If you’re interested in traveling to a tropical paradise, why not make South Vietnam your next destination? Its blue waters, pristine white sand, diverse wildlife, and stunning landscapes will certainly expand your horizons. Let’s take a look at the best time to visit South Vietnam. Related Tour: Vietnam family holiday packages 2023 (17 days)
Choose FTrip’s tour now to have a great experience in Indochina:
Read more: BEST TIME TO VISIT VIETNAM & WEATHER EACH MONTH
Typical weather in South Vietnam
Many places in the South can be called “the land of eternal summer” without hyperbole. To be specific, outside of the rains that plague the cities and towns from June to September, the South certainly does enjoy more sunlight (an average of 2,400 to 3,000 hours) compared to the rest of the country (for example, Hanoi has a measly 1,590 sun hours), owing to their proximity to the equator. To a certain degree, the famed Southern hospitality, sunny disposition, and laid-back mannerisms mimic the climate of their home.
It only has two seasons compared to four in the North: dry and rainy. The annual average temperature is in the range of 25°C and 35°C, with little difference between day and night.
Read more: VIETNAM 14 DAYS ITINERARY (2 WEEKS) FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
READ MORE: 10 DAYS IN VIETNAM ITINERARY – BEST VIETNAM 10 DAY ITINERARY FOR YOU
Best time to visit South Vietnam
Foreigners and locals alike running from the bitter cold of the North and the dreary tail end of the rainy season in Central Vietnam often pick the South as an ideal destination in December. (Christmas getaways need to be booked well in advance.)
By January, this area has definitively entered the dry season, making beaches and the sea appealing. Be careful not to travel here in the midst of Tet (Lunar New Year, typically at the end of January and start of February) – the country shuts down for a week to celebrate, and you might find yourself bereft of things to do, see, or even eat. The run-up to Tet is fine, as it lends the atmosphere a uniquely festive air.
Between March and May is the best time to visit South Vietnam toward the North, with things warming up as you go. Next, From June to August, downpours plague the South, putting a halt on lazing by the sea or trekking.
Temperatures continue to increase as rain abates, beginning in September. Finally, by October and November, things will have dried out sufficiently for you to enjoy a trip down the Mekong River.
Read more: TOP 20 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN VIETNAM 2022/2023
Beautiful places to travel in South Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
Compared to the current capital (Hanoi) and former ones (Hoa Lu or Hue), Ho Chi Minh City is the youngest of the family. However, fitting for its age, the city (still popularly and affectionately known by one of its former names, Saigon) is vibrant, metropolitan, and lively.
Its architecture has been well-preserved from French colonial times, with many buildings around the city strongly reflecting French influence: the Municipal Theatre resembling the Palais Garnier in Paris, the Saigon Central Post Office, and the nearby imposing Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. In addition, the city’s street life is one for the books, with public events, performances, and community ceremonies being held often, and its street food is par excellence.
Mekong Delta
This fertile area has well-earned the epithet of “the granary of Vietnam”. Irrigated and nourished by the Mekong River with water and silt (Cuu Long River in Vietnamese, the “nine dragons” of its name referring to the nine mouths of the river flowing into the East Sea), the area consistently produces some of the best agricultural accomplishment the country has to offer.
You can take cruises or boat tours down the river and see how the people live in “the land of river water”, visit floating markets where goods are sold from boats, or tour an orchard or a coconut production facility (available in Ben Tre, where the multipurpose coconut tree has become an entire industry sustaining the livelihood of many).
Read more: 7 DAYS IN VIETNAM – BEST VIETNAM 1 WEEK ITINERARY FOR YOU
Mui Ne
In addition to the charming coastline that many Central and Southern provinces share, Mui Ne is also home to the sand dunes: the only desert in Vietnam. It was formed thanks to the wind and waves moving sand further into the land, where sand dunes formed and were anchored down as plant life takes root. At the same time, they are also called “đồi cát bay” (“flying sand dunes”, or shifting sands) because their shape changes every day, even every hour, with the caprices of the wind. Late afternoons are the best time to view and travel among this spectacular landscape; you can rent ATVs and Jeeps to traverse the dunes, and even slide down them for a thrilling experience.
Phu Quoc & Con Dao
Speaking of Phu Quoc, what immediately springs to mind for most Viet people is their famous fish sauce, black pepper, or even prized ridgeback dogs. This is the largest island in Vietnam, home to a booming tourist town thanks to its sapphire waters and white sands. Its sea is one of the richest fishing grounds of the country.
Here, adventurous divers can swim among coral reefs or seagrass beds. It’s accessible by an international airport that connects the island with the mainland and some countries by direct flight. Furthermore, there is also a 30-day visa-free program for eligible foreign travelers.
For a long time, Con Dao’s name was synonymous with the brutal French prison where patriots were tortured and executed, the largest incarceration facility pre-1975. Nowadays, this archipelago of magmatic rocks attracts visitors not only because of its history, but also for its wondrous natural sights and diverse ecosystem.
A concerted effort to conserve the rare flora and fauna of the region is being carried out. From April to October, park rangers (sometimes assisted by tourists) become “midwives” for the endangered sea turtles to safely deliver their babies and return to the sea.
READ MORE: 3 WEEK TRIP TO VIETNAM – A BEST ITINERARY IN 3 WEEK
Phan Thiet
The popularity of this port city as a tourist destination can be chalked down to a celestial event: the solar eclipse on October 24, 1995. Travelers flocking here to observe the eclipse found Rang Beach (accidentally labeled Mui Ne by many guidebooks, causing a sustained misunderstanding among foreign visitors for years afterward).
Since then, resorts, tourist facilities, and more have sprung up to take advantage of the city’s natural gifts, though not with the same density as what you might find in Nha Trang, leaving the locals room to breathe. Ham Tien Ward boasts the Suoi Tien (Fairy Stream), a small, short creek flowing past vibrantly red sandstone, creating a scene straight out of Penglai – the mythical land where kindhearted supernatural beings dwell and frolic in serenity.
READ MORE: PHO VIET NAM – THE MOST FAMOUS FOOD IN THE WORLD
Choose Ftrip’s tours now:
- Photography tour Vietnam
- Saigon To Mekong Delta Tour Package
- The Remarkable Ha Giang Loop Tour 3 Days 2 Nights
- Best Of Vietnam And Cambodia Tour Package (14 Days)
- Siem Reap Angkor Wat Tour Package: The Historic Journey Through In 9 Days
- Halong Bay Vietnam Holiday Packages (Daily Tour) 2022/2023
As the world opens up after a difficult period, the need to unwind and engage in an active community becomes even more urgent as we re-establish connections with ourselves and others. You have known the best time to visit south Vietnam so a holiday in the sunny lands of South Vietnam might be just the thing for you, as you feel your cares swept away by the cool waters.
