Climate
Vietnam stretches over 1,800 km from north to south; therefore weather patterns in the principle cities are very different When one region is wet or cold or steamy hot, there is always some where else that is sunny and pleasantly warm. Vietnam has a remarkably diverse climate because of its wide range of latitudes and altitudes. Although the entire country lies in the tropics and subtropics, local conditions vary from frosty winters in the far northern hills to the year-round sub-equatorial warmth of the Mekong delta. Because about one-third of Vietnam is more than 500 meters above sea level, much of the country enjoys a sub-tropic or –above 2,000 meters- even a temperate climate. Most of Vietnam receives a approximate 2,000 mm of rain annually, though parts of the Central Highlands get approximately 3,300 mm of precipitation per annum
- The North
Areas north of the 18th parallel have 4 reasons:
Winter lasts from November to April, with temperatures averaging 10-16oC, fog and drizzle in February and March. Summer begins in May and lasts until October, with an average temperature of 30oC, heavy rainfall and the occasional violent typhoon.
- The South
Temperatures are fairly constant through the year; 25-30oC. Seasons are determined by the rains- the dry season runs from November to April and the wet season from May to October. The hottest period is March and April. Typhoons are quite common in coastal areas between July and November.
- Central Vietnam
The coastal lowlands are denied significant rainfall from the south-west monsoons (May to October) by the Truong Son mountains, which are very wet during this period. Much of the coastal strip’s precipitation is brought between December and February by the north-east monsoons. Nha Trang’s dry season lasts from June to October while Dalat’s dry season goes from December to March. |