Introducing the top-recommended winter Vietnam travel destinations! Get it wrong and it could turn into a disappointing trip

Xin chào! I'm Yuki, a Japanese husband living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and this is my Vietnamese wife Ngoc. On this blog, we share information about moving to and living in Vietnam, as well as travel information from all over the country. If you find an article that catches your interest, please follow us first! This time, for those planning a trip to Vietnam during Japan's winter season from December to March, we'll introduce some recommended local sightseeing spots. Actually, not every tourist destination in Vietnam is tropical year-round. If you pick the wrong time to go, your trip could end up disappointing, so please be careful! A winter trip to Vietnam from Japan. You're definitely looking for that "tropical vibe," right?

For many people planning a trip to Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, during Japan's winter months of December to March, I imagine the thought is "I want to escape the cold winter and enjoy a tropical vacation" (surely I'm not the only one!). What I want people like that to be aware of is that "during Japan's winter, it can still be winter in Vietnam too, depending on the city.Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia, but because the country stretches long from north to south, the climate varies from place to place. If you end up going to a city that's experiencing Vietnam's winter, you might find yourself sightseeing in Vietnam wearing a jacket or coat—even though you went to all the trouble of escaping Japan! Hanoi, popular with Japanese travelers, is in winter! Where did that sweltering weather go?

Hanoi, in northern Vietnam, is popular with Japanese travelers, but it also has its own winter season, which happens to fall during Japan's winter. In particular, from December to February the temperature there feels similar to autumn in Japan, so long sleeves or a jacket are essential when walking around town. Also, natural scenic spots like the World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh Province get even colder, so it's best to dress the same way you would for winter in Japan. Of course, it's not like that every single day — on some days you can get by in short sleeves during the daytime — but you won't know until the day itself, so preparation is absolutely necessary. How about "Da Nang & Hoi An" for your Japanese winter trip?

So, what about satisfaction levels if you'd like to visit Da Nang & Hoi An in central Vietnam during Japan's winter season? First, during Japan's winter, Da Nang & Hoi An are in their "rainy season." The peak of the rainy season has passed, so it may not rain every single day, but you'll still need to watch out for sudden squalls. Also, the temperature drops noticeably right before and after it rains, so you'll temporarily need long sleeves.On the other hand, the temperature doesn't drop as much as in Hanoi, and when it's not raining you can even go sightseeing in short sleeves, and if the sun is out you can also swim in the sea or a pool. For that reason, we can say "If you're going to Hanoi, Da Nang is by far the recommended choice." That said, even more than Da Nang, what we'd like to recommend is Ho Chi Minh City in the south, which we'll introduce next. For Japan's winter, the answer is "Ho Chi Minh City"!The tropical vacation you've been dreaming of is waiting for you!

A recommended Vietnam destination for the winter season in Japan is Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Here's why. Daytime average temperatures are over 30 degrees, giving it a truly tropical feel. It has the tropical climate of Southeast Asia. From December to March, during Japan's winter, Ho Chi Minh City is right in the middle of its full-on "dry season." Ho Chi Minh City doesn't have World Heritage sites like Hanoi does, nor does it have the sea right in the city center like Da Nang does.However, you can also enjoy spa, shopping, and gourmet food while sightseeing in the city, and fully experience nature in the Mekong Delta or Mui Ne, so the way you enjoy the trip can be extremely varied depending on how active you want to be. Personally, if you're visiting Vietnam during the Japanese winter season, I'd recommend Ho Chi Minh City. By the way, besides Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc Island also have the same climate, so if you want to go to a beach area, you can choose these places (both are just a 1-hour domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City). However, the same goes for Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City as well.Many people who go to the local area without any plan end up saying, "I don't know what to do" or "honestly, it's boring." To avoid that, let's make plans for the local area while we're still in Japan! Coming up next... It's year-end and New Year in Japan. How about spending New Year's Eve in Ho Chi Minh City? The next update will be during the year-end and New Year holidays. Next time, my Japanese husband Yuki will bring you New Year's Eve in Ho Chi Minh City (as for me, I'll be heading back to the countryside, lol).