Sa Pa Holiday Weather today

Date/time of update: December 26, 2024, 2:18 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Few Clouds

Temperature: 11.66°C
Temperature feels like: 10.71°C
Minimum Temperature: 11.66°C
Maximum Temperature: 11.66°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1023hPa
Humidity:70%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 1.03m/sec
Wind Direction: 92 degrees
Cloudiness: 14%
Sunrise: 2024-12-25 11:42:02
Sunset: 2024-12-26 10:28:11

Sapa is a popular tourist attraction in Vietnam. The little cloud-covered town is located in Lao Cai Province in northern Vietnam.

Travel Guide to Sapa Weather (Lao Cai Province)

Sapa, a cloud-covered town, is a popular tourist attraction in Vietnam. The town itself is located on an elevation of 1,500m above sea level. And around the town there are villages which are home to 7 ethnic groups with different languages, traditional costumes and cultures.

Due to high altitudes and that there high mountains around Sapa that the mountain town has its own climate and weather pattern which are quite different from the surrounding regions. To get the best adventure holidays in Sapa, it is good to know the seasons as well as the weather patterns of each season here.

Generally speaking there are four seasons in Sapa. In each season Sapa has a different look and certainly different charm. Depending on what you look for from your trip to Sapa, you may pick a nice time different from others.

1/ Spring (February – March)

It is fairly dry during this period with clouds on some days and plenty of bright sunshine on others. The H’mong enjoys their traditional new year in January and they do share the Lunar New Year with the Kinh (Viet) which makes Sapa full of festive vibe in most of January and February.

It is during this time that you encounter blossoms everywhere you go in Sapa: plum flowers, peach flowers, roses… It is great time to travel to Sapa. The downside is that the town is crowded, especially at weekends, hence booked out services and crowded places.

2/ Transitional Moments in April – May

The rainy season normally starts in May but the weather is mostly dry and pleasant throughout April. The temperatures during this time are very nice for adventure tours and mountain hiking. The downside is that the end of April is the end of dry season and the town of Sapa may experience lack of fresh water for drinking, for bathing, for other needs…

Also, there are big public holidays in Vietnam in April – May: Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary, Reunification Day, May Day of which the observed holidays are normally just too long… And you bet that Sapa is often overcrowded or jam-packed!

3/ Mid May – July

It is summer time in Sapa but the temperatures are lovely still. If you go down to the valleys then there are chances that the temperatures may get above 30oC, else it usually ranges from 18oC to below 28oC. But it rains quite a lot at this time and it is whimsy that the torrential rain may be alternated by bright sunshine. If you travel to Sapa, always be armed with a raincoat or poncho!

Also, if you go trekking during this time then expect slippery and muddy paths. It is easily exhausted trekking in a poncho when it rains and all of a sudden it is bright sunshine.

But mid May through early June is also the rice transplanting season and you get lovely photos of flooded terraces. Photographers flock to Sapa during this time of the year for great photography!

Late July and August may pose another annoyance for those trekking and staying overnight at the villages: insects. You may have long sleeved shirts always even when the temperatures are warm (in villages on low altitudes). And be prepared with lots of insect repellents.

4/ August – September

It is lovely autumn time in northern Vietnam and in Sapa. It may rain more or less than the summer depending on each year. But the temperatures are very pleasant mostly even in the villages. And the rice is about to be ripe ready for being harvested. You can get lovely photos of green rice terraces or golden rice terraces during this time.

5/ October – early November

This is transitional moments but mostly it gets cool! It rains less and you get many beautiful days with bright sunshine, lovely clear skies or lovely clouds for your photos. From mid November it gets really cold in high mountains but it is a great time for mountain hiking.

6/ Mid November through mid January

It is cold winter time with possible snow at Christmas or in early January. The possible period with lowest temperatures is from mid December to the 10th of January. When it is very cold or extremely cold, Vietnamese tourists flock to Sapa to wait for or to play with snow and again this is a very crowded time in Sapa often!

Sapa Average Monthly Rainfalls and Temperatures