The best times to visit Lao Cai for ideal weather are

November 5th to March 25th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Lao Cai Travel Info

Weather in Lao Cai

Temperature

Average temperatures in Lao Cai vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 41st percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Lao Cai, the hottest months are June, July, and then August. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid July where highs are regularly around 93.4°F (34.1°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 79.2°F (26.2°C) at night.

Lao Cai Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Lao Cai Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Lao Cai Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Lao Cai Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Lao Cai Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 66.6 60.4 55.8
Feb 73.2 66 60.8
Mar 78.3 71.2 65.6
Apr 84.8 77 70.7
May 90.5 82.4 75.5
Jun 92.1 84.6 78.3
Jul 91.5 84.1 78.3
Aug 91.1 83.3 77.3
Sep 89.2 81.7 76
Oct 84.1 77.1 72
Nov 78.1 70.6 65.3
Dec 70.2 63.7 59

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 19.2 15.8 13.2
Feb 22.9 18.9 16
Mar 25.7 21.8 18.7
Apr 29.3 25 21.5
May 32.5 28 24.2
Jun 33.4 29.2 25.7
Jul 33.1 28.9 25.7
Aug 32.8 28.5 25.2
Sep 31.8 27.6 24.4
Oct 28.9 25.1 22.2
Nov 25.6 21.4 18.5
Dec 21.2 17.6 15

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Lao Cai are February, January, and then December. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early February. For example, on the week of February 5th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late July with an average of 4 days of significant precipitation the week of July 23rd.

When can you find snow in Lao Cai? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Lao Cai.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Lao Cai (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 7% 0 1
Feb 7% 0 0.8
Mar 13% 0 1.6
Apr 34% 0 4.4
May 30% 0 6.8
Jun 32% 0 8.3
Jul 45% 0 10.7
Aug 41% 0 13.9
Sep 32% 0 8.8
Oct 16% 0 3.3
Nov 12% 0 2.7
Dec 9% 0 1.9

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 7 0 2.5
Feb 7 0 2
Mar 13 0 4.1
Apr 34 0 11.2
May 30 0 17.3
Jun 32 0 21.1
Jul 45 0 27.2
Aug 41 0 35.3
Sep 32 0 22.4
Oct 16 0 8.4
Nov 12 0 6.9
Dec 9 0 4.8

 

Humidity and Wind

Lao Cai has some very humid months, and high humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is May (70.8% relative humidity), and the most humid month is October (76.8%).

Wind in Lao Cai is usually extremely calm. The windiest month is April, followed by March and May. April’s average wind speed of around 2.7 knots (3.1 MPH or 5 KPH) is considered “light air.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in mid April where average top sustained speeds reach 7 knots, which is considered a gentle breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Lao Cai.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 1.8 Barely noticeable 5.3 Light breeze
Feb 2.3 Barely noticeable 6.1 Light breeze
Mar 2.6 Barely noticeable 6.4 Light breeze
Apr 2.7 Barely noticeable 6.5 Light breeze
May 2.4 Barely noticeable 6 Light breeze
Jun 2.1 Barely noticeable 5.8 Light breeze
Jul 2.2 Barely noticeable 5.7 Light breeze
Aug 2 Barely noticeable 5.8 Light breeze
Sep 1.9 Barely noticeable 5.4 Light breeze
Oct 1.6 Barely noticeable 5.5 Light breeze
Nov 1.6 Barely noticeable 5.1 Light breeze
Dec 1.5 Barely noticeable 5.3 Light breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 76.8%
Feb 73.2%
Mar 72.9%
Apr 72.9%
May 70.8%
Jun 73.5%
Jul 75.9%
Aug 76%
Sep 76.3%
Oct 76.8%
Nov 75.9%
Dec 76.8%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Lao Cai?

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings for Vietnam; exercise a high degree of caution. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 27, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Lao Cai, Vietnam is October, followed by January and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Lao Cai in February. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 57.2 in February means 57.2% of the tourists vs. October.

 

 

Overall Lao Cai Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 91.7°F (33.2°C) and 75.6°F (24.2°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 4 to 10 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the slowest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the most precipitation with 9 to 14 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Lao Cai, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 90.1°F (32.3°C) and 74.9°F (23.8°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 4 to 10 days per month. Tourism is the busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be higher priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in Lao Cai to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 78.6°F (25.9°C) and 64.5°F (18.1°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 2 to 3 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Vietnam › Lao Cai, Vietnam