Holidays by the South China Sea
The South China Sea connects very different beach landscapes: Vietnam's long mainland shores, the island resorts of Hainan, Malaysian island beaches and the limestone scenery around Palawan. A city beach with cafés nearby and an island reached by boat ask for different plans, even when they sit beside the same sea.
The monsoon calendar matters
My Khe in Da Nang combines the beach with a Vietnamese city base. Lang Tengah, off Malaysia's east coast, offers an island setting where boat transfers become part of the journey.
Do not apply one country's dry season to the whole region. Malaysia's northeast monsoon, from November to March, brings heavy rain particularly to the peninsula's east coast. Vietnam, Hainan and Palawan need their own seasonal checks. Warm water can coincide with rain, rough seas or disrupted boat plans, so compare rainfall and sea conditions alongside temperature. For an island stay, check the accommodation's operating dates and transfer arrangements before fixing flights.
Geography at a glance
South China Sea
- Location
- Southeast Asia
- Part of
- Pacific Ocean
- Area
- ≈ 3,500,000 km²
- Max. depth
- ≈ 5,560 m
Locator map. Measurements are approximate and depend on the area’s definition. Fact source · Map: Natural Earth
Sea temperature by month (°C)
In November, the warmest sea is at Pulau Lang Tengah (29.5 °C) and the coolest at Hong Kong (24.6 °C).
| Beach | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Da Nang | 23.0 | 22.7 | 23.7 | 25.2 | 27.4 | 29.5 | 29.3 | 30.1 | 29.8 | 28.3 | 26.5 | 24.7 |
| El Nido | 28.2 | 27.5 | 27.8 | 29.0 | 30.0 | 30.2 | 29.7 | 29.6 | 29.5 | 29.6 | 29.5 | 29.0 |
| Hong Kong | 19.7 | 20.2 | 21.5 | 23.8 | 26.6 | 28.6 | 29.7 | 29.2 | 29.0 | 27.6 | 24.6 | 21.8 |
| Ocean Flower Island | 20.5 | 20.6 | 22.9 | 26.0 | 29.0 | 30.2 | 30.7 | 30.6 | 29.7 | 27.9 | 25.5 | 22.7 |
| Pulau Lang Tengah | 28.0 | 28.1 | 28.8 | 30.2 | 30.7 | 30.4 | 30.1 | 30.1 | 29.9 | 29.9 | 29.5 | 28.5 |
| Sanya Bay | 23.7 | 23.5 | 24.5 | 26.6 | 28.8 | 29.9 | 29.7 | 29.8 | 29.7 | 28.5 | 26.9 | 25.3 |
Average sea temperature in each month, 2021–2025 (Copernicus ERA5), at each beach. Not a forecast.
South China Sea – Sea temperature today
Current estimates for the selected beaches, not an average for the whole sea. Sea: NASA MUR with an hourly adjustment; air: Apple Weather. The update time refers to this page, not a measurement taken in the water.
Last updated:
| All beaches | Sea (°C) | Air (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Da Nang, Vietnam · South China Sea | 28.6 °C | 25 °C |
| El Nido, Philippines · Palawan | 30.3 °C | 27 °C |
| Hong Kong, Hong Kong · South China Sea | 27.3 °C | 25 °C |
| Ocean Flower Island, China · Hainan | 28.6 °C | 24 °C |
| Pulau Lang Tengah, Malaysia · South China Sea | 30.1 °C | 28 °C |
| Sanya Bay, China · Hainan | 28.6 °C | 24 °C |