Visiting Vietnam in October

Visit in early October, and you can still see the golden fields of rice ready to harvest. The valley around Mu Cang Chai is one of the best places to enjoy the sight, or you can cycle past the fields around Ninh Binh and Pu Luong. There are plenty more adventures to find too: ride the Ha Giang loop by motorbike, or meet one of the many ethnic groups living in the area at Pan Hou. It’s a perfect time to find out more about Vietnam’s hill tribes; head out trekking in Sapa, sleeping in a homestay for an experiences that’ll transport you far from the usual tourist track, stay in a stilted house in Mai Hich, or visit the Thai tribe in Mai Chau

October is also a great month to get out onto the water, for some of the clearest days at both Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, where it’s pleasantly warm with cooling breezes and far less rain this month. Or head out onto the lakes at Ba Be National Park, where you can kayak or trek to waterfalls.

South Vietnam

The sun is also slowly coming back in the south. It can be windy this month in Mui Ne, but is usually dry, while the rain is also easing off in Phu Quoc and Con Dao, where the last of the baby turtles are hatching this month. Ho Chi Minh City is less rainy too, though still as hot as ever, and while you could plan a Mekong river cruise or visit to Cat Tien National Park this month, it pays to put these two off for even better weather in November.

Central Vietnam

In Central Vietnam, it’s the rainiest time of the year, with heavy storms, floods and even a chance of typhoons, and even the beaches of Nha Trang in the south will be wet – around half their annual rain falls in October and November. While the weather isn’t quite so bad in Dalat and the Central Highlands, the rainy season doesn’t finish here until the end of the month, so it’s another one to postpone.

Festivals: The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place on the full moon which sometimes falls in early October, with lanterns lit to make the most of the darker nights, dragon and lion dances, as well as a chance for people to get together and give thanks for the harvest. Don’t miss the mooncakes.

Best for: Trekking and hiking in northern Vietnam, cruising in the bays, rice harvest