while February records the lowest rainfall at 18mm. March offers slightly warmer conditions at 27.6°C while maintaining dry weather patterns. December provides a transition into the dry season with moderate temperatures of 26°C and reduced precipitation at 105mm. The monsoon season from May through October brings substantial daily rainfall, making travel less convenient during these months. The dry season offers the most favorable conditions for exploring the city's cultural heritage and agricultural landscape.

Best visit months: January, February, March, December
January temperature: 25.8°C average
February rainfall: 18mm (driest month)
Monsoon season: May–October

Cultural Heritage and River-Based Character

Bac Lieu's cultural identity is deeply rooted in its position within the Mekong Delta, a region shaped by centuries of river-based settlement and tradition. The city's heritage reflects Vietnamese customs adapted to the waterway-dependent landscape, where rice paddies and fishing activities remain central to daily life. As the former capital of Bạc Liêu Province, the city carries historical significance within Vietnam's administrative and cultural geography. The provincial character is preserved through local architecture, riverside culture, and economic practices tied to agriculture and fishing. Visitors experience a distinctly rural, agricultural setting that showcases traditional Mekong Delta lifeways distinct from urban centers.

Former role: Capital of Bạc Liêu Province
Primary cultural focus: River-based traditions and agriculture
Regional character: Provincial, rural, agricultural

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Bac Lieu?: January through March and December offer the best conditions, with lower rainfall and comfortable temperatures around 25–27°C. February is the driest month with only 18mm of precipitation. The monsoon season from May through October brings heavy rainfall and is less suitable for travel.
What is the climate like in Bac Lieu?: Bac Lieu has a tropical monsoon climate with warm temperatures year-round, averaging 25.8–28.5°C. The dry season (January–March, December) receives 18–105mm of rain monthly. The monsoon season (May–October) is wet, with October recording 356mm of rainfall over 29 days.
How far is Bac Lieu from the nearest airport?: Cà Mau Airport is the nearest commercial airport, located approximately 38km from Bac Lieu. This airport provides access to the region for international and domestic travelers.
What is the population of Bac Lieu?: Bac Lieu had a population of approximately 156,110 as of 2019. The city functions as a medium-sized provincial hub and regional administrative and commercial center in the Mekong Delta.
What economic sectors drive Bac Lieu's economy?: Agriculture and fishing form the foundation of Bac Lieu's economy, supported by the region's extensive waterway network and rice paddies. The city also serves as a regional commercial and administrative hub for surrounding agricultural areas.

More about Bac Lieu: Mekong Delta Provincial City

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Sources & methodology

Geographic data from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Narrative sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and structured by Claude. Map by © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See the methodology and sources registry for full attribution and update cadence.

This page last refreshed 2026-05-03 · generation v2.