The best months to visit Vietnam, the ‘Land of Ascending Dragon’, are during February to April and August to October. This means you can plan your vacation to Vietnam during spring and autumn. The temperature is pleasant and moderate, and rainfall is light during this time, contributing to a wonderful vacation mood.

So, if you are planning to visit this place, get all the details here about the best time to visit Vietnam and places you can explore during these seasons.

You can enjoy your vacation in Vietnam at any time of the year. However, weather plays a significant role. Suppose you love trekking and want to indulge in outdoor activities. In this case, the best time to travel to Vietnam is from February to April, i.e., spring, and from August to October, i.e., autumn.

Here is a detail of each of these time periods to help you with your travel plan:

Autumn Season

• Time Period: August to October
• Temperature range: 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
• Average Rainfall: 67 mm to 766 mm

Autumn season in Vietnam starts in September and extends till mid of November, making October the best month to visit Vietnam. In central Vietnam, it is the peak rainy season. However, in South Vietnam, it is humid and relatively cold, making it a pleasant time to visit Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta.

Additionally, you can expect cheap flight and hotel accommodation packages during this time as they are shoulder months. Therefore, tourists or international travellers will seldom crowd these places during this time.

August is the best time to visit Vietnam’s Central coast as both Hoi An and Da Nang bask in sunny weather. The September months await a major harvest festival. The October and November months provide excellent opportunities for trekking and cycling. For beach lovers, you might be able to view stunning beach sunsets during this time.

However, here are some of the things you can do in Vietnam during autumn season:

1. Get awestruck at the natural landscape of Sa Pa, comprising green mountains, quaint hamlets, and terraced rice fields.

2. Explore the stunning landscapes of Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi.

3. Enjoy the scenic beauty of Halong Bay, along with cruising and kayaking.

4. Experience the natural floral carpet of the Buckwheat flowers on the Ha Giang plateau.

5. Fall in love with the cascading Ban Gioc waterfall.

6. Enjoy white beaches of the Con Dao Islands.

7. Experience the festival of harvesting crops, Tet Trung Thu.

Spring Season

• Time Period: February to April
• Temperature range: 20 to 30 degrees Celsius
• Average Rainfall: 43 mm

Spring in Vietnam begins in February and lasts till April. Although it is humid and sweltering in the Southern regions of Vietnam, it is cool in Central Vietnam. Therefore, it is the best season to visit Vietnam and explore the beaches and islands of this place. However, if you plan to visit northern Vietnam, ensure that you pack warm clothes.

February comes with dry and warm weather and is ideal for trekking and cycling. March is the beginning of the peak season as the southern region of Vietnam starts heating up. April comes with pleasant weather, a clear and rain-free azure sky if you plan to spend time with your family.

Here are the places to visit in Vietnam during this season:

1. Explore and cruise around the beautiful Halong Bay limestone islands.

2. Visit Hoi An hamlet to enjoy the rustic charm of the place.

3. Enjoy peach and plum blossoms of Sapa Town.

4. View rich colours of the Dong Van stone plateau in Ha Giang, one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam.

Monsoon Season

• Time Period: July to early August
• Temperature range: - 16 degrees to 23 degrees Celsius
• Average Rainfall/Snowfall: 255 mm

You must not plan your Vietnam vacation during monsoon months, i.e., from May to early August. During the month of July, avoid visiting Hanoi as it causes heavy rainfall leading to washed-out roads and unbearable humidity. If you are planning to trek, it is better not to choose this activity in August.

Avoid visiting North Vietnam during the months from May till August as it receives heavy rainfall for a span of 7-8 days. Similarly, avoid travelling to South Vietnam between May and mid-November as the rainfall in Southern Vietnam is more than in North.

However, in Hoi An (Central Vietnam), heavy rainfall happens during the month of October, and there is a risk of flooding too. During November, avoid visiting Da Nang's beaches as high tides are dangerous during this month. Likewise, avoid visiting Halong Bay from May to October due to heavy rainfall.

Apart from the monsoon months, avoid the scorching heat of the summer months in Vietnam. It is too hot and uncomfortable to explore the place during this time.

Dubai is at its hottest during the summer months of April to August. If you are planning a budget trip to Dubai from India, this is your ideal time of visit. The airline fares are cheapest at this time as well. You can also get the best deals on hotels as the number of tourists are less at this time.

Since the weather remains extremely hot, avoid going out of your hotel or homestay during the daytime. Popular countries in the UAE, like Dubai, have excellent nightlife, which you can witness when the temperatures fall down a bit. For more relaxation, you can visit the beaches in Dubai during August.

If you are a travel enthusiast and want to explore the unknown and famous places in Vietnam, here are certain things you must keep in mind before visiting:

• Cover your shoulders and knees and avoid wearing hats when visiting any pagoda or temple.
• You must have a visa before travelling to Vietnam as most tourists require a visa to travel to Vietnam.
• Since Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate, you will experience high humidity throughout the year. The weather is unpredictable, and you might also get frequent downpours.
• During the peak season, try to purchase your bus and local transport tickets ahead of time to avoid the last-minute rush.
• Get yourself a local SIM card for seamless communication.
• You will need Vietnamese Dong and US dollars to travel around Vietnam.
• Try to negotiate when you visit the markets and purchase something for yourself.

As you plan your vacation to Vietnam, here are some tips you must follow:

• Try to have a grasp of a few basic Vietnamese phrases and words as you venture out to explore the place.
• If you plan to explore Vietnam on a bike, you must have a valid driving licence from your home country.
• To book local transport ahead of time, you can view the train, bus, and boat schedules by downloading an app.
• Pack according to the weather conditions during your visit since it is very variable in Vietnam.
• Plan your Vietnam itinerary accordingly whether you want to travel to North, South, or Central Vietnam.
• Try to get a taste of the local cuisine such as Pho, Cha ca, Goi cuon, Bun cha, Nem Ran, etc.

Knowing the local language while travelling is helpful. This way, you will not have to struggle to communicate with the locals. Here is a list of some basic phrases that you must know while travelling to Vietnam:

• Hello – Xin chao!
• Goodbye – Tam biet
• Thank you – Cam un ban
• You are welcome – Khong co gi
• Please – Lam on
• Yes – Vang
• No – Khong
• How are you? – Ban khoe khong
• I am fine, Thank you – Toi khoe, cam on!
• Good – Tot
• Bad – Xau
• Excuse me – Xin loi
• Excuse me ( to a waiter ) – Anh oi
• Excuse me ( to a waitress ) – Chi oi
• Can you help me? - Ban co the giup toi duc khong?
• How much? – Bao nhieu?
• Very expensive – Qua dat
• I like – Toi thich
• Can you reduce the price? – Ban co the giam gia?
• May I have the menu? - Toi co the co thu c don khong?
• I would like to have this – Toi muon co cai nay
• Cold – Lanh
• Hot – Nong buc
• No ice – Khong co da
• No sugar – Khong du ong
• I am sick – Toi bi om
• Call the police – Goi canh sat
• I need to go to the hospital – Toi can den benh vien

Here is a list of pronouns you must remember while communicating:

• I – Toi
• You – Ban
• Male (senior) – Anh
• Male (junior) - Em
• Female (senior) - Chi
• Female (junior) – Em

The numericals are as follows:

• Mot - One
• Hai - Two
• So ba - Three
• Bon - Four
• So nam - Five
• Sau – Six
• Bay - Seven
• Tam - Eight
• Chin - Nine
• Mu o I – Ten

Related to locations:

• Where is the bathroom? – nha ve sinh o dau
• Where is the ATM? - ATM o dau
• Coffee shop – Quan ca phe
• Bar – Qyan ba
• Go to the airport – Di den san bay
• Hotel – Khach san

So now that you have all the information about the best time to visit Vietnam, you must plan your itinerary beforehand. Additionally, it is recommended to have a valid travel insurance policy before you visit this place. This will ensure you have financial coverage during any emergency, whether it is a medical or personal loss. This includes loss of baggage, theft, hotel and flight cancellation, and any injury. Thus, you will be able to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.