The narrow and long terrain endows Vietnam with distinct landscapes from north to south, offering visitors various interesting travel experiences. However, the country extending over 1,000 km (621 mi) from mountainous northern areas to the southern lush Mekong Delta also defines different weather and climates in Vietnam’s northern, central, and southern regions.
1. Weather and Climate in Vietnam
Influenced by tropical monsoons, altitudes, and latitudes, Vietnam’s temperature difference can be considerable. In general, Vietnam has two distinct seasons: the rainy season between May and October, and the dry season between November and April. Three main climate regions are the northern, the central, and the southern regions.
The temperature in the North can approach the freezing point in winter and you may see snow on the top of Fansipan Mountain at Sapa, which is the highest peak in the country. On the contrary, South Vietnam features a classic warm equatorial climate and the temperature in Ho Chi Minh City can reach 36°C (97°F) in a sweltering and humid summer.
Recommended Itinerary: 14 Days Vietnam In-depth Tour from North to South
2. Best Time to Visit Vietnam – February
The best time to visit Vietnam really depends on where you want to go as the weather and climates are so distinct in various regions. Only early February is most recommended to travel to any region throughout the country when it hardly rains with pleasant weather conditions.
Best time to visit northern Vietnam: Spring (March to April) and autumn (September to November) are recommended to go sightseeing in Sapa, Hanoi, and Ha Long Bay
Best time to visit central Vietnam: between February and August, it is suitable to enjoy vacations in Hui, Hoi An, and coastal beaches.
Best time to visit southern Vietnam: December and January are good times to visit Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
See more about When is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam
3. Northern Vietnam’s Weather and Climate
The mountainous northern region has four distinct seasons with pretty cool winters. The climate in spring between March and April is warm and pleasant. However, in summer, it is hotter and rains most. The rainy season also falls during this period, lasting from May to August. The temperature can reach high to 38°C (99°F) and low to 25°C (77°F) in summer. The dry season of the north, from October to April, is composed of spring, autumn, and winter, with the temperature ranging from 10°C (50°F) to 25°C (77°F). It is also considered the best time to visit the region. With a pretty high humidity of around the 75% – 85% mark, the dampness here will make you feel colder on cool rainy days than they actually are. It is recommended that you should wear long-sleeved clothing or a warm jacket when visiting in spring and autumn. Gloves, hats, and down jackets may be necessary if you visit Sapa in winter.
Weather in Hanoi
| Months | Average High | Average Low | Rainy Days |
| January | 20°C (68°F) | 14°C (57 °F) | 2 |
| February | 21°C (70°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 3 |
| March | 23°C (73°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 6 |
| April | 28°C (82°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 5 |
| May | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 7 |
| June | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 8 |
| July | 33°C (91°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 8 |
| August | 33°C (91°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 8 |
| September | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 |
| October | 29°C (84°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 4 |
| November | 26°C (79°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 2 |
| December | 22°C (72°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 1 |
Weather in Sapa
| Months | Average High | Average Low |
| January | 11°C (52°F) | 5°C (41 °F) |
| February | 13°C (55°F) | 7°C (45°F) |
| March | 16°C (61°F) | 10°C (50°F) |
| April | 20°C (68°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| June | 24°C (75°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| July | 24°C (75°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| August | 24°C (75°F) | 16°C (61°F) |
| September | 23°C (73°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| October | 20°C (68°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| November | 17°C (63°F) | 9°C (48°F) |
| December | 13°C (55°F) | 6°C (43°F) |
4. Central Vietnam’s Weather and Climate
A lot of popular cities such as Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An are located in central Vietnam. Separated by the Hai Van pass, this region can be separated into different weather patterns of the north and south. On the one hand, Langco marks the start of the hot summers and not-so-cold winters of the north; on the other hand, Da Nang starts the pleasant and mild climate of the south.
Central Vietnam features a rainy season from September to February. During this period, the temperatures range between 20°C and 30°C (68 °F – 86°F). There may not be dangerous typhoons or flooding, but still, an average of 10 to 14 rainy days can be expected. It is suggested to avoid this period if you are visiting central Vietnam due to heavy rain and unpleasant weather conditions. Things are different in the dry season which lasts from February to August. During this period, the temperatures in central Vietnam are from 22°C to 35°C (72°F – 95°F) and the humidity is around 60 – 65%. The pleasant climate and enjoyable weather make it the best time to visit central Vietnam.
Weather in Hoi An
| Months | Average High | Average Low | Rainy Days |
| January | 25°C (77°F) | 19°C (66 °F) | 6 |
| February | 26°C (79°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 2 |
| March | 28°C (82°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 |
| April | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 |
| May | 33°C (91°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 3 |
| June | 35°C (95°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 3 |
| July | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 |
| August | 34°C (93°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 6 |
| September | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 |
| October | 29°C (84°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 14 |
| November | 27°C (81°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 14 |
| December | 25°C (77°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 13 |
5. Southern Vietnam’s Weather and Climate
Different from the other two regions, southern Vietnam’s average temperatures are more constant throughout the year. This region is also hotter than the other two during the same period. In fact, general daytime temperatures are nearly all above 20°C (68°F), and in hot summer, the highest temperature can hit 40°C (104°F).
The weather in southern Vietnam can be roughly divided into three periods: March to late May or early June; June to November; December to February. Generally, the season of March to May sees the hottest moment of the year, especially April, and it is not suggested to visit the South during this period. The rainy season starts from June to November and there are about 17 to 23 rainy days on average per month. Flooding sometimes is possible in the Mekong Delta area but is not common in other southern places. Nevertheless, this is still not a recommended vacation time. As for the weather from December to February, it is quite mild and it also rains less. This is surely the nicest time of the year thanks to the cool and dry weather conditions.
Weather in Ho Chi Minh City
| Months | Average High | Average Low | Rainy Days |
| January | 32°C (90°F) | 22°C (72 °F) | 2 |
| February | 33°C (91°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 2 |
| March | 34°C (93°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 |
| April | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 7 |
| May | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 17 |
| June | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 21 |
| July | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 23 |
| August | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 22 |
| September | 31°C (88°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 21 |
| October | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 22 |
| November | 31°C (88°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 13 |
| December | 31°C (88°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 8 |
