It’s always difficult to find the best time to visit Vietnam as it has a tropical-monsoon climate but the period from December to February coincides with lower rainfall and temperatures in the main cities. Sample the mouth-watering flavours of Vietnamese cuisine, take in the varied history – from French colonial architecture to the Vietnam War, and just soak up the culture of this place – it’s like nowhere you’ve experience before!
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Hanoi
When: Winter (Dec – Feb)
Flight time: 11hrs 27mins
Average day temp: Dec 18⁰C /Jan 17⁰C /Feb 17⁰C
Ho Chi Minh City
When: Winter (Dec – Feb)
Flight time: 12hrs 35mins
Average day temp: Dec 27⁰C /Jan 27⁰C /Feb 28⁰C
Highlights
- Hoi An – meander around the old town, sample some delicious Vietnamese cuisine and get yourself some clothes made by a local tailor whilst you relax at the slower pace.
- Hanoi – just wander around the old quarter, soak up the atmosphere and wonder at the feats of ingenuity; produce piled high on bikes, hundreds of cables crisscrossing the streets and the ability of tens of scooters to effortlessly navigate pedestrians crossing the road.
- Ho Chi Minh City – famous for its French influence and the role it played in the Vietnam War, be sure to check out the Củ Chi Tunnels to truly appreciate the struggle for freedom.
- Ha Long Bay – take a junk boat out to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the emerald waters dotted with thousands of limestone islands covered in vibrant greenery.
- Sample some famous Vietnamese drip coffee – it’s strong but if you have it white, it’s usually made with condensed milk which really takes the edge off of it.