Weather And Climate in Vietnam

Vietnam’s unique geography creates a range of weather patterns, with both tropical and temperate zones. There is not really a right or wrong time to visit Vietnam as during most months of the year you will experience both sunshine and rain in varying quantities. Whilst Vietnam is typically warm and humid, the weather can vary significantly from one region to another due to the country’s length. To have a wonderful Vietnam travel journey, it is essential to know about the weather and climate of each region’s top attractions.

Weather in Vietnam

• North Vietnam

North Vietnam (including Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ha Giang, and Sapa) has a subtropical climate with four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The spring (February to April) and autumn (August to October) are the best times to visit, as the weather is mild and dry, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. The summer (May to July) is hot and humid, with frequent rain and thunderstorms. The winter (November to January) is cool and dry, with occasional fog and drizzle. 

Vietnam’s Cao Bang Park Declared UNESCO Global Geopark

• Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam (including Quang Binh, Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An) has a tropical climate with two main seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season (January to August) is hot and sunny, with occasional showers in the afternoon. The rainy season (September to December) is cooler and wetter, with heavy rain and possible typhoons.

The Golden Bridge in the central coastal city of Da Nang, Vietnam

• South Vietnam

South Vietnam (including Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, and Phu Quoc) has a tropical climate with two main seasons: wet and dry. The wet season (May to October) is hot and humid, with frequent rain and thunderstorms. The dry season (November to April) is warm and sunny, with occasional showers in the late afternoon.

The magnificent beauty of Ho Chi Minh City

Climate of Vietnam

There are 8 different climatic regions in Vietnam based on the geographic and climatic conditions, which are grouped into 2 main types: the North (includes all areas north of the Hai Van Pass: Northwest, Northeast, Red River Delta, North Central) and the South (includes all areas south of the Hai Van Pass: South Central Coast, Central Highlands, Southeast, Mekong Delta River).

Climate of Vietnam

• The North is a tropical monsoon climate, with 4 distinct seasons (spring-summer-autumn-winter), influenced by northeast monsoons (from mainland Asia) and southeast monsoons, with high humidity.
• The South, due to less influence of monsoons, the tropical climate is quite temperate, hot all year round and divided into two distinct seasons (dry and rainy seasons).

Some places have a temperate climate like Sa Pa (Lao Cai province); and Da Lat (Lam Dong province); some places belong to a continental climate such as Lai Chau and Son La.

Temperature

In summer, the average temperature across the country is 25oC (23oC in Hanoi, 25oC in Hue, and 27oC in Ho Chi Minh City). Winter in the North, the lowest temperature in December and January. In the northern mountainous areas, such as Sa Pa, Tam Dao, and Hoang Lien Son, the temperature even drops to 0°C, with snow.

Vietnam has a huge amount of solar radiation with the number of sunny hours from 1,400-3,000 hours/year. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 mm. The air humidity is above 80%. Due to the influence of monsoons and the complexity of the topography, Vietnam often experiences disadvantages in weather such as storms, floods, and droughts.