From ravishing beaches to mysterious astonishing caves, from sacred temples to tranquil villages, Central Vietnam is probably the most striking Vietnam has to offer. This is an region of great cultures, historical significance, tasty cuisines and amiable people. For those visiting , make sure you don’t miss these best places to visit in Central Vietnam,

Central Vietnam Overview

Central Vietnam consists of 3 administration regions:

• North Central Coast: contains the coastal provinces in the northern half of Vietnam’s narrow central part. They all stretch from the coast in the east to Laos in the west.
•  South Central Coast: contains the coastal provinces in the southern half of Vietnam’s central part. One province borders Laos.
• Central Highlands: contains the mountainous provinces to the west of south-central Vietnam. There are a significant number of ethnic minorities in the region. One province is along Vietnam’s border with Laos, and four border Cambodia (Kon Tum borders both Laos and Cambodia).

 

Best cultural & Local experiences in Central Vietnam

+ Hoi An :

Hoi An was once a major vibrant trading port in Southeast Asia between the 15th and 19th centuries. As now, it’s architecture temples and street plan still reflect the influences, yet still have its own indigenous, making the town to be one of the most desired destination in the world. It would be a huge miss if you take on a trip to Central of Vietnam without Hoi An. There are a wide range activities that Hoi An has to offer, from amazing sightseeing to fun engaging experiences such as be a farmer, riding buffalo, etc.

+ Visit Garden House – Thuy Bieu Villages:

Surrounded by romantic perfume River, Thuy Bieu Villages is a wonderful places to get to know about Hue local life style, the serenity as well as mighty history of the charming ancient city.  Thuy Bieu Village is known for its immense grape fruits gardens – The grape fruit – Thanh Tra one proccesses a very unique special tasted that used to be provided for the Royal Families only.  There are numerous fun activities such as visiting the ancient houses, the relic Tiger arena, ancient house and craft making in Thuy Bieu, having local homely lunch, taking a herbal foot bath and relaxing on the dragon boat along the Perfume river on return.

 

Best beaches in Central Vietnam

 

The most stunning spots in Central Vietnam

+ Son Doong Caves:

Off-the beaten paths in Central Vietnam

+ Cham Island

+ Quy Nhon

Quy Nhon is an underrated destination in Central Vietnam.  It is known for transquil beach town and super cheap yet fresh seafood. Offering an authentically local experience, there’s virtually no gimmicky restaurant or bar in this quiet town and if you’re looking to do some sightseeing, notable landmarks here include the Binh Dinh Museum, Thap Doi Cham Towers, and Long Khanh Pagoda

+ Phong Nha Ke Bang

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a popular option for adventurous travellers looking to explore its many limestone caves and grottoes. Set within the Quang Binh Province, it’;s home to the world’;s largest cave, Son Doong, with sections reaching up to 200m in height, as well as Paradise Cave, which boasts spectacular shapes of limestone stalactites and stalagmites. Entrance to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park costs VND 40,000, plus additional fees (between VND 80,000 and VND 150,000) to enter the caves. Hiking, mountain-biking, and cave expeditions are regularly organised by tour operators in Vietnam.

Hai Van Pass

The most memorable adventure to have in central Vietnam is to drive along the Hai Van Pass. Hai Van means “the pass of rising sea” due to the daily phenomena of clouds filling a gap between the rolling hills. Hire a motorbike or hop in a taxi and take a full day to drive the scenic road from Hoi An to Hue. Alternatively, you could join an organized tour.

Along the Hai Van Pass, most travelers stop at the Elephant Springs to cool off, but there are numerous waterfalls to be discovered. Don’t miss Dam Cầu Hai, the largest saltwater lagoon in Vietnam with its colorful fishing boats, or the Lập An Lagoon where the sea meets mountains and oysters grow in abundance.

The pristine Chan May Bay remains undiscovered. The entire beach is virtually empty, except for a few local food shacks and the occasional local floating on the crystal-clear waters on an old tire.

Pleiku – The hidden germ in the highland

People may be interested in Da Lat, Nha Trang or Buon Ma Thuot, however, I myself am always lured by un-noted small town like Pleiku. Though it is the capital of Gia Lai province, Pleiku is not as popular as the brother Buon Ma Thuot which is known for the top-notch cafe, mighty Drey-Nur, Dray-Sap waterfalls and colorful spring festivals. Pleiku is more like a quiet and humble princess in the central highlands of Vietnam.

Ninh Van Bay – Luxury

Unlike hectic Nha Trang which is packed with numerous tourists coming from all over the world, an isolated bay with 20-minute boat, Ninh Van Bay is a excellent destinations. This fairy-tale peninsula may lure you with private eco- friendly villas looking over the sea, outstanding cuisine, butler service as well as the chance to scuba-dive and spa.

 

Hanoi – Halong Bay and Sapa are located in Northern Vietnam. Therefore the weather share the same patterns. In the recent years, the weather in Vietnam is fluctuated and it is hard to give form predictions of each month as it can be changed from day to day. However, in this article, we will offer some general suggestions and how to make the most of your trip even in the bad weather. Let’s explore!

See more: Best time to visit Vietnam and suggested places month-to- month

North Vietnam (Hanoi – Halong Bay – Sapa) Weather in general

Hanoi – Halong Bay and Sapa are located in Northern Vietnam. Unlike weather in the South, North Vietnam weather has 4 distinct seasons:

August to October:  the weather is quite pleasant in North vietnam, not too hot and not too cold. However there is still some typhoons in the early of August.

November to March: Northeast monsoon, the temperature can drop to 4oC, especially at night.

December – January: Driest month of the year.  December and January in particular can get quite frosty in the far north of Vietnam — pack accordingly.

July and August: Wettest months of the year.

April – May: Spring time – everything

May – July: Summer time with scorching weather of the  year.

When is the best time to visit Hanoi?

Basically, you can visit Hanoi all year round. However, the most pleasant time to visit Hanoi is August to November, when Hanoi is in the autumn weather. Everything is just cool down am relaxed after scorching summer. Hanoi in this weather is just as beautiful as a charming girl. Leaves are falling on the pathways and there are remnants of bloomed flowers from the past Hanoi climate. Don’t forget to bring your camera along as many beautiful sights are encountered in your way.

From December to early March, Hanoi enters winter season, which is the coldest time of year. It is also the driest month of the years. The temperature is around 10oC to 18oC. The cold weather is perfect time to enjoy a hot bowl of Pho or taste delightful Hanoi Street Food. 

From February to April, Hanoi is in the spring time with ligth drizzles and grey sky and humidity is high before the monsoon starts its heavy downpours in May

From May To August, Hanoi is every hot with temperatures may up to 40oC and extremely high humidity, it feels even like 48oC to 50oC. July is the hottest month of the years.

See more: Best places to visit Vietnam in December

When is the best time to visit Sapa

It is hard to say when is the best time to visit Sapa  as you basically can visit Sapa all year round, it is just beautiful in each season and there many things to enjoy at any time. Thanks to its high altitude, Sapa is ideal for hot summer escape to enjoy fresh air and avoid heated city.  It is also one of few places  where you can see snow in Vietnam.

However, the best time to visit sapa to admire the stunning terrace fields are September and October. The weather in this period is also cool and dry with stable temperatures, making it the perfect time for hiking and photography.

From May to July, the weather in Sapa is quite warm and it is not as hot as Hanoi. There are also may colorful flowers blooming at this time.

From December to February, Sapa weather becomes very cold, especially at night. However, in return, you will have the opportunity to watch mesmerizing sunrise over the valley in the morning.

When is the best time to visit Halong Bay

The best time to visit Halong bay is in the Spring (from March to May) and the Autumn (from September to November), the weather is really cool, not too hot and not too cold. The temperature is around 25^oC and the sun shines nicely, especially in April, May, September, and October; so prepare your camera and snap the best moments of the UNESCO site. Most of the activities in Halong bay are doing outdoor, therefore, a dry climate and pleasant temperature are ideal, you won’t want to sweat too much while kayaking or hiking to Thien Canh Son cave.

In summer,  from May to August, the sun is brighter, the water is super warm for swimming and you will get the really good prices from tour operators.   Summer is also a low tourist season so you won’t feel tired of crowdedness. However, there is a thing – Typhoon. The typhoon season in Halong bay starts from June to August, the infrequent storms come unexpectedly and your trip might be canceled just a day before your trip, you will get the refund or rearrange your trip. Heavy raining in the bay also makes your trip less enjoyable because you have to spend most of your time inside the boat.

Winter in Halong bay is a bit uncomfortable, it is misty and all day soft raining. Normally, the cold weather doesn’t have much effect on recreational activities: kayaking, climbing mountains, but swimming is a bit chilled. Occasionally, there are days when it is colder, heavy fog that you hardly see what is behind your ship or the icy rain falls all day, you should have extra attention and follow the instruction of the crew. Besides, the fog makes Halong bay looks more like a dreamy land, the freezing fog make everything blurred like an out focus picture.

 Phu Quoc – Vietnam

When it comes to best places to visit Vietnam or Southeast Asia in December, Phu Quoc island is always in the top choice. Why not spending your holiday on a sunny extoxic beach and get some tan?

There are a wide range of outdoor activities in Phu Quoc island for you to discover: mountain & unique wildlife , which is great for picnicking, jungle trekking, camping and bird-watching.

Phu Quoc island is also great for snorkeling and diving. You can find these fun activities at Long Beach or Ong Lang Beach.

Angkor Wat – Cambodia

Angkor Wat is the ultimate expression of Khmer genius – an awe-inspiring temple that is stunning for both its grand scale and its incredible detail.

December is also a great time to discover Cambodia as the weather’s dry, sunny and warm which is ideal for sightseeing, exploring and relaxing on the beach. December also marks the start of the high season in cambodia toursim.

Bagan – Myanmar

Want to lost in a fairy tale? Visit Bagan.

Rising from the plain’s canopy of green are temples, dozens of them, hundreds of them, beautiful, other-worldly silhouettes that were built by the kings of Bagan between 1057 and 1287, when their kingdom was swept away by earthquakes and Kublai Khan and his invading Mongols. Some 2,230 of an original 4,450 temples survive, a legacy of the Buddhist belief that to build a temple was to earn merit. Unlike Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu,  Bagan is much less touristy, plus, everything is very cheap in Myanmar.

Bagan is hot all year round, but the best time to visit here is between November and February when the weather is dry and pleasant & cool temperature without too much rains ( rainfall is highest in June and October).

Come to visit Bagan in Myanmar in December, especially to admire the scenery at sunrise and sunset. It will be your once in a lifetime experience.

Chiang Mai – Thailand

Thailand draws in travellers from all around the world on a daily basis. What’s amazing about this Land of Smiles is its food, shopping, islands and beaches, tropical rainforest, mountains and wildlife, and magnificent Buddhist temples.

In December, the weather is generally warm especially in the islands on the west coast of Thailand. However, in other parts of the country, the weather cools down in, for instance, Bangkok, but temperatures can dip in places like Chiang Mai in the northern Thailand.

Si Phan Don – Laos

Si Phan Don is an archipelago in the Mekong River where you can just relax and unwind in a hammock at the balcony of your chosen inn!

Since rain is minimal and the sun is just right during the Christmas season, you can expect your blood pressure and heart rate to decrease—making it a healthy trip for you and the ones you’re with!

For those who want to experience the best of Vietnam : both exploring asian culture  and relaxing at the world most beautiful beaches, North and Central Vietnam is ideal destination. In this article, we will show you the best North and Central Vietnam itinerary just only in 8 Days with detail itinerary/ estimated cost and maps and how to make the most of your holiday.

You might also like: what to do in Hanoi for a week

North and Central Vietnam Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay

Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Foody Tour

Day 4: Explore Hanoi city – Fly to Danang

Day 5: Danang – Bana Hills/ w Golden Bridge

Day 6: Danang – Marble Mountain – Hoi An Ancient Town

Day 7: Hoi An countryside – Be a Vietnamese farmer in 1 day

Day 8: Danang Departure

Detailed North and Central Vietnam Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi – The capital of Vietnam

Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam. Many visitors choose to fly into Hanoi and use it as the starting point to explore country. The bustle and hustle city with over 1000 years of history has so many things to offer and it seems to be fit for anyone.

On the first day of your North and Central Vietnam trip, you will be landing at Hanoi International Airport. Grab a taxi and drive about 30 minutes to Hanoi Center. I recommend to book your hotel at Hanoi Old Quarter – this place is very central and you can easily to explore Hanoi by foot.

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay

After enjoying your breakfast at the hotel, leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 7:00 am. Halong Bay is fantastic place to be – known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests and spending a night on a cruise is must-do experience in North Vietnam.

Thanks to newly mordern expressway, the transfer time from Hanoi to Halong Bay are now shortened from 4 hours to 2.5 hours. There are many kinds of cruises in Halong Bay ranging from budget to luxrury and with different routes: Lan Ha Bay, Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long. See more how to choose the best Halong Bay Cruise and how to maximize your experience in Halong Bay

There are many exciting activities on the cruise such as: cooking class, kayacking, swim, visit floating villages or climb to the top mountain to see the sunset. You will never forget this experience.

Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Foody Tour

After cruising along Halong Bay, drive back to Halong Bay by shuttle bus. Please make sure that you book 2-way ticket of Hanoi – Halong with your tour operator. (Since many Halong Bay cruises do not include the fare for shuttle bus)

Depending our the schedule of the cruise, you will leave Halong Bay harbor at around 11:00 am and from there, the shuttle bus will take you back to Hanoi around 12:00pm.

Back to Hanoi around 3:00pm, you will have time to start explore Hanoi city.

At night, you can either choose to see the Vietnamese Puppet Show  or hop on a motobike and explore Hanoi street food with Hanoi Foody Tour by Motobike. This is very exciting experience and everyone will love it.

Around 8:00 pm, visit Hanoi Train Street Coffee. There’s a very unique attraction in Hanoi that wasn’t built for tourists at all. The Hanoi railway snakes through the city:  a speeding train passes through a narrow street where people live, work and play. Local residents are playing checkers on the tracks one minute, and the next they’ve scooped up their belongings and moved to the very edge to let the train whizz past.

Day 4: Explore Hanoi city – Fly to Danang

With 1 day explore Hanoi, you can choose one of the following options:

Option 1:  Hanoi Old Quarter – Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex – One pillar Pagoda – Temple of Literature – Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – Back to Old Quarter to Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple

Option 2:  Hanoi Old Quarter – Hanoi Anceint House –  Dong Xuan Market – Long Bien Bridge – Hoa Lo Prison

In the late afternoon, transfer to Noi Bai Airport  to catch a evening flight to Danang.

Stay over night in Da nang

Day 5: Danang – Bana Hills/ w Golden Bridge

Now you will be at the centre of Vietnam

Spend your whole day at Bana Hills. Located just 35 kilometers away from Da Nang city on Nui Chua mountain, Ba Na Hills is a favorite resort and tourist destination to domestic and foreign travelers alike. The name ‘Ba Na’ comes from Katu language of the local ethnic minority group residing in the area, which means ‘my mountain’. Nowadays, Ba Na Hills have turned into a totally top-notch tourist complex, constructed by Sun World Corporation. Coming to Ba Na Hills, you have the chance to admire the finest French architecture and enjoy most exciting entertainments. See comprehensive travel guide to Bana Hills and Golden Bridge

Around 4:00 pm, drive back to Da nang city.  On the way back, visit Marble Mountains. The five mountains consist of rock outcrops that are made of marble. Each mountain is said to represent a natural element and is named accordingly to Water, Wood, Fire, Gold and Earth. The largest, Water, has a number of grottos and caves.

Stay overnight in Danang city

Day 6: Danang – Marble Mountain – Hoi An Ancient Town

On this 6th day of North and Central Vietnam trip, visit Hoi An Ancient Town which is well-known for its name ” the yellow city”. Despite having beautiful beaches and unique countryside villages, it is the unique Ancient Town that will make you fall in love with Hoi An.

45-minute drive to Hoi An, start to explore the little enchanting port town of Hoi an, follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the Tan Ky old house, the local market …

• Japanese Covered Bridge dated back to the 18th century and is a beautiful historical piece of Japanese architecture. It is claimed that it was created by the Japanese then living in Hoi An as a way to reach the Chinese quarter across the water. The bridge was opened by Nguyen Phuc Chu Lord in 1719 who carved three Chinese symbols above the door in commemoration.
• Phuc Kien Assembly Halls was built around 1690 and functions as a traditional assembly hall for the Chinese ethnic group from Fujian, China to socialize, but later was transformed into a temple dedicated to their deity named Thien Hau – the goddess of sea who protects sailors from danger.
• Tan Ky old house is an almost perfect example of a 18th merchant’s residence in this major commercial port town. The name Tan Ky, meaning “Progress Shop”, was given to the house by the second generation to express the owner’s wish for a prosperous business.

Around the town you can see numerous art galleries and tailor shops. You are also free to get some made-to-order clothes if you like.

Grabbing a banh mi, or “baguette sandwich,”  and a Vietnamese coffee on the sidewalk, both adding up to a little over a dollar, will fill you up for the rest of your walk.

Stay overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An at night is extremely beautiful at nightwith shimmering lanterns as well as fold dance and live music performance.  Watch as candle-lit lanterns float down the Thu Bon River or buy a lantern and release it with a wish by yourself are also amazing experiences. See more things to do in Hoi An at night

Day 7: Hoi An countryside – Be a Vietnamese farmer in 1 day

On this morning, drive to Hoi An Market (around half an hour from Hoi An center), you can feel the bustle of the morning market, have an opportunity to have a direct contact with local sellers. You might also have a chance to learn some tips of “bargaining” when going shopping for your upcoming cooking class.

Take a sightseeing tour along the Thu Bon River and Cua Dai beat by boat. On the river, you have a chance to enjoy the river beauty in the countryside of Vietnam.

Next, join a basket boat tour and get some loveable handmade souvenirs made from nipa palm leaves.

We will welcome you in our restaurant, for welcome drink, here you will join and paint on bamboo class by yourself.

At the end,  start the cooking class with our chefs. Within two hours, the chef will teach you how to cook Vietnamese cultural cuisine. Then you can enjoy Vietnamese food make by yourself.

Stay overnight in Hoi An

Day 8: Danang Departure

Back to Danang from Hoi An around 8 or 9 AM, if time is allowed, you can visit Han Market – the biggest & oldest market in Danang to buy some souvenirs or gifts.

Transfer to airport for flight back home.

Best time to visit North and Central Vietnam

An ideal time to visit North Vietnam is between August to March when it isn’t too humid and not yet cold. Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam tends to be really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter.

While central vietnam with tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate is almost hot all year round. Drier months lasts from November to April while in summer months the region suffers from storms and flooding.

Basically, the best time to visit North and Central Vietnam is from November to March. 

Tips to travel North and Central Vietnam

Vietnam is one of Asia’s fastest growing countries, and as a result, the cost of visiting is going up every year. Despite this, it’s still possible to travel in Vietnam on a tight budget of $40 or less per day, or enjoy a more comfortable trip for $60 to $100 per day.

For a five-star experience in Vietnam, it’s best to budget $200 or more per day – roughly the same amount as you’d spend in nearby countries like Thailand.

Recommended tours to North and Central vietnam

Private Hanoi – Halong – Danang – Hoi An tour 8 days from only US$ 762 US$ 678 per person

 

Vietnam Tour Operator
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Halong Bay is no doubt the most visited destination in Vietnam and known for its stunning limestone islands and islets scattered all over the green water bay. The landscape is indeed the most highlighted feature of Halong Bay therefore your trip to Halong Bay will be effected by the weather. Here we’ll show you the best time to visit Halong Bay to make your experience in this beautiful place even more perfect.

Halong Bay Weather Overview

Halong Bay weather is affected deeply by the ocean weather and monsoon season just like the entire northern Vietnam. Therefore, Halong Bay also has four seasons, one of which is a chilly winter. In general, Halong Bay enjoys high temperature and high humidity in summer and most of the rest of the year except for winter.

The wet season in Halong Bay last from May to September – which is also the time for hot summer and high rainfall. During this time and until later months of year, Halong Bay might see some storms coming from the east sea which will cause all activities in the bay to be halted. Temperature can reach around 40 degree Celsius but the sea will make you feel so much milder and not as hot as in the cities. June and July are often the hottest months.

The dry season in Halong Bay starts at the same time with the winter in north Vietnam and northern central Vietnam, meaning from November to next February with temperature dropping low, low humidity and chilly winds. In Halong Bay, you might feel colder in winter due to the exposure to the sea and the winds.

When is the best time to visit Halong Bay

If you don’t mind not being able to swim in the cold water then visiting Halong Bay in winter is not so bad an idea. And if you go to Halong Bay in the aim for a bunch of amazing photos, then summer is perfect for you since the skies will be bluer, the sunrise and sunset are more dramatic and beautiful than any other time of year.

However, beware that summer is also the peak season of domestic tourism so you better expect to see crowds of tourists on the bay.

Your trip to Halong Bay would interrupted by the sudden showers in this season.

Halong Bay also can be visited in spring when the weather gets warmer and there’re only drizzles. April and early May would be a perfect time to visit Halong since the temperature allows swimming in the sea and the skies are clear and blue which is perfect for photography.

Some activities in Halong Bay

To visit Halong Bay, you’ll have to book a cruise, you can articulate as many activities as you want in the cruise itinerary but the most popular things to do in Halong Bay are swimming, rock climbing, kayaking, caving and visiting floating villages. Catching fishes or squids is also an interesting thing to enjoy, even the success rate is guaranteed.

If you choose a 3-day cruise that also has Cat Ba island in the itinerary, then you’ll enjoy even more activities such as trekking to Cat Ba National Park or visit Viet Hai village where you can do biking.

So all in all, Halong can be visited all year round – in each season Halong has a distinctive beauty worthy of your visit. Visiting Halong Bay isn’t tricky at all! To stimulate your trip to Halong Bay even more, read our article about Things to do in Halong Bay!