Vietnam Climate Patterns

Vietnam spans enough latitude to hold three distinct climates, and they do not align.

The north has four seasons including a real winter: January and February are cold, damp and grey, often below 15°C in Hanoi and near freezing in Sapa, where it occasionally snows. Summer is hot, humid and wet.

The centre is hot and dry from February to August, then wet from September to January. October and November bring typhoons and flooding; Hội An's old town floods most years and streets are navigated by boat.

The south is tropical and warm year-round, with a dry season December to April and a wet season May to November of short intense afternoon downpours.

The practical consequence: check the forecast for the specific region rather than for Vietnam.