November is autumn for the first half of the month and winter for the second half in northern Vietnam, rainy season with cool temperatures in the Central Coast and Central Highlands of Vietnam, rainy season in southern Vietnam.
The wind which prevails in Vietnam in November is the Northeasterly Wind which comes to Vietnam either from the Tibetan Plateau or from Siberia. The wind from the Tibetan Plateau causes mild drop in temperatures and the other causes cold temperatures in northern Vietnam.
The North Easterly Wind causes incessant rain in the Central Coast and possible in part of the Central Highlands of Vietnam (Kon Tum, Gia Lai), and often rough sea in all of Vietnam in November. If the Northeasterly Wind is weak then, Southern Vietnam is more likely to have sunny days with still air and warm temperatures; if the wind is strong, then Southern Vietnam is to have dry days with pleasant temperatures.
1/ The North of Vietnam
November is the transitional time between autumn and winter in northern Vietnam. In the first half of the month, it is often dry, sunny and pleasant temperatures (20-29oC). In the second half of November there are often successive spells of the cool Northeasterly Wind which may cause light rain for a couple of days each time there is a new spell of this wind, and the temperatures are to drop to 14-28oC in the lowland and 2-4oC lower in the mountains.
It is not normal to have typhoons in northern Vietnam in November as the cool air often pushes whatever possible low-pressure air troughs or tropical depressions or typhoons southwards. This means the typhoons or tropical depressions, if any, are more likely to point towards the Central Coast of Vietnam.
November is generally speaking a good month for adventure tours in northern Vietnam like trekking, cycling, mountain climbing… Trekking or climbing the mountains in northern Vietnam at this time, you are likely to get lovely and colorful forest as maple leaves turn yellow or red.
2/The North of the Central Region of Vietnam
This region shares certain aspects of the weather pattern between northern Vietnam and the Mid Central Coast of Vietnam. But it is often rainy days or days with overcast skies.
Coming to the end of November, the weather turns better with more dry days and sunny days in the North of the Central Coast.
The temperatures are pleasant between 23-30oC in the first half of November and 15-27oC in the second half.
3/The Central Coast of Vietnam
November is the high time of the rainy season in the Central Coast of Vietnam. The incessant rain caused by the Northeasterly Wind often causes floods in the lowland and landslides in the mountains. It is much worse when there is a typhoon which certainly makes several areas flooded.
Traveling in the Central Coast is often not an easy experience. Population destinations like Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang are often with heavy rain; tourist attractions here are often flooded. The rain is incessant.
Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa and Nha Trang are beach cities which have rain most of the time making swimming not nice an experience at all.
4/ The Central Highlands of Vietnam
Part of the Central Highlands (Kon Tum, part of Gia Lai) shares some similar weather patterns as the Central Coast except for that if the Northeasterly Wind is weak then this region may have dry days, even so the skies are often overcast. Else, expect rain mostly.
The other places in the Central Highlands are to enter the dry season from mid month with pleasant temperatures.
The temperatures in the Central Highlands of Vietnam in November are between 16-30oC in Kon Tum, 13-23oC in Da Lat, 16-26oC in other places.
It is not advisable to take part in adventure tours traveling in the Central Highlands of Vietnam in the first half of November.
5/The South of Vietnam
The Southeasterly Wind is to be weakened significantly from the second week of November and the region should enjoy sunshine and warm temperatures if the Northeasterly Wind is weak. In case of strong Northeasterly Wind, then it is pleasant temperatures in Southern Vietnam.
But it is observed that it may rain in November or it may be sunny warm weather in November in this region. The temperatures are very pleasant between 23-32oC, 23-33oC in cities.
November is the flood season in the Mekong Delta which makes wildlife more active as species have plenty of food and migrant birds visit the region, hence a great time for bird tours and wildlife tours. Traveling in the Mekong Delta is a good experience at this time.
Keep in mind that the rain in Southern Vietnam is not as long-lasting as in the Central Coast. On a day it rains then it stops and you still can visit places and your tours are not much affected.
6/ Possible Dangers From Extreme Weather: Landslides, Rock Slides, Flash Floods
Landslides, rock slides may take place anywhere which have continual rain for a few days and which have vertical or steep rock cliffs or high slopes. Flash floods may happen in day time or night time when torrential rain is deposited in an area with gradient terrain or mountainous terrain without enough forest or trees covered in a short period of time. Be extra cautious and be vigilant if you have to travel in these regions
Northern Vietnam
None
Central Highlands and Central Coast of Vietnam
- The area around the Vu Quang National Park.
- Ho Chi Minh Road all the way from Ha Tinh Province to the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
- Western areas of the whole of the Central Coast of Vietnam which are prone to floods and landslides.
- Rock slides and landslides on the Hai Van Pass between Hue and Da Nang;
- Lo Xo Pass (Ho Chi Minh Road) between Kon Tum and Quang Nam Provinces;
- The Violak Pass on Route 24 connecting Ba To District (Quang Ngai Province) and Kon Plong District (Kon Tum Province);
- Rock slides and landslides often take place on the routes between Da Lat and the lowland :
+ Route 27C between Da Lat and Nha Trang ;
+ Khanh Le Pass on Route 27C where rock slides may happen ;
+ Bao Loc Pass on Route 20 between Lam Dong Province and Dong Nai Province where landslides may happen.
Southern Vietnam
None
