Vietnam is geographically a skinny stretch of land extending from the north to the south with different climatic zones. At a moment, it may be pleasant here and rainy there, or it could be freezing cold here and pleasant there…
Is February Best for Adventure Tours in Vietnam?
Taking adventure tours in Vietnam you’ll be taking part in outdoor activities most of the time: you’ll need pleasant weather more than anyone else! Let’s imagine you take bicycle tours in the Central Highlands of Vietnam during the rainy season, or that you navigate your way by rowing boat in the the Old Town of Hoi An in a torrential rain which never stops! Well, you don’t want that. Traveling through Vietnam in cheery weather, you’ll be more likely to have a fantastic holiday. February is among the best months that you get the best weather.
How Monsoons Define Weather in Vietnam?
As Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate it is interesting to find the influence of monsoons per seasons in the country. In the north of Vietnam in February the winter monsoon (northeasterly wind) is getting weakened while the westerly wind and southeasterly wind may get stronger. Whenever these winds meet, it drizzles in the North for a couple of days. The rains are so light that you don’t need a raincoat traveling outdoors.
There may be a couple of spells of winter monsoons which affect the North, North of the Central Region and north of the Central Coast which may make the temperatures low for 3-7 days each time. At the other times of the month, it is extremely pleasant in the North: windy, mild sunshine and lovely temperatures (18-28oC).
The Northeasterly Wind (winter monsoon) is still the predominant wind most of the time in all over Vietnam in February. This wind causes rough sea all over the country from the North, through the Central Region to the South of Vietnam. Boat services between the inland and offshore islands like Ly Son, Cu Lao Cham, Con Dao and Phu Quoc may be disrupted due to strong winds.
In February, sea boat tours around the Phu Quoc Island and Con Dao Islands are not recommended and normally boat operators do not offer service during this time. But boat tours on Halong Bay and the Nha Trang Bay are still to operate normally thanks to relatively enclosed area which is much protected from strong winds and rough sea.
Weather Patterns in Different Regions of Vietnam in February
1/ North Vietnam
If you happen to travel in the North of Vietnam in February be it you are on a cycling tour in Ninh Binh amid the karst plateau, taking an overnight junk cruise on Halong Bay, on trekking holidays in the far-northern mountains… you’ll definitely have a great time.
February is still a good time to go on bird watching tours at the Cuc Phuong National Park and the Xuan Thuy National Park which are both located in the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. These parks, especially the latter, teem with several hundred migratory bird species in February. Xuan Thuy National Park is the biggest bird park in Vietnam with over 150 migratory bird species and over 50 local resident bird species.
It is worth noting for those of you who venture further to the North-West of the country that there are times that the winter monsoon is too weak to have visible impact to the extreme Northwest of Vietnam. This means it is sometimes warmer, sunnier and drier in this region compared to the other places in northern Vietnam. But if it happens then it is slightly warm at mid day only and it is still cool or very cold in early morning and late afternoon (10-29oC). Make sure you are prepared with all kinds of clothes taking outdoor adventures in these provinces. 
For those who plan to trek in Mai Chau (Hoa Binh) and Pu Luong Nature (Thanh Hoa), make sure you bring enough warm clothes as it is colder here than the other provinces due to high altitudes. And be informed that Sapa is cold and dry at this time, 8-19oC. Moc Chau Plateau is also cold and dry in February which should offer great relaxing vacations or active holidays to families.
The North-East of Vietnam (Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Ha Giang) is normally colder than the rest of the country which is due to that: it is higher altitude and it is where the winter monsoon brushes through first before the other provinces in the country. If you take motorbike adventures or trekking tours in this region, you are to be prepared with enough warm clothes, too. The temperatures may range from 10oC to 24oC.
2/ North of Central Region (Central Coast) of Vietnam
The North of the Central Region or Central Coast of Vietnam has weather patterns somewhat similar to the North of Vietnam and also similar to the rest of the Central Coast of Vietnam. The reasons are
- This region is strongly under impact of the winter monsoon when it prevails which is similar to northern Vietnam;
- This region terrain is bounded by high mountains (Truong Son Mountain Range) to the west and the East Vietnam Sea to the east, which is the same as the other provinces of the Central Coast;
- This region is under direct impacts of air troughs (high temperature air regions) which often forms over southwest of China (Yunnan), Myanmar, Thailand and Laos during the spring and summer months, which is the same as the other provinces in the Central Coast located to the North of Hai Van Pass.
In February, the North of the Central Coast has low temperatures (16-22oC), days with rain alternated by cloudy days or days with mild sunshine. The rain is very light as it is the end of about to be the end of the rainy season here.
3/ Central Region (Central Coast) of Vietnam
The Central Coast of Vietnam includes Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan Provinces.
February is just the end (or about to be the end) of the rainy season which means it is absolutely pleasant with temperatures mostly 20-27oC and it is mild sunshine mostly. Sometimes, the rainy season may linger a bit longer and dry days are alternated by days with overcast skies.
But you’ll enjoy beach holidays in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan, which is to the south of the Central Coast. It may be warm at mid day and the sun may be strong in these two provinces. It is a transitional time from low temperature season to high temperature season and it is wise to exercise care when you have a day with strong sun in February. Though it is tempting to go sunbathing in lovely sunshine after long and gloomy winter! But sudden changes are often not that good!
The other provinces in the region have lovely temperatures and you can spend days on the beaches at Da Nang, Hoi An, Quang Ngai, Quy Nhon or Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen)… Or you can take adventure trips by bicycle or motorbike and your adventure holidays in the Central Coast of Vietnam are all just pleasant.
4/ Central Highlands of Vietnam
The Central Highlands include Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong. February is the dry season here and it is dry, full of sunshine and lovely temperatures (16-29oC). Da Lat is beautiful at this time with mild sunshine, cool temperatures (12-25oC).
February is a great time for birding tours in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, especially around Da Lat (Lang Biang Mountain, Ta Nung Valley, Tuyen Lam Lake), at the Bidoup Nui Ba National Park (Lam Dong Province), Yok Don National Park (Dak Lak Province).
5/ South of Vietnam
The South of Vietnam is about to get warm soon with full sunshine everyday and temperatures from 20-33oC mostly, slightly higher in densely populated places like Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai and Binh Duong.
You’ll be comfortable in casual clothes in Saigon or in the Mekong Delta. Certainly February is a great time for wonderful beach vacations in Vung Tau, Long Hai or Ho Tram… You’ll mostly feel comfortable cycling in the Mekong Delta during the month.
February is a great time for nature holidays and bird watching tours in southern Vietnam as we can observe both resident bird species as well as migratory bird species.
So if you plan to travel to Vietnam, February is no doubt a great time for great adventures throughout the country: trekking, biking or motorcycling in the far-north; or caving or cycling or beach vacations in the Central Region; or cycling or beach holidays in the South.
