December is winter in the North of Vietnam, is the rainy season in the Central Coast, the dry season or about the dry season (depending on each year) in the Central Highlands and South of Vietnam.
In December the far-northern mountains may have occasional rains each time a new spell of the cool Northeasterly Monsoon comes which are often alternated by periods with the most beautiful weather: bright sunshine, pleasant or chilly temperatures. The temperatures are often at the lowest in the last ten days of December and the far-northern mountains may have frost or snow.
December is good for trekking tours thanks to relatively dry weather and cool temperatures. It is not an ideal time for mountain climbing tours though as there is often snow or frost in the high mountains in the North of Vietnam.
There may also be typhoons or tropical depressions in Vietnam’s sea. But the strong and cold Northeasterly Monsoon is more likely to push any typhoons southwards and melting them away before they could reach the inland of Vietnam. The typhoons at this time are less likely to affect the inland of Vietnam.
December is still the rainy season in the Central Coast and you are advised to bring along rain coats/ponchos/umbrellas traveling outdoors like visiting Hoi An Old Town, Hue Imperial Citadel or Hue Royal Tombs... Due to climate change that there may be beautiful days in this region in December nowadays.
The Central Highlands and South of Vietnam enjoy mostly dry season in December. There may be some sporadic rains but they are light and just good enough to freshen up the air. Expect mild sunshine and pleasant temperatures should you visit these regions at this time. If you plan for a family tour in the Central Highland or a luxury holidays in Saigon, Vung Tau or the Mekong Delta, then you should have a great time!
The offshore islands in the South of Vietnam have dry weather and pleasant temperatures in December. But Con Dao Islands often have strong winds and rough sea which is not good for sightseeing boat trip, snorkeling or scuba-diving. Phu Quoc Island normally has lovely and beach vacationers should have the best time of this island.
Below you can find our review and statistics of the weather in different regions in Vietnam in December 2019.
1/North Vietnam
The North of Vietnam received successive spells of col Northeasterly Monsoon which caused some light rains and drops in temperatures. Lowest temperatures in the North of Vietnam in 2019 were found in December.
- The Northeast of Vietnam (Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Ba Be National Park…) had sun, clouds, light rains, 2-27oC.
Dong Van Karst Plateau Dong Van Plateau had sun, clouds, some isolated rains, -1-19oC.
- The eastern Northwest of Vietnam (Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai) had mostly sun and clouds, isolated rains on some days. The temperatures were 5-29oC.
Sapa had sun, clouds, rains on some days, -1-20oC.
Mu Cang Chai had sun, mostly clouds and some rains, 0-25oC.
Mai Chau had mostly sun, clouds, some rains on some days, 5-27oC.
- The extreme North West of Vietnam (Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien) had mostly sun, clouds, isolated rains on some days, 1-30oC.
The Moc Chau Plateau Moc Chau Plateau had sun mostly, clouds, some isolated rains, 2-21oC.
- The low lands in northern Vietnam (Halong Bay, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Thai Binh, Ninh Binh) had sun, clouds, rains; damp air on some days; 8-26oC in Halong Bay and Hai Phong; 8-27oC in Hanoi and the Red River Delta.
2/The North of the Central Region (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh)
The North of the Central Region of Vietnam had mixed weather as results of successive spells of cold winds sweeping through: sun, clouds and rains, 8-28oC.
3/ The Central Coast of Vietnam (Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan).
There was some sun, clouds and rains in the Central Coast in December 2019 which was just nice given the region was still in the rainy season.
- Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Hue had sun, clouds and rains, 15-29oC.
- Da Nang, Hoi An and the provinces to the south of the Hai Van Pass (Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen) had more sun to the southern areas, clouds, rains, 16-30oC.
- Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan: mostly sun and clouds, isolated rains, 18-33oC.
4/ The Central Highlands of Vietnam (Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong)
December is the start of the dry season in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. In December 2019, it was mostly sun, clouds in the region. The temperatures were 12-32oC.
Da Lat had mostly sun, some isolated rains. The temperatures were 10-26oC.
5/The South of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Vung Tau, Dong Nai, and the Mekong Delta)
December is the dry season, the temperatures are also very pleasant mostly and some days with chilly air. This is the best time to visit the South of Vietnam.
- Vung Tau, Saigon, Mekong Delta had sun mostly, clouds, isolated showers on some days in the south of the Mekong Delta, 20-34oC in Vung Tau, 18-34oC in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
- Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc: sun, clouds, 18-34o.
- Con Dao Islands had sun, clouds, strong winds, rough sea, 24-29C.
- Phu Quoc Island had sun, clouds, isolated showers on a day or two, 22-31oC.
