Traveling Through Rainy Season In Vietnam

Traveling in Rainy Season - Source: Google.com

• 1. When does the Vietnam Rainy Season start?

Vietnam's climate has diverse divisions among regions, North, South, West and Central.

- Northern

Each year, the weather in the North of Vietnam has four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. This divergence occurs because the North has a humid subtropical climate. Located at a higher latitude than the South, West and Central, it is influenced by the Northeast monsoon. With the characteristic of a humid subtropical climate, the North will have cold winters and hot summers. Each season has the following characteristics:

+ Spring

Spring with chilly air, warm, mixed with a little drizzle on the street. This weather is very suitable on the occasion of the New Year, the traditional Tet in Vietnam, and many other festivals.

+ Summer

Summer in the North is extremely hot, sometimes up to 40 degreeC. Along with that, showers and thunderstorms often appear in the evening.

+ Fall

Autumn is probably the most beautiful season of the year when it rains less and the air is cool. No more feeling hot like summer or cold like winter coming.

+ Winter

Due to the influence of the Northeast monsoon, the weather in the North is quite cold in winter. Many places have snow, sometimes drizzle, especially on the occasion of the intersection between winter and spring.

In the North of Vietnam, there is no clear rainy season. In the summer, thunderstorms often appear in the afternoon or evening. If there is a band of tropical depressions, it is inevitable that rain lasts for about 2-3 days. Entering autumn, the weather seems to be more pleasant and also less rainy. Drizzle often occurs in winter when the cold weather lasts until the Lunar New Year.

In the Northwest and Northeast, the rainy season will start around April-May and last until July-August. Sometimes later depending on the year. In the Northeast, the rainy season falls around April and May and ends in October and November, sometimes earlier. Here, the typical climate in the rainy season is heavy rain, hot, low humidity.

- South

When the North is summer, the South has wind blowing from the Indian Ocean and the Bengal Bay. This type of wind carries a lot of water vapor and is easy to cause rain. The southern rainy season falls from May to October.

Rainfall in the Southern region is often uneven across the city. Rain tends to increase along the Southwest - Northeast axis. The southern climate in the rainy season is quite cool and is also the most pleasant time of the year.

Rain in the South accompanied by high tides led to flooding in some areas of the city. Causing difficulties in the process of moving and participating in traffic. The rainy season in the South in general and in Saigon in particular often happens very quickly. The rain comes and goes, it can rush down, but then it stops immediately, not for a long time.

- Central

If the North has 4 seasons, the Central has only 2 seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season in the central region starts later than in the north. Usually it starts in September and ends in February next year. However, depending on each year, the time of the rainy season will change differently. Rainfall in the Central region is very large, up to 3000 mm, there are times when it rains continuously without stopping.

September and October is the beginning of the rainy season in the Central region, this time the weather is typical in the afternoon and evening. Entering November, it is the beginning of the cold rainy season in the Central region. However, the cold does not cut the skin like the North. The rainy season in the Central region is also the season of storms and floods. Storms and heavy rains cause flooding everywhere, causing damage to both people and property.

- West

The West has a tropical monsoon climate and is sub-equatorial, so it has relatively pleasant weather. Unlike other regions in the country, the West has 2 distinct seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. The rainy season starts from May to November and the dry season from December to April next year.

Each season in the West has its own characteristics and attractions. It is possible to travel in May and June of the lunar calendar to enjoy delicious fresh fruits. Especially from August to November every year, the West enters the floating season, this is the best and most ideal period to visit the Western ecotourism areas.

• 2. Should I travel to Vietnam in the rainy season?

Actually, the rainy season can be considered as the best time to travel, from the most beautiful scenery to finding the lowest price hotel, etc.

- Avoid crowds

The fact that the tourist area is too crowded can make you lose the enjoyment and beautiful moments of having to share it with the crowd. Especially during the seasons with perfect weather for travel, you will have a bad experience when there is a huge volume of tourists.

In particular, you should consider watching the sunrise in Vietnam. Dawn is always the best way to ensure the most privacy, in any season. Everyone loves a beautiful sunset, but few are willing to get up early in the morning to go somewhere while it's still dark. You will have a more intimate and peaceful experience at some of the famous landmarks in Vietnam when traveling in the rainy season, which is a pretty good balance.

- Cheaper price

Many hotels, tours and activities will have different rates for high and low seasons. If you're traveling during peak tourist season, it's inevitable to pay high fees for almost everything along the way. Low travel seasons mean low travel demand, so you'll easily get the lowest prices, from accommodation to flights, meals, etc.

- The most beautiful scenery

The rainy seasons bring the best views: the trees are greener, the flowers bloom, the lakes and waterfalls are at their most vivid. The rainy season is the best time to travel if you are looking for the most spectacular tropical sights. Even with a little rain or fog, that just adds to the magic and really brings out the colors of nature.

In particular, in some areas in Vietnam, the end of the rainy season is the time when trees and flowers are in full bloom. There's usually about a two-week "transition" time before the dry season begins when you'll likely avoid most of the rain while also avoiding most of the tourists.

- Flexible freedom

During peak seasons you can really put your hotels, flights, trains, tours and other activities at risk when booked weeks in advance, so you won't have much freedom. to make last minute changes. But during the rainy season, it's usually easy to find a room at any hotel with just a day or two notice. The same goes for booking last-minute transportation and activities.

Traveling is an invitation to adventure and experiencing the unknown, so it doesn't hurt to get off the plane with an open mind and give yourself the chance to make changes along the way. 

- Great light for photos

While your first instinct might think that blue skies and sunshine will make the best photos, this is often not the case. Bright sunlight can lead to overexposed and washed out photos. Often these conditions can distract from the beauty of the landscape. Instead, shoot with a cloudy sky for a more even and soft light, bringing out vibrant colors and intricate details that are lost in bright sunlight.

• 3. What should be prepared to travel in the rainy season?

- Check the weather forecast frequently

Before planning a trip, it is very important to keep a close eye on weather information. Utilities, weather forecasts, as well as information on newspapers and radio stations are now updated very quickly and accurately, especially within the next few days.

In addition, knowing information about the rainy season in the destination is also important to consider before going.

- For carry-on products, consider using suitable and quick-drying items

In the rainy season, when traveling, it is necessary to avoid wearing tight clothes, when wet, the clothes will be soaked in water, which is very uncomfortable, takes a long time to dry, causing itching and redness. Should choose clothes of light, quick-drying materials, waterproof jackets, etc. Shoes with drainage holes or rubber sandals are preferred, high heels or casual sports shoes will not be suitable because they are difficult to move or easily damaged in the rain.

If you bring cameras and electronic devices, it is best to prepare a waterproof backpack or a raincoat specifically for the backpack. More carefully, you can use plastic bags to wrap each item, important identification documents or even clothes and shoes if necessary.

- Bringing raincoat and umbrella

When traveling in the rainy season, it is definitely indispensable for a raincoat and umbrella in your luggage. When it's not pouring severely and you're only going a short distance, an umbrella comes in useful. Raincoat used when it rains heavily or when there is an extended trip outdoors.

- Personal medicine bag

Traveling in the rainy season is still best to bring personal medicine bags such as flu medicines, sticking plasters, anti-bug spray, medicated oil, common antibiotics, etc. If possible, bring a mini hair dryer, it will be very handy when you need to handle wet items when traveling in the rainy season.

- Make a lot of backup plans for the trip

Prepare a variety of transportation options, attractions, entertainment and restaurants in case the weather changes unexpectedly. If it rains a little, you can search for addresses near the hotel such as museums, entertainment areas, art galleries or indoor attractions. Unfortunately you can not visit famous places, do not forget to explore the local cuisine.

If it rains too heavily, choose locations near hotels, complexes, or shopping centers. Or you can sip coffee right at the hotel bar, or other cafes with a beautiful indoor view.

You should also be ready to pay more because a lot of unforeseen circumstances might occur.

- Notes on the move

Make sure your vehicle meets safety standards, has good brakes, tires with enough grip, lights, turn signals, etc.

- Transportation

In the rainy season, many streets in Saigon will be flooded, so you should choose to travel by taxi, public transport or on foot. Currently, instead of taxis, Saigon has many car call services like Grab, GoCar, Be, etc.

• 4. Where to go in the rainy season in Saigon?

Like other regions in southern Vietnam, the rainy season in Saigon lasts from April to the end of September. The rainy season in Saigon is mostly thunderstorms. When the weather is sunny, it will suddenly rain, the rain will pass very quickly. Therefore, if there is careful preparation, these rains will hardly affect the travel schedule.

Places you can visit in the rainy season in Saigon such as:

- Visit the museum.

When going to outdoor tourist attractions, you can choose to go to museums in Ho Chi Minh City. Right in the city center, there are many museums about history, war remnants, Ao Dai museum, etc. A few places include:

+ Independence Palace: This is one of the most famous places when coming to Ho Chi Minh City. This is the place to witness many imprints in the history of Vietnam and is also the place to mark the milestone of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country on April 30, 1975.

+ Ho Chi Minh City Museum: This is a place to keep a lot of antiques, artifacts, historical evidence, etc. associated with the construction of Vietnam, has an area of ​​up to 1,700m² and is designed as a mansion with neoclassical French architecture.

+ War Remnants Museum: This is the most visited place by tourists with more than 20,000 photos and artifacts, movies, recreating the fierce war period of the country. With images of "tiger cage", Viet Minh guillotine, etc. making viewers shudder at the brutality of war.

+ Vietnam History Museum: When it was first established, the museum only had 2,893 antiquities, but up to now, it has 30,000 valuable artifacts and 25,000 books and documents serving research functions. historical education, propaganda, publication, marketing,...

+ Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts: The museum area is divided into two main areas: ancient art, traditional handicrafts and contemporary art. There are a lot of art works and precious objects on display here such as Resistance sketches, works of painters from Indochina School, Gia Dinh, etc.

These are places that feature Vietnam's memorabilia in the past, and are also beautiful check-in places chosen by many young people.

- Saigon cafes

Enjoy delicious Vietnamese coffee while watching the beauty of the city in the rain at beautiful cafes in Saigon.

- Enjoy the food

You can enjoy typical dishes of Saigon when traveling in the rainy season. Grilled dishes, Hot pot or Pho, etc. are the dishes you can choose when coming to Saigon.

- Shopping mall

- Indoor play area