The climate of Vietnam is significantly influenced by seasonal air masses, characterized by two main monsoon seasons. So, what is the summer monsoon?
The summer monsoon is a type of monsoon that originates from the high-pressure area of the Southern Hemisphere, blowing southeast, crossing the Equator, and shifting to hot, humid southwest winds that bring substantial rainfall to the region. The summer monsoon originates from the low-pressure center over India and Myanmar, drawing winds from the northern Indian Ocean through the Bay of Bengal into our country.
The climate of Vietnam with two main monsoon seasons: Winter monsoon and Summer monsoon.
Vietnam is located in the tropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere, and thus experiences the Northeast Trade Winds throughout the year. Additionally, the climate of Vietnam is heavily influenced by seasonal air masses with two main monsoons: the winter monsoon and the summer monsoon.
The summer monsoon lasts from May to October in our country, featuring two wind currents blowing in the same southwest direction.
The range and characteristics of the summer monsoon are distinct:
The first half of the summer (from May to July): The tropical air mass from the Bay of Bengal (TBg) moves southwest, directly entering our country and causing heavy rainfall for the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands. It then crosses the Annamite Range, causing a dry and hot foehn effect in the coastal plains of Central Vietnam and the southern regions of the Northwest.
The middle and late summer (June to October): The southwest monsoon (from the subtropical high-pressure area of the Southern Hemisphere) becomes active. Crossing the equatorial waters, it becomes hot and humid, leading to prolonged heavy rainfall for the windward regions in the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands of our country. Due to the low pressure in Northern Vietnam, this air mass moves southeast into the North, creating the “Southeast Monsoon” during the summer in Northern Vietnam.
The characteristic features of the summer monsoon are heat, humidity, and abundant rainfall.
