Vietnam Weather in April

Country: Vietnam

April is spring in Northern Vietnam, the dry season with hot temperatures in the Central Coast, the dry season with pleasant temperatures in the Central Highlands, and the dry season with hot temperatures Southern Vietnam.

April is one of the best time to visit Vietnam for the weather, as there is least amount of rainfall, pleasant temperatures most of the country.

Monsoon in Vietnam in April and the impacts on the weather patterns

Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate and the weather patterns are much driven by or affected by the predominant winds or monsoons. There are three monsoons which affect Vietnam in April: The Northeasterly Wind sometimes, the Southeasterly Wind often and the Southwesterly Wind often.

Northern Vietnam, especially the low land areas, is to be under the impact of the Northeasterly Wind sometimes, and the Southeasterly Wind most of the time. The former causes cool temperatures with mostly dry weather and sometimes moist weather; the latter causes moist air and pleasant temperatures.

Northern Vietnam may undergo some days with moist air and light drizzles at the beginning of April which is due to weaker and more damp Northeasterly Wind meetings with other winds (Easterly, Southeasterly Winds…). The temperatures in the North are more likely pleasant for all month but the too high moisture makes it feel not comfortable. The period with high moisture in the air, if any, is often in the first 7-10 days at the beginning of April.

The Central Coast of Vietnam is to come under the impact of the Southwesterly Wind which is often known as the Westerly Wind or Lao Wind, as it blows into Vietnam from Laos. This is the wind that causes the foehn effect and the result is dry weather and hot temperatures often.

In April, the Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam are to come under the impact of the Southwesterly Wind. The wind causes strong sun and hot temperatures in Southern Vietnam: this is among the hottest times in this region. The Central Highlands, which are on high altitudes, have sunny and dry weather and pleasant temperatures mostly and warm temperatures at mid day in some places on low altitudes. During the month of April, the Southwesterly Wind mostly comes from the Bengal Bay, not from the Equator.

The sea and the offshore islands in southern Vietnam are often to come under impact by the Southwesterly Wind in April, and the air is dry and the sea is mostly calm.

The sea and offshore islands in northern Vietnam are affected by the Southeasterly Wind mostly and the Northeasterly Wind sometimes in April: dry weather, pleasant temperatures mostly, calm sea.

General Weather Patterns in Vietnam in April

The Northeast and lowlands of Northern Vietnam may undergo the first 7-10 days of April with moist air, fog and light drizzles which is due to weaker and more damp Northeasterly Wind meetings with the Southeasterly Winds. The annoying damp air weather in Northern Vietnam should be ended by a heat strike or a new spell of the Northeasterly Wind. From mid of April, these two regions should enjoy dry and sunny weather again. The temperatures may be pleasant and may get warm from the third week.

The Northwest of Vietnam should enjoy dry and sunny weather mostly. But parts of the Northwest such as Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Son La, and Lai Chau may be affected by high temperature air troughs which may make the affected regions to experience high temperatures of 35-36oC. The rest of the Northwest should still enjoy pleasant temperatures of 20-33oC.

The North of the Central Coast is in the dry season. Part of this region should have lovely sunshine with pleasant temperatures while some other areas may experience hot temperatures of 35-36oC. The reason is again due to atmospheric circulation of the air troughs (high temperatures) in the atmosphere over Southwest of China, in Thailand and in Laos...

Of the mid Central Coast, Quang Binh should have days with temperatures over 36-38oC. The reason is the same as above and due to the foehn effect. Unless under impact of the foehn wind, the other provinces in the Central Coast should enjoy lovely sunshine and temperatures of 24-33oC.

The Central Highlands enjoy dry season with pleasant temperatures mostly. But there are places on low altitudes and under impact of the hot air troughs, then the temperatures may surpass 35-36oC at mid day. The temperatures remain nice mostly in the morning and afternoon.

The South of Vietnam is in the dry season with the hottest temperatures found in a year. The Mekong Delta should still enjoy pleasant sunshine and temperatures in the first half of April though.

What to expect from your holidays in Vietnam in April

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 April, then there may be some notes as follows:

- April is a good time to travel to the far-northern mountains of Vietnam when it is mostly dry and the temperatures are more likely pleasant all month. Some high mountains in Northern Vietnam are to be filled with rhododendron blossoms. Dien Bien Province should offer camel foot blossoms in April.

- Those on trekking tours in the far-north of Vietnam may experience strong sun from late morning through early afternoon.

- The Red River Delta is also a good place to travel to in April. Ninh Binh is among the top choices for countryside landscape all the month.

- Those who embark on luxury cruises on Halong Bay may sometimes experience foggy weather at the beginning of April which is the result of weak winds and high humidity. This pattern appears mostly when the Northeasterly Wind weakens and the direction of wind changes to blow inland more from the sea bringing more moisture in the air. When the Northeasterly Wind gets stronger, or blows more through the continent (making the air dry), or when the Southeasterly Wind becomes strong and the air temperatures become higher, then the air will be cleared of fog.

- April is not a great time for bird tours in Vietnam as migratory bird species have left Vietnam for the return journeys. Still native bird species are active in April. The best sites for birding in Vietnam in April include : Cuc Phuong National Park, Xuan Thuy National Park, Cat Tien National Park, Da Lat, Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Deo Nui San (Di Linh Plateau, Lam Dong Province).

- April is the best time for beach holidays in all over Vietnam. The best beaches in Vietnam are found in the South of the Central Coast and in Southern Vietnam like those in Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Phan Rang-Thap Cham, Mui Ne (Phan Thiet), Vung Tau. Expect lovely sunshine and pleasant temperatures in these places.

- Those on adventure holidays in the Central Coast of Vietnam like bike tours should experience strong sun and warm temperatures in various places. Travelers on sightseeing tours should still enjoy great time.

- April is a good time for adventure tours and sightseeing tours in the Central Highlands where you can mostly sunshine and pleasant temperatures.

- All water sports, boat tours, scuba-diving tours, snorkeling-tours should operate smoothly in April. The sea should be calm all over Vietnam thanks to weak or absence of the Northeasterly Wind. And this is the best time for island vacations in the country.

- The best destinations for families on holidays in Vietnam in April should be Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Con Dao Islands and Phu Quoc Island.

- April is the best time for golf holidays in all over Vietnam from the North through the Central Coast, Central Highlands and the South of Vietnam.

- Con Dao Islands, Phu Quoc Island are to have either sunny or cloudy days with calm sea. Boat trips and sea exploration tours such as snorkeling and scuba-diving should offer great experiences.

Weather Patterns and Temperatures in Different Regions of Vietnam in April

1/ Northern Vietnam

- Northeast (Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Kan...): mild sunshine, clouds, some possible rain, 20-33oC;

- Northwest (Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau...): sun, clouds, 20-33oC in Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, and 20-37oC in Lao Cai, Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau;

- Lowlands (Hanoi, Ninh Binh,...): sun, clouds, some days with high moisture, 23-33oC;

2/ The North of the Central Region (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh)

sun, clouds, 23-34oC.

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).

Expect either cloudy or sunny weather.

South of the Central Coast (from Nha Trang to Phan Thiet) is mostly to have sunny days.

- From Quang Binh to Hue: sun, clouds, 23-36oC mostly, 26-39oC in Quang Binh;

- From Da Nang to Quang Ngai: clouds and sun mostly, 23-33oC

- From Nha Trang to Phan Thiet: sun, clouds, 23-34oC.

4/ The Central Highlands of Vietnam (Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong)

The Central Highlands have mostly sunshine with pleasant temperatures of 20-32oC. Places in Kon Tum and Dak Lak may experience high temperatures of 26-36oC at times.