Central Vietnam — Đà Nẵng, Huế, Hội An, Quy Nhơn — is the typhoon corridor. Most guides list "Jul–Nov" and leave it there. This page breaks it down by month, region, and impact (flight cancellation, road closure, attraction closure), with the safe alternatives.
Vietnam's central coast gets hit by 4–6 typhoons a year on average, peaking Sep–Oct. The tourist impact is real: flights get cancelled, the Hải Vân Pass closes, beach days disappear, and Hội An Old Town floods. Hà Nội is rarely affected (typhoons usually weaken before reaching the north), and Phú Quốc is mostly outside the corridor. The "Sa Pa fog instead of typhoon" alternative is real — when central Vietnam is in a typhoon, you can often fly north instead.
This widget picks by month + destination, gives the probability of impact, the likely effect (flight cancellation / road closure / attraction closure), and the safer alternative. Tracking apps like Windy.com and the Vietnam National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) give real-time position and forecast.
Pick month and destination. The widget shows typhoon probability, expected impact, and safe alternative.
Typhoon probability
Very Low (0–5%)
Typhoon season over. Calm weather expected.
Likely impact
None expected
Flights, roads, attractions operating normally.
Safe alternative
No need — current destination is safe
Tracking app
Windy.com / NCHMF
The probability row is a monthly average. A "15%" September means historically 1–2 typhoons make landfall in Vietnam each September, but most years it's 0. The number is the probability of an impact on your specific trip — if you're there for 5 days in a "15%" month, your odds are real.
The impact row tells you the consequence. A direct hit = multi-day chaos. A passing storm = 1 day of disruption. A "near miss" = wind and rain but flights mostly operate. The Hải Vân Pass (the mountain road between Đà Nẵng and Huế) is the most common closure point during typhoon weather.
Flight cancellation pattern. When a typhoon is forecast to hit Đà Nẵng, VietJet and Vietnam Airlines pre-emptively cancel flights 24–48 hours ahead — passengers with the cheapest "Promo" fares are refunded only as travel credits; higher fares get refund options. Booking a few days of buffer before any onward connection is the safe play in Sep–Oct.
Reading the safe alternative. When central is hit, Hà Nội is usually fine (typhoons weaken over land before reaching the north). Phú Quốc is outside the corridor. The "Sa Pa fog" alternative is genuine: when Đà Nẵng is being battered, Sa Pa is foggy but flights still operate from Hà Nội.
Tracking typhoons. The free Windy.com app shows typhoon position + track forecast updated every 6 hours. Vietnam's NCHMF (National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting) issues official warnings in Vietnamese + English. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is the regional authority for western Pacific typhoons.
VietJet Promo / Vietnam Airlines Lite fares offer no refund when the airline cancels for weather — only travel credits. Book Saver or higher if you're flying Sep–Nov, or buy travel insurance that covers weather cancellation.
The Hải Vân Pass between Đà Nẵng and Huế closes for safety during heavy rain (often pre-emptively). If you need to get between the two cities, the alternative is the Hải Vân tunnel (35,000 VND toll).
Central beaches fly red flags during typhoon-adjacent conditions. Lifeguards enforce no-swimming. The waves and undertow are much stronger than they look — don't try.
The famous Hội An lantern-lit evenings get cancelled when rivers flood or wind is too strong. Check the Hội An tourism Facebook the afternoon of.
Rarely. Most typhoons weaken to tropical depressions before reaching Hà Nội, and the city is inland. The bigger Hà Nội weather risk in autumn is heavy rain from the south-west monsoon, not typhoons. Sa Pa and Hạ Long are similar — usually safe, occasionally flooded.
Yes, but with caveats. The probability of impact is 15–25%, so 75–85% of the time you'll be fine. Book flexible cancellation hotels, allow buffer days for flights, buy travel insurance. Don't book non-refundable cruises or tours for the typhoon corridor in these months.
Phú Quốc is south of the main typhoon corridor and rarely gets direct hits. It does get the south-west monsoon (rain May–Nov) and occasionally strong wind from typhoons that make landfall further north. The airport is more reliable than Côn Đảo's.
24-hour forecasts are ~90% accurate on landfall position. 3-day forecasts drop to ~70%. 5-day forecasts are ~50% accurate. Once a typhoon is named and within 1,000 km of Vietnam, you can plan with reasonable confidence.
Typhoon Impact Map is a Vietnam Compass standalone tool. It exists because the typhoon question is the single most common "should I cancel my trip" worry for Sep–Oct Vietnam travellers — and most guides give a vague "Jul–Nov be careful" instead of the actual month-by-month breakdown.
Limitations. The widget uses monthly averages. Real-time decisions need NCHMF or Windy. Typhoon paths shift; the "destination at risk" depends on actual track.
Data collection. None. This tool is a single HTML file. The widget runs entirely in your browser — no values entered are sent to any server, logged, or stored.
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For reference only. All content — typhoon probability, impact patterns, safe alternatives — is for general informational purposes and is not professional meteorological or travel advice.
Typhoons are real-time. Track forecasts shift. Confirm with NCHMF or Windy before making decisions 24–72 hours ahead.
No liability. Vietnam Compass is not responsible for losses arising from reliance on this tool.
Last updated: 2026-10-07.