When is the best time to travel to the North of Vietnam? Basically, due to geographical position, Northern Vietnam has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Take a look at the table below for best places to visit in the North of Vietnam in each season.
| Seasons | Best places to visit |
| Spring (March – May) | Moc Chau, Ninh Binh |
| Summer (June – August) | Cat Ba, Co To, Tam Dao, Thanh Hoa |
| Autumn (September – November) | Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa, Cao Bang, Ha Giang |
| Winter (December – February) | Sa Pa, Mau Son, Mai Chau, Moc Chau |
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1. Spring in the North of Vietnam
Vietnam Girl
Weather in the North of Vietnam during Spring
In the North, the weather in Spring is warm and humid with drizzling rain sometimes. Traveling to Vietnam in spring, you will have a chance to enjoy a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
Best places to visit in the North of Vietnam in Spring?
Spring is the festive season in Vietnam. We celebrate the Lunar New Year – Tet holiday. No matter how bustling modern life is, we still keep our traditions for Tet: cooking traditional dishes, visiting other families, praying in pagodas and attending spring festivals after Tet. Some popular spring festivals in the North are Lim festival, Yen Tu festival and Huong Pagoda (Perfume Pagoda) festival.
Spring is the best time to enjoy flower blooming in Moc Chau. Located in the mountainous Northwest area, Moc Chau is captivating with cool weather around the year and romantic flowery sceneries. Plum flower and ban flower can be found in Moc Chau from March to April. Be aware that plum flower will droop after two or three weeks, so prepare your time!
- Butterfly season in Cuc Phuong National Park
- Tam Coc – Bich Dong in harvest season
A 1 or 2-day Ninh Binh tour will be a highlight of your trip when traveling to Northern Vietnam. Don’t forget to go trekking in poetic Cuc Phuong National Park during butterfly season in April. In May, green rice fields in Tam Coc – Bich Dong turn into winding yellow scenery during the harvest season.
Tips for traveling to the North of Vietnam in Spring
– Wear appropriate clothes when attending festivals in religious sites.
– Bring an umbrella in case there is a drizzling rain.
– Bring medicine, humidity may cause sneeze.
– Take care of your belongings when attending a festival. There may be pickpockets concealing in the crowd.
– Pack some bug sprays: Mosquitoes may cause diseases, so don’t get caught without bug sprays in case the bugs are out.
2. Summer in the North of Vietnam
Weather in the North of Vietnam during Summer
In the summer, due to the effect of monsoon, the Northern area is very hot and humid and experiences high rainfalls. The average temperature is around 28 to 30 degrees Celsius. It can reach 35-37 degrees Celsius some days.
Best places to visit in the North of Vietnam in Summer?
- Cat Ba Island
- Co To Island
It is obvious that summer is the best time to head to a beach, enjoy sunshine, turquoise water, gentle wind and fresh air. Co To Island in Quang Ninh and Cat Ba Island in Hai Phong will amaze you with unspoiled landscapes and friendly people.
- Tam Dao
Tam Dao is suitable for paying a visit all around the year. However, if you want to get away from sultry Hanoi, it is recommended that you visit Tam Dao National Park and enjoy pleasant weather when coming to Vietnam in summer.
- Pu Luong in harvest season
150 kilometers from Hanoi, Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Quan Hoa District is definitely an amazing place for your ecotourism trip to Vietnam. There are two main rice harvest seasons in Pu Luong (in June and October) when rice paddies turn into velvety yellow.
Tips for traveling to the North of Vietnam in Summer
– Water, water and water. Stay hydrated all the time.
– Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats. Protect yourself from brutal sunlight.
– Due to high rainfall, the roads become more dangerous in the Northern mountainous area (Sa Pa, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Mai Chau, etc.). Check with your tour operator about the local weather.
– There may be storms in Northern beaches in summer. Pay attention to the weather forecast before your trip.
– Prepare an umbrella or raincoat in case it rains.
3. Autumn in the North of Vietnam
Weather in the North of Vietnam during Autumn
Autumn is the most pleasant time in Northern Vietnam. The weather is cool and dry with light breeze. The average temperature is from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Best places to visit in the North of Vietnam in Autumn?
- Hanoi Old Quarter
Hanoi turns into a romantic and dreamy city in autumn with clear sky and soft sunlight. The weather is a little bit chilly but not as cold as it is in the winter. When visiting Vietnam in autumn, don’t forget to head to the Old Quarter and French Quarter, take some photographs of autumn leaves and enjoy truly quaint Hanoi.
- Halong Bay
Summer is the peak time for domestic tourists to visit Ha Long Bay. However, September is considered as an ideal time for international travelers. The rainfall reduces and you can enjoy swimming, kayaking, and sightseeing in this famous UNESCO Heritage site.
- Sapa in harvest season
- Conquer Fansipan Peak
If you are interested in seeing rice terraces, we recommend you to travel to Sapa at the end of September or beginning of October. This is the harvest season when you can admire a romantic view of yellow terraced rice fields. Moreover, the weather is lovely with light breezes, which is extremely suitable for your hiking activities to Fansipan Mountain.
- Ban Gioc Waterfall
The best time to enjoy Ban Gioc Waterfall’s spectacular view in Cao Bang is autumn. This waterfall will not be as thunderous as in the rainy season (April to September).
- Buckwheat flower in Ha Giang
320 km away from Hanoi, Ha Giang is located at the northernmost point of Vietnam. Ha Giang is famous for its green mountains, gorgeous rivers, blow-minding roads, diverse culture and of course buckwheat flower. Don’t forget to see buckwheat flower at the end of autumn (September to November).
Tips for traveling to the North of Vietnam in Autumn
– Choose a prestigious local travel agency for Hanoi City Tours and Halong Bay Cruises so that you can enjoy the most attractive destinations in Northern Vietnam.
– Bring appropriate clothes. It will be a little bit cold in the evening, especially in the mountainous area.
– Prepare adequate gears and equipment for your hiking trip in the mountainous area.
– Enjoy Mid Autumn festival and try our delicious Moon Cake.
4. Winter in the North of Vietnam
Weather in the North of Vietnam during Winter
Weather in Vietnam during winter is different from north to south. Northern Vietnam endures a humid cold weather in the winter. The temperature may drop to below 10 degrees Celsius in the delta area. There may be snow in mountainous areas such as Sa Pa, Mau Son, and Ha Giang.
Best places to visit in the North of Vietnam in Winter?
- Snow in the mountainous areas
If you are interested in romantic snowy scenery, mountainous areas (Sa Pa, Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Dien Bien, Cao Bang, Lang Son, etc) are your destinations. Mount Mau Son (Lang Son Province) is considered an attractive place for snow watching. Surrounded by clouds and mountains, Mau Son is totally covered in white color in the winter which is spectacular to take photographs.
- Wildflowers in Moc Chau
From November to March is the ideal time to take photographs of flowery scenery in Moc Chau. Wildflowers and cabbage flowers are grown in the foothills which makes Moc Chau more dreamy and romantic.
- Lac Village in Mai Chau
140 km from Hanoi, Mai Chau offers you off-the-beaten-track experience with peaceful sceneries and unique ethnic culture. Lac Village is one of the most notable attractions in Mai Chau with emerald rice paddles, beautiful stilt houses and tasty specialties such as sticky rice cooked in bamboo cylinders and bitter bamboo shoots. Mai Chau Cycling Tours will help you to completely explore this beautiful small town and discover ethnic minorities’ culture.
Tips for traveling to the North of Vietnam in Winter
– Bring warm clothes, gloves, hats, and boots to protect you from chilly weather in the mountainous area.
– Prepare all necessary medicines, coldness may cause flu.
– Keep some snacks handy, hunger may reduce blood sugar level which is very dangerous in winter.
– Drink adequate water. Don’t forget chapstick.
– Don’t forget sunscreen: The winter sun can harm your skin as it is in the summer.
– The demand to visit the mountainous areas will be higher in the winter, so it will be hard for you to prepare transportation and book a hotel. Consult a reputable travel agency to plan your snow-watching trip in advance.
