Best time to visit Sa Pa
The best time to visit Sa Pa is February and November–December, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.3 °C / 63 °F | 9.5 °C / 49 °F | 80 mm / 3.1 in | good month |
| February | 19.8 °C / 68 °F | 10.9 °C / 52 °F | 69 mm / 2.7 in | best month |
| March | 23.2 °C / 74 °F | 14 °C / 57 °F | 109 mm / 4.3 in | good month |
| April | 25.8 °C / 78 °F | 17.4 °C / 63 °F | 162 mm / 6.4 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 27.4 °C / 81 °F | 19.9 °C / 68 °F | 214 mm / 8.4 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 27.4 °C / 81 °F | 21.5 °C / 71 °F | 329 mm / 12.9 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 27.3 °C / 81 °F | 21.5 °C / 71 °F | 376 mm / 14.8 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 27.3 °C / 81 °F | 21.3 °C / 70 °F | 394 mm / 15.5 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 26.8 °C / 80 °F | 20.3 °C / 69 °F | 226 mm / 8.9 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 24.5 °C / 76 °F | 17.9 °C / 64 °F | 122 mm / 4.8 in | good month |
| November | 21.9 °C / 71 °F | 14.2 °C / 58 °F | 60 mm / 2.4 in | best month |
| December | 18 °C / 64 °F | 10.7 °C / 51 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | best month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: good
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- February, November–December
- Good
- January, March, October
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.2 °C / 63 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 63%, average daily high 17.3 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 80 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, wet days 11.9 days.
Against: relative humidity 86%.
February · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.1 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 19.8 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F.
Against: wet days 12.6 days, relative humidity 82%.
March · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.7 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 23.2 °C / 74 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, precipitation 109 mm / 4.3 in, days with heavy rain 3 days, average daily low 14 °C / 57 °F.
Against: wet days 16.7 days, relative humidity 80%.
October · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.1 °C / 81 °F, average daily high 24.5 °C / 76 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, precipitation 122 mm / 4.8 in, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, average daily low 17.9 °C / 64 °F.
Against: wet days 17.1 days, relative humidity 84%.
November · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 21.9 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 60 mm / 2.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, average daily low 14.2 °C / 58 °F, wet days 10.6 days.
Against: relative humidity 84%.
December · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.1 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 10.7 °C / 51 °F, wet days 10.7 days.
Against: relative humidity 86%.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: good
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–February
- Good
- March
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.3 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 80 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, feels like (high) 17.2 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 63%, wet days 11.9 days, daylight per day 10.9 h, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 3 mph.
February · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.8 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, feels like (high) 20.1 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, daylight per day 11.4 h, wet days 12.6 days, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
March · good
In its favour: average daily high 23.2 °C / 74 °F, precipitation 109 mm / 4.3 in, average daily low 14 °C / 57 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, daylight per day 12 h, days with heavy rain 3 days, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph, feels like (high) 24.7 °C / 76 °F.
Against: wet days 16.7 days.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 21.9 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 60 mm / 2.4 in, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, average daily low 14.2 °C / 58 °F, wet days 10.6 days, feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, daylight per day 11.1 h, wind (daily max) 5 km/h / 3 mph.
December · best
In its favour: average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, feels like (high) 18.1 °C / 65 °F, average daily low 10.7 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, wet days 10.7 days, daylight per day 10.8 h, wind (daily max) 5 km/h / 3 mph.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Jade Dragon Mountain, 645 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 17.2 °C | 20.1 °C | 24.7 °C | 28.6 °C | 31.1 °C | 31.6 °C | 31.8 °C | 32 °C | 30.9 °C | 27.1 °C | 23.2 °C | 18.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.9 days | 1.6 days | 3 days | 5.9 days | 7.7 days | 11.8 days | 12.9 days | 12.6 days | 6.2 days | 3.1 days | 1.3 days | 1.6 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 12 pm | 12 pm | 7 am | 12 pm | 1 am | 2 am | 3 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 1 pm | 12 pm | 12 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 6.9 h | 7.8 h | 9.3 h | 9.6 h | 9.3 h | 7.9 h | 7.9 h | 8.3 h | 9.1 h | 8.8 h | 7.7 h | 7 h |
| Relative humidity | 86% | 82% | 80% | 79% | 80% | 85% | 85% | 86% | 84% | 84% | 84% | 86% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 28.8 µg/m³ | 22.5 µg/m³ | 31.6 µg/m³ | 32.6 µg/m³ | 17.2 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 9.8 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 15.6 µg/m³ | 19.1 µg/m³ | 28.5 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 39.9 µg/m³ | 33.9 µg/m³ | 46.3 µg/m³ | 49.7 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | 17.6 µg/m³ | 17.6 µg/m³ | 16.4 µg/m³ | 18.8 µg/m³ | 23.7 µg/m³ | 28.3 µg/m³ | 40.2 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.