Sapa weather in March

In March, Sapa sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 132 mm of rain across 16.9 wet days and about 11.8 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 21°C in the first days to 24°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in March, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 30 min at the start of March to 12 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Sapa's 1st-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Sapa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
8th warmest
Overnight low
14°
4th coldest
Rainfall
132 mm
16.9 wet days
Daylight
11 h 48 min
6:19 AM – 6:09 PM
Cloud cover
55%
1st clearest
Wind
4 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
4.56 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.8
out of 10

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 21°C in the first days to 24°C by the end.

A typical March day in Sapa reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 17°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 3°C warmer than February and about 3°C cooler than April.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12112
22112
32212
42212
52212
62212
72213
82213
92213
102213
112313
122313
132313
142313
152314
162314
172314
182314
192314
202314
212314
222314
232315
242315
252315
262415
272415
282415
292415
302415
312415

Sapa weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 8th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan18° / 10°8212.410.85.3
Feb19° / 11°731311.25.6
Mar23° / 14°13216.911.85.8
Apr25° / 17°17721.712.55.0
May27° / 20°23625.813.14.1
Jun27° / 21°34428.913.33.4
Jul27° / 21°39629.713.23.4
Aug27° / 21°38528.712.83.6
Sep26° / 20°20222.412.14.5
Oct24° / 18°10817.411.55.7
Nov22° / 14°6110.310.96.4
Dec18° / 11°631010.75.9

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in March, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 47%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15743
25644
35644
45644
55644
65644
75644
85644
95644
105644
115644
125644
135644
145545
155545
165446
175347
185347
195248
205248
215050
224951
234951
244951
254852
264951
274852
284951
294951
305050
314951

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Sapa gets around 132 mm of rain over 16.9 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 55% and peaks near 69% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
147
247
346
446
546
646
746
847
947
1047
1148
1249
1350
1451
1552
1653
1755
1856
1957
2059
2160
2261
2362
2463
2564
2665
2766
2867
2968
3068
3169

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of March feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, March lands in the comfortable band about 42% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1514270
2494380
3484380
4474490
54545100
64445110
74246120
84047130
93847140
103648160
113448170
123348190
133148210
142948220
152848240
162747260
172547280
182446290
192345310
202344330
212243351
222142371
232041391
241939411
251838431
261736452
271635472
281533492
291432513
301330543
311229554

Wind in March

Winds average 4 km/h in March, the windiest month of the year.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 4 km/h on the calmest days to 4 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
14calm
24calm
34calm
44calm
54calm
64calm
74calm
84calm
94calm
104calm
114calm
124calm
134calm
144calm
154calm
164calm
174calm
184calm
194calm
204calm
214calm
224calm
234calm
244calm
254calm
264calm
274calm
284calm
294calm
304calm
314calm

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min at the start of March to 12 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:32 AM to 6:04 AM, and sunset from 6:03 PM to 6:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.56:326:03
211.56:326:04
311.66:316:04
411.66:306:05
511.66:296:05
611.66:286:06
711.66:276:06
811.76:266:06
911.76:266:07
1011.76:256:07
1111.76:246:08
1211.86:236:08
1311.86:226:08
1411.86:216:09
1511.86:206:09
1611.86:196:09
1711.96:186:10
1811.96:176:10
1911.96:166:11
2011.96:156:11
2112.06:146:11
2212.06:136:12
2312.06:126:12
2412.06:116:12
2512.06:106:13
2612.16:096:13
2712.16:086:13
2812.16:076:14
2912.16:066:14
3012.16:056:14
3112.26:046:15

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 4.56 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.85 kWh/m² to a high of 5.08 kWh/m² in April across the year — March's 4.56 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.2Bright
24.2Bright
34.3Bright
44.3Bright
54.3Bright
64.4Bright
74.4Bright
84.4Bright
94.5Bright
104.5Bright
114.5Bright
124.5Bright
134.6Bright
144.6Bright
154.6Bright
164.6Bright
174.6Bright
184.6Bright
194.6Bright
204.7Bright
214.7Bright
224.7Bright
234.7Bright
244.7Bright
254.7Bright
264.7Bright
274.7Bright
284.7Bright
294.7Bright
304.7Bright
314.8Bright
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Sapa

In seasonPeak

None of Sapa's seasonal hazards are active in March. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Sapa's monsoon runs May–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is March a good time to visit Sapa?

Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.8
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
4.4
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

March is a reasonable time to visit Sapa for sightseeing.

What to pack for Sapa in March

From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In March, Sapa sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 14°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 17 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothessun protection

UV index in Sapa in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Sapa peaks around June 21 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 5 (high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highVery highExtremeVery highHighJun 21UV 13Dec 18UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb8Very high
Mar11Extreme
Apr8Very high
May10Very high
Jun14Extreme
Jul13Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep10Very high
Oct8Very high
Nov7High
Dec5High

Air quality in Sapa in March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where March falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Sapa is worst in April — around 70 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 5.0× the cleanest month (July, 14 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyModerateApr 1367 µg/m³Jul 1814 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan25Moderate
Feb33Moderate
Mar54Poor
Apr70Unhealthy
May28Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul14Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep18Moderate
Oct22Moderate
Nov23Moderate
Dec25Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Sapa?

Sapa sits at 22.3°N, 103.8°E, 0 m above sea level, in Vietnam. The nearest listed city is Lào Cai, 21 km away.

Ít OngThị Trấn Việt QuangThị Trấn Thuận ChâuBắc Quang

Topography around Sapa

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Sapa.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Sapa has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 957 m around an average of 1,481 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,006 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,050 m.

The land around Sapa is covered by trees (56%) and grassland (28%) within 3 km, trees (86%) within 16 km, and trees (84%) within 80 km.

3 km
957 m
16 km
3,006 m
80 km
3,050 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
March weather nearby: Lào Cai 21 km · Thị Trấn Phố Lu 35 km · Lai Châu 40 km · Mường Lay 82 km · Ít Ong 93 km · Thị Trấn Việt Quang 99 km · Thị Trấn Thuận Châu 102 km · Bắc Quang 106 km

Vietnam travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type A / B / C / F
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 29% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$5,066
2025
Happiness
6.4 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
59%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
1.5
per 100k, 2011
Road deaths
30.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 500
Religion
none 86%Catholic 6%Buddhist 6%Protestant 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Sapa (22.3402°, 103.8441°, elevation 0 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).