AI-generatedSa Pa at a glance
- Best time
- Feb – Mar, Nov – Dec
- Warmest month
- Jun · 25°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,530 h
- Rain a year
- 1,969 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC+7
- Elevation
- 1,500 m
Climate in Sa Pa
Sa Pa has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. June is the warmest month with average highs of 25 °C, while January is the coolest at 15 °C. With around 1,530 hours of sunshine a year, Sa Pa is rather dull; April is the sunniest month with 5.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: February – March, November – December
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 18°
- Midday, 13:00: about 21°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 20°
- Evening, 20:00: about 18°
- Night, 23:00: about 17°
06:0017:40
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:46–06:30 · evening 17:10–17:54
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:38–05:46 · evening 17:54–18:03
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Sa Pa in October?
In October, Sa Pa is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 130 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 40 min06:00 – 17:40
- UV index
- 9 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 1 daydew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 6 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 72 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+7Asia/Bangkok
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %18 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %6 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Nature escape”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Sa Pa
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.1 of 11.7 hours of daylight in Sa Pa, 35 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Sa Pa
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 9 · very highStay in the shade around midday; SPF 50, clothing, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in July (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 15 min
- Fair skin
- about 20 min
- Light brown skin
- about 25 min
- Olive skin
- about 30 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Sa Pa: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Sa Pa has about 17 rainy days with 130 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Sa Pa
How breezy and how cloudy Sa Pa is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Sa Pa typically peaks at 6 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light air.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 72 % of the sky over Sa Pa: mostly cloudy, with about 4.1 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Sa Pa
How often the day gets hot in Sa Pa (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Sa Pa has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 21 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Sa Pa
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 16°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open. Muggy on about 1 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (8°), the warmest in July (19°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from April to October. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 85 days a year, mostly from June to August.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 59 | 15° | 8° | 3.4 h | 9 | 67 |
| FebruaryFeb | 72 | 17° | 9° | 3.8 h | 9 | 62 |
| MarchMar | 67 | 21° | 12° | 4.6 h | 13 | 100 |
| AprilApr | 58 | 23° | 15° | 5.0 h | 17 | 136 |
| MayMay | 56 | 24° | 17° | 4.8 h | 23 | 187 |
| JuneJun | 54 | 25° | 19° | 4.1 h | 27 | 266 |
| JulyJul | 54 | 25° | 19° | 4.1 h | 28 | 340 |
| AugustAug | 54 | 24° | 19° | 4.2 h | 28 | 344 |
| SeptemberSep | 55 | 23° | 18° | 4.6 h | 23 | 239 |
| OctoberOct | 56 | 21° | 16° | 4.1 h | 17 | 130 |
| NovemberNov | 75 | 19° | 12° | 4.1 h | 8 | 52 |
| DecemberDec | 67 | 15° | 9° | 3.6 h | 6 | 45 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
22.34° N, 103.84° E · 1,500 m · Asia/Bangkok
Best time to visit Sa Pa
The best time to visit Sa Pa is from February to March and from November to December. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in February and from November to December. Rain is most frequent from March to October; the wettest month is August with 344 mm.
Sa Pa through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Sa Pa in spring
Mar – May
Good
- 21–24 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 53 rainy days in all
Sa Pa in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 24–25 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 83 rainy days in all
Sa Pa in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 19–23 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 48 rainy days in all
Sa Pa in winter
Dec – Feb
Good
- 15–17 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Sa Pa for you.
Your best months: March – April, September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Sa Pa
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
November has the better holiday weather in Sa Pa: score 75 against 56. In November, days are 2 °C cooler than in October. November has 9 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | November |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 56 | 75better |
| Day high | 21° | 19° |
| Night low | 16° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 4.1 h | 4.1 h |
| Rainy days | 17 | 8better |
| Rainfall | 130 mm | 52 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 1 | 0better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Feb, Nov – Dec
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Mar – Oct
12 or more rainy days
Sa Pa month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
59January15° · 3 h
In January, Sa Pa is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 67 mm. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in January72February17° · 4 h
In February, Sa Pa is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 62 mm. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in February67March21° · 5 h
In March, Sa Pa is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 100 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in March58April23° · 5 h
In April, Sa Pa is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 136 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in April56May24° · 5 h
In May, Sa Pa is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 23 days, adding up to 187 mm. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in May54June25° · 4 h
In June, Sa Pa is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 266 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in June54July25° · 4 h
In July, Sa Pa is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 340 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in July54August24° · 4 h
In August, Sa Pa is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 344 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in August55September23° · 5 h
In September, Sa Pa is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 23 days, adding up to 239 mm. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in September56October21° · 4 h
In October, Sa Pa is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 130 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in October75November19° · 4 h
In November, Sa Pa is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 52 mm. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in November67December15° · 4 h
In December, Sa Pa is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 45 mm. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Sa Pa.
Sa Pa in DecemberSa Pa compared
Put Sa Pa side by side with another destination.
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Sa Pa vs. Hanoi
In October Hanoi has the better holiday weather (score 62 vs. 56). During the day Hanoi is 7 °C warmer than Sa Pa. Hanoi gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Sa Pa | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 56 | 62 |
| Daytime high | 21° | 28° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 17 | 12 |
| Best time | Feb – Mar, Nov – Dec | Nov – Mar |
Through the year
Vietnam in October: the best places
In October, Sa Pa ranks 6 of 9 destinations in this country.
- Nha Trang29°28°67
- 2Phu Quoc (Duong Dong)28°29°66
- 3Da Nang28°28°65
- 4Ha Long Bay28°28°61
- 5Hanoi28°60
- 6Sa PaThis page21°56
- 7Huế27°51
- 8Hoi An28°28°50
Planning a trip to Sa Pa
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Sa Pa in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Sa Pa has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 63) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 54).
- 61
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 22 °C by day
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 56
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 24 °C by day
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 54
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 24 °C by day
- 4.2 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 56
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 21 °C by day
- 4.1 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 63
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
GoodBest holidays
- 15 °C by day
- 3.5 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h 20 min
- Distance
- 9,020 km
- Time zone
- UTC+7
- Jet lag
- About 6 days (6 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Sa Pa
When is the best time to visit Sa Pa?
The best time to visit Sa Pa is from February to March and from November to December. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Sa Pa?
June is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C and nights around 19 °C. January is the coolest month at 15 °C.
When does it rain most in Sa Pa?
Rain is most frequent from March to October; the wettest month is August with 344 mm. The driest month is December with 45 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Sa Pa get?
Sa Pa gets around 1,530 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 5.0 hours a day; in January there are 3.4 hours a day.
What time zone is Sa Pa in?
Sa Pa uses the time zone Asia/Bangkok, at UTC+7 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Sa Pa?
A nonstop flight from London to Sa Pa takes about 11 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 9,020 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Sa Pa?
Sa Pa has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 63) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 54). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 61, May half-term 56, Summer holidays 54, October half-term 56, Christmas holidays 63.
Near Sa Pa
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Sa Pa
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Sa Pa's – good alternatives.