What time of year has the best weather on Vietnam’s central coast?
The best weather in Vietnam’s central coast region generally comes in June, July, or August. These months usually fall on the tail end of the area’s dry season, which falls between January and early September most years. The weather in those months is temperate most years, hovering around 18 degrees (65 Fahrenheit) with a light sea breeze in the air.
The last part of the year (September and onwards) usually experiences showers at best or huge monsoons at worst, which is obviously not ideal for a cycling adventure.
The early months of the year (up until June) are usually dry but also a little on the hot side. Sure, the temperatures only reach about 30 degrees (86 Fahrenheit) most years, but the tropical humidity can make that feel pretty sweltering.
When are the festivals on Vietnam’s central coast?
Weather is not the only seasonal factor to take into consideration when planning a cycling holiday to Vietnam’s central coast. The area is also host to a variety of festivals that showcase the region’s distinct culture and traditions. A few of the more notable examples are:
Hue Festival
This festival takes place every two years in April or May in Hue, the ancient former capital of Vietnam. It includes traditional music, dance, and other arts that illustrate the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Danang International Fireworks Festival
The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival is held over several weekends every April or June in Danang. The festival features spectacular firework displays from various countries, along with music, performances, and other entertainment activities.
Whale Worshipping Festival
The Whale Worshipping Festival, also known as Nghinh Ong Festival, is a traditional cultural event generally celebrated every August or September in several coastal provinces of Vietnam, including Binh Thuan, Phan Thiet, and Nha Trang.The festival honors whales as sacred creatures and involves colorful processions, traditional rituals, boat races, and folk performances.
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated throughout Vietnam every September or October, based on the lunar calendar. During this festival, children carry colorful lanterns, participate in lion dances, and enjoy mooncakes. The central coast region, including cities like Hoi An and Da Nang, embraces the festival with various activities and lantern displays.
A word on the rainy season
The rainy season in Vietnam has a reputation as being a terrible time to visit the country. But the truth is that, during the milder months of the rainy season in particular, it can actually be a great time to visit for a few reasons.
First of all, it almost never rains for more than a few hours at a time, which means you can just duck into a restaurant or a cafe and wait out the downpour. When you come out, the air will be crisp and clean again.
Second of all, you’ll get to enjoy more of Vietnam’s lush greenery. The rice paddies will look even better!
Third, the country is less crowded with other tourists, since most of them will not have gotten this memo.
Fourth, the rain in Vietnam is not as cold and biting as it is in Western countries. Maybe it’s because of the higher humidity already present in the air, but walking or cycling under the Vietnamese rain is not as bad of an experience as it usually is in, say, the UK or the US.
Wrapping Up
You’ll almost certainly have an incredible adventure cycling Vietnam’s central coast no matter what time you come, but this short primer will hopefully help you make your experience ever better!