Northern Vietnam endures brief June cold spell, heavy rains and flood risks

An unusual cold air mass moved into northern Vietnam in early June 2026, bringing cooler temperatures that made Hanoi feel “easier to breathe” with daytime heat indexes just above 30 °C. The National Centre for Hydro‑Meteorological Forecasting expects the cooling to subside, with heat returning around 13‑14 June and temperatures potentially reaching 41‑42 °C.

Heavy rainfall is forecast across the north, especially in the western highlands where some locations are expected to receive over 100 mm of rain. The intense downpours have already caused a wall on a hillside in Xuân Mai, Hanoi, to collapse, sending water and debris into nearby homes. Authorities warn of landslides, flash floods and river‑level rises in several provinces, including Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Sơn La and Lào Cai, where local rainfall totals have exceeded 120 mm.

Elsewhere in Vietnam, the rain will taper off by mid‑June, with the central and southern regions moving back to mostly sunny conditions. The weather outlook remains closely monitored ahead of the national high‑school graduation examinations scheduled for early June.