Vietnam is located in a sub tropical climatic zone with the weather pattern roughly split into three different zones.
The north has a distinct summer and winter with the high humidity monsoon/wet season lasting from May to October. The centre of the country experiences a long dry season lasting from January to the end of September before having its compact wet season. The south has a tropical weather pattern with two distinct seasons, wet and dry with the high humidity monsoon lasting from May to November. During the wet season in the south, the rainfall is usually a daily, heavy but short lived downpour in the afternoon. The mountainous regions experience cooler extremes in temperatures due to the local topography.
The best times to visit Vietnam are in the months of November through to March. April, May, September and October are also popular, though Vietnam can be at its most attractive during the monsoon due to lush growth of the vegetation.