Drought has a far-reaching influence on global terrestrial ecosystems. There is a typical difference between dry and wet areas, and a trend of a gradual increase in dry areas toward northeast China. This study was conducted to determine the response of natural vegetation productivity to drought in northeast China. Using the data published by MODIS, precipitation data, scPDSI, and statistical methods, characteristics of drought distribution and precipitation distribution in northeast China (including Heilongjiang Province, Jilin Province, Liaoning Province, and the eastern region of Inner Mongolia) were investigated and the spatio-temporal evolution law of NPP (Net Primary Productivity), LAI (Leaf Area Index), and CUE (Carbon Use Efficiency) of natural vegetation were analyzed. The response of natural vegetation to independent drought events and persistent drought were investigated based on the above research results. The results showed that:① From the average level in 2002-2013, the annual average of NPP and LAI of forests was significantly higher than that of grasslands, and the annual average of CUE was slightly lower than that of grasslands; ② Forests and grasslands responded to independent droughts by lowering NPP and LAI, which were significantly lower in the third year after the drought than before, LAI was significantly higher in the second year after the drought year than before, and the change lasted at least four years after the drought year. NPP and LAI of grassland had significant changes only in the year of independent drought; ③With the persistence of drought, the proportion of NPP in forests increased, and the increasing likelihood of ΔLAI_Dryn in the forests with lower LAI_Baseline was greater with the duration of drought. Grasslands also had a certain ability to be suitable for persistent drought, and the increasing likelihood of ΔNPP_Dryn, ΔLAI_Dryn, and ΔCUE_Dryn in the grasslands with lower NPP_Baseline, LAI_Baseline, and CUE_Baseline was respectively greater with the duration of drought; ④ The level of CUE change in the forest or grassland was rarely significant, and the law of change was less significant than NPP and LAI regardless of the independent drought event or the persistent drought. This study contributes to improving the evaluation of the influence of drought on natural ecosystems.