Best Places to Visit in Vietnam in March
March is one of the best months to visit Vietnam since the bright shine and the serene atmosphere make the weather enjoyable throughout the country at this time. So tourists can experience many tourist activities like river cruising, relaxing at the beach, or sightseeing in the mountainous areas.
However, Vietnam has a different climate in three distinct regions: the North, Central, and South so the weather in each part will change to some extent. Follow this guide to the best places in Vietnam in March and make sure to plan your best itinerary in this year-round country.
Vietnam Weather in March
When deciding to have a vacation in Vietnam, the weather should be one of your biggest concerns. You don’t want a trip without a little heads-up about the weather! So, let’s discover Vietnam’s weather in March with Asia Private Travels.
In the North
The north of Vietnam is influenced by the tropical monsoon climate, and it has four distinct seasons. The time from March to May is spring with fresh and crisp weather. While traveling during this period, you can visit many places of interest in the tender sunlight. The average temperature is pleasant, around 20 degrees Celsius. Also, at this time, many festivals and traditional events take place, so it’s highly recommended to start your trip to Northern Vietnam at this time.
In the Central
From February to April is considered the best time to visit Central Vietnam. With fresh air, lovely sunny days, little rain, and crisp temperatures (about 27 degrees Celsius), tourists can access almost fantastic tourist activities, especially visiting the historical constructions.
In the South
The weather in southern Vietnam is easygoing. If you don’t mind some summer days with hot temperatures and a few rainy days, you can spend time in the region all year round. Summer days are suitable for you to enjoy the beaches and outside festivals. Besides, rainy days will bring you romantic vibes while enjoying the beauty of the southern Vietnam cities. Especially enjoying Vietnamese traditional cuisine in the romantic rain is a must-try experience. Luckily, from February to April is the ideal time to visit southern Vietnam. During this time, the temperature is about 28 degrees Celsius. For this reason, it is perfect for the tour to Southern Vietnam, which is the main agricultural region of the whole country.
Best Places to Visit in Vietnam in March
Vietnam, with its richness of marvelous forests and spectacular beaches, has a number of stunning places that are heaven for tourism. Here is our suggestion for some of the best places in Vietnam and festivals in March; bonus some tips before you set off on your trip.
Hanoi
Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam, has numerous ancient constructions and famous buildings that you should not miss. Don’t forget to visit these places, since they are the best places to visit in Hanoi.
The first one is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where we visit the beloved Father of the Nation. Here, you can also learn a part of Vietnamese history at Ho Chi Minh Museum, or if you love the ancient construction, have a look at the “Chua Mot Cot” - One Pillar Pagoda. This is not only a temple with unique structural architecture in Vietnam but also a spiritual destination, a thousand-year-old cultural symbol of Hanoi.
In this city, there are several fascinating museums to visit: the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, the Vietnam National Museum of History, and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
To see the lifestyle of people in Vietnam, you should spend your time walking around Hoan Kiem Lake. Especially in the morning, you can join a group of locals to exercise together. Or else, at the Old Quarter, you will have the opportunity to learn about Hanoi’s citizens’ genuine life in everyday life. Also, this is an excellent place for shopping and enjoying the best drinks and the most impressive dishes.
Sapa
Sapa – a romantic, magnificent mountainous area of Vietnam that is breathtaking with the image of endless terraces and paddle fields on rolling mountains. Spring in Sa Pa is immense, with forests of flowers such as peach blossoms, plum blossoms, and thousands of blooming flowers all over the hillsides. Moreover, you can see the lovely rustic villages and leaf houses. All together, create a colorful, stunning picture that makes people feel peaceful whenever they contemplate it.
March is the time when the peach blossoms on Sapa bloom after the cold days of winter. Peach blossoms bring Sapa a charming, poetic beauty to your Sapa Vietnam tours. We can see peach blossoms everywhere in Sapa: in the village, on the pass roads, on the road to the fair, or on the remote hills.
Visitors come to Sapa not only to enjoy the spectacular nature but also to experience the lives of the Vietnamese ethnic minorities. They have dreamy ethical stilt houses, genuine rustic villages, and impressive local specialties, and it is excellent if you can join the ethnic people when putting on their traditional costumes.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay was first recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1994. The spectacular landscape of the bay is created by more than 1600 small and large limestone islands in the pure waters of Halong Bay. In this area, many massive limestones have, through time, formed stunning caves.
In March, Halong impresses visitors with its pleasing and gentle winds, crisp atmosphere, and cozy days. At this time, there is little rain in Halong Bay, so your trip will not be interrupted. About the activities in Ha Long, you can relax on the turquoise beaches, enjoy kayaking, and go fishing in the floating villages. Or else, it’s highly recommended that you to book a Halong Bay tour from Hanoi to come to many beautiful islands such as Trong Mai Island, Soi Sim Island, Tuan Chau Island, Thien Cung Cave, Luon Cave, etc.
Ninh Binh
With its pristine nature and charming scenery, Ninh Binh is currently one of the most famous destinations of Northern Vietnam. About 100 km to the south of Hanoi, Ninh Binh attracts a lot of visitors with its natural views, tranquil plain local villages, and ancient constructions, such as pagodas that are erected on the limestone mountain’s top, cliff. March is one of the ideal times of the year to have a vacation in Ninh Binh since it is pleasant with gentle sunlight.
Visit Ninh Binh this time, you can enjoyably admire the attractive scenery while rowing on a wooden sampan to get to the islands. Notably, people said that if one hasn’t been to these places in Ninh Binh, it means they didn’t visit them at all, which are Trang An, Tam Coc. Trang An, with its beautiful, pristine natural scenery, had been recognized by Unesco as a world natural and cultural heritage. The next destination is Tam Coc, which is praised as Halong Bay on the land. When visiting Trang An, Tam Coc, you must try a sampan tour to flow along the mellow river through the impressive natural scenery. Van Long Nature Reserve is also a worth-visiting destination. It is a beautiful natural home of many flora and fauna systems, fish, birds, and more than 40 species of white buttocks, etc. To feel part of the ancient world, Hoa Lu - the ancient capital of ancient Vietnam is so gorgeous, antique with age-old temples and monuments, which will not disappoint you.
Hue
Hue was the ancient capital of Vietnam hundreds of years ago. Thus, in Hue, scattered everywhere, the ancient king’s palaces, temples, and mausoleums are in excellent condition. It takes hours to walk around the gigantic citadel, and king’s palaces in Hue, so the pleasant weather will support a lot. That’s why March, when it is comfortable with chilly, mellow winds and beautiful sunny days, is appropriate for a temple tour.
Among them, these constructions are renowned to tourists worldwide. The most notable one is Hue Citadel, which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1993. In the citadel, there are many magnificent palaces, temples, gardens, and a lovely lotus lake. Khai Dinh Tomb will be one of the must-visit places in Hue that you should not miss. The rectangular cube architecture reaches 127 steps, which influences many styles of foreign architecture, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Roman Gothic architecture, etc.
Another must-visit tomb in Hue is the Minh Mang Tomb, where there are about 40 large and small ancient constructions and gardens. Interspersed between the buildings are the lotus-scented lake and the pine-covered hills, creating charming and breathtaking scenery. Not only that, the cuisine in Hue also makes many people ecstatic because it is both diversified and delicious. Or if you want some fresh, chill air without hitting the scorching sunlight, then Thuan An Beach is a perfect option for you on a Hue trip.
Hoian
In the days of March, Hoian ancient town is lovely with pink flowers and the mellow Thu Bon river that runs along the town. It will be a lot of pleasure to stroll through the town to catch some interesting souvenirs, visit coffee shops, and take a bunch of beautiful photos. Hoi An has 1360 ancient constructions, including pagodas, temples, and bridges such as: Ba Pagoda, Ong Pagoda, Chuc Thanh Pagoda, Phuoc Lam Pagoda, Van Duc Pagoda, Hai Tibet Pagoda, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. On your visit to Hoian, remember to join the fun at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park near the Old Town and watch the Hoian Memories Show – one of the most excellent outdoor traditional shows.
Phu Quoc Island
Take a trip to Phu Quoc if you want to dive into beaches that are the best in Vietnam. Thanks to the beautiful weather in March, when it is pleasant with mild air, this is the best time to relax at the beaches in Phu Quoc. Among many stunning beaches, Sao Beach is the one that you should not miss.
At Sao Beach, you can enjoy the clean beaches with sea creatures lying on the sand, and nearby, many classy resorts have gorgeous rooms and serve delicious food. Sao Beach, Long Beach, and Khem Beach are also lovely beaches. Or else, this is also the appropriate time to drive around and feel the city.
On the way, you can choose to stop at the famous destinations in Phu Quoc, such as Ngu Well, Ho Quoc Pagoda, Phu Quoc Prison, and Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc Amusement Park. With the advantages that nature presents and the effort of humans, Phu Quoc is an ideal tourist area in Vietnam.
Vietnam Festivals in March
In March, some typical festivals only occur once a year. Through the festivals, you will have a great time learning Vietnamese culture and playing their exciting folk games. Some festivals that are worth mentioning are:
Yen Tu Festival
Yen Tu is a famous historical - scenic area of northeastern Vietnam, in Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province. In the early days of the year, Yen Tu is a destination that many people visit in the spring. Yen Tu has a special meaning. People attend the Yen Tu Spring Festival to show their respect, worship Buddha, and pray for the luck of a whole year.
The festival starts from January 10 to the end of the spring in March. At the festival, there are many activities you can enjoy, such as offering incense for Buddha, praying at Truc Lam, performing arts to recreate historical relics, spiritual culture, ceremonies, opening "Dong Thac Chua Dong Dong," Dragon Dance, watching traditional martial arts, playing folk games, etc.
Tay Phuong Pagoda Festival
Located on the top of Cau Mau Mountain, in Thach Xa Commune, Thach That District, Hanoi City, Tay Phuong Pagoda is a unique religious structure. Furthermore, the masterpieces of 62 ancient Buddha images are recognized as National Treasures.
Tay Phuong Pagoda is one of the largest and most beautiful temples in the Northern Delta, which has attracted many art researchers, writers, poets, and photographers from many countries. Lasted for three days in March, after that, many unique folklore activities such as “Ca Cheo” and “Quan Ho” - two Vietnamese traditional kinds of music, folk games, wrestling, etc.—will occur. Notably, the Water Puppet show associated with the famous artists from Yen village people, Thach Xa commune, is charming to follow.
Coffee Festival, Buon Me Thuot
Dubbed "Vietnam's Coffee Capital," Dak Lak has the most significant coffee system in the area. The festival is organized to promote the brands of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee, increasingly developing its specialty coffee to gradually turn Buon Ma Thuot into a potential destination of coffee. World coffee and thereby contribute to improving its value as well as affirming the position of Vietnamese coffee in the world market.
Besides, the festival is also an occasion to honor the contributions of coffee growers and coffee traders. The festival takes place with many diverse, attractive, and abundant activities that will contribute to attracting investment, and the attention of domestic and international tourists.
Tips for your trip to Vietnam in March
You should know some tips when traveling to a different country, so your trip will be smoother. In Vietnam, there are some tips and notices you should consider:
- Wear appropriately:
In pagodas, temples, cultural events, and especially at respectful places, Vietnamese people will avoid wearing clothes that show too much skin, like shorts, and sleeveless shirts. In these places, therefore, you should consider dressing politely to express your appreciation for the sacred sites.
- Transportation:
In the city, the cheapest way of transport is to go by bus or else; you should install common Vietnamese transportation apps such as Grab, Be, etc, which are available for taxis and motorbikes.
If you tend to get to many destinations, you should hire a car with a taxi driver. Or if you can ride a motorbike, hiring a motorbike will be the best option for you.
- Prepare warm clothes for a visit to the mountainous area.
March is not the coldest month in the mountainous area of Vietnam, but it is still colder at night. So remember to bring a coat, jacket, and gloves to keep yourself warm when the weather becomes colder.
- Google map is your best pal
The road system in Vietnam is a really big problem for foreigners to adapt to; they have endless alleys. Without Google Maps, it will be so difficult for you to find your destinations.
- Always ask for the price first.
To make sure the price and not to be taken advantage of, you must ask for the price first in case of being overcharged. In regular eateries or food carts, hawkers, a dish usually won’t cost more than 4 dollars. Common fruits in a tropical country, such as rambutan, mango, guava, tangerine, etc., won’t cost more than 3 USD per kilogram.
In general, the whole country is pleasant in March, so you can travel from the north to the south to enjoy your best Vietnam tour. If you are considering a place to visit in Vietnam, Asia Private Travels has a lot of available tours for you to choose from, or you can freely design your own customized Vietnam tour here. Now! Your fantastic trip is ahead.
