The weather by destination

Saturday, 19 September 2009 00:49

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 September 2010 15:10

Written by Administrator

The weather by destination:
Sapa
Sapa’s climate is divided into two seasons: the dry season and the wet season. The dry season begins in October and ends in March while the wet season lasts from April to September. The climate in Sapa and the area surrounding it is extremely diverse.

Trekking and adventure:
Sapa and the northwest of the country, have a very specific climate. September through November and March through May are the best times for trekking and cycling in Sapa. Daytime temperatures range from 15-28°C, and night-time temperatures from 10-18°C. Trekking and cycling are possible at other times too, but the wintertime can be rather chilly, and the summer rather wet.

The North (Hanoi)
Hanoi and the north of Vietnam has distinct winter and summer seasons. The warm and mainly dry winter lasts from November - April and, despite being winter, you can expect temperatures in the region of 18-20°C. Summer lasts from May to October when it is hot, humid and the region experiences its highest rainfall (July, August and September are the wettest months).

Central (Hoi An, Hue)
Hue and Danang in the centre of the country have very hot, dry weather from February to August with temperatures often reaching the over 35°C. During the winter months of September - January you can expect some quite heavy rainfall at times (peaking in October and November).
Sitting on either side of a small ‘mountain’ range the weather in Hue can be the complete opposite of Hoi An’s on any given day – this is despite the fact that it’s only a three hour drive between the two!

The Southern Climate (Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh)
With temperatures remaining pretty constant, the climate of the south has just two seasons: the wet and dry seasons. The wet season lasts from May to October/November (June - August see’s the most rain). Rainfall is generally short lasting with hour long downpours usually in the mid-afternoon. The dry season begins in November and ends in April with late February to May being hot and humid. The average temperatures in the south are relatively constant year-around - 25-35°C.
Nha Trang - The exception to the rule is Nha Trang where the highest rainfall of the year falls between October and December (almost half the annual rainfall falls in November and December).
Dalat (Colonial Hill station 350km north -west of HCM City) receives quite heavy rain from June to October (dry season from November to May) and this can make trekking, cycling and travelling in the surrounding countryside a little harder.

When to make the best of Vietnam's beaches
February – July: Hoi An and Central Vietnam are at there best.
November – April: Phan Thiet will see plenty of sunshine with very low rainfall expected. In fact Phan Thiet is pretty safe all year round with the highest annual rainfall falling in August at just under 15cm.
January – August: Nha Trang and Qui Nhon are both good options, be sure to avoid Nha Trang in October and November.
November – September: The beaches of Phu Quoc see great weather almost all-year round. Only in October is any substantial rain expected.
See today’s weather in Vietnam and other countries: http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/Vietnam.htm

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