Vietnam is a country of southeast Asia, rather larger than Britain and about half the size of the state of Texas. Extending between 9° and 23° N, it lies entirely within the tropics. It has a long coastline on the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea. On the landward side it borders China in the north and Laos and Cambodia in the west.

When to Go

Vietnam spans several climatic zones, resulting in substantial weather condition variations between the north and the south. Average temperatures year round range from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius so there is no particularly good or bad time to visit Vietnam. When it comes to weather, it's a tough call, as Vietnam's climate is so diverse. Think frosts and occasional snow in the mountains of the north, and temperatures soaring to 40°C in the south during the dry season. Vietnam's weather is dictated by two monsoons. The winter monsoon comes from the northeast between October and March, bringing damp and chilly winters to all areas north of Nha Trang, and dry and warm temperatures to the south. From April or May to October, the summer monsoon brings hot, humid weather to the whole country except for those areas sheltered by mountains. For the best balance, try the months of April, May or October. For those sticking to the south, November to February is dry and a touch cooler. From July to November, violent and unpredictable typhoons hit centrel and northern Vietnam, which can dampen the spirits of even the most enthusiastic traveler. It gets pretty crowded from November to March and in July and August. Prices tend to peak over the Christmas and New Year period, and if you don't fancy sharing the sites with the masses, try to avoid these busy times. Some travelers like to time a visit with Test (Vietnamese New Year), which is the biggest festival in the calendar in late January or early February;a nice idea, but not ideal, as the whole country is on the move. High season in Vietnam runs from November to March, with a summer surge in July and August, particularly for domestic tourists. May, June and September are usually the quietest months

Southern Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the South is hot year-round and there are two seasons. The wet season lasts from May to November and the Dry season from December to April.
The wet is characterised by high humidity levels and a refreshing afternoon downpour. Humidity in the south during the months of June and July ranges between 75% and 85%.
The hottest period is March to May when average daytime temperatures can reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Typically this involves an afternoon downpour that rarely interferes with travel arrangements.

Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam is usually dry from May to October and wet from December to February. October and November may experience unstable weather conditions and flooding.

Northern Vietnam
Hanoi and the north experience Four seasons.
Summer (May to October), is hot and wet with regular downpours and occasional typhoons. July and August are the hottest months with maximum temperatures exceeding 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit). Winter (November to April) is usually cold and humid.

The winter months from November to April are usually cold and humid. The months of December and January can be particularly cool with temperatures as low as 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit) Cloudy skies and misty conditions usually prevail.. Temperatures can drop to 0 degrees Celsius in Sapa (in the highlands near the Chinese border) in winter. .