Best time to visit each destination in Vietnam

When is the best time to visit Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is found in the north of the country. It is a wonderful city with a mixture of old and new, Asian and Western architectural styles. Like any city it offers a different experience at some times of the year to others. Here are some ideas of when it is better to visit this fascinating city.

The north of Vietnam has very different weather systems than the rest of the country. Hanoi has four seasons which fluctuate and run over each other. Making firm predictions is difficult and the weather can change several times in one day. But as a general rule it is much cooler in the Vietnam capital than it is in many other cities and regions.

Between December and February temperatures here can drop as low as 10º Celsius but feel a lot colder. The humidity and wind chill here coupled with the fact that many hotels do not have adequate insulation can take visitors by surprise. The rainfall at this time of year though is down and the skies are often bright blue. If the temperatures get up to 20º it can be an ideal time for walking around exploring the sights.

April and May are normally the very best months in which to visit. The skies will be mostly clear and temperatures a pleasing 20ºCelsius. Any rainfall normally is drawn out and drizzly, so either buy an umbrella or get under cover and grab a coffee or a Bia Hoi.

The summer months of June, July and August are hot, very hot. If you want to go exploring you will need to hire a motorbike taxi or a Cyclo because walking around the city centre at this time of the year will be very hard going. This period sees plenty of rainfall also which means the humidity is right up.

In September, October and November the locals get some respite from the searing heat and this is a very pleasant time to be in the city. It is a great time to go exploring and walking round the Old Quarter is very pleasant. Local short term weather forecasts are not very reliable, it is just so difficult to get it right here.

Like any major town or city, Hanoi is good fun at Christmas and the New Year. Lights are hung, bars and restaurants dress up and everyone is in a good mood. This is a very good time to be in the Vietnamese capital.

At Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, things liven up again particularly amongst the expat community who enjoy the peace and quiet. Many Vietnamese who work in the city will head out to their home villages to see their families leaving the town with an entirely different ambiance.

All in all it has to be said that there really is not a bad time to visit this wonderful Asian capital city.

When is the best time to visit Sapa

Sapa is one of Vietnam’s most popular areas and is situated in the north of the country. It is a fascinating place with superb scenery and a mixture of cultural styles. Like any place it varies throughout the year. The mountain side rice terraces for which it is famous change colour through the seasons. From brown before the rice is planted, to a watery silver when they are flooded and finally to a rich verdant green as the crop riches fruition. The alone makes the time of year that you visit important. However, there are other factors. Here are some of the reasons to visit Sapa at different times.

From the very end of the year in December, through to February, Sapa is in its Winter Season and the temperatures will fall to the lowest experienced in Vietnam. Cold winds coming down through China force the temperature to drop to almost zero and snow falls are not unheard of. After this period from March through to the end of May, it becomes much warmer and the air is fresh and clean. This is an excellent time to visit.

The month of June is a little unstable. Sometimes it can be really pleasant and the air is delightful. However on occasion, the Wet Season arrives early and things look a whole lot different. From late June until September Sapa is in the grip of its Wet Season. The roads become highly dangerous and are prone to flooding. At this time the demographic of the local population changes also, and because of the domestic season, you see more Vietnamese in the area rather than the ethnic minorities for which it is famous.

Once the rains subside in September the weather remains perfect until December. This is a really good time to visit, with excellent walking conditions and the beautiful surrounding countryside looking its best. Temperatures will be cool and just right for trekking.

Therefore, speaking entirely from a climatic standpoint, the two good times to visit are from March to May and from September until the cold snap arrives in mid December.

Tet is an important time for all Vietnamese people and represents a good time to be in the country. Whilst a lot of business closes down, the people are in high spirits and generally gather around their family home to celebrate the new year. It is of course a movable celebration as here they follow the lunar calendar which has 13 cycles per year. As the new year gets under way the Long Tong Festival is held in fields near the village of the same name. Between the 5th and 15th of the first lunar month, the ethnic Tay people gather to bring good fortune and crops. They play games sing tradition songs, dance and enjoy themselves. If you are in the region at this time, be sure to catch it.

Sapa is an amazing place with a unique lifestyle. Planning your trip carefully will provide you with memories to least a lifetime.

When is the best time to visit Halong Bay

Halong Bay is the jewel in Vietnam’s crown and is situated in the north of the country. It is a fascinating place with a some of the finest natural scenic beauty in the world. Like any place, some times of the year are better to visit than others. The bay is different at different times of the year. Here are some of the reasons why.

The scenic beauty of Halong Bay is something to behold and there is no better way of seeing it than from one of the superb cruise boats that ply their trade here. The weather gives different perspectives and different vistas but they all have their merits. The only sure fire time to not be out on the water is in the event of a hurricane.

The weather poses a dilemma in many ways in Halong Bay. Everyone likes the sunshine and the warmth and of course swimming is certainly improved in warm water. But there is something special about Halong Bay on a chilly mist covered morning. The Karst islands appear from nowhere as the mist starts to lift.

The Bay has two main seasons hot with some sporadic rain from April until September and cooler with some strong winds between October and March. The average temperature here is cooler than in many places in Vietnam being around 24º Celsius. The strong winds that affect some of the coastal areas in the region do not have the same impact on Halong Bay as it is by its very nature, sheltered. The monsoon winds here strangely come twice every year a winter one from the north and a southwesterly one in the summer. If hurricanes are to happen they are normally in July and August.

To sum up there is no real bad time to visit this magnificent paradise. September to November and
March to May will probably give you the best weather, as it will be dry. Between May and September you may get colder weather but the prices on the boats are less and the morning mists really are something special.

There are not many other factors that will affect your decision to take a trip to Halong Bay. The holidays that see advantages in the big cities don’t really make much difference here. It will really just be a case of judging what you want from the trip, but whenever you go, you will fall in love with it.

When is the best time to visit Hue

Hue in Vietnam is the old capital of the Nguyen Dynasty and is situated in the east of the country. It is a fascinating place, its Citadel of Ancient Monuments being a UNESCO World Heritage SIte. Like any other location, certain times of the year offer different things. Here are some of the things that make Hue worth visiting at different times of the year.

The Central Coastal Region in Vietnam enjoys warm weather all year round. Having a tropical climate, Hue enjoys an average annual temperature of 29º Celsius. This whole area only has two real seasons, wet and dry. When it is cold, by Vietnam standards, in the winter periods of November to January, it still is much warmer than in the West.

The Wet Season needs to be taken into account when planning your trip to Hue. From September to January is the monsoon season. This brings very heavy rain and typhoons, particularly in November and December. There is often areas of local flooding. Visitor numbers decrease throughout this time. The Dry Season runs from February to August and the period with the least humidity is between February and May. The weather then is perfect and your trip to the region will be most enjoyable. There will be many long days filled with glorious sunshine.

A big part of Hoi An’s appeal is of course the Citadel of Ancient Monuments and other temples tombs and pagodas in the area. agreeable weather does make exploration a much nicer experience.

Public holidays can be enjoyable times to enjoy Vietnam, Hue is no exception. Christmas and New Year, although in the rainy season, are always fun times and the city offers an alternative setting to the usual cold and snowy venues. Check the lunar calendar also as on the 14th day of each lunar month, it is full moon. Hue celebrates with Full Moon Festivals all year round. Some of the beaches in the region host Full Moon Parties every month.

The most important holiday for Vietnamese is Tet, when people pour out of the big cities and return to their home towns to celebrate with their families. A happy time of the year, the Vietnamese make Moon Cakes and enjoy food and drink in their homes.

When is the best time to visit Hoi An

Hoi An and its Ancient Town is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful cities and is situated on the east coast of the country. It is a delightful place with great shops, amazing restaurants and some superb cultural benefits. Like any town, some times of the year make Hoi An better to visit than others. Here are some of the reasons that make Hoi An what it is in different seasons.

The Central Coastal Region, like most other places in Vietnam enjoys year round warm weather. The tropical climate here provides an average annual temperature of 29º Celsius. This area only has two seasons each year. Even when it is cold in the winter periods between November and January, it still is a lot warmer than what Westerners are use to.

The Wet Season however is a factor when planning your trip to Hoi An. In between September and January the monsoons arrive. This can see long periods of very heavy rain, coupled with typhoons and some flooding. At this time of year visitor numbers decrease dramatically. The dry season on the other hand runs from February to August with the least humidity being between February and May. At this time of year the weather is perfect and your trip to the region will be superb. Long dry hot days filled with sunshine.

A big part of Hoi An’s appeal is of course the beaches and weather is all important for travellers hoping to catch some rays, top up the tan and relax on the golden sands. For this the weather towards the end of May and even into June is better as the sun is less fierce. It is though still plenty hot enough.

Public holidays can also offer exciting times in Hoi An. Christmas and New Year, although in the rainy season, are always fun times and the city offers a romantic setting, with its illuminated lanterns and fabulous canal side restaurants. It is worth checking the lunar calendar also. On the 14th day of each lunar month, it is the full moon. Hoi An celebrates with Full Moon Festivals all year round. The famous “Old Street Nights” make visiting at this time special.

The Vietnamese New Year or Tet, is a movable celebration, following as it does the 13 month, lunar annual cycle. When it falls outside the wet season it makes for a fantastic time to be in Vietnam. This is serious party time for the Vietnamese, who flock out of the big cities to return home to be with their families. Streets and houses are decorated, special food is eaten and the whole country takes on a happy vibe.

When is the best time to visit Da Nang

Da Nang is Vietnam’s third largest city and is situated on the central coast of the country. It is a delightful place and a very busy hub, being as it is, mid way between Hanoi and Saigon and having Hue, Nha Trang and Hoi An on its doorstep. It is a quiet town with much of historical and cultural interest close at hand. Like any city Da Nang offers different things at different times of the year. Here are some of the things that make it worth visiting Da Nang throughout the year.

Da Nang sits in the Central Coastal Region, where, like most other places in Vietnam, the weather is warm all year round. The tropical climate means that the average annual temperature stays above 29º Celsius. The area has just two seasons each year. Even in the cold winter months between November and January, it remains a lot warmer than most places in the Northern Hemisphere. The weather here is very predicable.

The Wet Season between September and January, however, needs considering when planning your trip to Hoi An. The monsoons arrive bringing long periods of very heavy rain. This coupled with typhoons and some flooding can be very disruptive to the area. This time of year sees visitor numbers decrease significantly. The dry season though runs from February to August and the period between the months of February and May has the least humidity. This delightful time of year is perfect for your trip as the regional weather will be superb. There will be constant long, dry, hot days filled with sunshine.

The whole area here is full of glorious beaches and that is of course a big part of Da Nang’s appeal The weather is obviously very important for travellers hoping to catch some rays, whilst relaxing on the golden sands. Sunbathing is better towards the end of May and even into June when the sun is less fierce. Between June and August the city and its beaches do get very crowded as Vietnamese people take their annual leave.

Public holidays can also interesting whilst in Da Nang. Christmas and New Year are increasingly being enjoyed by the Vietnamese and not just amongst their Christian community. However this is a country where the lunar calendar dominates. On the 14th day of each lunar month, it is the full moon. Local people in Da nang celebrates with Full Moon Festivals all year round. Some close by beaches hold Full Moon Parties which are very popular among younger visitors.

Tet, the Vietnamese New Year is a movable celebration, as it follows the lunar annual cycle. When it falls outside the wet season it makes for a great time to be in the country. This is a big thing for the Vietnamese, who leave the big cities in large numbers to return home to their families. Streets and houses will be decorated, special food, like moon Cakes, is eaten and the whole country takes on a party mood.

When is the best time to visit Nha Trang

Nha Trang is Vietnam’s largest seaside resort and is found on the central coast in the east of the country. It is a lovely town with terrific beaches and a great history. As with any place different seasons bring different experiences. Here are some of the advantages ofvisiting Nha Trangat different times of the year.

Vietnam’s South Central Coastal Region, like most other places in the country sees year round, warm weather. The tropical climate enjoyed by the region provides average annual temperature of above 29º Celsius. The area has only two seasons annually. What is considered cold to Vietnamese in the winter periods of November to January, is still is a lot warmer than what people are used to in the West.

The Wet Season, from September to December, however is a factor when planning any visit to Nha Trang. When the monsoons arrive, the region can see long periods of torrential rain. The typhoons can be alarming and some flooding is not uncommon. Visitor numbers decrease dramatically at this time. The long Dry Season, though, runs from January to August and the least humidity is between February and April. At this time of year the weather is simply perfect and your visit to the region will be very enjoyable. Long dry hot days filled with sunshine are perfect.

A large part of Hoi An’s appeal is of course its famous beaches, including ‘China Beach’ and weather is very important for travellers wishing to top up the tan and relax on the world renown golden sands. For this the weather from February to April is best as the sun shines all day and the humidity is fine. This is also beneficial for the scuba diving, for which the area is well known. The seas are calmer and therefore offer better visibility.

In the months of July or August, an added attraction is Hòn Bà just 30 km far from city centre. This delightful mountain has a cool climate all year round and is a really great place to get away from the fierce summer heat.

Public holidays offer fun and exciting times in Nha Trang. Christmas and New Year, can be great fun as Vietnamese people get into the swing of this very Western Holiday It is worth checking the lunar calendar also. On the 14th day of each lunar month, it is the full moon. Full moon parties take place on the beach here.

The Vietnamese New Year or Tet, follows the lunar annual cycle, and therefore changes dates each year. When it falls in the dry season it is a good time to be in Vietnam. This is a big thing to the Vietnamese and the country takes on a different feel as they pour out of the big cities and return to their homes to be with their families. Streets and houses are decorated, special food is eaten and the country is a really special place to be.

When is the best time to visit Dalat

Dalat is one of Vietnam’s most interesting cities and is situated in the south east of the country. It is a fascinating place with its own weather system and a superb cultural history. Like any place some times of the year are better to visit than others. Situated high up in the mountainous region to the south of the country, it is surrounded by palm tress and enjoys a different climate to any other region. Here are just some of the things that make Dalat special at different times.

Dalat has very stable weather with just two main seasons. The weather remains cooler here all year round compared to the rest of the country. In Between May and August it does rise somewhat but will still be quite chilly in the evenings. This dry season has bright sunny days with much cooler evenings and nights.

In between June and August the city does get very congested as this is when the domestic tourism is at its highest. Dalat holds a special place in the hearts of the Vietnamese and they flock here in very large numbers at this time. Thousands pour into the whole region from the large conurbations of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Dalat is famous for, amongst other things, flower growing. Every two years the International Dalat Flower Festival is held here and is well worth seeing. It is normally either in December or January and brings exhibitors and visitors from around the globe. The city looks really beautiful during the festival. But hotels are at a premier as hundreds of thousands arrive to see the festival.

Like anywhere else in Vietnam Tet, the Vietnamese New Year is a huge cause for celebration. The country follows the Lunar calendar so the date of this celebration moves. It is though a good time to visit. The streets are decorated and people enter into the party mood.

When is the best time to visit Saigon

Saigon is Vietnam’s largest city and is situated in the south of the country. It is a fascinating place with a mixture of architectural styles and superb cultural benefits. Like any place some times of the year offer different things to different people. Saigon is a truly wonderful city. Here are some of the things that make Saigon what it is throughout the year.

Situated in the south of the country Saigon enjoys completely different weather than the northern cities like Hanoi. Between the months of May and November the rainy season dominates proceedings culminating in very heavy rain in October, The showers normally last just an hour or two, so you can still plan around them. But sometimes they can be day long deluges. When the dry season comes Saigon is a very lovely place to be. From November through to May it is day long sunshine everyday and hardly ever rains.

Enjoying the sights of Saigon is always better in the dry, though the heat can make walking around very hard. If you are caught in the rain though, there will always be plenty with which to occupy yourself. The city adapts well to the wet weather and there are plenty of things to see and do.

Tet, or Vietnamese New Year is an amazing time to be in the city. Millions of the indigenous population pour out of the city and head into the country to visit their families. The roads become almost traffic free at times, a rarity for this city. Everywhere is quiet and decidedly easy to get round. The downside though is that many of the Vietnamese businesses close down for the whole period, about a week. The main streets in the town are decorated with bright lights and friezes and especially at night, the city is at its most beautiful.

Christmas and New Year is also a great time. The weather is at its best and the air is less humid. The whole city seems to join in the celebrations as streets are decorated and stores and offices go to amazing lengths to dress up and illuminate the entire city centre. Many of the bars in the centre of town are decorated and a river boat Christmas dinner is an extremely good way of celebrating in style.

There is no doubt that Saigon is enjoyable at any time of the year. The weather can be an inconvenience, but no more than that. The city is a very pretty one, with tree lined boulevards and fantastic French colonial architecture. At night the skyscrapers turn on the lights and many locals will spend an evening standing on the bridges simply admiring their home town.

When is the best time to visit the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is one of the most amazing places in Vietnam. It is a fascinating area; home to 17 million people, with a diversity of lifestyles like nowhere else. Like any place certain times of the year offer different things and different experiences. To get the most from your visit to the Mekong Delta, you will need to spend a certain amount of time afloat. Therefore, the weather is important as a consideration when planning. Here are some of the things that make the Mekong Delta special at different times of the year.

From December right through until May, the delta enjoys its finest weather. The skies are clear blue, the water is calm and the scenic charm is at its best. This is a super time to be here. From June through to September it starts to get hot and the humidity increases to sometimes uncomfortable levels. This is however, the time when the local tropical fruits are ready for harvest and visiting the orchards and fruit farms is a very enjoyable pastime. You can stroll round the farms, then sit to enjoy delicious local produce whilst folk musicians entertain you.

During the months of October and November the area is in the height of the monsoon season and the rains can be immense. The Rivers swell a lot and the waters are very unpredictable. Flooding is quite common especially in the Tra Vinh and Dong Thap areas. Always consult local weather forecasts if you have to travel at this time.

Tet is hugely important to all Vietnamese people. It is a time to visit family and give thanks for the year ahead. This movable celebration is generally around the end of January to the beginning of February. Many people working in the giant conurbation of Ho Chi Minh City are from the delta and will return home for a week’s holiday with their families. Transport therefore does get busy, but it is a great time to be in the area. Spirits are high and the mood is one of happiness and optimism.

The Mekong Delta is a truly unique place. It is scenically beautiful and culturally fascinating. It will provide a holiday experience that will stay in the memory for ever. At any time of the year it is a great area to visit. Your experience will be different at different times of the year, but it will always be awesome.

Best time to visit each destination in Vietnam