November in Vietnam is the end of autumn and the start of winter in the North; and the change from rainy season to dry season in the Central and the South. Moreover, this is also the storm season in North and Central Vietnam, some days a month heavy rain and strong winds can occur in some localities, due to the storm's influence.
I - Travelling to Vietnam in November: Northern region
November is the first month of winter in the North of Vietnam. The weather at this time in the Northern region is relatively pleasant. The winter northeast monsoon blowing from central Asia creates dry & cold weather. This is one of the best times for traveling thanks to the nice weather.
- Average temperature: 21.4°C.
- Rainfall: 37.3mm
Top destinations to visit & things to do in North Vietnam in November can be mentioned as:
1 - Sapa - a misty town in the Northwest region
Being well-known as an attractive destination for cultural tourism, Sapa also offers tourists the opportunity to admire the gorgeous beauty of nature at the Silver waterfall, Muong Hoa valley. You can also experience several interesting activities such as conquering the Fansipan mount, picking cat-apples (Docynia Indica), trekking to the remote tribal villages such as Cat Cat village, Ta Van village,.., and enjoying delicious grilled dishes in the cold weather.
2 - Trekking in Ha Giang - one of the best things to do in Vietnam in November
The dry and cold weather in November makes it perfect for a Ha Giang loop tour with a motorbike. The remote villages - home to many ethnic minorities, are famous for interesting customs, unique food and festivals are so appealing to tourists. The spectacular natural sceneries are absolutely the best things to see in Ha Giang.
Surrounded by high rocky mountains and deep valleys, Ha Giang is one of the greatest places to visit in Vietnam in November for all adventurers. In November, the buckwheat flower starts blooming in the vast fields and on the hillsides - this is one of the most stunning pictures of nature that you can capture in Vietnam. The average temperature is around 18°C (the lowest temperature drops to below 10°C). Ha Giang in November is in the winter, so the rainfall is quite low.
3 - Moc Chau valley
November is the white cauliflower season in Moc Chau, making it one of the best places to visit in Vietnam in November. You can visit the peaceful villages of ethnic people, take photos at the canola hills, explore tea hills, experience the harvest of fresh tea leaves as well as steps of stirring and processing tea with the locals.
Riding a motorbike to admire the lush pine forests, exploring the local lifestyle, and enjoying the local food are the best things to do here. The temperature in Moc Chau in November is from 20 to 29°C. The weather is quite pleasant with little rain, estimated at about 30-80mm.
II - Visiting Vietnam in November: Central region
During November, Central Vietnam often experiences storms and tropical depressions, so there are normally heavy rains. The water flow in rivers is high which can cause flooding in some provinces and localities for about 7 - 10 days at worst. Therefore, you should watch the weather forecast before choosing a tourist destination for about 1 month to avoid such extreme weather phenomena. In general, the rainfall in Central Vietnam is relatively large at 253.8 mm; and the temperature is stable at 34.2°C.
1 - Hue city - poetic ancient capital city in Central Vietnam
Being widely known as Vietnam's famous cultural and historic destination as well as a culinary hub, Hue becomes incredibly romantic when the rain of November sinks the city. Visiting the ancient historic sites such as the Hue Imperial Citadel, Khai Dinh Tomb, listening to the singing on the Huong River, and enjoying the famous delicacies of Hue cuisine are the top experiences.
The temperature fluctuates from 19°C to 28°C. Hue city experiences the rainy season in November, so you should prepare an umbrella, a raincoat, or a thin coat when going out.
2 - Dalat city - top-rated places in Vietnam in November
Traveling to Dalat during this month, you can see the vast hydrangeas fields, the cauliflower fields, the field of wildflowers,... The chilly atmosphere also makes specialties there such as banh mi, chicken leaf hot pot, and Thanh Thao buttercream become increasingly tasty.
The weather in November in Dalat is very erratic. The temperature ranges from 20-25°C (during the day), and drops to 15°C at night. There is fog in the early morning and evening.
3 - Visiting Phan Thiet City for the best beaches in Vietnam in November
During November, the temperature in this sunny and windy land ranges from 20-30°C; the rainfall is quite low but the weather is quite cloudy. You can experience a number of activities such as exploring the marvelous sand dunes, windsurfing, visiting fishing villages, visiting the charming beaches in Mui Ne, experiencing the unique culture of the locals, or enjoying exciting Jeep tours.
You may concern: When is the best time to visit Vietnam?
III - Vietnam in November: Southern region
Traveling to Vietnam this time, you can also choose to explore provinces in the South of Vietnam which witness the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season. The temperature is not as high as 26.7°C; the rainfall is only approximately 130mm and the Mekong River enters the end of the flooding season offering you a number of more interesting activities.
Top destinations to discover:
1 - Mekong Delta
Traveling to the Mekong Delta in November, top things to do in Vietnam in November include fishing on the canals, visiting Tram Chim National Park, enjoying the green atmosphere at Tram Tra Su National Park, admiring the golden rice fields in the Ta Pa valley, visiting the floating markets, experience the fruit picking and enjoy the fresh and delicious fruits immediately. Otherwise, you can also listen to Don Ca Tai Tu (Amateur music) and visit the traditional craft village of coconut candy production.
2 - Phu Quoc Island
In November in Vietnam, the rainfall on Phu Quoc island is relatively low (about 169mm) compared with the rainfall of 200-500mm in the rainy season. The average temperature is about 27°C and the number of sunny hours in the month is high (about 208 hours).
You can participate in beach sports like diving and watching the colorful coral reefs. Other interesting things to experience are dinner at a restaurant on the beaches, exploring beautiful beaches on the island - Bai Dai (Dai beach), Bai Sao (Star beach), or visiting the famous Ham Ninh fishing village.
Vietnam in November with tons of interesting things to do & attractive places to visit is really worth a visit. However, you should also be aware of a few notes about extreme weather conditions that can occur in some localities.
— Quan Nguyen
