Vietnam Climate

Vietnam Climate

Climate In general terms, Vietnam's climate is tropical; subject to monsoon rains, warm temperatures and wind, and high humidity throughout the year.

The winter dry season extends (November - April), while summers (May - October) bring substantial rainfall across the entire country.

Central and south, temperatures reach the mid 80s in the summer months, and in April, temps in the high 90s are commonplace; winter lows below 50� F are rare.

In the northern third of the country, temperatures moderate, especially in the higher elevations.

Because of differences in latitude and the marked variety in topographical relief, the Vietnamese climate tends to vary considerably from place to place. During the winter or dry season, extending roughly from November to April, the monsoon winds usually blow from the northeast along the China coast and across the Gulf of Tonkin, picking up considerable moisture. Consequently, the winter season in most parts of the country is dry only by comparison with the rainy or summer season. The average annual temperature is generally higher in the plains than in the mountains, and higher in the south than in the north. Temperatures vary less in the southern plains around Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, ranging between 21 and 28 °C (69.8 and 82.4 °F) over the course of a year. Seasonal variations in the mountains and plateaus and in the north are much more dramatic, with temperatures varying from 5 °C (41 °F) in December and January to 37 °C (98.6 °F) in July and August.