August is between summer and autumn in the North, and dry and hot summer in the Central Region of Vietnam, and rainy season in the Central Highlands and South of Vietnam. The temperatures are getting to be much nicer in the North for all month and nicer in the Central Coast from the second half of the month. And the temperatures are mostly pleasant in all the other regions of the country.
Useful Notes on the Weather Patterns
It is possible that typhoons may hit northern Vietnam from the sea which may cause cruises on Halong Bay halted for a couple of days each time, and possibly torrential rains, landslides and flash floods in the far-northern mountains.
The Central Coast (North, Mid, South) may experience heat strikes with high temperatures reaching 38-39oC due to the foehn effect from the active Southwesterly Wind. Make sure you drink enough water and have sun hats, sunglasses when traveling outdoors in this region. Outdoor activities from 11:00 A.M through 14:00 should be avoided due to strong sun and hot temperatures.
There may be heavy or torrential rain in the Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam which may make traffic in cities disrupted due to temporary floods and which may cause landslides, flash floods in the Central Highlands.
Winds in Vietnam in August
The winds which affect Vietnam in August include the southeasterly wind and southwesterly wind. The former is moist and pleasant, and it causes occasional rains in northern Vietnam and nice temperatures during the time of its influence. The southwesterly wind is moist in the South and the Central Highlands and it causes daily rain as well as nice temperatures in these regions.
The same southwesterly wind, which causes pleasant weather in the South and the Central Highlands, is dry and warm due to the foehn effect when it comes to the Central Coast. In the Central Coast, the temperatures are normally high in August. The temperatures may get more tolerable and there may be rain if the region is under impact of the Southeasterly Wind blowing inland from the sea. The rain during this time in the Central Coast is mostly short-lived.
Due to stronger Southeasterly Wind in Northern Vietnam in August, the southwesterly wind does not cause the foehn effect to part of the Northwest of Vietnam as it does from late April to early July.
In August, the Northwest of Vietnam is often influenced by the Southeasterly Wind in August which often causes nice temperatures and rain. And there may be torrential rain as well as landslides and flash floods in the region if there is a typhoon or tropical depression brushing inland from the sea.
The Northeast of Vietnam and the lowlands in northern Vietnam are often under the influence of the Southeasterly Wind which blows inland from the sea and which are humid and pleasant. The wind often causes nice temperatures in the North with some occasional rain. While the rains are mostly short-lived in the lowlands, they can be long-lasting in the mountains. In the latter case, there may be flash floods.
Possible Weather Dangers in Vietnam in August
Below is a list of places in AdventureGreen’s statistics where dangers have taken place. Be extra cautious to flash floods or landslides, rock slides if you have to travel in these regions or routes in August.
- Far northern mountains of Vietnam, especially Route 6 at the Thung Khe Pass in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh Province where rock slides are possible.
- Route 32 in Mu Cang Chai (especially between Nga Ba Kim and Mu Cang Chai Township) where landslides and flash floods are possible.
- Than Uyen District (Lai Chau Province) where flash floods are possible.
- The Khanh Le Pass between Da Lat City (Lam Dong) and Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa) where landslides, rock slides are possible.
- The Bao Loc Pass between Da Lat (Lam Dong Province) and Dong Nai Province where landslides are possible.
- Namphao (Laos, Bolikhamxay Province) – Cau Treo (Vietnam, Ha Tinh Province): it may be flooded and travel on this route is not possible.
- The provinces at the base of the Central Highlands: Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai (Cat Tien National Park)… Heavy rain may cause floods in these places.
Where to Go and Best Tours in Vietnam in August
August is generally best for beach vacations in the Central Coast of Vietnam where it is sunny and hot. Sightseeing in the Central Coast, and adventure tours and outdoor activities in this region are to face strong sun, hot and humid air.
August could be a good time, a great time or not so good a time for trips in Northern Vietnam. It is often fine to do sightseeing tours in the lowlands of the North. But it is not often good for trekking adventure tours in the far northern mountain because it may rain any time and in the worst case if there is a typhoon or tropical depression then it rains heavily and continually for a few days which may cause difficulties or hazards.
It is difficult to say much about the weather in the Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam due to effect of climate change recently. The temperatures in these regions are often very pleasant. But it may rain a lot, even continual rain for a few days. Long-lasting heavy rain causes streets in cities temporarily flooded while it causes landslides, road blocks in in the Central Highlands.
Climate Change
It is worth noting that the climate in Vietnam and the regional weather patterns have changed drastically in the last 10-20 years and it is good to check AdventureGreen monthly weather reviews in our Vietnam travel news section.
