26/12/2022
Vietnam Weather: the complete guide
Generally speaking, the best time to visit Vietnam is between November and April.
By region
North Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, Ha Long Bay)
The best time to visit north Vietnam is from October - early May with the most pleasant months being from October - November and February - May.
In the far north (Ha Giang, Sapa) temperature can drop to -0°C in December - January. Wet season in the north is from late May - September and you can expect sporadic heavy rain.
Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An, Danang, Quang Binh, Quy Nhon, Phu Yen, Nha Trang)
The best time to visit central Vietnam is from late November - August with the most pleasant months being from January - May. It can get really hot during Jun - August with average temperature being 35°C. Wet season in central Vietnam is from September - early November and there might be occasional flooding.
South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Mui Ne)
The best time to visit south Vietnam is from late October - April, with the best months being November - March. Wet season in the south starts from late May - September and you can expect hot, humid weather with afternoon downpour that lasts over an hour or so.
By month
January
January is best for:
Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc.
January is okay for Sapa (it is usually quite cold in Sapa in January with temperatures potentially dropping to -0°C) and Ha Long Bay ( it is cold and misty in Ha Long in January)
February
February is one of the best months to travel all over Vietnam and best for:
Hanoi, Sapa, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc.
With mild temperatures in the north, pleasant sunny weather in the central and the south, February is ideal weather for all types of travel activities such as trekking & hiking (Sapa), swimming (the beaches of Nha Trang & Phu Quoc), walking tours (Hue & Hoi An).
Ha Long Bay can still get a little misty by February, especially in early morning but weather should brighten up by lunch time.
March
March is the 'golden month' to travel and you can expect amazing weather in all places in Vietnam!
It is end of spring in north Vietnam when the weather starts to brighten up, making it an ideal time to visit Sapa & Ha Long Bay.
In central and south Vietnam it is sunny but not too hot and you can engage in all kinds of activities such as walking tours or relaxing on the beach.
April
April is one of the best months to travel and is best for: Sapa, Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc
April marks the beginning of summer time in the north. In central and south Vietnam, temperatures will start to go up by end of month also so if you plan to visit Vietnam in April, it is best to plan the trip around the first half of the month.
May
May is mixed in terms of weather & is best for Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang.
Mid/end of May marks the start of rainy season in north & south Vietnam and you can expect downpour that lasts an hour or so. With the exception of the far north region (Sapa, Ha Giang), and Da Lat, the whole country in summer mode with temperature averaging 30°C.
Travel tip: If you are travelling by early May you can still make the best of the weather in most places! Be sure to avoid 30 April & 01 May as these are public holidays in Vietnam and it will be expensive to travel on those dates, plus it will be crowded!
Most hotels in north and south Vietnam will offer lower rates starting from 05th May - September period (green season) so if you are up for a travel deal try booking a holiday around that time.
June
June is mixed in terms of weather!
June is best for:
Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang
(it will be hot but there won't be rain in these places!)
North and South Vietnam are truly in rainy season in June but to be fair the rain provides much needed relief from the heat.
In central Vietnam it will be scorchingly hot and you should plan to stay near the beaches so you can cool off easily!
July
July is mixed in terms of weather and share the same weather pattern with June!
July is best for:
Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang
(again it will be hot, very hot but there won't be rain in these places!)
North and South Vietnam are still well and truly in rainy season in July. Expect hot and humid weather. Storms can happen in north Vietnam this time of year and might affect Ha Long cruises.
In central Vietnam it continues to be very hot and any sightseeings should be planned early in the morning or late afternoon.
Definitely consider travelling this month if you’d like to have a taste of tropical weather, prefer fewer crowds, don’t mind some downpours and want to take advantage of better prices!
August
August is mixed in terms of weather and shares the same weather pattern with June & July.
August is best for:
Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang
(again it will be hot, very hot but there won't be rain in these places!)
North and South Vietnam are still well and truly in rainy season in July. Expect hot and humid weather. Storms can happen in north Vietnam this time of year and might affect Ha Long cruises.
End of August is one of the best time to visit Sapa however. It is any photographer’s dream to visit Sapa this month as the region becomes the most glorious with endless golden beautiful rice paddy terraces and beautiful mountain view. Bear in mind though that you might still be caught up in the rain!
In central Vietnam it continues to be very hot and any sightseeings should be planned early in the morning or late afternoon.
September
September is mixed in terms of weather and is best for:
Sapa, Ha Long, Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh
By September the weather has improved in the north with less rain and slightly lower temperature. It is one of the best months to visit Sapa and other mountainous regions where you can admire golden rice paddy terraces and fantastic mountain view, although rain can still sometimes linger.
In the south rain gradually becomes less intense, especially towards the end of the month.
It is a different story for central regions however as the wet season starts kicking in this month with rain being more frequent in Hue, Hoi An and Danang.
October
October is mixed in terms of weather and is best for:
Sapa, Ha Long, Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta
October is one of the best months to visit north Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay), now that the rain season has become a thing of the past. The temperature is mild and the sun is gentle, making an ideal weather for most sightseeing activities.
Mai Chau (4 hour drive from Hanoi) is glorious in October with golden rice paddy fields and definitely worth a visit.
In the south it is the end of rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta. There is still some rain if you visit Phu Quoc this time of year though overall all there are more sunny hours during the day.
Central Vietnam is well in wet season with flooding sometimes happening in Hue and Hoi An.
November
November is one of the best months to visit north and south Vietnam and is best for:
Sapa, Ha Long, Hanoi, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc
Consider visiting north Vietnam this month if you want to fall under the region's spell! Weather is best this time of year in the north. It is sunny, dry and very pleasant!
In the south, with the intense heat now gone, the weather is getting much more pleasant. Southern beaches (Phu Quoc, Mui Ne) are at their best with clear, blue skies and plenty of sunshine.
Central Vietnam is still in wet season with rain and flooding that sometimes happen in Hue & Hoi An.
December
December is one of the best months to visit Vietnam and is best for:
Hanoi, Ha Long, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc
By December the weather has improved greatly in central Vietnam with much less rain.
Lower temperatures with blue, clear skies and plenty of sunshine makes it an ideal time to visit south Vietnam.
In the north, there are lots of sunny days to be enjoyed however temperatures will start drop towards the end of the month, especially in the region of Sapa and Ha Giang
Hope this is helpful guys.
Picture below: Vietnam weather in March - the 'golden month'!
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