Northern Vietnam
Northern Vietnam pairs Hanoi's lakes and Old Quarter with the limestone bays of Ha Long, the karst rivers of Ninh Binh and the mountain terraces around Sapa.
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Northern Vietnam is the region above the central coast, and Hanoi, the national capital, is its main base. Spend time in Hanoi on the lakeshores and in the Old Quarter, where narrow streets are lined with shops and street food stalls. From the city, day trips reach Ha Long Bay for its limestone islands and Ninh Binh for karst scenery and boat trips on the rivers.
The mountains around Sapa are cooler, and the villages of Pu Luong nature reserve suit walkers who want a quieter pace. Autumn, roughly September to November, usually brings clear weather. Winter, from December to February, is cold and damp in the north, so pack warm clothes if you travel then. Plan at least a week to cover Hanoi and one region at an easy pace, and add more days if you want both the coast and the mountains.
Northern Vietnam in five
- Plan three loops from Hanoi, not one lineA coast loop covers Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba, a karst loop covers Ninh Binh, and a mountain loop covers Sapa, Cao Bang or Mai Chau. Each loop needs its own base and two to four days.Hanoi travel guide
- Choose autumn or spring for the mountainsThe tourism board names September and October, and April and May, for Sapa, and March to May and September to November for Mai Chau. Cao Bang is driest from October to April, but cold from November to February.
- Count road hours, not kilometersNinh Binh is about 100 km and two hours from Hanoi. Sapa takes five to six hours by van, Ha Giang about six hours by bus, Cao Bang around eight, and Mu Cang Chai six to eight.
- Read the Ha Giang guide before the loopHa Giang is a border province with its own permit and driving rules, which the Ha Giang Loop guide sets out. Cao Bang is covered in the Northeast Vietnam guide.Ha Giang Loop
- Pack for a 10-degree swingWinter mornings in the mountains and Hanoi are cold and damp, while summer is hot and storm-prone. Carry a rain layer in every month, and a warm layer from November to March.Best time to visit Vietnam
Neighborhoods
Ninh Binh
- Price band: $$
Tam Coc
- Price band: $$
Pu Luong
- Price band: $
Things to do in Northern Vietnam
See all attractions in Northern Vietnam
Need to know
- Airport
- Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN) is the main gateway
- Getting there
- Fly into Hanoi, then road, rail or ferry to each region
- Getting around
- Buses, limo vans, trains to Lao Cai and Ninh Binh, private cars
- Best base
- Hanoi for the first nights; a base per region after
- Time needed
- 5 to 7 days for one loop; 10 to 14 for three
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Cold, dampJanuaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, damp
- FebruaryCloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°DrizzleFebruaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drizzle
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°MildMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Warm, clearAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- MayRain19 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Hot, early goldMayRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 253 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, early gold
- JuneRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low27°Hot, stormsJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 286 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- JulyRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low27°RainyJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 349 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy
- AugustRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low26°RainyAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 471 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy
- SeptemberRain22 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Rice goldSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 373 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rice gold
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Clear, harvestOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 221 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, harvest
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Dry, coolNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool
- DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Cool, dryDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
Average daily high and low in Hanoi, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Northern Vietnam
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 85%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 62%
Hanoi
03:38 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°24°62%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 62%.
- Wed32°24°42%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 42%.
- Thu31°24°76%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Fri30°23°94%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Sat30°24°84%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Sun29°21°97%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 97%.
Updated 03:25 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
What's on in Northern Vietnam
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- Apr–MayGiong FestivalHanoi, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Ha Long Bayabout 2.5 to 3 hours from HanoiLimestone islands and overnight cruises on the coast loop.Read the guide
- Ninh Binhabout 100 km by road or railRowed boats and viewpoints among the karsts.Read the guide
- Sapa5 to 6 hours by van or an overnight trainRice terraces, village treks and the Fansipan summit.Read the guide
Before you go to Northern Vietnam
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Northern Vietnam, checked
- Since 1 July 2025 Vietnam has 34 provincial-level units; for example Ninh Binh now includes Ha Nam and Nam Dinh, and Lao Cai includes Yen Bai.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Northern Vietnam
The gateway and first base
Read the guideHa Long BayOvernight cruises on limestone water
Read the guideNinh Binh travel guideKarst rivers and Hang Mua
Read the guideSapa travel guideTerraces, treks and Fansipan
Read the guideNorthwest VietnamMu Cang Chai, Mai Chau and Pu Luong
Read the guideHa Giang LoopDays, months and who should ride
Read the guideNortheast VietnamBan Gioc, Ba Be and the Quang Ninh coast
Read the guideAll of VietnamEntry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideNorthern Vietnam FAQ
What is the best time to visit Northern Vietnam?
September to November and March to May. Autumn gives dry, clear weather and rice harvest color, spring is mild. Summer is hot and stormy, and winter is cold and damp, particularly in the mountains.
How many days do you need in Northern Vietnam?
Five to seven days for one loop plus Hanoi, such as Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay. Ten to fourteen days let you add Sapa or Cao Bang without rushing. Road times are longer than the map suggests.
Is Sapa or Ninh Binh better?
Sapa for mountains, treks and minority villages, Ninh Binh for rowed boats and gentle cycling. Ninh Binh is two hours from Hanoi; Sapa needs a night train or about six hours by road, so it suits trips of four days or more.
Is Northern Vietnam better than Central Vietnam?
Neither wins. The north has mountains, caves, bays and cities with a distinct cool season, while central Vietnam has beaches, Hue and Hoi An. Season matters most, since the two regions have different dry months.
How cold does Northern Vietnam get?
Winter is cold and damp in Hanoi and cold in the mountains, from November to February according to the tourism board. Pack layers, a rain jacket and shoes with grip for wet stairs.