Ho Chi Minh City temperatures to drop below 18 C, lowest in nearly a decade

The unusual chill follows several days of cool nights and early mornings, with temperatures hovering around 20–22 C. Residents, especially motorbike commuters, have been bundling up with jackets and gloves, a rare sight in Vietnam's southern hub.

According to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, a strong cold air mass has pushed deep into southern Vietnam. Combined with cloud-related radiation effects, the system is driving temperatures sharply lower.

Meteorologists say readings taken at official stations could dip below 18 C, while actual outdoor conditions may feel 2–3 C colder.

Weather forecasting apps are already showing early-morning temperatures of around 16–17 C in Ho Chi Minh City on Jan. 9.

Over the past 10 years, the city’s lowest temperatures have typically stayed between 19 and 20 C, with the last sub-18 C reading recorded in 2016.

Meteorologist Le Thi Xuan Lan attributed the phenomenon to the combined effects of La Niña and intensified cold air surges moving south from northern regions.

Forecasts suggest that cold air will continue to influence southern Vietnam through mid-January, keeping temperatures in the 20–22 C range and potentially extending close to the Lunar New Year in February 2026.

Historical data from the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center show that the lowest temperature ever recorded in Ho Chi Minh City was 16.4 C, measured on Dec. 25, 1999, at the Tan Son Hoa weather station.