Vietnam Climate

Climate of Vietnam

Vietnam lies in a zone of two climatic belts. The northern part of the country is in the tropical climate zone and the southern part in the equatorial climate zone. Their common feature is monsoon seasonality, which results in winds that bring periodic rainfall. Vietnam has high humidity, relatively high rainfall, and typhoons that occur during the summer-autumn period. Average rainfall ranges from 1,500 mm to 2,000 mm per year. The highest precipitation is in the mountains, especially in the Annam Mountains, where it reaches 3,000 mm.

North Vietnam is clearly marked by four seasons with a pattern similar to that in temperate climates. Spring and autumn are distinguished by the mildest weather conditions, humidity is lowest then, and temperatures hover around 20°C - 28°C. Summer is hot and humid with temperatures reaching 40°C (June-July), with most rainfall recorded between May and September. Winter can be relatively cold. Temperatures drop to 13°C - 14°C, and selected areas may see snow.

There are two seasons in southern Vietnam. The dry season lasts from December to May, it is hot then, but relatively dry (about 50% humidity). The average annual temperature does not fall below 20°C, and in the warmest months it reaches 29°C - 30°C. Thermal maxima exceed 40°C. The rainy season occurs from June to November. There is then an increase in rainfall in the form of intense but short-lived downpours in the afternoon. They are not largely troublesome, although they can cause flooding in the Mekong Delta.