Due to its length and the diversity of its topography, Vietnam experiences several different climate zones, with weather patterns varying considerably from season to season and region to region. Thanks to these regional variations, you can visit Vietnam at any time of year: catch the good weather in Saigon in February - March, following the coast to the north, visiting Hanoi in October - November. Temperatures shown in the grid, reflect the average temperatures and rainfall for Hanoi.

Northern Vietnam
Generally cooler than the other South East Asian regions in the same longitude, northern Vietnam experiences a pleasant spring (March-April) and autumn (October-December) with chilly winters (December- February) experiencing average temperatures of 17.2°C (62.9°F), and hot summers (June – July) when temperatures can reach approximately 37°C (98.6 °F). Humidity levels remain at approximately 80% all year round and there may occasionally be typhoons and heavy rain in late summer (September to November).

Central Vietnam
With two sub-regions, coastal lowlands and central highlands, this area of Vietnam offers a climate that falls somewhere in between that of the North and the South. The coastal strip is usually dry and hotter with storms and typhoons (from July to November) affecting this area more frequently than the northern coasts. The Central Highlands have nearly double the average rainfall of the country and the two biggest towns in this plateau, Dalat and Pleiku, are cool throughout the year. Coastal cities, near-the-south, (Nha Trang), on the other hand, experience steamy hot weather (21°C-32°C / 70°F-90°F) all year round.

Southern Vietnam
The south of Vietnam, which lies just eight degrees north of the Equator, enjoys a typically humid, tropical climate. Temperatures experience little variation throughout the year (staying at around 27-32°C/80-90°F) and there are two main seasons: the rainy and the dry. During the rainy/monsoon season (from May to November), downpours are expected to happen nearly every afternoon, which can result in occasional street flooding, in and around Saigon. In the dry season, it is hot from late February to April, cooling slightly when the first downpours come. December to March is said to be the most pleasant time to visit.