Planning Your Vietnam Trip: A Preread

Seems like everyone is flocking to Vietnam, and not just for a holiday. It’s true, the country is extremely easy to access and is oh-so-very livable with bustling cities, stunning landscapes and a warm culture to top it all off. You could slow travel here, work remotely as a digital nomad, or hop all around South East Asia as a backpacker. I started building my month-long solo itinerary based on some research; there are only a few things to consider when it comes to planning your Vietnam trip. The Weather The S-shaped country with a coastal length of 1650 km is extremely complex for weather prediction. You could be enjoying the bright sun and blue skies in the South while the capital in the North is shrouded in fog for days on end. The elevation plays a key role, so always look up a city’s weather (even if it's a few hours away!) before you add it to your route. Though the country offers postcard-perfect spots for half the year, it’s agreed that May to October makes everything a bit unbearable. Here’s why:

1. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can cause cancellations to cruise bookings, delays in timings of most transport options, and inoperative cable cars, speedboats, etc.

2. Humidity touches an all time high, especially on the islands where touching 44.1°C sometimes means a school holiday and shutting down the city to cool off inside 

3. Chilly winds are a surprising addition in the beginning months up North, the cold coming in from Siberia, Japan, and Korea
   

   

   Son Tra Peninsula shrouded in rain clouds during March - Da Nang, Vietnam

Pro Tip:  If you’re in the least worried about the weather, do not book weather-dependent activities ahead of time (ex: cruises, paragliding, snorkelling and dives, etc)Pack layers if you’re moving all around the country - windcheaters, fast dry clothes, shorts, layered shirts, and plenty of shorts. Better yet, shop in Vietnam according to the weather on the ground and your wardrobe back home won’t mind either!

The Geography The variable weather is actually a direct result of the elevation and geography which offers some wins too if you’re planning a longer trip or touching on multiple countries in SEA. While it can get overwhelming when planning (honestly, there’s so much to experience), prioritize a few places that are best visited in your window of time instead of trying to do it all. 

1. If Sapa is on your list as it rightly should, pick your visit around the harvest cycle of the iconic terraced rice fields. In Spring (Mar-May), the weather is pleasant for trekking and outdoor activities and the fields are often spotted with young blooms. Autumn (Sept-Nov) transforms the landscape into rich golden waves of tall grown rice paddies 

2. If you’re crossing over to Laos, club it with the cities in Central Vietnam like Hue, Hoi An or Da Nang as this is where the country cinches off with the width at a mere 50km. You can practically see the mountains beyond which another country awaits, how cool is that! 

3. Crachin is a French word that means a faint, persistent drizzle, one you’ll experience in the Red River Delta, painting the place gray between months of Jan and March. Locals go about their day despite this, their raincoats extending to two-wheelers and non las covered in a plastic sheet. If this weather usually brings you sickness, then head to the coastal lowlands of the South where the same months are drier. 
   

   

   Spring in Sapa, Vietnam

   
   

Pro Tip: Since Vietnam offers deltas, mountain ranges, tropical lowlands, islands, cave systems and more, hop from North to South to explore a true difference in the geography and experience the cultural impact.

Local Events and Festivals The Vietnamese are a rooted and culturally proud people – celebrating the communal spirit, their ancestors, the land, and the freedom post the war period. To truly immerse yourself in their vibrant heritage, plan your itinerary to include at least one of their main events. 

1. Tet is the largest, unified celebration in the city akin to the New Year when it comes to the scale. Paper flowers are made months before, houses are deep cleaned, beer is swapped out for traditional rice wine. The country comes alive like no other in lively Hanoi and whimsical Hoi An, both offering a different experience 

2. Lantern Festival in Hoi An is a monthly affair that transforms the French Riviera of the East into a colorful wonderland under the full moon, with an absolutely romantic air 

3. Lim Festival occurs in Bac Ninh Province around the mid of Feb and is a 3-day cultural experience, complete with rituals, colorful costumes, lion dances, and the UNESCO-recognized folk signing called Quan Ho

4. Moon Festival or Tet Trung Thu is a harvest celebration in the beginning of Oct that enjoyed with families coming together, lanterns, moon cakes, and dances - all of which culturally leans towards children and their merriment 

5. In and around Sapa, you can witness two weekly markets, both designed for the intermingling of minority tribes in the mountains. The Love Market happens every Saturday at the Sapa Town Square, celebrating young love with parasol dancing, khene music and corn wine. The next day morning, travel up to Bac Ha for the Sunday Local Market - an explosion of color as the tribes sell their wares and trade livestock
   

Pro Tip: If you cannot manage the tourist overflow during the peak festival months, then arrive a little earlier to the places to catch the locals in their high spirits and even participate in the making of local offerings for the different festivals. You could also just tune into the monthly and weekly celebrations for a more intimate experience.

Ready to move on to the other boring parts like insurance, paperwork and other icky parts of your Vietnam trip planning? Don’t worry, I’ve got that covered as well, with inputs from a community of 500+ travelers, read here!