When's the best time to travel to Vietnam in terms of weather? The travel industry often says "there's no good or bad time to go, when one place is wet another is sunny...blah, blah, blah" Not much help — as a traveler you're likely to be interested in visiting several parts of the country. Overall, the best time to go is December through April when rainfall is minimal and there are warmer but not extreme temperatures. Don't be dissuaded by the possibility of rain outside the monsoon season (or in the monsoon season), unless your set on having beach time — the light drizzle will not interfere much with sightseeing and places such as Hue and Hanoi spend much of the year in overcast weather with light rain anyway. If you're planning a September or October trip during monsoon season, rain typically arrives in the afternoon but the weather is warm and comfortable averaging nearly 80 degrees. Monsoon rains also typically only come every other day, leaving bright sun in between. One caveat: seasonal typhoons and annual flooding occur in September and October on the central coast.

Only a little drizzle — let's ride !

Like much of Southeast Asia, Vietnam has tropical weather marked by a monsoon season which means while there are slight variations in temperature, and depending on the season and the altitude, the primary seasonal changes in Vietnamese weather are marked by variations in rainfall. It is typically humid and warm, although the weather can vary significantly from one area to another due to the long length of the country which encompasses several weather zones.

Weather in Vietnam can be affected by variance in altitudes. For example, in late 1999 there was snow in northern Sapa located at over 4,000 feet while it was nearly ninety degrees in sweltering Saigon. Flooding is common in the central coast region around Hue and Hoi An and Vietnam had back-to-back years of devastating flooding in this region during 2000 & 2001 — travel companies may list tours for the rainy period, but plan your trip dates carefully or your trip may be a washout. The weather may also fluctuate during the tourist season (December through March), when cold spells and/or unexpected rain may pass through. In 2008, the north and central experienced it's coldest weather in over 40 years, and the usual sunny skies on the central coast gave way to consistent rain and chilly weather.

Temperature remains almost constant in Saigon, rain or shine, while in Hanoi there is a marked cooler season from the chilled winds blowing down from China, from November through March and warmer period during the summer ("cooler" is relative, you will not likely need a jacket aside from Hanoi and Halong Bay). See our charts below, showing the levels of rain and temperature for north, south, and central Vietnam by month of the year.

Since flooding is common and even a bi-annual typhoon a possibility, a most important decision for traveling in Vietnam is to avoiding the monsoon season in late July and August. The typhoon season lasts longer from July through November, with the most severe storms occurring along the central coast. Typhoons in this region frequently lead to serious crop damage and loss of life (Image: Typhoon Xangsae). Below are some charts to help you further gauge when to travel. Our scheduled tours are limited to the drier weather period of the year: December through April (although we do arrange custom tours year-round in areas that may be dry). During December, the weather north of Danang (and the Hai Van Pass) can be cool and rainy. January through March are optimal months to travel the length of Vietnam (combined with humidity, it is not as cool as the chart below reflects). However, Sapa does not thaw until around the first week of March.

Specifically for Sapa, September through November and March through May are the best weather periods for trekking and cycling in Sapa. Daytime temperatures range from 15-28 C, and night-time temperatures from 18 down to 10 Celsius. Trekking and cycling are possible at other times too, but in the wintertime the weather at over 4,000 feet (1,600m) can be bitterly cold (in the 30s Fahrenheit) with fog and drizzle, and the summer can be rather wet. Please ask about our Mai Chau trips southwest of Hanoi if your trip is during these cooler months.

Note: During some months below, the weather charts below may reflect heavy rainfall but in some places such as Hue or Hanoi, this does not inhibit off-bike sightseeing.