Each region in Vietnam has different weather patterns especially the North and South of Vietnam. Make sure to research your destination’s weather in advance so that you can pack the most essential and suitable things for your trip to Vietnam.
North Vietnam
The North of Vietnam has all 4 seasons including spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The best time for travelers is likely to be from March to May and September to November.
You will be able to experience the pleasantly warm weather of late spring in the North of Vietnam around March-May. The best thing about this season is the blooming season of many beautiful flowers of the North. This can be a perfect time to visit the mountainous Sa Pa and enjoy the impressive scenery of light pink ban flowers all over the town. This is also the time when the paddy fields are in fresh green.
In addition to mountainous Northern towns, Halong Bay is also a top hit. Everyone yearns for relaxing on the deck in the sun and cool breezes. The water is not too cold, which makes it perfect for swimming as well.
The least recommended time to visit North Vietnam is between June and August. The temperature can nearly hit 40 degrees Celsius which is extremely hot and humid. If you are a summer lover, make sure to stay hydrated all time and apply sufficient sunblock to protect yourself from the heat.
A lot of the North locals escape this summer heat by flying to beaches in the Central Highlands and the South. So this season’s domestic flight tickets and accommodation can be more pricey than usual.
The weather can change suddenly in summer and a downpour can come at any moment. Unexpected showers can be a “delicacy” of summertime in Hanoi so remember to carry an umbrella or a poncho with you.
On the other hand, winter (November to February) is totally opposite. Hanoi and North Vietnam are cold and humid in the summer. The temperature can drop to below 10 Celcius degrees sometimes. With the humidity, it can feel a lot more freezing than the number. Northern destinations such as Sa Pa and Ha Giang are sometimes below 0 Celcius degrees.
Average temperature and rainfall levels of Hanoi: here
Central Vietnam
The central region of Vietnam has a coastal climate so it has great weather most of the year. However, there are likely to be thunderstorms in October and November so it is better not to plan too many outdoor activities at this time. May to August is summertime, which means it can be quite hot. The temperature can hit up to 40 Celsius degrees.
If you plan to visit Da Nang, Hue, and Hoi An, January/ February to August is recommended. The weather is pleasantly nice with rare heavy showers.
Average temperature and rainfall levels of Hue: Here
South Vietnam
The southern region of Vietnam is especially great between December and April. In contrast to the North of Vietnam, the South has a consistently warm weather pattern all year round.
There are specific seasons in Southern Vietnam including dry and wet seasons. The dry season is between November and April/ early May. The hottest time of the year belongs to this season’s February and May with a peak of 34 Celsius degrees. The wet season begins in May and ends in early November. June, July, and August are the months that receive the largest amount of rainfall. An interesting feature of the Southern wet season is how quickly the heavy rains last. Sometimes the rain only lasts for 10 minutes but it can get you soaking wet.
At the end of Vietnam, Phu Quoc and Con Dao Island are often sunny all year round with enjoyable weather.
Average temperature and rainfall levels of Ho Chi Minh City: here
Within the country
To travel within Vietnam, airplanes, trains, and coaches are the most common mode of transportation. If you want to get from Hanoi to the Central Highlands or South Vietnam, it is highly recommended to book a flight. Flight tickets might be pricier but it will save you from the long wait and uncomfortable accommodation on trains.
If you only travel to a nearby city that takes only 4-5 hours on the road, book a coach.
Within the city
Vietnam offers a wide range of transportation from taxis, taxi motorbikes, Grab app, Be app, and buses. (But it can be really difficult for foreigners to take a bus.)
Vietnam has different climates depending on each region. Therefore, this is a broad question to answer. If you want to experience a bit of everything in Vietnam, you can scroll down to understand more about the weather in Vietnam.
If your Vietnam plan is to go on a North-to-South tour, spring (February to April) and autumn (September to December) might be the most beautiful seasons of Vietnam. Overall, the weather is not too hot or cold. Most of the time, it will be cool with breezes and light sun rays.
In short, each Vietnam region has different weather patterns but spring (February to April) and autumn (September to December) have the most pleasing weather.
North Vietnam
Hanoi, the capital of thousands of years of civilization, is one of the places that any Vietnamese would like to visit once in a lifetime. Traveling to the capital, visitors will visit famous attractions such as Ba Dinh Square, Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda… or admire the beautiful scenery of West Lake, Sword Lake, and Hoang Thanh Thang Long… Besides, visitors can also taste many unique delicacies such as Vong village nuggets, bun cha, pho, fried spring rolls,…
Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh is one of the most attractive destinations in our country. With an area of up to 1,553 square kilometers, including 1,900 limestone islands with many beautiful and vivid shapes.
Traveling to HaLong – one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, visitors will discover many unique caves, beautiful islands such as Dragon Eye Island, Ngoc Vung Island, Con Coc Island… Along with the beautiful scenery, this place also has many delicious specialties such as squid rolls, sam worms, grilled oysters, spring rolls, sea sam…
Among the Vietnamese tourist destinations that hide the most cultural and historical values, Trang An – Ninh Binh is certainly the top name. This relic was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2014.
This beautiful location collects the buildings from the regal ancient capital of Hoa Lu, which was tucked away in the majestic limestone mountains and the ethereal meandering river. Some of the following structures will leave visitors “heartbroken” if they follow cultural or spiritual tourism: Temples in Tran Ninh Binh, Tu Tru, Suoi Tien, etc.
Visitors can take a boat to travel through the water, across the lotus lake, and across the golden rice fields to the Vu Lam palace, one of this location’s most stunning structures. Trang An is the center of caves with several oddly formed stalactites, through woods and pristine lagoons, in addition to man-made monuments. Nau Ruou cave, Ba Giot cave, and others are popular tourist destinations.
Located in the northwest of the country, Sapa, in Lao Cai province, is known as the land of fog, with a dreamy landscape hiding many miracles of natural scenery. Fansipan Peak is not only the roof of Vietnam but also of Indochina. Its massive height created a majestic scene. When you come here, you can almost touch the clouds.
There are some other places in Sapa, such as Stone Church, Ham Rong Mountain, Muong Hoa Valley, an ancient stone beach, etc, that you should not miss.
Central Vietnam
In the journey to discover Central Vietnam, visitors cannot ignore the tourist destination of Da Nang. This is the city of many beautiful bridges such as Han River Bridge, Dragon Bridge, Thuan Phuoc Bridge, Love Bridge; wild and poetic beaches such as My Khe beach, Non Nuoc beach, Xuan Thieu beach… and many other beautiful landscapes such as Ngu Hanh Son mountain, Son Tra peninsula, Ghenh Bang, … Da Nang not only attracts tourists by the beautiful scenery, but also attracts visitors by many attractive Da Nang delicacies such as vermicelli with seasoning, veal, Quang noodles, chicken rice, …
Located on the central coast of Vietnam, Hoi An is a well-preserved Ancient Town that cuts through the canals. As a former port, Hoi An is a reflection of history in its architecture. It is a combination of Chinese styles with wooden shophouses and temples, the colorful French colonial buildings, the iconic Japanese Bridge Pagoda, and the traditional Vietnamese tube houses.
Regardless of the fast pace of life outside, once you set your foot in this town, your mind is instantly calm and restful. The incredibly cozy and intimate atmosphere created by the ancient houses and the peaceful scenery will definitely put your mind at ease.
Hue City is a vibrant and lively city located in the central region of Vietnam. It has a rich cultural heritage, with many temples, pagodas, and monuments that are popular tourist attractions. Hue is also known for its stunning natural beauty, including beaches, rivers, and mountains. The city offers plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy, from shopping at local markets to exploring ancient ruins or taking a boat ride along the Huong River. With its unique blend of culture and nature, Hue City tour is an ideal option for travelers looking to experience something truly special in Vietnam.
South Vietnam
The most vibrant and busy metropolis in our nation is Saigon. Visitors to the popular tourist destination of Saigon can explore numerous notable landmarks and attractions throughout the city, including Nguyen Hue pedestrian street and Nha Rong Wharf. Additionally, tourists have the chance to explore well-known tourist destinations close to Saigon such as the Cu Chi tunnels, Thanh An island, Long Hai beach…
The Mekong river is the 12th longest river in the world flowing from the Tibetan plateau to the South China Sea. It stretches over an area of almost 5,000 km2 and crosses 6 countries, namely China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The river itself has created the fertile Mekong Delta with a biological treasure nowadays. Even though this magical land of Vietnam is quite off-the-beaten-track to foreign tourists, we are sure that a day trip to the Mekong Delta will not let you down. Let’s quickly explore the beauty of the Mekong Delta before you take your own real trip!
Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels is a giant underground tunnel system that was initially built under the forest, connecting tunnels among hamlets and small communities during the war against French colonialists. It provided cover for Vietnamese revolutionaries as they traveled between areas covertly and avoided French scouts. This will definitely be a memorable destination for you in your travel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Most visitors to Vietnam will need to obtain a visa before arriving. You can apply for a visa through the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your home country, or contact Metta Voyage for support with your e-visa application.
Talking about Hanoi’s capital is talking about the land of thousands of years of civilization, in addition to famous destinations such as Sword Lake, Bat Trang pottery village, Hanoi’s old town, commercial centers, etc. You will experience the unique cuisine here.
Hanoi cuisine is known for its delicious traditional dishes with unique and rich flavors that have never disappointed diners everywhere. Hanoi, with its 36 ancient streets, has a variety of delicious food options spread throughout, so everyone can enjoy delicious Hanoi dishes.
When it comes to Hanoi, the first thing will be pho, a dish that has reached the world. In addition, there are many other special dishes such as vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli, Thang long fish cake, Hanoi vermicelli, shrimp paste vermicelli, Ho Tay shrimp cake, rib porridge, mussel porridge, cake Thanh Tri rolls, Phu Thuong sticky rice, Vong village nuggets, Phu Do vermicelli, banh chung, Uoc Le spring rolls, etc.
Food tourism in the North, especially in the Northwest mountains, always gives visitors new experiences. Northwest cuisine is very diverse and prepared according to the local people’s own recipes. You can try dishes such as buffalo meat guarding the kitchen, Thang Co horse of Lao Cai, pa ping top, Lai Chau’s armpit pig, grilled stone moss, au tau porridge, Bac Me Lam rice from Ha Giang, etc.
The Northwest is also famous for forest bamboo shoots from Vau, cork, bamboo, and apricot. Northwest specialty rices such as Bac Huong Dien Bien rice, Eight Dien Bien rice, Seng Cu rice (Bat Xat Lao Cai), Ta Cu rice (Muong Te Lai Chau), Nuong Dien Bien sticky rice, Tu Le sticky rice…
Besides discovering the ideal destinations in Hue, you should definitely not miss the culinary experience here. Referring to Hue cuisine, we will immediately think of royal cuisine because of the sophistication in each dish.
For Hue, eating is also one of the arts that Hue people pay great attention to and elaborate on. The dishes in Hue are very carefully prepared and have a very unique taste that can’t be confused anywhere.
Hue cuisine is one of the elements that make up the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine. Most of the dishes are made from popular ingredients but have a rich and unforgettable aftertaste. The most famous specialty is probably “Bun bo Hue”. Besides, there is also mussel rice served with fish sauce and topping, Hue cakes such as filter cake, Banh Beo, or Hue cake, 36 kinds of Hue royal tea, etc.
Traveling to Hoi An includes discovering and experiencing famous places such as the old town, Cu Lao Cham, Tra Que vegetable village, beautiful beaches, etc. You will experience Hoi An cuisine with Hoi An specialties such as Quang noodles, Cao Lau, chicken rice, wontons, cauldron cakes, wet rolls with grilled meat, etc.
Not only causing memories with ecstatic delicious dishes, the restaurants in Hoi An also make visitors fall in love with their beautiful decoration, professional service, and distinctive space. Restaurants located in the old town often hang old paintings decorated with flower pots, ornamental plants, and fine art objects. Restaurants in Hoi An also have traditional names, inherited from many generations.
Saigon is the most developed and busiest city in Vietnam. Saigon cuisine has the influence of many regions and some countries in the world. Saigon is a city that “does not sleep”, You can come here and comfortably eat and play at any time. You can experience Saigon cuisine by eating in clusters such as markets or food alleys such as:
Ben Thanh Market and Ho Thi Ky Market are two places that always attract a large number of diners. Coming to Ben Thanh market, there will be vermicelli, rice vermicelli, sweet tea or sticky rice, and also various kinds of Banh Beo in the Central region. Ho Thi Ky Market is famous for attractive dishes with Cambodian cultural colors such as Cam tea, Num Bo Choc vermicelli, grilled beef spring rolls with lemongrass, etc.
You can also try to experience culinary alleys such as alley 76 Hai Ba Trung, alley 84 Nguyen Du, and alley 284 Le Van Sy to learn more about street food culture. The Japanese Quarter (Le Thanh Ton), the Chinese Quarter (District 5, District 6, District 11), or the Han Quarter (District 7) are the same attractions in Saigon.
In addition, in Saigon, there are hundreds of street stalls, street vendors, and street vendors specializing in Saigon snacks such as mixed rice paper, grilled rice paper, Saigon knock-on noodles, smoothies, etc. It will make you forget the way home because it is surprisingly delicious, cheap, and diverse.
No matter what parts of Vietnam you are traveling to, here is a list of 10 essential items you need to pack.
- Backpack
A thick-strapped backpack will be extremely useful for all the walking and traveling. It is recommended to pick a backpack that is big and durable enough to carry all your essential belongings such as water bottles, sunscreen, snacks, and maybe some clothes to change during the day. If you buy some food or souvenir on the way, a backpack is your credible safe.
- Travel pillow
If your trip includes a lot of road trips, a travel pillow is a must-have. Long hours of sitting and sleeping on a coach will be much better with a soft pillow to assist your neck. For your health, remember to pack a travel pillow to Vietnam.
- Earplugs
Vietnam is sleepless, but travelers are not. Earplugs are necessary for light sleepers to have a restful and peaceful sleep. These items are perfect to ward off snorers or crying babies on long flights as well.
- Diarrhea treatment
Medicines are a need for travelers. At some time during your travels, you will suffer from a terrible stomach ache for eating something you are not used to. Your travel routine is also different from your normal routine so the digestive system might have some problems getting used to it. Some remedies will help you to quickly recover and allow you to fully enjoy your Vietnam trip.
- Below-the-knee skirts/ trousers
Vietnam has a lot of pagodas and temples along with the country. If you want to enter these holistic places, below-the-knee clothing is required. To express your respect, make sure that you bring some modest skirts or trousers while visiting sacred locations. On days that you plan to visit pagodas or temples, it is best to dress politely and not show too much skin.
- Power adapter
For Vietnam, travelers are recommended to use plugs type A (two flat vertical pins), type C, and type F (two round pins). The electricity supply in Vietnam is 220 Volts at 50 Hz. It is best you prepare a global adapter before traveling to Vietnam.
If you are from Europe (excluding the UK), your power plugs are similar to the ones in Vietnam. If you are from North and Central America or Japan, you use the same plugs but it is needed to check the voltage carefully. If you are from the UK, type G plugs with 3 rectangular pins can be used in Vietnam but this plug is not common in Vietnam. If you are from Australia, you need an adapter.
- Power bank
Power banks are super convenient. This will save you from boredom on a long flight, bus, or train ride. If you are using LTE constantly, power banks will be your lifesaver as your phone battery will burn down really fast. The worst scenario is having a dead phone in a foreign country that doesn’t speak English so avoid that by having a power bank.
- Sun protection
Vietnam has a tropical climate, which means it will be sunny and hot for most of the time. Protection yourself with a high SPF sunblock or spray. A wide-brimmed hat is also recommended to cope with the extreme sunlight.
- Waterproof jacket
During the monsoon season, a light and waterproof jacket will protect you from sudden rainfall. In Vietnam, the locals often use a thin plastic poncho that is extremely helpful when you are riding a motorbike.
- Mosquito-repellent
Undoubtedly, there are a lot of mosquitoes and insects in Vietnam. It is wise to carry a bottle or spray of insect repellent. Remember to apply it before going out and reapply it during the day. This can save you from malaria and dengue fever.
If you happen to get bitten by mosquitoes, the famous tiger balm can prevent the bites from getting infected. Rub it to the mosquito’s bite to reduce swellings and itching
The currency used in Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong (VND). While US dollars are accepted in some places, it’s generally recommended to use Vietnamese dong for smaller transactions.
Most visitors to Vietnam will need to obtain a visa before arriving. You can apply for a visa through the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your home country, or through an online e-visa application.
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Bring mosquito nets during the rainy season if you go backpacking.
As mentioned above, petechial fever is quite dangerous even though we have treatment for it. If you have a petechial fever, the worst scenario is that you would end up hospitalized. The mosquito sucks your blood to nourish her eggs and our trip sadly ended earlier than expected. A mosquito net will protect you from this bloodsucker.
Equip yourself with hats, umbrellas, and raincoats to avoid heat in hot seasons
Some tourists prefer to soak up the sun but in Hanoi, Vietnam, the hot season is so extreme that many people get sunstroke. Do not underestimate this problem! Also, without umbrellas or raincoats, you may get soaked to the skin due to sudden showers.
If your immunity is weak, it makes sense anyway that you are ill, have to lie on your bed, take some pills and stare dejectedly out the window. A sense of disappointment arises, for sure.
Weighing up all the pros and cons, Metta Voyage highly recommends tourists visit Hanoi during the dry season (November to April) for the sake of your exhilarating and unforgettable experience.
