Vietnam is a very long country and has 3 different weather regions: North, Central, and South. In this article, I will help you to look at the weather in Vietnam in November, best places to go in November, and places to avoid.
Weather in Vietnam in November
Basically, North and South Vietnam have the best weather conditions in November. Central Vietnam is not at its best as it is in the rainy season. The weather is cool and dry in North Vietnam, warm and dry in South Vietnam, warm and rainy in Central Vietnam.
North Vietnam is in autumn and has pleasant weather with lots of sunshine, clear skies, and minimal rainfall. Temperature ranges around 24°C and can be chilly at night.
South Vietnam is also in the beginning of the dry season. You will have warm weather, and little rain. Temperatures range from 24°C to 32°C.
Central Vietnam is in the peak monsoon season, with possibility of flooding and storms. Temperate ranges 23°C-26°C. The Highland center region such as Da Lat has better weather with little rain.
Is November a good month to visit Vietnam?
Yes, November is one of the best times to visit Vietnam, especially the North and South Vietnam. These regions have pleasant weather with lots of sunny days, clear skies, and comfortable temperature.
You might want to avoid central Vietnam as it is in the peak rainy season, when flooding and storms can occur and interrupt your travel plan. If you don’t mind the rain, you can take advantage of low prices on accommodations, tours, and less tourist crowds.
In the North, you can enjoy the romantic atmosphere in autumn, explore Hanoi’s old quarter, go trekking in Sapa, take an overnight cruise on Halong Bay, and take an easy rider tour on Ha Giang Loop.
In the South, you can enjoy the beaches in Phu Quoc, explore river life on the Mekong Delta, and enjoy nightlife and shopping in Ho Chi Minh City.
What to wear in Vietnam in November? As North Vietnam can be chilly at night, I recommend bringing a long sleeve and light jacket with you. South Vietnam has warm weather so comfortable T-shirts and shorts are recommended. Don’t forget to bring swimsuits for beaches in Phu Quoc and Con Dao.
9 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam in November
1. Hanoi
Hanoi is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam in November. This month is a transition month from autumn to winter, so you’ll have cool to cold weather and little rain. Temperature ranges from 19°C to 26°C. Be sure to bring a light jacket with you to keep you warm in the evening.
The comfortable weather makes it great for exploring the historic Old Quarter on foot. You can wander around the narrow, winding streets, check out unique shops, bustling markets, and try authentic Vietnamese street food.
Famous attractions in Hanoi are the Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoa Lo Prison, the train street and Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. At night, you can head to Ta Hien beer street for some drinks and people watch.
You can consider taking a day trip to Ninh Binh to take a boat ride on Trang An, climb to the top of Mua Caves, visit Hoa Lu ancient town, and Bai Dinh pagoda.
The most popular place to stay in Hanoi for the first time is undoubtedly the old quarter. This part is the historic heart of the city where you can experience an authentic atmosphere and close to many restaurants, bars, and shops. This area has a good range of mid-range hotels and backpacker hostels.
2. Sapa
Sapa has colder weather than Hanoi as it is located at a higher elevation. Temperature ranges from 10°C to 18°C, and can be very cold at night. Be sure to bring warm clothes with you.
November is the dry season in Sapa, so the rainfall is minimal. Foggy can occur in the morning, and sky is clearer during daytime. You can go trekking to explore different ethnic villages and learn more about local life.
You can trek through Cat Cat Village, Ta Van village, and Lao Chai village. Other famous places to check out in Sapa are Fansipan Mount, O Quy Ho Pass, and Ham Rong Mountain.
3. Ha Giang
November is one of the best times to explore Ha Giang in North Vietnam. Similar to Sapa, Ha Giang’s weather is quite cold in November (15°C-24°C). But it is in the dry season, so you’ll have lots of sunny days and clear cookies for sightseeing.
I recommend taking at least 2 nights of Ha Giang Loop tours with easy riders to see most sights on the Loop and experience local culture. If you have time, add one more night for more exploration.
Ha Giang is one of the world’s most scenic rides. Along the ride, you can admire the breathtaking mountainous landscape, beautiful waterfalls, winding roads, and stunning rivers, and caves.
Some famous attractions and viewpoints on Ha Giang Loop are Lung Ho Viewpoint, Du Gia Waterfall, Ban An Stream, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que River, Tham Ma Pass, and Quan Ba Heaven Gate.
During your 2 to 3 nights on the Loop, you can experience local food and stay in traditional houses of ethnic peoples such Thai and Dao groups.
4. Halong Bay
Similar to Hanoi and other parts of North Vietnam, Halong Bay’s weather is quite cool and pleasant in November (18°C – 24°C). You’ll be in the dry season with minimal rainfalls and many sunny days.
It can be chilly some days, especially in the evening and early morning. So bring warm clothes with you as well as a bikini in case the sea temperature is warm for swimming.
There might be some fog in the morning but it can create romantic scenery. I recommend taking a 2 nights cruise for the best experience, but if you don’t have time or limit on the budget, one night is enough to see the bay.
5. Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh, aka Halong on Land, is a great day trip or overnight trip from Hanoi. It is located only 2 hours away by car. It has cold and dry weather, which is perfect for outdoor activities such as cycling, taking a boat ride, and hiking.
The top thing to do in Ninh Binh is to take a boat ride on either Trang An or Tam Coc. You can visit Hoa Lu ancient town, Hang Mua Cave, Bai Dinh pagoda, and Bich Dong pagoda. At night, enjoy local dishes and drinks at the many bars and restaurants on the main street in Tam Coc.
The most popular place to stay in Ninh Binh for tourists is Tam Coc. This area is packed with tourist facilities such as cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, bars, and travel agencies.
6. Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc is undoubtedly the best place to go for a beach holiday in November. This is the start of the dry season in Phu Quoc, so the island will have warm and dry weather. This is perfect for beach activities and exploring cultural attractions.
Phu Quoc has an international airport, so it is easily accessible from several foreign countries. It has frequent flights from major cities in Vietnam like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is only a 45 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh.
This Pearl island is the tropical paradise island where you can enjoy lots of beach activities. You can go swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, diving at many beaches and small islands. Famous beaches are Long beach on the west coast and Sao Beach on the east coast.
Watching the sunset is one of the best things to do on Phu Quoc. You can enjoy watching the sunset while having a seafood BBQ or a dinner at many beach bars and resorts on the west coast of the island.
Other popular activities on Phu Quoc are the cable car ride, Phu Quoc prison, Ho Quoc pagoda, Pearl Farm, Fish Sauce factory, and pepper farm. You can learn about the process of making pearl, fish sauce, and buy some products to bring home to your friends and families.
Phu Quoc is home to many luxury all-inclusive beach resorts. You can find many options on the island from west coast to east coast.
If you want to be in the heart of the action, I recommend staying in either Duong Dong and Long Beach. You’ll have easy access to Tran Hung Dao Street, which is the main road of the island, packed with tourist facilities like restaurants, bars, and shops.
7. Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is the best place to go in November for urban life experience and vibrant nightlife. The city is in the beginning of the dry season, so it has nice weather in November with minimal rainfall.
You can explore the city center with major attractions like the Independence Palace, The War Remnants Museum, Ben Thang market, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office.
At night, you can check out many cheap bars on Bui Vien Walking street. This is the lively backpacker area of Saigon. For more trendy rooftop bars and nightclubs, you can head to Nguyen Hue Walking Street and Dong Khoi area.
Ho Chi Minh City is a great base to take trips to Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong delta. If you are interested in river life, floating markets, and history, you should consider taking guided tours to these places. You can visit them by road or by boat.
If you want to stay close to everything, District 1 is the best place to book a hotel. Staying here puts you in the middle of the action, easy access to markets, shops, nightlife, and restaurants.
8. Mekong Delta
Similar to other parts of South Vietnam, the Mekong Delta has good weather in November. It is warm and dry, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities like cycling.
Some top cities in the Mekong Delta region are My Tho, Ben Tre, Chau Doc, and Can Tho. Major attractions are Cai Rang Floating market, Cai Be Floating Market, Tram Chim National Park, and Vinh Trang Pagoda.
9. Da Lat
Unlike other cities in central Vietnam, Da Lat (in the highland central region) starts the dry season. The weather is cool during the day and chilly at night. It has little rain, making it ideal for outdoor cities like trekking, and whitewater rafting.
There are many things to do in Da lat city center and its surrounding countryside. You can explore lakes, waterfalls, take cable car rides, explore stunning pagodas, and try delicious cafes.
In the city center of Da lat, you can explore major sights on foot and by using Grab bike or taxi. You can have a look at the night market, Xuan Huong Lake, Da lat cable car, Cray House, and Linh Phuoc pagoda.
For waterfalls, you have some options close to the city center and some in the countryside, about 1 hour drive away. You can use Grab to get to Datanla waterfall and take an alpine coaster ride. Consider renting a motorbike or taking a guided tour to see Pongour Waterfall, Elephant Waterfall, and Linh An pagoda.
Dalat City Center is the most convenient place to stay in Da Lat. Staying here puts you within walking distance to major sights, famous restaurants and bars.
See more:
- Vietnam in January
- Vietnam in February
- Vietnam in March
- Vietnam in October
- Best Time to Visit Vietnam
- Vietnam in December
So, Where to go in Vietnam in November?
In my experience, The best places to go in Vietnam in November are North and South Vietnam. Phu Quoc is the best destination for beaches. You might want to avoid Central Vietnam if you want to avoid the rainy season here.
North, South, and highland central Vietnam has comfortable weather. They are in the beginning month of the dry season, so the weather is pleasant with clear blue skies and little rain. You can enjoy sightseeing, and outdoor activities such as trekking in the North and swimming in the South.
As in the monsoon season, Central Vietnam is in the low tourist season in November. If you are visiting places like Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hue during this month, you can find some good value for money hotels and a quiet atmosphere with fewer tourists.