29 best winter-sun destinations for 2025-2026

Flight time: 12 hours from London
When to go: November–February
Average winter temperature: 27°C

Vietnam offers a long, golden stretch of winter sun between November and March, when the rainy season passes and humidity levels ease, allowing for dry conditions that tempt travellers into long, balmy days on blissful beaches. Long a favourite with backpackers, more seasoned travellers are gradually discovering Vietnam’s charm – especially as prices remain below many other tropical destinations. White-sand beaches curve around turquoise coves in Phu Quoc, while, further up in Nha Trang, holidaymakers switch between the uptempo vibes of the city and long, seafood lunches beside the shimmering sea. Beyond the beaches, Ho Chi Minh City hums with its usual energy, as motorbikes weave past French colonial facades, cafés spill onto pavements, and street food vendors scent the air – in short, stick around a while before heading to the coast.

Where to stay: Vietnamese stays don’t get much more indulgent than those at Amanoi, Aman’s sleek property tucked among the craggy cliffs and gnarled trees of Vinh Hy Bay, where serene villas jut out from a 100-hectare sea of evergreen. For a city centre bolthole, check into Capella Hanoi, where hotel designer Bill Bensley drew inspiration from the neoclassical Hanoi Opera House down the street and ran with it across more than 40 glitzy suites.