Generally, Vietnam has two distinct seasons; summer and cold seasons. Summer starts from May to October and its average temperature is between 25’C and 33’C. In southern Vietnam including Ho Chi Minh City, this is the time when the country sees most rainfall, especially from September to early November. The winters or cold season arrives in November and ends it April. In fact, the difference in temperature between the two seasons in the southern part is slim. However, this is not the case in the northern part since the temperature can drop below 12’C in many cities such as Sapa and Hanoi. It is worth noting that some cities in the central region such as Danang, Hue, Hoi An and areas around Hai Van Pass enjoy mild climate due to its typography.
In fact, the average temperature in Vietnam is lower than those of its neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia, thanks to the rainfall.
Climate in major tourist destinations
Hanoi
There are two main seasons in Hanoi; the rainy season and the cold season. The rainy season begins from May to September. The city is warm in most days with heavy rainfalls between August and September. However, things get cooler from October to March when the cold front from China dominates the region. The average temperature in the city is around 30’ C in summer and 17’C in the winter. The city can be visited all year round.
Ho Chi Minh City
Located in the southern part of the country, Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon begins its monsoon season from May to November. The city’s average temperature is 27’C throughout the year. It has a yearly rainfall of 1,979 mm in total. The temperature slightly drops in December and January.
Halong and Haiphong
Located in the northern coast, Halong and Haiphong’s climate is dominated by a tropical climate. In general, the weather is mostly warm with more rains in July, August and September. Its annual average temperature is between 23’C and 25’C.
Hue
Situated in the central part of Vietnam, Hue has a tropical monsoon climate. It is hot and rainy in summer. However, due to its geography and surrounding mountain range, it can be much cooler during the dry seasons. Average temperature is 25’C. This ancient city is best visited from November to April.
Danang and Hoi An
The former port cities, Danang and Hoi An is affected by tropical climate with two distinct seasons; rainy and dry seasons. The cities are usually hot during the day but get cooler after the rain. The average annual temperature is about 29’C. They have heavy storms in September and October.
