December is winter in Northern Vietnam, the rainy season in the Central Coast, beginning of the dry season in the Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam.
It is possible though it is rare that there should be typhoons or tropical depressions which have impact on Vietnam in December. If there are any they should have impact on the Central Coast (mostly South of the Central Coast) and Southern Vietnam.
General Weather Patterns in Vietnam in December
In December there is one main monsoon affecting Vietnam: Northeasterly Monsoon which originate from Siberia which causes cold temperatures in the North, rainy weather in the Central Coast, dry and pleasant temperatures in the Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam.
The sea in all over Vietnam and the offshore islands are to come under impact by the Northeasterly Wind in December : dry weather, pleasant temperatures, rough sea.
What to expect from your holidays to Vietnam in December, where to go in Vietnam in December?
Taking the general weather conditions in Vietnam into consideration, for those travelers planning trips to Vietnam or those who are on holidays in Vietnam in December, then there may be some notes as follows:
- December is a good time to travel to the far-northern mountains of Vietnam when it is mostly dry and the temperatures are mostly pleasant in the first half of the month and cold in the last 10 days. Those who embark on trekking or hiking tours in the high mountains are to marvel at beautiful clouds which are more readily available throughout the month. Snow may be present in the last 10 days of December and first 10 days of January.
The Red River Delta is also a good place to travel to in December. Ninh Binh is among the top choices for countryside landscape and autumnal vibe in the first half of the month. Those who embark on luxury cruises on Halong Bay are to have good autumn-like weather in the first half of the month ; in the latter half of the month expect strong winds with cloudy skies.
- All of the Central Coast of Vietnam is to have prolonged and heavy rain in December due to the Northeasterly Wind which helps accumulate clouds. But it rains less in the Central Coast in December compared to October and November and there are dry days. There may be some days with brightened skies.
- December is a good time for bird tours as migratory bird species are present in Vietnam on their winter migration, and bird parks and national parks in Vietnam teem with wildlife. The best sites for birding in Vietnam in December include : Cuc Phuong National Park, Xuan Thuy National Park, Cat Tien National Park.
December is a great time to go on birding tours in the Central Highlands of Vietnam : Da Lat, Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Deo Nui San (Di Linh Plateau, Lam Dong Province).
- December is not a good time to go for beach holidays or for island vacations in Northern Vietnam or in the Central Coast of Vietnam. Expect strong winds and cold temperatures on beaches in Northern Vietnam; strong winds and rainy or gloomy weather on the beaches in the Central Coast of Vietnam.
The best beaches to visit in Vietnam in December are those in the South of the Central Coast including Cam Ranh Beach (Khanh Hoa Province), Ninh Chu Beach (Phan Rang-Thap Cham City, Ninh Thuan Province), Mui Ne Beach (Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province), Ho Tram Beach (Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province), Long Hai Beach (Ba Ria-Vung Tau), Vung Tau (Vung Tau City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province).
For those who plan a trip to the Central Highlands and/or Southern Vietnam, you are to have a wonderful holiday ahead with mostly sunny days and pleasant temperatures. December is among the best times to travel to these two regions.
Con Dao Islands, Phu Quoc Island are to have either sunny or cloudy days with strong winds and rough sea.
Below you can find Paradissa’s reviews and statistics of the weather in different regions in Vietnam in December 2023
Vietnam experienced abnormal weather patterns in the first half of December 2023. While it was supposed to be winter time, the North had exceptionally beautiful autumnal weather in the first half of the month. And there was only one weak spell of the cool Northeasterly Wind at the beginning of the month which caused brief rain in the North and the weather remained typically autumnal.
On 16-December-2023 there was a strong spell of the cold Northeasterly Wind which caused temperatures in Northern Vietnam to drop substantially, and heavy rain in the Central Coast.
The South of the Central Coast, the Central Highlands remained to have beautiful sunshine and pleasant temperatures. Southern Vietnam was warmer than normal with daily real-feel temperatures of 35-36oC.
Regional weather patterns in Vietnam after the arrival of the Northeasterly Wind in mid December 2023:
- Northeast: some sun, clouds, 4-14oC;
- Northwest: sun, clouds, 8-16oC in Hoa Binh, Lao Cai ; 11-17oC in Yen Bai; sun, 4-24oC in Son La, Dien Bien, 5-18oC in Lai Chau ;
- Lowlands: sun, clouds, isolated rain, 10-18oC.
- North of the Central Coast: sun, clouds, 12-20oC in Thanh Hoa ; clouds, some rain, 13-22oC in the others;
- Central Coast from Quang Binh to Hue: rain, 19-24oC ;
- Central Coast from Da Nang to Quang Ngai: rain, 21-26oC;
- Central Coast from Quy Nhon to Tuy Hoa: rain, 23-28oC ;
- Central Coast in Khanh Hoa: some sun, clouds, rain, 24-28oC ;
- Central Coast Ninh Thuan: sun, clouds, rain, 24-31oC ;
- Central Coast Binh Thuan: sun, clouds, rain, 24-32oC ;
- Central Highlands: sun, clouds, 19-29oC ;
- East of Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh): sun, clouds, rain, 26-34oC;
- West of Southern Vietnam ( The Mekong Delta): sun, clouds, rain, 24-33oC ;
On 19 & 20-December there was a strengthening spell of the cold Northeasterly Wind which caused further drop of temperatures in Northern Vietnam and which caused heavy rain in the Central Coast. In the mean time, there was a tropical depression passing through the Philippines and the Spratly Islands (Vietnam) moving southwestward. The North enjoyed a day with some lovely sunshine.
Rainfalls measured in 06 hours from 04:00 A.M on 20-December: Cổ Bi 73,6mm, Hồ Thọ Sơn 61,6mm (Thừa Thiên Huế); Hương Trà 73,4 (Quảng Ngãi);…
In the latter half December 2023, there were successive spells of the Northeasterly Wind which brought colder temperatures in Northern Vietnam, rain in the Central Coast of Vietnam.
The South of the Central Coast and the Central Highlands had mostly beautiful sunny days with pleasant temperatures. The South of Vietnam continued to have warmer than usual temperatures in the third week and pleasant temperatures in the last week of December.
Regional weather patterns in Vietnam in the last few days of December 2023
- Northeast: some sun, clouds, some light rain, 14-23oC;
- Northwest: sun, clouds, some rain, 16-26oC in Hoa Binh, 14-24oC in Yen Bai, Lao Cai; sun, 9-23oC in Son La, Dien Bien ; sun, clouds, som rain, 11-20oC in Lai Chau ;
- Lowlands: sun, clouds, isolated rain, 17-27oC.
- North of the Central Coast: sun, clouds, some rain, 19-27oC in Thanh Hoa, 19-24oC in the others;
- Central Coast from Quang Binh to Hue: rain, 21-24oC ;
- Central Coast from Da Nang to Quang Ngai: rain, 22-26oC;
- Central Coast from Quy Nhon to Tuy Hoa: sun, clouds, 23-27oC ;
- Central Coast in Khanh Hoa: sun, clouds, some rain, 23-28oC ;
- Central Coast Ninh Thuan: sun, clouds, 23-31oC ;
- Central Coast Binh Thuan: sun, clouds, rain, 23-31oC ;
- Central Highlands: sun, clouds, 17-31oC ;
- East of Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh): sun, clouds, 24-34oC;
- West of Southern Vietnam ( The Mekong Delta): sun, clouds, some isoalted rain, 24-32/34oC;
Disclaimer: Vietnam weather summary is for reviews of Vietnam weather by month on the basis as “it is” to the best of our knowledge. Paradissa does not guarantee the accuracy of our monthly reviews of Vietnam Weather. Our Vietnam Weather Reviews by month must not be used for making travel decisions or for any other purposes. Paradissa disclaims any liability in connection with with the use of our information.
