Best Time to Visit Vietnam #1 Ho Chi Minh City

Day 1 in a series of articles explaining the best time to visit different parts of Vietnam. There are many reasons to visit a country and different times of the year provide different experiences. Vietnam is no different.

The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is when the air is cool and skies are blue. However it is not always that easy to figure this out. The weather has undoubtedly been changing in recent years. Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it is still often called, is Vietnam’s largest city and is situated in the south of the country. It is a fascinating place with a mixture of architectural styles and superb cultural benefits. Like any place some times of the year offer different things to different people. Saigon is a truly wonderful city. Here are some of the things that make Saigon what it is throughout the year.

Use the interactive Inseasia Weather map to check out climate conditions for your holiday, here: http://www.inseasia.com/vietnam-weather-best-time-travel-vietnam

Situated in the south of the country Saigon enjoys completely different weather than the northern cities like Hanoi. Between the months of May and November the rainy season dominates proceedings culminating in very heavy rain in October, The showers normally last just an hour or two, so you can still plan around them. But sometimes they can be day long deluges. When the dry season comes Saigon is a very lovely place to be. From November through to May it is day long sunshine everyday and normally hardly ever rains. 2016/17 has been an exception. The El Nino Effect brought an unusually short dry season.

Enjoying the sights of Saigon is always better in the dry, though the heat can make walking around very hard. If you are caught in the rain though, there will always be plenty with which to occupy yourself. The city adapts well to the wet weather and there are plenty of things to see and do.

For Peace and Quiet, Tet is the Best Time to Visit Saigon

Tet, or Vietnamese New Year is an amazing time to be in the city. Millions of the indigenous population pour out of the city and head into the country to visit their families. The roads become almost traffic free at times, a rarity for this city. Everywhere is quiet and decidedly easy to get round. The downside though is that many of the Vietnamese businesses close down for the whole period, about a week. The main streets in the town are decorated with bright lights and friezes and especially at night, the city is at its most beautiful.

Christmas and New Year is also a great time. The weather is at its best and the air is less humid. The whole city seems to join in the celebrations as streets are decorated and stores and offices go to amazing lengths to dress up and illuminate the entire city centre. Many of the bars in the centre of town are decorated and staff dress up. A Saigon River boat Christmas dinner is an extremely good way of celebrating in style. The Vietnamese love to come into the city in their thousands to stroll round with their families. It really is a wonderful sight and for many, is the best time to visit Saigon.

The Wet Season Here Can be Very Wet Indeed

There is no doubt that Saigon is enjoyable at any time of the year. The weather can be an inconvenience, but no more than that. Fortunately when it does rain it is often confined to short downpours. However these can be very severe and the city is prone to flooding. The city is a very pretty one, with tree lined boulevards and fantastic French colonial architecture. At night the skyscrapers turn on the lights and many locals will spend an evening standing on the bridges simply admiring their home town.

Saigon: Home of Amazing Architecture, Culture and Cuisine

Culturally, Saigon is an extremely interesting place to visit. French Colonial Architecture rubs shoulders comfortably with modern glass towers and ancient Oriental Temples. The tiny side streets are packed with tiny houses and shop houses, and getting off the beaten track is a must here. Take a motorbike tour and see the real Saigon. This city will offer more than almost any other that I have visited. Even in the wet season, there will be long periods of most days that are dry.
When the rains do come, time your sightseeing. The rains are generally preceded with the wind picking up. This gives you ample time to get into one of the fabulous attractions here.

Planning the best time to visit Saigon, is never easy. However, no matter when you come you will have a great time. So what are you waiting for? Get that flight booked.

Attractions in Saigon include: For other Saigon attractions see also:

#1 Suoi Tien Theme Park @inseasia/attractions-in-ho-chi-minh-city-suoi-tien-theme-park

#2 Vinh Nghiem pagoda@inseasia/saigon-attractions-vinh-nghiem-pagoda

#3 Notre Dame Basilica @inseasia/saigon-s-magnificent-notre-dame-basilica

#4 The Cu Chi Tunnels @inseasia/saigon-attractions-4-the-cu-chi-tunnels

#5 The Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City @inseasia/saigon-attractions-5-the-municipal-theatre-of-ho-chi-minh-city

#6 People’s Committee Building @inseasia/saigon-attractions-6-people-s-committee-building

#7 Museum of Vietnamese History @inseasia/saigon-attractions-7-museum-of-vietnamese-history

#8 The Reunification Palace @inseasia/saigon-attractions-8-the-reunification-palace

#9 The War Remnants Museum @inseasia/saigon-attractions-8-the-war-remnants-museum

#10 Nguyen Hue @inseasia/saigon-attractions-10-nguyen-hue

#11 Hotel Majestic @inseasia/saigon-attractions-11-the-hotel-majestic