As a long narrow country, Vietnam’s climate varies depending on if you are in the north, central areas, or south, which is great for travelers as the weather is always perfect somewhere.
In the north, November to April is winter and despite being in South East Asia it has a cool (mainly dry) winter as it is close to the Tropic of Cancer. The temperatures can drop to 10 °C (50 °F), though it usually hovers somewhere between 15 and 20 °C (59-68°F), with rainfall of about 25 mm per month. There are sometimes monsoons in the north east in January, so an umbrella can prove useful.
While in central Vietnam, September to December is rainy season, and it is the wettest in October when rainfall is over 200 mm per month and temperatures a warm 22 to 28 °C (72-82°F). Many avoid the rains by taking time to visit the famed Phong Nha caves in the central coast region, a complex underground cave and river system that is also a Unesco world heritage site. For those who prefer clothes shopping, Hoi An is a beautifully preserved town famed for its innovative tailoring, where you can find unusual pieces you cannot find anywhere else.
In southern Vietnam, November through April is hot and very humid, with temperatures generally between 22 and 32 °C (72-90°F) and limited rainfall. Late January or early February sees Tet Nguyen Dan, the lunar New Year. People clean their homes, cook special dishes and give children “lucky money” in red envelopes. Tet festivities last up to a month, and include firecrackers, fireworks and masked dances, not to mention vast arrays of flowers used to decorate prey much anything. The hot weather the perfect season to take in the breeze and enjoy a lazy sail in and around the Mekong delta in a classic wooden junk boat