October is autumn in the North and high rainy season in the Central Region (Central Coast) of Vietnam, in the Central Highlands and South of Vietnam. The temperatures are pleasant all over the country during this month.
The Winds and Their Impact on the General Weather Patterns in Vietnam in October
While there may be heavy rain in the far-northern mountains of Vietnam, the North of Vietnam mostly autumnal vibe with mildly bright sun, blue skies and lovely breezes. And it may be high rainy season in the Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam but the rain mostly comes at the end of each day and it may still be sunny mostly in daytime.
October is the month that the Central Coast of Vietnam suffers from double troubles: the Northeasterly Wind and the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone having its axis across this region. Expect several places in these provinces flooded due to continual heavy rain.
It is possible that there may be typhoons which may hit northern Vietnam or the Central Coast of Vietnam in October. In the former case, cruises on Halong Bay are often halted for a couple of days each time, and possible torrential rains and flash floods in the far-northern mountains. In the latter case, the impact often means torrential rain and flash floods in the the Central Coast and in the Central Highlands.
The winds which affect Vietnam in October include the southeasterly wind, northeasterly wind and southwesterly wind. The southeasterly wind is moist and pleasant, and it causes occasional rains in northern Vietnam and nice temperatures during the time of its influence.
The northeasterly wind causes the winter in Northern Vietnam and rainy season in the Central Coast of Vietnam.
The southwesterly wind is moist in the South and the Central Highlands and it causes daily short-lived rains as well as nice temperatures in these regions. This wind is active in October, hence more rainfalls in these two regions. The rain mostly come at the end of a day and last for an hour or so only.
Adventure Travel, Nature Tours, Bird Watching Tours, Photo Tours in Vietnam in October
1/ Hiking Tours, Mountain Trekking Tours
October is generally a good time for adventure tours in Northern Vietnam, except for the period the region is under impact of a typhoon which may last for 2-3 days each. It is fall in the North and the weather is mostly favorable : dry, breezy. Those embark on mountain trekking tours are to be awarded with beautiful clouds on high mountain peaks. From the end of October maple trees on high mountains change to yellow or red colors which are just breathtaking !
October is not a great time for hike tours in the Central Highlands given it is high rainy season. Even it is sunny mostly in day time but high rainfalls cause higher water in the rivers and rapids which make them even dangerous.
2/ Adventure Tours
Northern Vietnam is a great place for general adventure tours in October except for the time when it is under impact of a typhoon. Traveling in the North this month you’ll get pleasant temperatures, breezes and mild sunshine.
Though October is not a good time adventure tours in the Central Coast given it is heavy and relentlessly rain a time in this region.
In the Central Highlands and in Southern Vietnam, it is high rainy season but the rain mostly comes at the end of a day. If you do not venture into jungles crossing rivers in the wilderness, then it should be fine. The temperatures are pleasant in these two regions in October.
3/ Birding Trips and Bird Watching Tours
October is the fall migration time that most migratory bird species have been present in national parks and nature reserves in Vietnam, and bird parks in the country are vivid with wildlife.
Birding sites in Vietnam in October :
- Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh Binh) : resident birds and migratory bird species.
- Van Long Nature Reserve (Ninh Binh): storks and water fowls.
- Xuan Thuy National Park (Nam Dinh) : storks, shore birds, migratory bird species.
- Bach Ma National Park (Thua Thien – Hue) : This is among the region with the top annual rainfalls in Vietnam and it is the rainy season : AdventureGreen do not organize trips be it eco tours or bird tours to Bach Ma National Park in October.
- Da Lat, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Deo Nui Sam at Di Linh (Lam Dong, Central Highlands) : Birding at Da Lat and other sites in Lam Dong Province is a great experience in October.
- Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai, Southern Vietnam) : October is a great time for birdwatching at Cat Tien National Park.
4/ Family Tours
Generally speaking, families should have a good time traveling in Vietnam in October with the exception of the Central Coasts.
5/ Island Holidays
You are to have nice temperatures in Vietnam in October. The problem is that it is rough sea around most islands in Vietnam due to the Northeasterly Wind. Due to rough sea that boat trips and sea exploration trips like snorkeling and scuba diving... are not operated. If you except these facts, then you can have good time on the islands : Co To Island and Quan Lan Island (Quang Ninh Province), Cat Ba Island (Hai Phong), Con Dao Islands (Ba Ria-Vung Tau), Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang).
October is not a recommended time to travel to islands in the Central Coast (Cu Lao Cham in Hoi An or Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai, Phu Quy Island in Binh Thuan) due to strong winds, rough sea and rainy weather mostly.
6/ Beach Vacations
If you travel to Southern Vietnam then you may try Vung Tau Beach, Long Hai Beach and Ho Tram Beach (all in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province). You can have pleasant temperatures in daytime mostly, some rain at the end of a day.
In Northern Vietnam, Sam Son Beach or the beaches on islands in Northern Vietnam have rough sea mostly. And those beaches in the Central Coast have rainy weather mostly.
