Vietnam is an elongated country which reaches from the sub-tropics in the north to the tropics in the south. The weather differs greatly in Vietnam from the north to the south, from four-mild seasons in northern Vietnam to sub-equatorial warmth in the Mekong Delta.
Geography also plays a role in Vietnam's weather: approximately one-third of the country is above 500-meters in elevation and those areas enjoy a sub-tropical climate; the areas above 2,000 enjoy a temperate climate.
Vietnam's climate is moderated by two-monsoons which create a lower than average temperature compared to other countries located in the equatorial regions.
Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island
It is possible to visit Ha Long Bay year-round, but the best time to visit Halong from October through April, although during the winter months of December, January and February, the weather can be cool and overcast with low visibility. During the summer months from May to September, temperatures rise and storms are more likely during the rainy season. For people who love sun & sea with water sport likes kayaking, swimming then it is the ideal period.
Sapa
The hottest months are May and June when temperature may goes up to 29°C C and the coldest months in Sapa are January and February. While trips can be enjoyed year-round, The mid-winters in Sapa always get cold with some fog and drizzle and cause sometime the poor visibility. The temperature is around 3 - 9 degrees, even drops down to 1 degrees. If you go in January or February, you’ll want to bring warm clothes.
The wet and rainy season lasts from May to September, with the heaviest rainfall occurring in July and August , when heavy downpours wash out bridges, turn unsealed roads into quagmires and throw in the occasional landslide for good measure. The weather is also notorious for changing frequently and quickly. It is said that only in Sapa, one can experience many different seasons within only one day.
From March to May the weather is often excellent, and the summer is warm despite the rains between June and August. September through December is beautiful time to be in Sapa, though there is a bit of lingering rain at the start and the temperature dips by December
The below weather features may help you to decide the best time for traveling.
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Month
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Weather features
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January
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Coldest
month, cloudy, foggy but not too wet. better from early days and gets worse
to the later half of the month.
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February
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Very cold
in early days, cloudy, foggy. Getting warmer & better towards later days.
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March
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Much
nicer and warmer than Feb, more sunshine
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April
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Summer
start, dry, clear, warm enough
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May
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Starting
rainy season with quick shower occasionally, clear sky with more sunshine but
little bit warm in the open at noon.
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June
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Warm but
not as hot like other region. Clear sky, much sunshine but summer shower get
more but not too wet
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July
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Among the
2 worst months of the year caused by summer shower
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August
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The peak
month of typhoon and rain
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September
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Autumn
starts, getting drier and normally very nice towards the end of the month.
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October
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Cool,
dry, sunshine almost everyday, clear sky
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November
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Cooler,
dry. May be misty and foggy towards the end but nice
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December
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Wet winter
starts and get worse at the later days of the month.
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Hanoi
Hanoi has typical North Vietnam climate, with a cold and dry winter when temperatures can drop to as low as 12°C and a hot and extremely humid summer when temperatures can climb up to a maximum of 38°C. Spring is characterized with light drizzles while the summers bring heavy rain.
Winter rules from November to March. The weather remains cold and dry. From September to December you will find warm, sunny days ( 22- 30°C ) and levels of humidity below the norm of eighty percent, though it can be chilly at night. January and February are the coolest months usually accompanied by a cold north-easterly wind. During this period temperature is around 16°C. The lowest temperature in average is 12°c. March and April usually bring better weather and also good for traveling.
The hot summers last from May to September , accompanied by monsoon storms which peak in August and can last until early October. Summer in Hanoi can get as hot as 38°C and June can be labeled as the hottest month of the year with mercury rising up to 33°c to 38°c.
In general, Hanoi is most pleasant from February to April and September to November avoiding the heat and the rain. The official peak season in Vietnam is from September to April.
The central Provinces (Hue – Danang – Hoian)
This region has tropical climate and is divided into two distinguished seasons. The hot and dry season (from March to August) has a averaging temperature around 32°C and the colder, rainy season (from September to February) has temperatures that can go down to 20°C . Rain is more frequent and can be heavy from August to early November.
Overall, the best time to visit Hue is in spring, from February to May when the temperature is more pleasant.
Nha trang
Nha Trang sees has a warm, fair and beautiful weather nearly all year round from February through October, with the exception of rainy season around November and December. The temperatures are moderate throughout the years with the average temperature is around 25°C. The hottest months are from July to August. During this period of the year, the temperature can be 30°C
The best time to visit Nha Trang would probably be the spring months, from February to April . The least windy months of the year are May, April and June. Nha Trang in general is not windy enough to windsurf, with the exception of Doc Let beach (35 km north of Nha Trang), which is usually reserved for experts.
Dalat & Central Highland
Dalat has pleasant weather year-round, even sunny during much of the rainy season. The dry season runs from November through to March, and the rainy season from April to October. During the winter months, the average temperature is 10oC while during summer it is around 20oC. The best time to visit Dalat is from November to March, when the air is fresh and cool.
Dalat is never stormy and only has occasional heavy winds from the ocean through the mountainous East side of the city.
Ho chi minh city
Washed ashore above the Mekong Delta, some 40km north of the South China Sea, Ho chi minh city has a tropical climate with 2 seasons: the wet and dry seasons. The city is generally warm. The average temperatures, year-round, hover between 26- 33°C. The hottest months are May, June and July.
The best time to visit Ho chi minh city is in the dry season, which runs from December through to April. During the west season, May to November, there is a short downpour every afternoon, though this won’t disrupt your travels.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta has a pleasant tropical climate with two alternate seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season runs from November through April with average temperatures around 28oC and the rainy season from May through October. The rain, however, never last too long while the sun is not too hot.
Mekong Delta can be visited all year round and the best time to visit the Mekong Delta is the dry season from November through April.