
Vietnam’s location in the Southeast Asian monsoon zone, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, gives rise to a complex and humid climate. The average temperature of 22°C (72°F) varies slightly from one season to another.
Northern Vietnam’s climate is influenced by the winds of Central Asia, which give rise to a climate similar to that of southern China. From November to April, the northern part of the country experiences a relatively cold winter. Temperatures often fall as low as a freezing point in the mountains north and west of Hanoi. Summer, between May and September, sees higher temperatures, heavy rain and sometimes typhoons. Both the north and center experience their hottest months during June, July and August.
Central Vietnam from Danang to Nha Trang has its own weather patterns because of the monsoons: the dry season is from January to September, with the most rainfall from October to mid-January.
Southern Vietnam’s climate is characterized by relatively constant temperatures, a rainy season between May and November, a relatively cooler and dry season from December to February, and a hot season between late February and April, when temperatures may reach 35°C (95°F).