Weather in Vietnam

When's the best time to travel to Vietnam in terms of weather? The travel industry often says "there's no good or bad time to go, when one place is wet another is sunny...blah, blah, blah" Not much help — as a traveler you're likely to be interested in visiting several parts of the country. Overall, the best time to go is December through April when rainfall is minimal and there are warmer but not extreme temperatures. Don't be dissuaded by the possibility of rain outside the monsoon season (or in the monsoon season), unless your set on having beach time — the light drizzle will not interfere much with sightseeing and places such as Hue and Hanoi spend much of the year in overcast weather with light rain anyway. If you're planning a September or October trip during monsoon season, rain typically arrives in the afternoon but the weather is warm and comfortable averaging nearly 80 degrees. Monsoon rains also typically only come every other day, leaving bright sun in between. One caveat: seasonal typhoons and flooding occur in September and October on the central coast.B

Like much of Southeast Asia, Vietnam has tropical weather marked by a monsoon season which means while there are slight variations in temperature, and depending on the season and the altitude, the primary seasonal changes in Vietnamese weather are marked by variations in rainfall. It is typically humid and warm, although the weather can vary significantly from one area to another due to the long length of the country which encompasses several weather zones.

Weather in Vietnam can be affected by variance in altitudes. For example, in late 1999 there was snow in northern Sapa located at over 4,000 feet while it was nearly ninety degrees in sweltering Saigon. Flooding is common in the central coast region around Hue and Hoi An and Vietnam had back-to-back years of devastating flooding in this region during 2000 & 2001 — travel companies may list tours for the rainy period, but plan your trip dates carefully or your trip may be a washout. The weather may also fluctuate during the tourist season (December through March), when cold spells and/or unexpected rain may pass through. In 2008, the north and central experienced it's coldest weather in over 40 years, and the usual sunny skies on the central coast gave way to consistent rain and chilly weather.B

Vietnam Weather Chart

* November-April best months
* Sept/Oct Monsoons wet but warm
* South = Always warm
* North typically cool
* Weather often fluctuates
* Sept/Oct: Typhoons possibility