VIETNAM CLIMATE AND WEATHER INFORMATION

Vietnam has a very diverse climate because its landmass stretches over many degrees of longitude. In addition, its terrain varies from low-lying coastal plains to almost 4,000-meter mountain peaks. Offroad Vietnam couldn’t guarantee good weather on our trips but will try to let you know near your departing dates of the latest climate and weather information. Below you can find weather statistics since we started our business in late 2006. For more information, please contact us.

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The North

Cold/cool season is between November and April with average temperatures of 16oC (or 61oF) – it is often dry and can be chilly. In the rainy season, between May and September, the average temperature is about 30oC (or 86oF). The hottest months are June and August (real Indian summer!).

Central Vietnam

The climate varies from the coastal plain to the Central Highlands. This region tends to be warmer and more humid than the south in the middle of the year and cooler during the dry season from November to March.

The South

The temperatures in the south are fairly constant all of the years, ranging between 25oC – 30oC (or 77oF – 86oF). The dry season is from November to April and the wet season from May to October.

From July to November, strong and unpredictable typhoons can hit some of the coastal regions of Vietnam with sometimes devastating results.

Offroad Vietnam Motorbike Adventures - Climate And Weather Information. Vietnam weather, a great day in Sapa.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER INFORMATION UPDATE BY YEAR

Weather Update 2021

The second year of Coronavirus started with amazing weather. This year it’s not cold and there were more sunny days. The hot weather started quite early in the Southern part but rather late in the Northern part of the country. Social distancing reduced the pollution due to less traffic. That might be the reason for a cooler summer ahead!

Weather Update 2020

It’s one of the worst years that started with the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. In fact, we had one of the worst summers which was very hot and rainy. Some of the most terrible landslides and floods happened in the central part of the country that killed over 100 people in just a short time. In contrast, the winter was quite good, not very cold and not too misty. Tourism was affected badly as no tourist was allowed after March. Sadly, it would take a while, even a few years.

Weather Update 2019

El Nino was not bad this year. The hot weather started earlier while the cold weather was later than many recent years. Not many tropical typhoons hit Vietnam this year :)

Weather Update 2018

This year was not as hot as other years but it’s colder in winter. In fact, it’s a quiet year with fewer tropical typhoons.

Weather Update 2017

January started very warmly, in fact, warmer than many recent years. We had a bit of rain and cold weather in the second week. Summer was a bit hot in June and early July, then very wet with many downpours that caused severe landslides in the Northern part of the country. There were more tropical storms in 2017 and it is a very wet summer. In addition, the winter is also colder than in the past few years.

Weather Update 2016

The first three months were a bit wet in Northern Vietnam. On the other hand, summer was really hot and long. The drought was very serious (probably worst in history) in Southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta due to a shortage of rainfall and more hydroelectric plants and dams on the Mekong river in China and Laos. In late July and early August, Northern Vietnam received a high rainfall that caused landslides and floods. However, from September to October, hot weather returned. In fact, this is the hottest year over the last century.

The last two months had excellent weather, warm and dry. Therefore, we could say this year was great for motorbiking in Vietnam.

Weather Update 2015

January was a bit wet and cold during the first half, the second half was great, dry, and sunny. February was foggy and chilly. March was good and in early April the weather was very hot and dry. This summer would be long, hot, and stormy. From early May the temperature was very very hot (above 40 degrees Centigrade – bloody hot in fact!) and lasted for many days until mid-July. On the other hand, Northern Vietnam experienced some of the worst flooding times in late July and early August. Quang Ninh province had the most serious flood of the whole country, something 2.0m in the water! Halong Bay was closed for many days. Autumn and Winter were a bit wet but nothing special.

Weather Update 2014

2014 started with quite good weather in January. However, since mid-February Hanoi and the Red River Delta were very cloudy, humid, and wet. Good time for real dirt biking in North Vietnam but not so much fun for those who were looking for the blue clear sky. This summer is expected to be one of the hottest in history! There were fewer typhoons this summer, but the Rammasun brought so much rain in Northern Vietnam (nearly a week) and caused severe floods and landslides in Ha Giang province and North-West Vietnam. Late 2014 was some of the best in many years.

Weather Update 2013

Cloudy, cold, chilly, and a bit wet in early January. Unusual weather anywhere in the world, not just Vietnam, and many people were complaining about this. Summer 2013 was very hot and rainy. July was probably the wettest month, not usual. In early August, a few typhoons (Jebi and Mangkhut) hit North Vietnam and Hanoi had floods almost as bad as in November 2008. In September and October, Wutip and Nari hit Central coast Vietnam badly and these were among the worst typhoon in many years. Nari came shortly after General Vo Nguyen Giap’s funeral on October 13th.

The worst was Haiyan – probably the most powerful tropical typhoon – that hit the Northeastern coast of Vietnam and caused major damages to Hai Phong and Quang Ninh provinces. To everyone’s surprise, it came in mid-November, the time that North Vietnam should have dry and cool weather. December 2013 was one of the coldest winters in the past 50 years or so. Snow in Sapa for a few days and temperature was around 0 and 15 degrees for many days in North Vietnam. Luckily, not so much rain.

Weather Update 2012

Freezing in early 2012, the temperature was below 0 in mountainous regions like Sapa and Mau Son. The first two months had most of the nights raining lightly. We expected more rain this year than the last few years, but fortunately, there was less rain and typhoons. Summer was bloody hot and long. The good weather started at the beginning of September. Surprisingly, November and December were cloudy and wet, possibly because 2012 was a leap lunar year.

Weather Update 2011

2011 started off with foggy and freezing weather for almost 20 days, the second-worst weather just after January/February 2008 (see weather update 2008). On March 15th in Y Ty North of Sapa, 15-cm snowfall happened for the first time ever in March and this is a sign of a rainy summer. Luckily, the 2011 summer was cooler than the last few years and was rainier. However, hot weather due to high humidity lasted until mid-September. This year, Vietnam received the least tropical storm and typhoon within the past 10 years. Late November was good, dry, and sunny.

Weather Update 2010

Affected by El Nino, we experienced very dry and nice weather in early 2010. A really hot and long summer (real Indian summer) came in mid-June and the temperature was between 35oC and 40oC. The power cut was common as a result of low rainfall in June and July. This year, July was the hottest month in North Vietnam. From early August, we had cool weather and some tropical storms in North Vietnam. In mid-October, Central Vietnam had the worst flood in probably 100 years and land transport was not available for almost two weeks. From mid-December, monsoon winds hit North Vietnam and brought cold and wet weather due to La Nina.

Offroad Vietnam Motorbike Adventures - Climate And Weather Information. Vietnam weather, a rainbow in Halong Bay.

Climate And Weather Information Update 2009

Good weather lasted until the last week of February, quite great compared to last year when we had the 38 days only rain at the same time! This summer was long and the first Indian summer days came as early as early May. However, the rainy season was not as bad as the last few years and there were very few landslides and floods in North Vietnam. Central Vietnam was severely hit by Ketsana with over 100 killed, the worst within 40 years.

Climate And Weather Information Update 2008

From early January to mid-February, North Vietnam experienced the coldest monsoon weather (freezing) due to heavy snow in China (the worst in 50 years). The record low temperature was -5oC (in Mau Son Mountain and Sapa) and lasted for 38 days (until February 21st).

2008 had a cool summer but still received some late tropical storms like in 2007. Worst than ever, on October 30th, 31st, and November 1st, Hanoi and North Vietnam had the record non-stop downpour of more or less 1,000mm rainfall due to typhoon Maysak. Right after this flood, we enjoyed the very nice weather (dry, sunny, and no rain) for a few months.

Climate And Weather Information Update 2007

This year we experienced some of the most unusual weather conditions. In North Vietnam, the rain lasted until the middle of October and the first monsoon wind came earlier (late September). Only two tropical storms hit North Vietnam. Central Vietnam experienced some of the worst floods ever in history during October and November. North Vietnam had very good weather (cool and dry) from late October until the end of the year.

Climate And Weather Information Update 2006

There was no strange happening with the weather this year. All good, summer was hot and winter was dry.

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