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) | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan – Feb | Cold, clear days; frost possible | Cold; sea of clouds mornings | Cold, dry; peach blossom late Feb | Vien Nam (south wind) |
| Mar – Apr | Spring, mild; hazy some days | Mild, good flying | Plum & peach blossom | Vien Nam (south wind) |
| May – Jun | ★ Water-pouring season | Green valleys; afternoon showers | Green, fly mornings | Vien Nam (south wind) |
| Jul – Aug | Green rice; thunderstorms after noon | Rainiest months — fly mornings | Rainy, fly mornings | Vien Nam, mornings |
| Sep – early Oct | ★★ Golden rice & festival | Golden terraces | Clearing up | Doi Bu (north wind) |
| Oct – Nov | Harvest done, clear air | Clear, cool — great | ★ Buckwheat flowers | Doi Bu (north wind) |
| Dec | Cold, very clear | Cold, clouds below the peaks | Buckwheat, dry | Doi Bu (north wind) |
Why Hanoi has two sites
Our two sites near Hanoi face opposite directions. Doi Bu faces north and is our main site from September to December, when the north wind sets in; a steady 3–4 m/s from the north is perfect. Vien Nam faces south and is the main site from January to August, when southerly winds dominate. Between them there is usually somewhere to fly within 50 km of the city.
Mu Cang Chai: the two peak windows
The rice terraces around Khau Pha Pass have two famous faces: water-pouring season (roughly mid-May to mid-June), when the terraces are flooded and shine like mirrors, and the golden season (roughly mid-September to early October), when the rice ripens. The golden weeks are the busiest of the year, so book early — weekend and holiday prices apply (2,590,000 VND instead of 2,190,000 VND on weekdays).
Sapa: clouds and clarity
Sapa flies year-round when the weather allows. Autumn and winter bring the clearest skies and the chance to fly above a sea of clouds with Fansipan on the horizon. In the rainy months (June to August) we fly early, before the clouds build.
Ha Giang: our newest site
Quan Ba is our newest site. The dry season from October — also buckwheat flower season and the busiest time on the Ha Giang Loop — is the best time to fly there.
What happens if the weather is bad
We check the forecast for every site every evening and again at launch. If conditions are not safe we move your flight or refund it — rescheduling for weather is always free. You can see the same 10-day flying forecast we use on our weather page.
