Vietnam Weather … a Hot topic

 

Ok here it is,  everything you wanted to know about the weather in Vietnam. I usually start my writings from South to north, so let me be a rebel and start in the north.

SAPA

The climate of Sapa is highly seasonal, with a subtropical climate in the summer and a temperate climate during the winter. Average temperature for Sapa town is 15.4ºC, with a maximum of 29.4ºC and a minimum of 1ºC. Sapa also experiences a marked wet season from May to September, with the heaviest rainfall occurring in July and August. The weather is also notorious for changing frequently and quickly. It is said that only in Sapa, one can experience many different seasons within only one day.

February- Very cold in early days, cloudy, foggy. Getting warmer & better towards later days.

March- Much nicer and warmer weather than Feb, more sunshine

April- Summer start, dry, clear, warm enough

May- Starting rainy season with quick shower occasionally, clear sky with more sunshine but little bit warm in the open at noon.

June- Warm but not as hot like other region. Clear sky, much sunshine but summer shower get more but not too wet

July- Among the 2 worst months of the year caused by summer shower

August – The peak month of typhoon and rain

September – Autumn starts, getting drier and normally very nice towards the end of the month.

October- Cool, dry, sunshine almost everyday, clear sky

November- Cooler, dry. May be misty and foggy towards the end but nice weather.

December-Wet winter starts and gets worse in the later days of the month. It can get quite chilly.

Halong Bay

Halong’s climate is humid and tropical. With a hot, humid summer and dry, cold winter; Halong’s  temperature varies from 15ºC to 25ºC.Annual rainfall is between 2000mm and 2200mm. Ha Long  bay has typical diurnal tide system (tide amplitude ranges from 3.5-4m). The salinity is from 31 to 34.5MT in dry season and lower in rainy season. It is possible to visit Ha Long Bay year-round, with the best time to visit from October through April, although during the winter months of December, January and February, the weather can be cool and overcast with low visibility.  During the summer months from May to September, temperatures rise and storms are more likely during the rainy season.

Hanoi,

Hanoi has typical North Vietnam climate, with a cold and dry winter (when temperatures can drop to as low as 6°C – 7°C) and a hot and extremely humid summer (temperatures can climb up to a maximum of 35°C). Spring is characterized with light drizzles while the summers bring heavy rain. The best time to visit Hanoi is around September to November or from March to April for their milder temperatures and pleasant weather.

Average Rainfall millimeters

Average Temperature

Hue/ Danang

The coast and delta area of Hue has tropical climate and is divided into two distinguished seasons. The dry season (from March to August) has a maximum temperature of 400 C and the colder, rainy season (August to January) has temperatures that can go down to 19,70 C. In higher areas (on mountains, highlands) the temperature is generally cooler. From March to August will be the best time to visit Hue, especially between March and April when the temperature is more pleasant, though rainfalls are still likely. Hue sees fog and rain quite frequently, even when the weather across the Hai Van Pass in nearby Danang is sunny.  During the rainy season, between September and January, rain is more frequent and can be heavy.

Weather chart for Hue/Danang/Hoi An area

Average Rainfall centimeters.

Average Temperature

Hoi An

Somewhere between tropical and climate. The temperature is warm throughout the year (average 29°C), yet hotter around months June and July and cooler around December. Hoi An is affected by monsoon winds. The city will be constantly raining from September till January, and dry for the rest of the year. Overall, the best time to visit Hoi An is between May and June. February and April are among the best time to visit Hoi an when rainfall is low and temperatures are pleasant. The temperatures can get hot during summer time and during the rainy season, particularly during October and November, rains can be frequent and heavy.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is extremely lucky to not be influenced by monsoon winds that turn the rest of southern Vietnam into water six months every year. Nha Trang has a warm, fair and beautiful climate nearly all year round, with the exception of late October, November and early December. The best time to visit Nha Trang would probably be March or April. The least windy months of the year are May, April and June. Nha Trang in general is not windy enough to windsurf, with the exception of Doc Let beach (35 km north of Nha Trang), which is usually reserved for experts.

NhaTrang rainfall
NhaTrang Temperatures

Dalat

Surrounded by mountains and pine forests, Da Lat has many characteristics of a temperate climate. The average temperature here is 18–21°C, with highest temperature 30°C and lowest 5°C. Dalat also has the two season climate typical of South Vietnam, with a monsoon season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. Dalat is never stormy and only has occasional heavy winds from the ocean through the mountains East side of the city. Dalat is in the temperate region and has pleasant weather year-round, even sunny during much of the rainy season.  The dry season lasting from November to March, and the rainy season from April to November. During the winter months, the average temperature is 10 C while during summer it is around 20 C.  Ideal weather is from November to March, when the air is fresh and cool.

Mui Ne

Mui Ne lies in the monsoon tropical zone, with 2 district seasons. The rainy season is from May to October and the dry season from November to April. Dry season normally means NO RAIN. Mui Ne lies in the emerging Binh Thuan Desert and is prone to drought. Onset of rainy season can bring flash flooding and extensive errosion. Rainy season brings lush green foliage and the return of birds, butterflies and other wildlife (and takes away the tourists). Rain is usually for an hour, once or twice a day (typically afternoon and evening), during the rainy season. The yearly average rainfall varies between 50 and 100 cm. The average relative humidity is 79%. Because Mui Ne receives very little rain, it is also sunnier, and thus feels hotter than Nha Trang or Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City weather and climate

Located in South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City city has a tropical climate. The average humidity level is 75%, average temperature is 28 °C. The city is generally warm, and has a monsoon season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. During the rainy season starting from May to November, rains can be long and heavy, but often are short daily rains that clear quickly. Generally, the best time to visit is during the dry season from December and April, although the coolest months are October through December.

Average rainfall in Saigon

Average temperature in Saigon

Phu Quoc

The island’s monsoonal sub-equatorial climate is characterized by distinct rainy (June to October) and dry seasons (November to May). The annual rainfall is high averaging 2,879 mm. In the northern mountains up to 4,000 mm have been recorded. April and May are the hottest months with temperature reaching 35 °C. Trips to Phu Quoc can be made all year round, but the best time is dry season when the sky is always sunny, clear and blue.

So there you have it!! I wish to thank all of the sites I copied from. It was a bit hard compiling this information into one place, and your sites helped immensely.

Update.

Here is another link to rainfall and temperature charts with more detailed information

Vietnam temperature and rainfall charts

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84 thoughts on “Vietnam Weather … a Hot topic

  1. Wow Owen..I wish I found your site earlier. Ive been doing sooo much research getting conflicting information from everywhere and then your site. Everything I need to know, it will make it alot easier to plan my family trip for mid oct- early nov. Thankyou soooooo much!!!!! (I must say that the website seat61 has also been a great help on planning the train journeys too) Basically Ive decided to make 2 plans incase of bad weather in danang & surrounding areas. If its bad weather I will go directly from Hanoi to HCMC and then visit warmer places like Mui ne & if weather is ok also fly in & out of Nha trang. If the weather is ok we will visit Danang etc then on to HCMC etc. If you have any input it would be much appreciated. Thanks again mate. 🙂

    1. Good idea to have a plan B. Danang Hue and Hoi An are often hit by very bad weather at that time. The weather is much more stable fron Nha Trang south. Feel free to email me if you need any help. I am not hard to find

  2. Hi Owee,

    Myself and my boyfriend are looking to travel to vietnam over the summer, but are unsure of when to go and where the best places would be for weather and value for money. We’re looking to see good sights such as at Halong bay, but also would like beaches too!

    Thanks!

    1. I suggest March through June as the best time to visit Vietnam. The best of Vietnam in my opinion is the highlant route between Hoi An and Nha Trang. Check out the itinerary section for more ideas of where to travel.

  3. Hi Owee,

    very good info you have here.. really well written.

    I have a quick question. My self and my wife are travelling to the south for our honeymoon in July.
    will it rain a alot or be overcast?

    a reply will be greatly appreciated

    Thanks

    1. Typicly……….You will most likely wake up to sunny skies and at 2 or 3 pm, the rains or showers will move in tocool everything down for a few hours…..

  4. Hi, your website has given fantastic advice for travelling to Vietnam. I have just a quick question, we were originally planning to travel to Hanoi, to Halong Bay and then down to Hoi an in May. However, we are unable to travel at this time due to no-one looking after the dogs 🙁 so we are hoping to postpone until the end of July, what will the weather be like in these regions during this time? Is it worth coming for a beach holiday then?

    Thanks, any help would be great.

    Lizzie

    1. Yes, July will still be beach weather however, you are not going to the best beach locations. There will most likely be afternoon rains up north.

  5. I want to travel for 9 days in November would like culture markets and beach with sun bathing weather can you help?

    1. Take a look at Phu Quoc or Con Dao island. It probably has the best beach weather at that time. The mainland can be rainy and rough waters

  6. Hi, from reading your site, which is fantastic I must say, it appears that in December the weather is better is the south? We are really keen to visit Vietnam in December for a week and Hanoi is top of my travel partners list however I would really like some beach time. Do you have any recommendations?

    1. December is quite chilly in the north. December can be a hit and miss for Nha Trang beach, but the warmer weather usually starts from here south. Mui Ne will be very windy. I suggest looking at Phu Quoc for your warmest and calmest beach destination even though it might be peak season and a little pricey….. Otherwise right here in Nha Trang is your best bet.

  7. Thank you for your great site. We’d value you opinion on when to travel in North Vietnam – Hanoi, Ha Giang, Mai Chau areas.
    We can only go between February and August and would like to see rice growing ( maybe that is out of season ? ) and green countryside. We have been to Thailand and Cambodia in March and February and it was very dry.
    Maybe North Vietnam will be different ?

    1. Thanks for the compliment
      Do not worry, you will see a lot of green. Sepending on area, you will see new and old crops as you travel. The best months in my opinion are Mar-June. Check my weather chart page to dee where is wet and where is dry

  8. Hi Owee. first thank you for your fantastic and really helpful review.We are traveling to Vietnam/Cambodia @ end of Oct for 3 weeks , heading north to south ; Hanoi 3 nights /plus 1 over night Halong bay cruise / Hue 2 nights/ car and driver day trip over Hoi Van Pass /Hoi An 3 nights [fingers crossed for sun booked in @ beach resort] H.M.C . 3 nights/ Phnom Penh 2 nights/SiemReap 4 nights. You have ans. a lot of my questions already ,but we would like to know if we need warm clothing or light summer clothes for this trip? We want to travel as light as we can so would welcome your advice .Think we will bring light rain coats after reading your weather report, thanks again for the enjoyable read, Normaloulou. P.S. ever been in Cambodia?

    1. Sorry to see you will not be visiting us in Nha Trang…….Keep Nha Trang in mind as plan B if it is all typoons or terrible weather in the Hue/Hoi An area. Yes pack light. Even though the odds are very high you will get wet in Hue and Hoi An, rain gear is available everywhere for a low cost. Unless you are very large people, most clothing items can also be purchased. Try to do so away from the main tourist areas (perhaps market in Hue or Hanoi) as Hoi An is one of thwe priciest destinations for clothing in Vietnam. You should be fine with light cloths and shorts for your whole trip otherwise. I wear shorts and tee shirts all year around except in Dalat and Sapa where it can get cold.

  9. Owee – Many thanks for sharing your experience on here, TA, etc.

    We are planning a trip to Vietnam at the start of January and will be spending a few days in Hanoi, and then would ask for your advice about 1 week beach holiday before finishing in How Chi Minh City.

    Will it be too cold in the second week of January to go swimming in Nha Trang? Your weather / climate links show that it is a bit warmer in Phu Quoc, so maybe we should go there instead???

    Cheers!

    1. January is often a month of harder waves and sometimes a bit of wind however, the beaches are in my opinion nicer in most instances. There is a lot more in the way of entertainment and such. Beach weather is most likely better in Phu Quoc and if staying at a resort, that might be a better choice. Be aware that it will be high season in Phu Quoc and much more expensive. There are a couple of very nice beaches on the south end of the island….. I would pick Nha Trang myself because of the many things to do besides the beach, but if calm waters are what you are looking for, the island is a better choice.

  10. Hi,
    This is really helpful info, just to be more specific for us. I ma travelling next july 2013 for 3 weeks but want to do a whole host of different bits and bobs, what do you think is better, north to south or south to north, would like to finish on some nice sun bathing weather on our honeymoon

    Thanks
    Charlotte

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