Vietnam August Itinerary
 

Hi there,

I have been reading through a lot of excellent trip reports on this forum in putting together an itinerary for August in Vietnam. Two weeks is all I could unfortunately swing from work so will do the best we can in that time!

With regards to the weather, my impression is that in August North South Vietnam will be experiencing rain but Central Vietnam should be hot and dry. Please correct me if I am off the mark!

Aug

9 Hanoi
10 Hanoi
11 Halong Bay (Overnight)
12 Halong Bay (Overnight to Hue from Hanoi)
13 Hue
14 Hue
15 Hue/ Hoi An
16 Hoi An
17 Hoi An
18 Ho Chi Minh
19 Ho Chi Minh
20 Mekong Delta (Overnight)
21 Mekong Delta (back in HCMC in evening)
22 Ho Chi Minh
23 FLY HOME EARLY FROM HCMC

This is tentative and based on my perceived weather impressions. A couple of questions:

1) I have excluded Sapa based on the fact that it will be rainy and misty in August and maybe not the best time to visit. Is this correct?

2) I assume that if we wanted a bit of beach time, the best given the weather would be in Central Vietnam around Hoi An maybe (Cua Dai, An Bang?). Are the beaches generally quite clean and the water nice for swimming?

3) I had initially included a flight to Phu Quoc for a couple of days as part of the trip but understood it is past its best days now and the weather may not be so good.

4) Missing Nha Trang since although there is a nice stretch of coast it seems a bit hectic and not worth a stop in the city. Understand this will be a long overnight from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh, how long is the bus?

5) Travelling will be me and my sister, both mid-20s, Enjoy a good mix of everything, very interested in culture, enjoy just generally walking around soaking in the atmosphere, both quite fit and adventurous as well.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

For my taste, you are seriously shortchanging Hanoi. If you have a long flight you will be tired for the first day, or you may even arrive at midnight and not even have that first day. There's lots to do, not just for the country's history but for art and especially cuisine. I'd make the hard choice between doing either the delta or Halong, to add more days for Hanoi and HCMC. Hue is worth two nights, which means one full day. I can't speak to your time in Hoi An.

I would skip the delta altogether and add the time to Hanoi. Take the train rather than the bus. See seat61.com for train info.

Agree to skip the Delta for Hanoi. I would keep Ha Long Bay as I loved it. We did Hoi An and stayed on the beach. Water was nice and warm but we did more sun bathing than swimming. It was also so stifling hot, that it was hard to stay out and relax in the sun. Other than my cooking class, I did not love Hoi An as much as others. I gave it 4 nights and wish it were 2 and added the other days to Hanoi. I was in Hanoi 2 nights and felt I short changed myself. My view of Hoi An is purely personal though and plenty of people love it. My best times were spent in Hanoi and HCMC but I left just as I was getting into it....so much to see, eat, do and soak in...enjoy your trip, it's a special country.

I'm another who is no big fan of Hoi An. I thought the best part was visiting My Son. But I'm not a shopper.

Skip the Delta and Hoi An. Extend your time in Hanoi and add in an overnight or two from Hanoi to the. Mai Chau valley.

Nha Trang is great for diving and there are some nice excursions out into the countryside from there but I think you are right to avoid it as it really has got too busy.

Thanks very much.

Cannot argue with the experts,I will skip the overnight to the delta and spend the time in Hanoi. My only concern was the weather in North Vietnam at the start of August?

It's summer in Hanoi. It sometime rains but just a issue is the heat. I suggest you should go to Mai Chau instead of Sapa.

It is such a nice place to visit. Just do 1 day and night in Hue is enough.