Film production in Ho Chi Minh City
Between June and December, usable daylight in Ho Chi Minh City moves by 1h 15min — from 12h 45min down to 11h 30min. An exterior day in December is a different day from one in June. This page carries sunrise, sunset and golden-hour times for all twelve months.
Light and shooting hours
On 15 June, the sun in Ho Chi Minh City rises at 05:32 and sets at 18:17; the evening golden hour starts at 17:47 and runs for 30 minutes. By December that shifts to 06:04–17:34, with a 31-minute golden-hour window from 17:04.
In practice, a spread of 1h 15min means a schedule that works here in summer does not work in winter at the same location — with the same setup count, the hours simply are not there.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Golden hour (evening, from) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:17 | 17:50 | 11h 33min | 17:20 |
| February | 06:15 | 18:02 | 11h 47min | 17:33 |
| March | 06:02 | 18:05 | 12h 03min | 17:37 |
| April | 05:43 | 18:05 | 12h 22min | 17:37 |
| May | 05:32 | 18:09 | 12h 37min | 17:40 |
| June | 05:32 | 18:17 | 12h 45min | 17:47 |
| July | 05:39 | 18:21 | 12h 42min | 17:51 |
| August | 05:44 | 18:14 | 12h 29min | 17:45 |
| September | 05:44 | 17:56 | 12h 12min | 17:28 |
| October | 05:43 | 17:37 | 11h 54min | 17:09 |
| November | 05:50 | 17:28 | 11h 38min | 16:58 |
| December | 06:04 | 17:34 | 11h 30min | 17:04 |
Blue hour and shooting windows
Blue hour in Ho Chi Minh City starts at 18:31 in June and ends at 18:40 — a window of 9 minutes. In December it is 9 minutes from 17:48. If you need a city view with lit windows, that window is all you get.
Sunset moves fastest around the equinoxes: between March (18:05) and September (17:56) there are 9 minutes of difference. A schedule running over several weeks cannot work from one fixed "sunset" time.
Planning a shoot here
A schedule that ignores these numbers looks fine on paper and falls over on the day. TillyGen folds sun position, travel and crew availability straight into the schedule — if the exterior no longer fits before sunset in December, the plan says so, not the wrap report.
Frequently asked
When is golden hour in Ho Chi Minh City?
In June it starts at 17:47 and lasts 30 minutes; in December it starts at 17:04 and lasts 31 minutes. The table above lists all twelve months.
How much daylight does a shoot day in Ho Chi Minh City get?
Between 11h 30min in December and 12h 45min in June. The 1h 15min difference is worth four to eight setups depending on your pace.
Which month is best for exteriors in Ho Chi Minh City?
On daylight length alone, June is strongest with 12h 45min of usable light.