It’s not breaking news that Vietnam is a country with a predominantly tropical climate. When most people think of our weather, they inevitably arrive at the same conclusion: hot, humid, or even unpredictable. But is that the full picture of what’s going on in Vietnam? Let’s take a look at the nuances of what makes Vietnamese weather so unique!

THE NORTH

What is that makes the word ‘North’ synonymous with ‘cold’ in the minds of almost every Vietnamese? First of all, Northern Vietnam enjoys a much diverse climate than other regions, with four seasons throughout the year.

These seasons include spring (March to April), summer (June and July), fall (August to November), and winter (December to February). The most distinct feature of the Northern Vietnamese climate has to be its extremely cold winters, with temperatures dropping down to below 10 degrees (all temperature measurements are in Celsius). 

To ease in and out of the extremity of winter, fall and spring delivers more pleasant temperatures, often staying on the cool side, but not necessarily cold. It is important to note that while these two seasons share the same temperatures, fall tends to be a lot drier than spring.

Meanwhile, summer is the complete contrast of the three seasons above. On an average summer day in Hanoi, it can easily get as hot as 35 degrees, with relatively high humidity to complement the heat. Thus, one would be best advised to visit the north on a warm delightful day in spring.

THE CENTRAL 

As we go from northern to central, the seasons start to get muddled up with each other. From November to April, the weather is much like that of the fall in Northern Vietnam: cool, dry and mild. However, temperatures start to climb quickly as we enter the remaining months of the year, with the period from June to August being the hottest.

Da Nang City is a prime example of Central Vietnam’s climate, with temperatures going over 35 degrees on peak days and averaging at about 33 – 35 degrees from June to August. Meanwhile, the monsoon season from September to March can massively cool down the atmosphere (to as low as 18 degrees from November to January). 

Hoi An, on the other hand, is usually a notch cooler, yet still warm year-round. With temperatures rarely going above the 30-degree ceiling, its weather is split into two definite seasons: a monsoon season from September to January and a dry season in the remaining months.

THE SOUTH

Much like Hoi An, most cities in the south adhere to the two-season rule: a wet monsoon season from May to October, and a dry season from November to April. Unlike other regions, however, Southern Vietnam is always hot.

Needless to say, Ho Chi Minh City is the best representative of the steaming southern climate. Almost all year round, you can rarely find a day where the temperature would drop below 25 degrees, with humidity levels averaging at 75%. 

Monsoon season in the south offers a slight cool-down with downpours of up to 300 millimeters of rain. Nevertheless, it is still possible to find intermittent periods of sunshine to bask in, but just remember to take your umbrella!

All in all, it seems that the best time to visit Southern Vietnam would be from December to February. Not only is the weather drier and more pleasant, but there’s also a series of festivals and activities taking place all over the region to celebrate Tet – the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.