Weather and seasons
Nha Trang weather: a dry year and a wet autumn
Nha Trang has its own calendar: from January to August it is dry and sunny, and almost all of the year's rain falls between mid-September and mid-December, peaking in October and November. Below are the World Meteorological Organization's climate normals for 1991–2020 by month, with practical conclusions for the sea, the islands and backup plans.
The driest window
From February to April normal rainfall is 13 to 46 millimetres a month with four to five rainy days. The most predictable period for the islands, snorkelling and long trips to the north of the province.
Read more →The wet peak
October and November bring 325 and 400 millimetres — almost half of the annual total. It rains 17–18 days a month, and boat trips are often cancelled. You can go, but with a rain plan and flexible dates.
Read more →A hot summer without downpours
From May to August the daytime maximum stays around 32–33 degrees, with only 45–78 millimetres of rain a month. The main enemy in summer is the sun, not the rain: plan the beach for morning and evening.
Read more →How the year works in Nha Trang
Mountains shield the Khánh Hòa coast from the summer monsoon, so it is dry here in the months when the south of the country gets drenched. In autumn, however, the moist north-east flow brings prolonged rain right here. That is the general climate picture of the region; all the figures below come from the provincial administration and the WMO.
Dry season: January — August
The provincial administration divides the year simply: the rainy season lasts roughly from mid-September to mid-December, and the rest of the year is the dry season. According to WMO normals, the eight dry months account for about a quarter of the annual rainfall, which is around 1500 millimetres.
Rainy season: September — December
September to December bring about 1125 millimetres, three quarters of the annual normal. The province specifically notes that more than half of all rain falls in October and November. It rarely rains non-stop for days, but there can be many grey days in a row.
Typhoons: rarer than further north
According to the provincial administration, Khánh Hòa sees an average of 0.82 typhoons a year — against 3.74 for the country's whole coast. That is not zero: the autumn storms of 2017 and 2021, according to the bay management board, badly damaged the reefs at Hòn Mun.
Sun and temperature
The province cites 2600–2800 hours of sunshine a year and an average annual temperature of about 26.7 degrees. The difference between the coolest and the hottest month is small: the January night-time minimum is about 22 degrees, the June and August daytime maximum about 33.
January — June by month
WMO normals for 1991–2020: average daytime maximum and night-time minimum, total rainfall and number of rainy days. These are thirty-year averages, not a forecast for your week.
January
27.2 degrees by day and 21.9 at night, 54 millimetres of rain, nine rainy days. Showers are already short, but the sea off open shores takes time to settle after autumn — check the marine forecast before heading to the islands.
February
28.1 and 22.2 degrees, only 13 millimetres and four days with rain — the driest month of the year. Comfortable for the city, the Po Nagar towers and long trips; around Lunar New Year hotel prices and occupancy rise.
March
29.6 and 23.5 degrees, 39 millimetres, five rainy days. One of the most even months: warm but not yet hot, the sea calm. A good time for snorkelling around the bay islands and trekking to the Ba Hồ pools.
April
31.2 and 25.1 degrees, 46 millimetres, five days with rain. Real heat begins: midday on the beach is hard, but mornings and evenings are ideal. The festival at the Po Nagar towers takes place in the third lunar month — late April or May; check the date against the lunar calendar.
May
32.5 and 26.0 degrees, 78 millimetres, nine rainy days — mostly short afternoon thunderstorms. The sea is warm and quiet; it is the start of the high season for Vietnamese families, so the islands and parks are busy.
June
32.8 and 26.3 degrees, 48 millimetres, seven days with rain. The hottest stretch of the year. Plan activities before ten in the morning and after four in the afternoon, and spend midday in the shade, a museum or the mud baths.
July — December by month
Summer lasts until the end of August, then the weather changes sharply: September is already three times wetter than August. In autumn keep spare days in your plan.
July
32.6 and 26.1 degrees, 45 millimetres, nine rainy days. Dry, hot and sunny; the peak of domestic tourism. Book seaside accommodation and island tickets in advance, and on the beach bring a sunshade or pick sections with cover.
August
32.8 and 26.0 degrees, 54 millimetres, ten days with rain. The last reliable month for sea plans. Towards the end of August thunderstorms become more frequent, but there is no prolonged rain yet.
September
31.9 and 25.4 degrees, already 176 millimetres and fifteen rainy days. The first half of the month is often still summery; in the second the rainy season begins. Book boat trips with a rescheduling option.
October
30.1 and 24.5 degrees, 325 millimetres, seventeen days with rain. The sea turns murky and there are waves on open beaches. A time for the city, food, mud baths and museums; the islands only if the actual weather allows.
November
28.7 and 23.9 degrees, 400 millimetres, eighteen rainy days — the wettest month. Storm warnings and cancelled boat trips are possible. Accommodation prices are lower, but a beach holiday is not guaranteed.
December
27.4 and 22.9 degrees, 224 millimetres, fifteen days with rain. The rain eases towards the end of the month, and the air is the coolest of the year. By the New Year holidays the weather usually improves, but the swell persists.
What to do in rain and rough sea
Nha Trang's rain rarely cancels a whole day — it changes what the day is made of. The sea part is postponed; the city and the warm water stay.
Mud baths and hot springs
Tháp Bà, I-Resort and Trăm Trứng operate in any weather, and warm mineral water in the rain is even more pleasant than in the heat. The most local answer to a grey day.
Open details →Indoor museums
The Oceanographic Museum by the port takes one and a half to two hours and suits children. The Yersin Museum on the seafront is smaller and follows the schedule of a research institute — check its hours in advance.
Open details →Markets and shopping centres
Đầm market sits under the roof of its round building, Nha Trang Center stands right on the seafront, and GO! has a cinema and a children's area. Enough to wait out a downpour and get errands done.
Open details →An evening at the theatre
The puppetry and dance show at the Đó Theatre on the northern shore doesn't depend on the weather and needs no knowledge of the language. Tickets and schedule only on the theatre's official website.
Open details →The sea — only by the forecast
During storm warnings the authorities restrict vessel departures, and the cable car to Hòn Tre stops in strong wind and is replaced by boat. Follow the warnings of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
Open details →Before you leave
Quick checklist
- 01In autumn, book boat trips with free rescheduling and keep one spare day.
- 02Check typhoon warnings and the marine forecast on nchmf.gov.vn before going out into the bay.
- 03In summer, put the beach in the early morning and evening, and stay in the shade from eleven to three.
- 04In the rainy season, bring a light raincoat and shoes that don't slip on the wet tiles of the seafront.
- 05Don't plan Ba Hồ and mountain roads for the day after heavy rain.
- 06Compare the normals with the forecast for your dates: thirty-year averages don't promise a specific day.
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
When is the rainy season in Nha Trang?+
According to the Khánh Hòa provincial administration, roughly from mid-September to mid-December, peaking in October and November. WMO normals confirm this: these four months bring about three quarters of the annual rainfall.
Which month is the driest?+
February: according to WMO normals for 1991–2020, on average 13 millimetres of rain and four days with rain. March and April are only slightly wetter.
Is it worth going in November?+
Yes, if your goal is the city, food, mud baths and low prices, with the sea as a bonus. November is the wettest month: about 400 millimetres and eighteen days with rain. Keep island plans flexible.
Does Nha Trang get typhoons?+
Less often than the coast further north: the province cites an average of 0.82 typhoons a year against 3.74 nationwide. The risk is concentrated in the autumn months. Official warnings are published by the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
Why is it dry here in summer when other regions of the country get rain?+
The Khánh Hòa coast lies in the rain shadow of the mountains: the summer south-west monsoon leaves its moisture on the western slopes and reaches the sea dry. In autumn the winds change direction, and the rain falls on the coast instead.
What is the air temperature in winter?+
In December and January the daytime maximum is about 27 degrees according to WMO normals, and the night-time minimum about 22. It never gets cold, but on a windy, cloudy evening a light sweater helps.
Where do these figures come from?+
The monthly normals come from the WMO World Weather Information Service, to which Vietnam's meteorological service supplied the 1991–2020 data for Nha Trang. The wording on seasons, sunshine hours and typhoons comes from the provincial administration's portal.