Northern Vietnam has four seasons and a monsoon that flips direction twice a year, so the "best time" depends on where you fly and what you want to see. Here is how our four areas change through the year — and the one rule that holds everywhere: in summer, fly in the morning.
The short answer
- **Mid-September to early October:** golden rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai — the most famous flying weeks in Vietnam.
- **October to December:** dry, clear air almost everywhere; buckwheat flowers in Ha Giang.
- **May to June:** water-pouring season in Mu Cang Chai, when the flooded terraces mirror the sky.
- **Hanoi:** Doi Bu from September to December (north wind), Vien Nam from January to August (south wind).
Month by month
| Months | Mu Cang Chai (Khau Pha) | Sapa | Ha Giang (Quan Ba) |
|---|
