From the peaceful villages to bustling cities as well as from the mountainous areas and highlands to plains, Vietnam is a stunning country of many varieties and contrasts in culture, custom and also weather patterns. This subject will brings you a short view of the general weather information and the best time to visit Vietnam.
What is the Vietnam weather in general?
Located in the Southeast Asia and being a long S-shaped country, Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate which is importantly change between the regions. There are two main climate types with humid subtropical climate in the North and tropical savanna climate in the South, which are splited by Bach Ma Mountain. The climate in Northern Vietnam from Hai Van Pass northwards has 4 distinct seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) while in Southern Vietnam from Hai Van Pass southwards; it has only two main seasons (rainy and dry). However, there are also a temperate climate in the mountainous area found in Sapa (north), Dalat (south) and a more continental climate existing in Lai Chau Province and Son La Province. So it will depend on your localtion to know what exactly the weather is like.
What are the best months to visit Vietnam?
As Vietnam’s weather forms a complicated picture with different types from north to south, so there will not really best time or worst time to travel in Vietnam. When the weather is favorable in a region, it might be a nightmare at the other areas. Let’s find out the favorable time to explore each region in Vietnam.
Best time to explore Vietnam northern (most favourite sites: Hanoi and Halong Bay)
The north of Vietnam experiences cold dry winters from December to February, where overnight temperatures can dip to 4°C (39°F). The summer months (May to August) are typically very hot and humid. The best time to visit northern Vietnam is during spring (March to April) and autumn (September to November), when days are generally warm and sunny.
Best time to explore Vietnam central (most favourite sites: Danang/Hoi An and Hue)
The coast of central Vietnam is often battered with typhoons during its wet season. It’s difficult to predict when these heavy rains and hurricane-like winds can hit coastal cities like Hoi An, but generally typhoon seasons runs from August to November. The rainy season usually subsides in February, when you can expect warmer temperatures and more sunshine. While travellers will experience pleasant weather in Central Vietnam any time between February and August, sunny 30°C (86°F) days are the norms in July and August.
Best time to explore Vietnam southern (most favourite sites: Saigon and the coastlines)
South Vietnam experiences warm, pleasant temperatures year-round, making travel good at any time. The dry season generally runs from December to May and a rainy season runs from June through November. While flooding can occur, rain usually comes in short bursts and rarely impacts travel. In fact, the monsoon season is often the best time for photography as dramatic thunderheads float across the Mekong Delta and rice fields turn a vibrant emerald-green. Some, however, might find temperatures unbearable from March to May, when the mercury regularly reaches 40°C (104°F).
Travel in Vietnam during TET festival
Vietnamese TET festival falls in late January or early February. Thanks to the grand celebrations that take place, this time is an extremely popular period to travel and guarantees an amazing cultural experience.
