Climate Insights for Lào Cai

The climate in Lào Cai is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 22°C and approximately 2055mm of precipitation falls per year. Lào Cai receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Lào Cai is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: June, July, August. The coldest months are December, February, January, when temperatures can drop to 11°C.

Lào Cai sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 11°C to 31°C. The warmest month is June, when average highs reach 31°C and the mean temperature sits around 27°C. December is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 11°C and an average of 15°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 7°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between November and December, with a 4°C shift in average temperatures.

Lào Cai is a very wet location, receiving approximately 2055mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 171mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 353mm of rainfall. July and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 86mm. That's 268mm less than August, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall.

Lào Cai is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 1km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is March, averaging 1km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 1km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 0km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Lào Cai, which began on June 21, 2026. Lào Cai is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in June at around 31°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in December near 11°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 91 days from now.

The best time to visit Lào Cai is during February and November, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 92mm per month. By contrast, June can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 31°C, while December is the coldest period with lows dropping to 11°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Lào Cai based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.