Good tips for going to Vietnam in July and August

July and August are the long school holidays in the States, so why not take advantage of them to come and take a trip to Vietnam with your family? There are so many things to see, to discover, so many people to meet and so many friendly moments to share with family in the land of the Dragon. You can enjoy the beauty of Vietnam, from the majestic mountains of Upper Tonkin, the territory of colorful tribes, to the cultural and natural riches of the Center, ending in the nonchalant Eden of the Mekong Delta. July and August, they’re two months synonymous with summer in Vietnam during which nature regenerates with its intense but brief beneficial rains.

What to see in Northern Vietnam in July and August?

It’s midsummer in Northern Vietnam. In July, young Vietnamese schoolchildren are also on vacation. It is hot and the days alternate with bright sunshine and intense but brief and refreshing rains. It is advisable at this time to choose a hotel with a swimming pool in Hanoi, especially when you’re going with children. In the valleys and mountains, the rice is very green and tends to turn yellow at the end of August. The harvest is coming! If you don't suffer too much from the heat, it's a good time to go hiking to admire the splendid rice terraces, especially at the end of August when the temperatures drop a little.

Due to the violent storms that can occur at this time of year in the Gulf of Tonkin, the authorities may cancel the cruise in Halong Bay for safety reasons. But if the weather is good then swimming in the jade-colored waters of the East Sea and delicious moments of relaxation on the beaches of Cat Ba Island or in the lost coves of the karst maze of the spectacular Lan Ha Bay, neighboring Halong Bay, are yours.

What to see in Central Vietnam in July and August?

It is also hot everywhere in Central Vietnam. It is therefore preferable to organize cultural visits early in the morning to avoid the heat and then go and relax and enjoy the sea afterward. Even Hue, the cultural capital of Vietnam, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has superb beaches where you can enjoy seaside pleasures. Hoi An, Danang, Quy Nhon, or Nha Trang are destinations that also perfectly combine beach pleasures and cultural discoveries.

If you want a little more freshness, then you will have to go to the old health resort from the colonial era Da Lat. Perched at an altitude of 1,500 meters in the Central Highlands, Da Lat City rejoices in a temperate climate all year round. Here you can enjoy its refreshing natural setting with its lush green hills, pine forests, spectacular lakes, and waterfalls, or take a dip in Buon Me Thuot, the coffee capital of Vietnam, and the larger Lak Lake natural freshwater lake in the Central Highlands, that can also be good options to avoid the heat.

What to see in the South of Vietnam in July and August?

In the South of Vietnam, it is hot during July and August and the intense but brief showers are very refreshing. The rain that falls in abundance regenerates nature. In the Mekong Delta, the vegetation is superb this season, adorned with a luminous green. The Mekong, its canals, and its arroyos are swollen with water and fishermen have a field day catching Mekong catfish in particular.

This is the season when we find the most fruits in the orchards of the Mekong Delta. You can then enjoy longans called “dragon’s eye” in Vietnamese, mangoes, pineapple, watermelon, etc. In July and August; the Tra Su cajuput forest in the Chau Doc region reveals all its natural beauty and it is nesting season for some of the many species of birds that inhabit this sanctuary.

Seaside stay in Vietnam during this period

Rainy season obliges, leaving aside the island of Phu Quoc and the seaside resort of Mui Ne where the weather is gloomy and the sea is rough. On the other hand, the months of July and August constitute a good season to explore the marine park of the Con Dao archipelago where this season, you can observe the laying of sea turtles. The weather is ideal in the Center to enjoy from the beach. Be careful in July, there are more people in the seaside resorts of Danang, Quy Nhon, and Nha Trang due to the Vietnamese school holidays. Prefer August if you plan to go to the magnificent Cat Ba Island to enjoy seaside pleasures and to take a cruise in the magical Lan Ha Bay, the little sister of Halong Bay.

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