How Saigon Responded To Its Coldest Morning In Over A Decade

Scarves, gloves, and layered jackets appeared on Saigon’s streets in the first week of January 2026, a sight rarely seen with a city known for year-round heat range from 23°C to 35°C. On the early morning of January 9th, temperatures dropped to 17°C, marking the lowest reading in over a decade. At Tan Son Nhat Airport, the thermometer touched 18°C, while Nha Be station recorded 17.8°C.

In the days leading up to this cold snap, temperatures across Ho Chi Minh City generally ranged between 20-22°C at night and early morning, before falling sharply overnight on January 8th.

Not an abnormal cold snap

Looking back, this is not the first time Saigon hit that cool temperature. The coldest year in Saigon's historical data series occurred in late 1975 and early 1976, with a temperature of 13.9°C, according to Ms. Le Thi Xuan Lan, former Deputy Head of the Forecasting and Service Department of the Southern Region Hydrometeorological Station.

Most of the cold snaps recorded in Saigon share the same reason: the impact of La Niña. As a strong northeast monsoon pushes cold air deep into the south, it makes the cold air stay longer than usual, Mr. Le Dinh Quyet, head of the forecasting division at the Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Center, told Tuổi Trẻ newspaper. In addition, under the influence of climate change, weather patterns in southern Vietnam have become increasingly unpredictable which make cold spells like this occur more strikingly.

During the dry season in Southeastern’s characteristic, clear night skies allow heat absorbed during the day to escape quickly after sunset. As a result, temperatures tend to drop most sharply in the early morning hours, typically between 4 to 7AM.

Saigonese greeted the cool weather with outdoor activities

The cooler air made these morning exercises more enjoyable than usual. In the early mornings, when the drop in temperature was most noticeable, daily outdoor activities took on a more relaxed pace. Elderly who usually go for a walk at dawn continue their routines, while some choose to cycle or jog along the river.

The youth expressed their excitement for this weather, took advantage to go out for morning coffee, gather with friends, and sit comfortably on the sidewalk. Observations from Tuổi Trẻ news show that popular spots such as 30-4 Park, the Independence Palace, and the City Post Office are more crowded these days. Residents start their day earlier than usual, hoping the weather can remain like this for a few more days ahead.

For a city accustomed to year-round heat, the sudden drop in temperature has made Ho Chi Minh City residents adjust their daily lives. Quach Hoang Kha (24 years old), a street vendor at Do Xuan Hop sidewalk, whose work started early at 5AM, had to light a fire for warmth while preparing his food cart. "During the years I lived in Saigon, I've never felt this cold as these past few days," he shared to VnExpress.

While the weather can hardly be described as “cold,” many expats in Ho Chi Minh City say it evokes a familiar feeling from home. Warren Bisset (31 years old), a British expat who has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for 7 years, told VnExpress that this was the first time he chose to walk to work simply to enjoy the cooler air.

"It's interesting to see Saigonese wearing layers of clothing. For me, this is reminiscent of the cool summer days around 20°C back home," Bisset said.