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Climate - Vietnam


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Vietnam

Map - Vietnam

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In Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia, the climate is subtropical in the north and tropical in the center and south, and it's influenced by the monsoons: the south-west monsoon affects the country from May to October, and the northeast monsoon from October to April. The former brings heavy rainfall in the exposed areas, ie both the north and the south, while along the central part, protected by the mountains, it brings relatively little rain and leaves often space to the sun. The north-east monsoon is generally drier, but it brings heavy rains in the early months (October-December) along the coast exposed to the east, and light but frequent rains in the north.
In inland areas, there are hills and mountains, which make the climate milder in the summer months, but even cold in winter in the north.
The amount of rainfall is normally between 1,500 and 2,500 millimeters (60 and 98 inches) per year, but there's also a relatively small arid zone in the Phan Thiet area (north-east of Ho Chi Minh City), where it's slightly above 1,000 mm (40 in).

Index


  • The north - Cao Bang, Hanoi, Sa Pa
  • The center - Da Nang, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang
  • Interior - Pleiku
  • The south- Ho Chi Minh
  • Typhoons

The north



Climate of northern Vietnam

In northern Vietnam, winter is unusually cool for the latitude: we are just south of the Tropic of Cancer, yet the average temperature in January is below 20 °C (68 °F): in Hanoi, the average is 17.5 °C (63.5 °F), in Vinh, it's 19 °C (64 °F), while it's around 15 °C (59 °F) in the northernmost areas of Tonkin, where the temperature at night can approach freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) between December and February (and sometimes in early March).
The winter monsoon is originally dry because it comes from the Asian continent, but the clash with the mild and moist air of the Gulf of Tonkin generates compact cloudiness, which bring light but frequent rains. Therefore, during winter, the sun rarely shines, and although the temperature is spring-like, a journey to this city would not be so pleasant.
In spring, the temperature gradually rises in northern Vietnam, and the sun comes out every so often in April, but then, from May to October, it's the rainy season, and the weather becomes hot and humid, with downpours in the afternoon or evening.

Cao Bang

In Cao Bang, located in the north-east, a short distance from the border with China, in a valley at 200 meters (2,100 feet) above sea level, winter is mild, however, the temperature can sometimes drop below 5 °C (41 °F) from December to February.
In April and May, before the monsoon, the temperature can reach 38/39 °C (100/102 °F), but this can also happen from June to September, in periods of good weather.
Here are the average temperatures.
Cao Bang - Average temperatures (2000-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January121815536559
February142117.3567063.1
March172420.2627568.4
April202824.2688375.6
May233227738980.7
June243328.6769183.5
July243328.8769283.8
August243328.5759183.3
September233227.2738981
October202924.4688476
November162520.6617869.2
December122116.3546961.3
Year1927.423.1566.281.473.5

In Cao Bang, 1,425 mm (56 in) of rain fall per year. In winter, the rains are weak but they are quite frequent, while they are abundant from May to September (and sometimes in October), during the summer monsoon period.

Hanoi

The capital, Hanoi, is a little further to the south and about 90 km (55 mi) from the sea, at the beginning of the Red River delta.
Winter averages are a little higher than in the far north, however, sometimes there can be very cool periods here as well, with lows around 7/8 °C (45/46 °F) and highs around 15 °C (59 °F); more rarely, it can even get cold for a few days, and highs can drop to around 10 °C (50 °F). In January 2016, there was a day with a minimum of 5 °C (41 °F) and a maximum of 8 °C (46.5 °F).
Here too, in April and May, before the monsoon, it can get very hot, but also from June to September, in the pauses between a period of bad weather and the next. At the beginning of June 2017, the temperature reached 41 °C (106 °F).
In October and November, when the monsoon withdraws, there is another quite pleasant period, before the return of cool and dull weather in December.
Here are the average temperatures.
Hanoi - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January142017.1576862.8
February162218.6607165.6
March182421657569.8
April222824.9718276.8
May243228.2769082.8
June263430799386.1
July263429.9799285.8
August263329.3789184.8
September253228.4779083.1
October223026728678.8
November192622.6668072.6
December152218.6597265.4
Year21.128.124.557082.576

In Hanoi, more than 150 mm (6 in) of rain fall in May and October, and more than 250 mm (10 in) per month from June to September. In winter, especially from January onwards, there are frequent drizzles.
Here is the average precipitation.
Hanoi - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January200.810
February200.812
March351.416
April1054.114
May1656.514
June26510.415
July2551016
August27510.817
September2459.614
October1556.111
November602.48
December200.85
Year161063.4152

Hanoi is a dull city, in fact, the sun is rarely seen from January to April, but even in summer, it does not shine very often because of the summer monsoon. There are about 1,585 hours of sunshine per year. Here are the sunshine hours per day.
Hanoi - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January2.575
February1.545
March1.545
April390
May6185
June5.5170
July6.5195
August5.5175
September6175
October5.5165
November4.5135
December4125
Year4.31585

In the northernmost part of the coast, near Hanoi (see Haiphong), the sea is a bit cool from January to March, while it is very warm in the summer months. Anyway, in winter, cool and cloudy weather conditions which prevail in this season are usually not inviting for swimming.
Haiphong - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2170
February2170
March2272
April2476
May2781
June2985
July3086
August3086
September3085
October2882
November2678
December2373
Year2678.8

Sa Pa

In the northern mountainous areas, winter is quite cold: at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) of altitude, the average temperature in January is around 9 °C (48 °F). The highest peak is Fansipan (or Phan Xi Pang), 3,143 meters (10,311 feet) high, which is covered with snow in winter.
In Sa Pa, a city located at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), and at the foot of the Fansipan, in winter, there can be days with highs below 5 °C (41 °F).
From April to September, on the hottest days the temperature can reach 28/29 °C (82/84 °F).
On top of Fansipan, the temperature is about 10 degrees Celsius (19 degrees Fahrenheit) lower than in Sa Pa.
Here are the average temperatures in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January6129.4435448.8
February81410.8465751.4
March111814.4516557.9
April142117.5577063.5
May162219.4617266.8
June182320.2647368.4
July182320.4647368.6
August172320.2637468.4
September162218.8617165.8
October141916.2566661.2
November101613506155.4
December71310.2445650.3
Year12.818.915.8555.166.160.5

In Sa Pa, rainfall is abundant, so much so that it amounts to 2,800 mm (112 in) per year, and exceeds 300 mm (12 in) per month from May to September. In winter, the rains are frequent, but they are a little more abundant than in the plains. Here is the average rainfall.
Sa Pa - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January652.615
February803.116
March1054.116
April2158.518
May34513.622
June41016.124
July46518.326
August45017.724
September31512.420
October2158.518
November1104.314
December652.612
Year2835111.6226


The Center




Climate of central Vietnam

Along the coast of central Vietnam, the winter is warmer: the average temperature in January ranges from 20.5 °C (69 °F) in Hue to 24.5 °C (76 °F) in Nha Trang. In addition, in the central part, the summer monsoon produces little effects, so that less than 100 mm (4 in) of rain fall per month until August, and the amount of sunshine remains acceptable. On the other hand, it is very hot, so much so that highs from June to August are on average around 34/35 °C (93/95 °F), but sometimes they can reach 40 °C (104 °F).
Here, the rainy season comes later, and runs from September to December, but even to January in the northern part (from Ha Tinh to Da Nang), with a maximum in October and November, when the rains can be torrential. These intense rains at the end of the year are due to the retreating monsoon, which particularly affects the part of the coast exposed to the north-east: in Hue, 2,800 mm (110 in) of rain fall per year, of which 750 mm (29.5 in) in October.

Da Nang

In Da Nang, located on the east coast of Vietnam at 16 degrees north latitude, winter is much warmer than in the north and in Hanoi. From December to February, the temperature generally drops to around 15/16 °C (59/61 °F). In January 1993 it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F). In January 2016 it dropped to 14 °C (57 °F), but with a maximum of 18 °C (64.5 °F).
From April to August, the temperature can reach 39/40 °C (102/104 °F). As we have said, in the summer the monsoon has limited effects in this central part of Vietnam, which is why there are long periods of very hot weather. In 2021, the average maximum in June was 37.2 °C (99 °F), and from May to August there were 15 days with a maximum of 40 °C (104 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.
Da Nang - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January192522.2677771.9
February202623.2688073.7
March222825.1718377.2
April243127.3748881.2
May253429.3779284.7
June263530.4799586.8
July253530789486
August253429.7789385.5
September243228.3769082.9
October233026.4748579.5
November222824.8718276.7
December202522.6687772.8
Year2330.326.5573.486.580

In Da Nang, it rains less than in Hue, but the trend is similar, and the rains are abundant from September to December. Here is the average rainfall.
Da Nang - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January853.312
February2516
March200.84
April351.45
May853.310
June903.59
July853.39
August1154.511
September31012.214
October65025.620
November43016.920
December2158.518
Year215584.8139

In the central part of Vietnam, the sun shines more often than in the north and in Hanoi, both in winter (even though it does not go beyond 3.5/5 hours per day) and in summer, when it shines for a good number of hours (especially from May to July).
Da Nang - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January4.5140
February5145
March6190
April7210
May8245
June8240
July8255
August7220
September6175
October4.5145
November4120
December3.5105
Year62180

In the central part of Vietnam, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round, although it drops in February to 23 °C (73 °F) in Hue and to 23.5 °C (74.5 °F) in Da Nang, while it never drops below 25.5 °C (78 °F) in Nha Trang. Here is the average sea temperature in Da Nang.
Da Nang - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2475
February2475
March2476
April2679
May2883
June2985
July3085
August3085
September2985
October2882
November2780
December2577
Year27.180.7

Continuing south, the rainfall pattern remains more or less the same at Quang Ngai and Duc Pho, while further south, precipitation drops below 2,000 mm (80 in) per year. In addition, winter temperatures gradually increase, and the likelihood of cold air coming from the north decreases.

Qui Nhon

In Qui Nhon, a city located on the coast in the province of Bình Dinh, it is definitely warm even in winter, in fact the January average is 24 °C (75 °F). Generally, from December to February the temperature only drops to 18 °C (64.5 °F), although in January 2021 it dropped to 16 °C (61 °F), with a maximum of 19 °C (66 °F).
The warming in spring is less evident than in the cities further north, on the other hand, summer is very hot here too, and from June to August the temperature can reach 39 °C (102 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.
Qui Nhon - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January212724.1718075.4
February222824.9718276.7
March233026.6748679.8
April253228.5778983.3
May273329.9809285.9
June273430.9819487.6
July273430.8819487.4
August273430.7819487.3
September263329.4799184.9
October253027.5778681.5
November242826.1758379.1
December222724.6728076.2
Year24.830.927.876.687.682

In Qui Nhon, 1.805 mm (71 in) of rain fall per year, and the only very rainy period is from September to November. Here is the average precipitation.
Qui Nhon - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January652.613
February301.26
March2514
April301.24
May853.39
June652.68
July401.67
August602.49
September2258.916
October55021.721
November43517.121
December2007.919
Year180571.1136

In Qui Nhonm, the sun often shines from March to July.
Qui Nhon - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5160
February7195
March8250
April8.5260
May8.5270
June8245
July8255
August7.5235
September6.5195
October5.5170
November4125
December3.5115
Year6.82470

Here is the average sea temperature in Qui Nhon.
Qui Nhon - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2577
February2578
March2679
April2882
May2984
June2984
July2984
August2984
September2984
October2883
November2781
December2678
Year27.681.6

Nha Trang

Further south on the coast, in Nha Trang, the temperatures are similar, but the winter is slightly warmer, while in the summer the temperatures are a bit lower. From May to September, the temperature generally reaches 34/35 °C (93/95 °F) on the hottest days.
Here are the average temperatures.
Nha Trang - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January222724.4718176
February222825728277
March232926.4748579.5
April253128778882.4
May263229.1789084.4
June263329.4799184.9
July263229.2799084.6
August263329.3799184.7
September253228.5778983.4
October243027.2768681
November242926.1758379
December232725738177
Year24.330.327.2575.886.681

In this area, where the coast begins to be exposed to the south-east, precipitation drops below 1,500 mm (60 in) per year. Here too, however, the rainy period runs from September to December. Here is the average precipitation in Nha Trang.
Nha Trang - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January401.68
February150.64
March301.23
April351.44
May702.88
June602.49
July351.48
August50210
September1606.315
October30011.818
November3301318
December1556.114
Year128050.4120

The sun in Nha Trang often shines for a long period, from February to August, and for a total of 2,500 hours a year.
Nha Trang - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January6185
February7.5210
March8.5260
April8.5260
May8255
June7.5230
July8240
August7.5235
September6.5200
October6185
November4.5140
December4.5140
Year72545

Here is the average sea temperature in Nha Trang.
Nha Trang - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2578
February2678
March2780
April2883
May2985
June2984
July2983
August2983
September2984
October2883
November2781
December2679
Year27.781.8

To the south of this area, in the Binh Thuan province, the rains are even less abundant: in Phan Thiet, just 1,150 mm (45 in) of rain fall per year, which is not a very low value, but they are concentrated in a few months, while the rains are scarce for a long period, so that the landscape is semi-arid, and in the Mui Ne area, even sand dunes are found.

Dunes of Mui Ne

The best time to visit this central area of Vietnam runs from February to March in the northern part, and from January to March in the southern part. April is still a dry month, but it begins to be hot, even though sea breezes blow along the coast. From May to August, the air is hot and humid, but the rains are not abundant and the sun often shines, so the situation is better than in the rest of Vietnam.

Inland areas



Vietnam, climate of inland areas

In the interior of central Vietnam, due to the presence of mountains the climate is milder, in fact, there are many cities located between 400 and 1,000 meters (1,300 and 3,300 feet) above sea level, where winters are nice and sunny, while summers are a bit less sultry than at sea level.

Pleiku

In Pleiku, located at 750 meters (2,450 ft) above sea level, the hottest period is from March to May, before the monsoon, when the temperature generally reaches 32/33 °C (90/91 °F), but can sometimes reach 35 °C (95 °F). Here are the average temperatures
Pleiku - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January162620.7607869.2
February162822618271.6
March192923.9658575.1
April203025.3698677.6
May212925.2718477.4
June212724708075.2
July212623.3697874
August212623.3697873.9
September212623.3697974
October192622.9677973.1
November182622.1657971.8
December172520.8627769.4
Year19.226.92366.680.573.5

Here, the monsoon rains occur in the canonical period, from May to October, with a maximum between June and September. Here is the average precipitation.
Pleiku - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January30.11
February60.21
March200.83
April953.78
May2459.618
June34513.623
July39015.426
August47518.727
September36014.225
October1907.516
November652.67
December110.42
Year220586.8159

In Pleiku and in the central inland areas of Vietnam, winter is the sunniest season.
Pleiku - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January8.5265
February9.5265
March9275
April8235
May6.5210
June5150
July4.5145
August4130
September4.5135
October5.5175
November6.5200
December7.5235
Year6.62415

Winter is dry, so you can visit this area from December to March, or even April at higher altitudes, where the heat is less intense.

The south



Climate of southern Vietnam

In the southern part of Vietnam and on the southern islands (see Con Dao, Phu Quoc), the climate is hot all year round, while the rainy period is the summer, as happens in the north and in the inland areas of the center. Between November and mid-February, the maximum temperatures are around 31/32 °C (88/90 °F), while by mid-February, the temperatures starts to rise, and reach the highest level of the year between March and May: 33/35 °C (91/95 °F) on average, but with peaks of 40 °C (104 °F), before the arrival of the monsoon. During the period of the summer monsoon, the heat is quite muggy.

Ho Chi Minh

In Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the largest city of Vietnam, located not far from the Mekong Delta, the winter is hot, in fact the January average is 27 °C (80.5 °F). In the coolest nights, the temperature can sometimes drop to 16/17 °C (61/63 °F).
Until May, Ho Chi Minh is the hottest city in Vietnam. The temperature rises until the monsoon arrives, and from March to May it can reach 39 °C (102 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.
Ho Chi Minh - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January223227.1719080.7
February233328739282.3
March243429.4769485
April263530.4789586.7
May253530789486
June253329769284.2
July243328.4769183.1
August243328.4769183.2
September243228.2759082.7
October243227.8759082.1
November233227.6749081.7
December223226.9728980.4
Year23.93328.3574.991.483

In Ho Chi Minh, the rains amount to about 1,930 mm (76 in) per year, and are abundant from May to mid-November, with a maximum in September. Here is the average precipitation.
Ho Chi Minh - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January150.62
February50.21
March100.42
April5025
May2208.718
June31012.219
July29511.623
August27010.622
September32512.823
October26510.421
November1154.512
December5027
Year193076156

In Ho Chi Minh, the sun frequently shines in the dry period, from December to April.
Ho Chi Minh - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January8245
February9250
March9270
April8240
May6.5195
June5.5170
July6180
August5.5170
September5.5160
October6180
November6.5200
December7.5225
Year6.82490

In southern Vietnam, the sea is warm all year round.
Vinh Loi - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2781
February2882
March2882
April3086
May3086
June3086
July2984
August2984
September2984
October2984
November2882
December2882
Year28.883.8

In southern Vietnam, the best time is from December to mid-February; March and April are still dry months, but they are uncomfortably hot. However, sea breezes blow along the coasts and on the islands.

Ha long Bay

Typhoons



Vietnam is located in the path of typhoons, the tropical cyclones of the western Pacific, which affect the country from the east, from the South China Sea, generally from April 20 to December 10. Since cyclones hit directly the coast from the sea, when they are at their maximum strength, Vietnam, especially in the northern part, is one of the most affected countries of Southeast Asia.

The area more often affected is the north, in particular, the Gulf of Tonkin and the Red River delta. A particularly destructive typhoon was the one that devastated Haiphong in early October 1881. In the north, typhoons generally occur from May 20 to mid-November, with a maximum from July to October. Typically, in July and August, typhoons only affect northern Vietnam.

In the center, typhoons generally occur from late April to late June (more rarely and generally not strong) and from the beginning of September to December 10. For example, Nha Trang was hit by Typhoon Damrey in early November 2017.

In the south, typhoons generally occur from October 15 to December 20 with a maximum in early November.
In the south, where the sea is warm all year round, typhoons can also form in winter, but in this period they are weak and often do not even reach the coast. Typically, the only time they don't form even in the south is from February to mid-March.
In January, and again from mid-March to mid-April, some tropical depressions can occasionally form, generally off the central-southern coast, but they almost always dissipate over the sea before reaching the coast. However, they can cause abnormal waves.

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