December is winter in Northern Vietnam, is the rainy and cold season in the Central Coast, is the beginning of the dry season in the Central Highlands, and in Southern Vietnam.
The North of Vietnam generally enjoys brisk or crisp weather in December. The Central Coast of Vietnam has prolonged and less heavy rain than November. The Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam is to enter into dry season, but it may be possible that there is lingering rain in the eastern areas of the Central Highlands. The temperatures in the Central Highlands are often cool and those in Southern Vietnam are pleasant mostly.
General Weather Patterns in Vietnam in December
The Northeasterly Wind is the prevalent wind which affects all of Vietnam’s sea area and most of Vietnam’s inland regions.
All of the North of Vietnam is to have prevalent Northeasterly Wind :
- If the wind blows along the coast before hitting northern Vietnam, then there may be drizzle in Northern Vietnam with cool temperatures ;
- If the rain blows mostly through the continent, which is usually the case, then it is dry weather with mild sunshine in the North ; the mountainous regions turn chilly.
It is often the case recently that Northern Vietnam is more likely to enjoy cold and dry weather in December.
The Northeasterly Wind causes long-lasting heavy rain in the Central Coast of Vietnam due to the terrain of this region. The rain is not that heavy compared to October and November and less likely to cause floods, but landslides may take place in the mountainous regions.
The Northeasterly Wind may be strong enough in December to affect the Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam which causes dry weather and pleasant temperatures in these two regions mostly. But it is possible that the eastern side of the Central Highlands may still have rain due to the Northeasterly Wind.
Adventure Travel, Nature Tours, Bird Watching Tours, Photo Tours in Vietnam in December
1/ Hiking Tours, Mountain Trekking Tours
December is generally a good time for adventure tours in Northern Vietnam, except for the period the region has a new spell of the cool Northeasterly Wind blowing inland from the sea which may last for 1-2 days each. This wind, which can also blows through the continents only before hitting Vietnam, then it is just dry and beautiful weather.
It is winter in the North and the weather is mostly dry, windy and cold. Those embark on mountain trekking tours are to be awarded with beautiful clouds on high mountain peaks. In the second half of December and first half of January there may be snow or frost in the mountainous regions in Northern Vietnam.
December is a fabulous time for hiking tours in the Central Highlands given it is the beginning of the dry season here. Expect mild sunshine and excellent temperatures of 20-30oC most of the month.
2/ Adventure Tours
Northern Vietnam is a great place for general adventure tours in December. But be prepared with very cold temperatures which may reach below freezing point in the second half of the month and earlier half of January.
In the Central Highlands and in Southern Vietnam, it is among the best times of the year for adventure tours with mostly dry weather, mild sunshine and pleasant temperatures.
3/ Birding Trips and Bird Watching Tours
December is the migration time that most migratory bird species have been present in national parks and nature reserves in Vietnam, and bird parks in the country are vivid with wildlife, hence a great time for bird tours.
Birding sites in Vietnam in December :
- Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh Binh) : : resident birds and migratory bird species.
- Van Long Nature Reserve (Ninh Binh): storks and water fowls.
- Xuan Thuy National Park (Nam Dinh) : storks, shore birds, migratory bird species.
- Bach Ma National Park (Thua Thien – Hue) : This is among the region with the top annual rainfalls in Vietnam and it is the rainy season : AdventureGreen do not organize trips be it eco tours or bird tours to Bach Ma National Park in December.
- Da Lat, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Deo Nui Sam at Di Linh (Lam Dong, Central Highlands) : Birding at Da Lat and other sites in Lam Dong Province is a great experience in December.
- Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai, Southern Vietnam) : December is a great time for birdwatching at Cat Tien National Park.
4/ Family Tours
Generally speaking, families should have a good time traveling in Vietnam in December with the exception of the Central Coast where you often encounter light rain. If your family plan a vacation in the South of the Central Coast such as Phan Rang-Thap Cham City (Ninh Chu Beach) and Mui Ne (Phan Thiet City), then you should have a fantastic time.
5/ Island Holidays
The Northeasterly Wind causes rough sea all over Vietnam in December. Though you may have lovely dry weather with perfect temperatures, but the sea is quite rough for sea exploration tours, boat trips, snorkeling trips, scuba diving tours... If you accept these facts, then you can have good time on the islands : Co To Island and Quan Lan Island (Quang Ninh Province), Cat Ba Island (Hai Phong), Con Dao Islands (Ba Ria-Vung Tau), Phu Quy Island in Binh Thuan , Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang).
December is not a recommended time to travel to islands in the Central Coast (Cu Lao Cham in Hoi An or Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai) due to strong winds, rough sea and rainy or gloomy weather mostly.
6/ Beach Vacations
If you travel to Southern Vietnam then you may try Vung Tau Beach, Long Hai Beach and Ho Tram Beach (all in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province). You can have pleasant temperatures in daytime mostly with beautiful mild sunshine.
In Northern Vietnam, Sam Son Beach or the beaches on islands in Northern Vietnam have rough sea mostly. And those beaches in the Central Coast have rainy weather mostly.
Below are reviews of the Weather in Vietnam in December 2023 Monitored by AdventureGreen
First week of December, 2023
The first week of December 2023 found a new spell of the Northeasterly Wind which caused a drop in temperatures in Northern Vietnam and heavy rain in the Central Coast as well as part of the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
Rainfalls measured in 24 hours from 20:00 of 01-December-2023: Trường Sơn 106mm (Quảng Bình); Tà Rụt 136,2mm (Quảng Trị); Bạch Mã 410,6mm (Thừa Thiên Huế); Trà My 136,6mm (Quảng Nam); Sơn Tây 108,8mm (Quảng Ngãi); Sông Hinh 4 220,8mm (Phú Yên), Khánh Bình 93,1mm (Khánh Hòa)…
Rainfalls measured in 24 hours from 02:00 of 02-December-2023: Tà Long 111,6mm (Quảng Trị); Bạch Mã 476,8mm (Thừa Thiên Huế); Trà My183,8mm (Quảng Nam); Trà Thanh 97,4mm (Quảng Ngãi); Sông Hinh 4 179mm(Phú Yên), Đỉnh Hòn Bà 126mm (Khánh Hòa); Ba Tháp 112mm (Ninh Thuận);Bình An 127,9mm (Bình Thuận); …
Rainfalls measured in 06 hours from 19:00 of 02-December-2023: Thôn 10 Xa Ea Mdoal 73mm, Xa Ea Mdoan 64,8mm (Đắk Lắk); Đa Quyn – Đức Trọng 43,2mm(Lâm Đồng);…
Regional weather at the beginning of the first week of December 2023 was as follows :
- Northeast : clouds, 12-19oC;
- Northwest : some sun, clouds, 16-23oC in Hoa Binh, 16-21 in Yen Bai, Lao Cai ; sun, clouds, isolated rain, 14-24oC in Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau ;
- Lowlands in Northern Vietnam : clouds, 17-24oC ;
- North of the Central Coast : sun, clouds, rain, 16-26oC ;
- Mid Central Coast to the north of Hai Van : some clouds, mostly rain, 20-27oC ;
- Mid Central Coast to the south of Hai Van : rain, 23-28oC ;
- South Central Coast (Quy Nhon – Nha Trang): some sun, mostly rain, 24-28oC;
- South Central Coast ( Ninh Thuan, Phan Rang-Thap Cham): sun, clouds, 24-32oC ;
- South Central Coast ( Binh Thuan, Phan Thiet Mui Ne): sun, clouds, 24-31oC ;
- Central Highlands : sun, 19-31oC ;
- East of Southern Vietnam (Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai) : sun, clouds, rain, 25-33oC ;
- West of Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta) : some sun, clouds, rain, 25-32/33oC.
Rainfalls measured in 24 hours from 20:00 of 02-December-2023: A Lưới 180,8mm (Thừa Thiên Huế); Phước Hiệp 199,6mm (Quảng Nam); Trà Thanh 191mm (Quảng Ngãi); Hồ Trọng Thượng 113mm (Bình Định); Sông Hinh 4 300,6mm (Phú Yên), Khánh Hiệp 154,9mm (Khánh Hòa); Phước Chiến 109,6mm (Ninh Thuận); …
05-December a new spell of the cold Northeasterly Wind started having impact in Northern Vietnam causing cold weather in the whole region. The other regions in the country were affected a day later.
Second week of December, 2023
In the second week of December 2023 the North of Vietnam underwent lovely weather : windy, slightly warm at mid day, chilly in the morning, afternoon and evening. The Central Coast of Vietnam enjoyed sun, clouds, some isolated rain. The Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam enjoyed sun, clouds. The whole of Vietnam enjoyed pleasant temperatures mostly, Southern Vietnam got days with warmer temperatures than normal.
Regional weather at the beginning of the second week of December was as follows :
- Northeast : sun, clouds, some isolated rain, 16-26oC;
- Northwest : sun, clouds, isolated rain, 17-27oC in Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai ; sun, clouds, some isolated rain, 14-28oC in Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau ;
- Lowlands in Northern Vietnam : sun, clouds, isolated rain, 21-28oC ;
- North of the Central Coast : sun, clouds, isolated rain, 21-28oC ;
- Mid Central Coast to the north of Hai Van : sun, clouds, some rain in Quang Binh, 22-28oC mostly, 21-31oC in Quang Binh ;
- Mid Central Coast to the south of Hai Van (Da Nang to Quang Ngai) : sun, clouds, some isolated rain, 22-29oC ;
- South Central Coast (Quy Nhon – Nha Trang): rain, 23-29oC ;
- South Central Coast ( Phan Rang-Thap Cham to Phan Thiet: sun, clouds, 24-32oC;
- Central Highlands : sun, clouds, rain, 18-31oC in Kon Tum, Pleiku, and Dak Lak ;
- East of Southern Vietnam (Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai) : sun, clouds, 24-33oC;
- West of Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta) : sun, clouds, some isolated rain, 24-33oC.
Third week of December, 2023
In the third week of December 2023, there was a strong spell of the cold Northeasterly Wind which brought the temperatures in Northern Vietnam to the coldest of 2023 with below 10oC in several places. The Central Coast had rain. The Central Highlands had beautiful sunny weather with pleasant temperatures. And the South of Vietnam had warmer weather than normal with daily temperatures of 33-34oC and real-feel of 35-36oC.
The regional weather was as follows:
- Northeast : sun, clouds, 4-14oC ;
- Northwest : sun, clous, 8-17oC in Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai ; sun, clouds, 8-26oC in Son La, Dien Bien, 6-18oC in Lai Chau ;
- Lowlands in Northern Vietnam : clouds, 9-19oC ;
- North of the Central Coast : clouds, 10-160C in Thanh Hoa ; clouds, rain, 13-22oC in Nghe An and Ha Tinh;
- Mid Central Coast to the north of Hai Van : rain, 13-22oC in Quang Binh, 19-25oC in the others;
- Mid Central Coast to the south of Hai Van : rain, 21-27oC ;
- South Central Coast (Quy Nhon – Nha Trang): rain, 24-28oC ;
- South Central Coast ( Phan Rang-Thap Cham to Phan Thiet : sun, clouds, 24-32oC ;
- Central Highlands : sun, clouds, 20-30oC ;
- East of Southern Vietnam (Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai) : sun, some isolated rain, 25-34oC ;
- West of Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta) : sun, clouds, some rain, 24-34oC.
Rainfalls measured in 24 hours from 16:00 of 16-December-2023: Bến Quan 192,4mm (Quảng Trị); Hồ Hòa Mỹ 248,8mm (Thừa Thiên Huế); Hồ Hòa Trung 135,4mm (Đà Nẵng City); Sông Trà 143,2mm (Quảng Nam); Ba Điền 87,6mm (Quảng Ngãi); …
Rainfalls measured in 8 hours from 19:00 of 19-December-2023: Hải Lâm (Quảng Trị) 38.4mm, Cổ Bi (Thừa Thiên Huế) 66.8mm, Hương Trà (Quảng Ngãi) 54.8mm,…
On 19 and 20-December There was a strengthening spell of the cold Northeasterly Wind which caused even lower temperatures in Northern Vietnam, more rain in the Central Coast of Vietnam.
20-December there was a tropical depression which crossed the Philippines and entered the East Vietnam Sea with sustained winds of 39-49kph. The projected path in the next 12 hours is west covering 25kph.
Rainfalls measured in 13 hours from 19:00 of 20-December-2023: Lộc Vĩnh (Thừa Thiên Huế) 149.2mm, Lộc Tiến (Thừa Thiên Huế) 130.4mm, Suối Đà (Đà Nẵng) 95mm, Hương Trà (Quảng Ngãi) 59.6mm, …
21-December 13:00 the tropical depression has weakened to be a low-air trough with sustained winds of less than 39kph to the southwest of the Spratly Islands (Vietnam) moving southwestward before melting away.
Rainfalls measured in 8 hours from 19:00 of 21-December-2023: Thạch Sơn (Hà Tĩnh) 34.6mm, Lộc Vĩnh (Thừa Thiên Huế) 44mm, Thọ Quang (Đà Nẵng) 56.5mm, Tam Trà (Quảng Nam) 42.6mm, Phổ Phong (Quảng Ngãi) 32.6mm, Vạn Phước (Khánh Hòa) 51mm,…
Fourth week and last days of December, 2023
In the fourth week and last days of December 2023, the North received successive spells of the cold Northeasterly Wind which caused cold temperatures in the region. The Central Coast had cold temperatures with rain. The Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam enjoyed pleasant temperatures.
Regional weather in Vietnam in the last 10 days of December 2023
- Northeast : sun, clouds, 6-19oC;
- Northwest : sun, clouds, 7-19oC in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Hoa Binh; sun, clouds, 4-20oC in Son La, Dien Bien, 4-16oC Lai Chau;
- Lowlands in Northern Vietnam : sun, clouds, 9-21oC ;
- North of the Central Coast: sun and clouds, 13-21oC in Thanh Hoa ; clouds, 13-19oC in the others ;
- Mid Central Coast to the north of Hai Van : clouds, rain, 18-21oC ;
- Mid Central Coast to the south of Hai Van: clouds, rain, 20-23oC ;
- South Central Coast (Quy Nhon – Nha Trang): rain mostly, 23-27oC ;
- South Central Coast ( Phan Rang-Thap Cham to Phan Thiet : some sun, clouds, rain, 24-31oC ;
- Central Highlands: sun, clouds, some isolated rain, 18-28oC ;
- East of Southern Vietnam (Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai): clouds, some isolated rain, 23-33oC .
- West of Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta) : sun, clouds, some isolated rain, 23-33oC.
Rainfalls measured in 12 hours from 19:00 of 22-December-2023: Bình Thuận (Quảng Ngãi) 60.0mm, Đại Lãnh (Khánh Hòa) 97.6mm, Sông Hinh 4 (Phú Yên) 68.6mm,…
Rainfalls measured in 12 hours from 19:00 of 22-December-2023: Hương Nguyên (Thừa Thiên Huế) 56.6mm, Núi Thành (Quảng Nam) 56.2mm, Đảo Cù Lao Xanh (Bình Định) 64.4mm, Hòa Xuân Đông (Phú Yên) 69.4mm, Đại Lãnh (Khánh Hòa) 92.3mm,…
Rainfalls measured in 6 hours from 11:00 of 29-December-2023: Đạo Nghĩa 74,6 mm (Đắk Nông); Mỹ Lâm- Cát Tiên 55,6 mm (Lâm Đồng).
Disclaimer: Vietnam weather summary is for reviews of Vietnam weather by month on the basis as “it is” to the best of our knowledge. AdventureGreen 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. AdventureGreen disclaims any liability in connection with with the use of our information.
