Vietnam weather & Vietnam climates
To understand the weather in Vietnam & the different Vietnamese climates, take a look at a map of Vietnam & note the diverse geography. Vietnam stretches the full length of the Indochina peninsula! There are large variations in climate from north to south, due to a 14° range in latitude.
On the bright side, Vietnam climates vary so much, you can usually find sunshine, any time of year. Vietnam is an all year round holiday destination. Many prefer the cooler weather from Sept - April.
The tropic of Cancer lies 23.5° north of the equator. Vietnam is 9° – 23° north, equal to 1650 km from north to south. The northernmost point of Vietnam is ½º inside the Tropic of Cancer! One would think all Vietnam is therefore tropical, but, the weather in Vietnam isn't quite that simple.
Vietnam weather is best described as: complicated or diverse. Although Vietnam is in the tropics, it is also attached to Asia. This allows: temperate continental weather, to extend below The Tropic of Cancer into North Vietnam. North of Hue there are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn & winter.
The Hai Van mountains range, south of Hue, forms a barrier against the cold northerly winds which blow into Northern Vietnam from China. There's a distinct difference in climate, north & south of Hue, this is where: North Vietnam's temperate climate, meets the tropical climate of South Vietnam. Hue gets some of the wettest weather in Vietnam & floods regularly.
From Da Nang - Phan Thiet: the climate is essentially tropical. Transitions between wet & dry season feel a bit like spring & autumn, but: they are not as distinct as in North Vietnam & winter is milder. The major factor affecting Central Vietnam weather is the tropical monsoon. Central Vietnam coastal towns flood after several days rain over the central highlands of Vietnam.
South of Phan Thiet, the climate is entirely tropical. There are two seasons: wet & dry season, with a month transition between seasons, typically bringing heavy afternoon downpours. Rain is heavier in the south than in Central Vietnam: after more than 2 hrs rain, storm drains block causing flooding. Monsoon is the only factor determining the climate of South Vietnam. Dry season is hot & humid.
Throw into the pot: the monsoon migrates north over the year, random typhoons from Sept - Dec, & year on year variation when the monsoon arrives. It all gets rather complicated.
Tropical monsoon
Because, the monsoon migrates north over the year, there's a monsoon every month but march, somewhere in Vietnam . Monsoon affects Saigon & the south: Apr - Aug. Slowly, it moves north up the coast into Central Vietnam, affecting Nha Trang from July - Nov, & then, Hoi An from Nov - Feb.
The best weather in Vietnam is in March: South & Central Vietnam is monsoon free & North Vietnam is warm. However, having said that: monsoon seasons can vary by up to a month, year on year. For destination specific Vietnam monsoon info & weather forecasts: Vietnam climate by destination >>
Typhoon season
Typhoons affect the 3260 km coastline of Vietnam from Oct – Dec & the effects are localized. A large typhoon, approx 250km wide, could hit the east coast of Vietnam anywhere. They are however less common below Saigon.
Up to 25 typhoon pass through the Philippines each year, of which, 4 or 5 reach Vietnam. Because of the length of the Vietnam coastline: it is considered unlucky for typhoons to hit the same place twice in a year. Typhoon Xangsane popped our cherry, click for photos: Hoi An >> | Da Nang >>