Best Places to Visit in Vietnam in January
Some Facts about Vietnam Weather in January
The first month of the year has always been the best opportunity for you and your loved ones to savor Vietnam. Why so? Let’s just say you can enjoy 4 seasons in one nation and a myriad of paradisiac places to go. How fascinating is that?
Northern Vietnam
In the North, January brings a cool and dry atmosphere to every area, from urban to rural. Springtime is also the moment of drizzly weather, colored by the gray fog and chilling sensing. The average temperature in the North usually reaches 25 degrees Celsius (highest) and falls to only 6 degrees Celsius (only in some Northern low areas). This is the time for Vietnam travel companies to welcome many foreign visitors and for you to join Northern Vietnam tours like Ha Giang Loop or Hanoi Vietnam Tour.
Central Vietnam
Meanwhile, the Central of the country divides itself into two kinds of climates:
The North Central, starting from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue, is affected by cold, cloudy and humid winter, so we think a thin coat would be needed on the go.
The South Central, starting from Danang all the way down to Binh Thuan, enjoys warm and sunny with a little bit of chilly-feel-like winter, mostly thanks to the high frequency of the westerly winds.
Southern Vietnam
In contrast, the South does not feature coldness at all. It is characterized by high temperatures year-round and sunny weather all the time. There are only two particular “seasons”: the dry one (starting from May to September) and the rainy one (starting from last year’s October to next year’s April). On the whole, the weather usually makes you sweat, but this hot won’t be a matter of your uncomfortable if you choose suitable and smart outfits.
Best Places to Visit in Vietnam in January?
As for the summary above, we think that there is nowhere better, more suitable for you and your loves to go than Southern Vietnam cities, as they all offer welcoming atmospheres, paradise-like weather and of course, a variety of locations to choose from. Let’s chew over our top places to visit in Vietnam in January—carefully picked by Asia Private Travels!
Phu Quoc Island
As one of the must-visit places not to be missed when it comes to Vietnam tourism, Phu Quoc is the largest island in the country. It is in the southernmost area of the country and serves as a city directly from Kien Giang province (a couple of hours away from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
Phu Quoc is well-known to be surrounded by endless beaches, yet none of them fails to impress you: Bai Sao (Starfish Beach), Bai Dai (Long Beach), Ganh Dau Cape, Mong Tay Stone, etc. All the beaches are public so people won’t tax you. However, there are many services offshore in case you may need to digest something or even wash yourself from salty water.
Also, spare some time to learn about a small part of the Vietnam War at Phu Quoc Prison, in which remnants are haunting. The prison displays torturing instruments, statues of prisoners and wardens as well as photos with captions about the war and the purpose of the prison respectively.
Phu Quoc also features many night markets - among the top things to do in Phu Quoc nightlife - and we suggest Dinh Cau for you due to its reputation. Here are the location specializing in seafood and local food as well, bring some more money and have yourself a delicious dinner and dessert with Phu Quoc’s signature ice cream in a coconut.
- How to Get There: Only 2 possible ways to get to the island, by air and by ferry.
Phu Quoc Airport has flights to big cities in Vietnam’s mainland like Hanoi, Danang, and vice versa, which takes you about a couple of hours. What’s more, as an international gateway, the airport also connects flights from Bangkok and Seoul which we guess, is a worthy convenience. Since March 2014, all foreign guests visiting Phu Quoc will be visa-free for up to 30 days, so you will only need your passport for a security check.
You can also save more money and time by using the water express that connects Southern cities with the island. High-speed ferries usually dock at two Southern cities Rach Gia and Ha Tien. We suggest you take the Ha Tien - Phu Quoc round trip as its one-way ticket price is cheaper (230.000 VND for adults and 160.000 VND for children), also the distance is only 45 kilometers nearer compared to the 120 kilometers from Rach Gia. You should leave Ha Tien for Phu Quoc at 7:30 AM on the first day and come back at 1:00 PM on the last day for not being in a crowded deck.
Buon Ma Thuot
One more place that international tourists should not miss in their Vietnam Tours is Buon Ma Thuot. This city is in the heart of Dak Lak province, a place that lies deep in the Central Highlands of the country and about 360 kilometers away from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The city is suitable for those who love deserted and tranquil spaces because it is off the beaten track. This also contributes to many exotic yet unharmed natural scenes that are worth visiting once in a lifetime.
Right inside the city are beautiful, mighty waterfalls of Gia Long, Dray Nur, etc. Though we suggest you Dray Sap as this one can only be found in a hidden, stunning rainforest.
Yok Don National Park is there to satisfy your dream of direct interaction with elephants. Here the elephants are treated with kindness and love as the people believe that elephants are their region’s symbol. Besides riding on elephants, visitors can also explore primeval forests safely, kayak through rivers, and cross the wood-from chain bridge.
Trung Nguyen Coffee Village is a spectacular structure built by Trung Nguyen Group - the biggest coffee manufacturer in Vietnam. With the coming, you can get a chance to savor cups of fine, specialized coffee from Dak Lak. Also, a garden of coffee beans shows you one by one how to plan and raise coffee trees, by that you will learn to appreciate the result of hard work. You can also buy some coffee packs here. It can be a special gift for relatives and colleagues after finishing your Vietnam holiday travel.
Suoi Ong tourist attraction is newly opened in Buon Ma Thuot, whose architecture derives from wild bees’ nests - a familiarity of the people in Central Highlands. The complex consists of pools, a big stage for water shows, a holy cathedral, a 3D art gallery, and a bunch of restaurants and small bars with economical prices.
- How to Get There:
Buon Ma Thuot has only one small domestic airport used by Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific, and Vietjet Air (low-cost). These airlines connect Buon Ma Thuot with Saigon, Hanoi, Danang, and vice-versa. There is no policy of visa-free in the city, so foreigners should prepare their visas, and passports at the security check counter to enter. Also, airline tickets vary from time to time and from the airline you choose, so we suggest you should always take notice of your schedule.
Mui Ne
Mui Ne located in the immense city of Phan Thiet is one of the exciting places to visit in Vietnam.
Mui Ne is honored for many of its fresh and beautiful beaches, one stand-out example is Hon Rom Beach. The beach features a lovely scene with many strange-in-shape stones and cliffs that can be used as your posing partners for photos.
Suoi Tien (Fairy Stream), also called “Elysium”, stays side by side with Hon Rom with many scenic sand valleys and natural red stalactites, creating an unforgettable experience.
Yellow sand dunes (symbols of Mui Ne) are there to display the exotic sunny-like color of sand mounds. The area is also suitable for those who love adventurous activities like driving SUVs, carpet, etc.
- How to Get There:
Save your valuable time by choosing an airway as there are many domestic airlines to offer you. As Phan Thiet doesn’t have an airport yet, all flights land at Cam Ranh or Saigon. You can also choose to save your money with sleeper coaches, they are flexible in time, and you can literally catch them everywhere, a normal overnight ticket in their cabin costs about 300.000 VND.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta is a region that lies next to the west of Saigon, one of the most popular destinations for South Vietnam tours. It includes many provinces like My Tho, Chau Doc, Ha Tien, Ca Mau, and the southernmost island of Phu Quoc.
First, on the trip across the Mekong Delta Vietnam Tour, we will visit the Cai Rang market. Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho is truly one of a kind. You can stay on a rented boat, wander around the market, and buy from the boat vendors, from fresh fruit to a bowl of Hu Tieu, which will only cost you a few dollars.
Tra Su Bird Sanctuary, by any means, is there for those who are fond of birdwatching. This expansive 800,000 hectares of forest is where several wading birds are living. A short trip of speedboat ride is provided as much of the wetland is off-limits to visitors.
You should not miss the mysterious Xeo Quyt forest, a 52-hectare land full of tall trees and vines with one vast swamp beneath located around 35 kilometers southeast of Cao Lanh. Besides the cunning nature, it also enshrouds the remains of Viet Cong bunkers, which can be seen along the walk as well as on a canoe tour.
- How to Get There:
Saigon’s famous airport – Tan Son Nhat International, is a gateway to the Delta from anywhere on the planet. Also, one can still approach the nearer, more direct area by arriving at Can Tho Airport. If you are already near the Delta, simply take a bus to move around.
Vietnam Festivals in January
Colorful festivals are one of the more reasons for you to choose Vietnam Tourism, right? Today Asia Private Travels will introduce to you one of the most important festivals of Vietnam – the Lunar New Year falls in the first month of the lunar year, sometimes coinciding with January.
Tet is a way to celebrate a new year according to the lunar calendar of Vietnam. Also, it is a time for the reunion of families and when people send each other best wishes for a better year. During the festival, there are many traditional mascots that attract tourism. The unique Tet cuisine (including Chung Cake, Jams, Pickled Onions, etc.) is so tasty that it will be a sin if you don’t give them a try. Trees and flowers represent.
Holidaymakers will have a chance to witness how magnificent those signs are, and those choosing homestays will even likely to be a part of Tet preparation. Annually, there are fireworks shows with a length of 15 minutes in some areas around Hanoi, Danang, Haiphong, and Saigon. Other cities will feature the show as well, normally in squares, parks or in front of landmark buildings.
If your trip to Vietnam falls on Tet, check out : New Year in Vietnam - Everything You Need to Know
Useful Tips When Visit Vietnam in January
Plane tickets, hotel rooms and restaurant reserves are running out so fast as the amount of visitors coming to Vietnam every January is surprisingly high. Furthermore, January is also when Tet takes place, which means the Vietnamese will have a week or more off, so maybe no service is available in case you require it in the first place.
So our tip to you is to book everything in advance! When preparing your stuff, make sure you have a bottle of sun cream, insect body spray, a personal hygiene pack, beautiful and comfortable outfits, sunglasses, and a pair of shoes. Nevertheless, the two essential things that you cannot leave at home are a guidebook for visiting Vietnam and a Vietnamese dictionary.
Do you feel excited about Vietnam yet? If you are considering a Vietnam private tour to begin your new year, contact Asia Private Travels immediately to own your special tailor-made Vietnam tour packages.
