she to ho chi minh city last year

Itinerary. Start in Hanoi and end in Ho Chi Minh City! With the Explorer tour Ultimate Vietnam, you have a 14 days tour package taking you through Hanoi, Vietnam and 6 other destinations in Vietnam. Ultimate Vietnam includes accommodationin a hoteland hostel as well as flights, an expert guide, meals, transport and more. Expand All. Introduction. Hanoi Things to Do Highlights 1. Visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long 2. Attend a Cooking Class 3. Go on a Free Walking Tour 4. Watch a Water Puppet Theatre Performance 5. Street Food Trip Around Hanoi 6. Sightsee Around the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum 7. Bike or Walk Around the Hoan Kiem Lake 8. Soak Up Some Culture in the Hanoi Opera House 9. To help plan your trip to Ho Chi Minh City, I've compiled links to hotels, tours, and other services here. HOTELS. Top-rated hotels in Dictrict 1, the most convenient area to stay for people on their first trip to Ho Chi Minh City. Luxury: Hotel Majestic Saigon; Midrange: The Haven - Lofts by the Park; Budget: Lucky Star Hotel 146 Nguyen French entrepreneur Quynh-Huong Duong moved from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City two years ago. Last year, the company made its stock market debut, raising more more than $250m. Fun With Kids in HCMC #3: Suoi Tien Theme Park. Located in District 9, Suoi Tien Theme Park is Ho Chi Minh City's most famous theme park, and offers a fun day out for kids of all ages. The grounds are massive - the park includes a waterpark with slides, amusement rides, beautiful gardens and temples. Do be aware though that the safety Many businesses that catered to foreign influence (like the American military) thrived during the Vietnam War, but now Ho Chi Minh City is trying to grow in new ways. There are museums, a new national theater, and an expanded University of Ho Chi Minh City, to name a few changes over the years. Visiting Vietnam: Hanoi. Hanoi is the capital of predlemarni1972. Located in Vietnam’s tropical lower half, Ho Chi Minh City enjoys a warm, wet climate that cycles between two seasons, with very little temperature variance in between. Unlike temperate Hanoi in the north, Ho Chi Minh City’s tropical temperatures allow tourists to visit at any time of the year without bundling up. Humidity and rainfall swing between extremes from dry to rainy seasons; annual precipitation in the area is a wet 76 inches, with 90 percent falling during the rainy season. Temperatures during the dry season from November to April average at about 82 F 28 C, soaring as high as 95 F 35 C. In December the coolest month on average, temperatures drop only as low as 72 F 22 C. Fast Climate Facts Hottest Month April 87 F / 31 C Coldest Month December 80 F / 27 C Wettest Month October inches Sunniest Month March 272 mean monthly sunshine hours Flooding in Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City is one of Vietnam’s most flood-prone localities, owing to its low-lying location and the Dong Nai and Saigon rivers flowing through it. Forty-five percent of the city’s territory lies barely a meter above sea level. So it’s no surprise that when the rainy season hits—bringing with it heavy rains and increased river volume—many areas in the city flood over. The flooding has been brought partly under control, thanks to an ongoing $ billion project to upgrade the drainage and control the known flood hotspots in the city. City authorities claim to have reduced the number of flooding hotspots from 126 to 22, but more work yet needs to be done. Consider the floods if you’re visiting during Ho Chi Minh City’s monsoon season from May to October; while prices may be driven down by the constant rains, you may yet pay a premium in terms of flights canceled, impassable roads, and closed attractions. Relevant Natural Phenomena Beyond the risk of floods, a few other natural phenomena in Ho Chi Minh City should be considered by travelers heading there, particularly during the rainy season. Typhoons Ho Chi Minh City’s location along Vietnam’s coast puts in in the middle of the regional typhoon belt, where tropical storms regularly emerge from the Pacific Ocean to attack the city like Godzilla bent on revenge. Typhoon season in Ho Chi Minh City runs between June and November. Locals are rightly worried about typhoons; the worst in recent memory, Typhoon Linda, killed over 3,000 people in Vietnam and wrought $385 million in damage. Watch the Joint Typhoon Warning Center page for updates on tropical storms heading your way. We’ve also prepared some tips on traveling during typhoon season, for your reference in case you visit in the stormy months. Dengue Fever Ho Chi Minh City has seen a recent rise in dengue fever cases, with a 176% increase in cases and five fatalities recorded in 2019. The spike coincided with the advent of the rainy season the light rains and warm weather create the perfect conditions for mosquito breeding in the city. Anti-mosquito precautions should be taken by travelers who fear catching dengue on their Saigon trip. DEET lotion remains the most effective solution against mosquito bites; reapply every three hours on exposed skin to prevent yourself from becoming a tasty mosquito snack. Dry Season in Ho Chi Minh City The months between late November and late April are perhaps the best times to visit Ho Chi Minh City, as the monsoon season’s rains begin to dry up and humidity starts to drop as well. The “winter” months of December and January are the coolest months of the calendar, as temperatures drop to the 71-87 F 22-31 C range. The months of March and April are the sunniest and hottest in the year, peaking at an average high temperature of 94 F 34 C in the latter month. The built-up areas of Ho Chi Minh City also experience an unpleasant heat island effect that raises temperatures in the city center some three to five degrees higher compared to the city’s suburbs; the coolest areas in the city can be found around the Saigon River. The driest month of the year takes place in February, as only inches of rainfall reach the ground. What to pack The smart traveler to Ho Chi Minh City packs against the sun; the dry months in the city coincide with both the lowest and highest levels of ultraviolet exposure per year. Even the year’s “low” can be risky for a pale-skinned tourist with a UV index of 10 in November to 12 in April from Very High to Extreme, the city enjoys copious amounts of sunlight in the dry months, bringing with it the risk of sunburn and heatstroke. Protect yourself against UV exposure by bringing a light, breathable hat, or slathering on some sunscreen. Bring moisture-wicking clothes that can help your sweat evaporate easier, and comfortable footwear closed-toe shoes with springy soles ideally if you’re staying in the city. Average Temperatures by Month November 90 F / 74 F 32 C / 23 CDecember 90 F / 72 F 32 C / 22 CJanuary 90 F / 72 F 32 C / 22 CFebruary 92 F / 73 F 34 C / 23 CMarch 94 F / 76 F 34 C / 24 CApril 95 F / 76 F 35 C / 24 C Kamil Lech / EyeEm / Getty Images Rainy Season in Ho Chi Minh City “When it rains, it pours” is particularly true of Ho Chi Minh City, whose rainy season from May to mid-November brings humidity and rainfall to their yearly heights, along with the increased chances of flooding. The rainy season slides in just as the mercury hits the top of the thermometer—April’s average temperature of 85 F segues to a slightly rain-cooled 84 F when May’s showers kick in. Ninety percent of the city’s annual rainfall slams down during the rainy season. September and October are the wettest months of the year. These months are also the most humid, peaking at 85 percent in September. Even though showers only last a few hours in the rainy season, the stifling humidity makes an ordeal out of a simple outdoor walk. For more information, read our article about traveling in Southeast Asia’s monsoon season. What to pack Pack against the rains, by preparing this monsoon season packing list. The list includes easy-dry clothes that allow moisture to evaporate effortlessly, whether that moisture is sweat or rain; rain gear like an umbrella, waterproof shoes, and a light jacket don’t bring a heavy raincoat, it’ll just feel uncomfortable in the humidity; polyethylene bags and silica gel to keep your electronics dry; and DEET to ward off mosquitoes. Average Temperatures by Month May 94 F / 78 F 34 C / 26 CJune 92 F / 76 F 33 C / 25 CJuly 91 F / 76 F 32 C / 24 CAugust 90 F / 76 F 32 C / 24 CSeptember 90 F / 76 F 31 C / 24 COctober 89 F / 75 F 31 C / 24 C Average Monthly Temperature, Rainfall, and Daylight Hours in Ho Chi Minh City Avg. Temp. Rainfall Daylight Hours January 79 F / 26 C in hours February 80 F / 27 C in hours March 82 F / 28 C in hours April 85 F / 29 C in hours May 84 F / 29 C in hours June 82 F / 28 C in hours July 81 F / 27 C in hours August 81 F / 27 C in hours September 81 F / 27 C in hours October 81 F / 27 C in hours November 80 F / 27 C in hours December 79 F / 26 C in hours TripSavvy uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy. After moving abroad in July 2014, I started compiling monthly roundup posts about life as an expat in Asia and all the nitty gritty that goes on behind the scenes here at Travel Lush. You can check out my previous monthly roundup posts August, September/October and November. This expat life of mine is a weird one. One minute I’m living and working in Beijing and the next I’m schlepping all of my worldly possessions into my new apartment in Ho Chi Minh City aka Saigon. And just like that, I’m living in Vietnam. It’s a big transition, moving from China to Vietnam. Or at least it feels like it should be. But the odd thing is this move feels pretty natural to me. I realize it’s only been a week, but I think I can get used to living in Ho Chi Minh City. Perhaps it’s because I’ve spent so much of the last four years living and traveling in Southeast Asia. Or maybe it’s because this time last year I was just kicking off a 3-month stint living and working in Vietnam’s beachside city of Nha Trang. I guess all of this plays a role in the fact that this move doesn’t feel super shocking. I’m sure the weight of it will hit me at some point. But right now, at this moment, I’m feeling really good about this move. But this is a monthly roundup post… so let me rewind a little bit. Here’s what I got up to during the month of December Prepping to move to Vietnam… If you read last month’s roundup post you’ll know that I found out that I was for sure moving to Ho Chi Minh City on November 30. So basically the first couple weeks of December were spent wrapping my mind around the fact that I was actually leaving Beijing and getting ready for my big move. Aside from googling all sorts of things about what it’s like to live in Ho Chi Minh City, most of the month was spent like any other I worked… a lot. Actually, I was so busy working and commuting to work that I hardly had any time to explore the areas of Beijing I’d neglected to visit during the two years I lived there. I suppose when you’re only given a little over three weeks’ notice that you’re moving, time just kind of goes a little too quickly. I was also busy thinking about all the soup I was going to eat in Vietnam… Oh well, I did get to go to a few really cool bars and restaurants before I left, and I had some really good times. I’ll take it! Saying goodbye to my Beijing life… My final week in Beijing was a bittersweet one. On the one hand I was absurdly excited to finally get to Ho Chi Minh City, a place I hadn’t visited in basically a decade and one that I really don’t know all that much about. On the other hand, I was really sad to say goodbye to my exceptionally rad coworkers and the small group of friends I’ve made during my time in Beijing. Aaron and I hanging out and freezing! in the hutongs one last time. Beijing is the first place I’ve lived abroad where I’ve actually made good friends. I had an actual crew there and we’d hang out every Thursday night at our only local bar. We had so many good times at our weekly hangouts. We had one final session before Aaron and I took off… and that was that. Yes, we even had a uniform… Part of me knows that I might not see some of these people again. But I do hope that our paths will cross in the future. I do have grand plans to convince each and every one of them to visit us in Vietnam. And hey, one of our friends will be visiting in just two weeks! So that’s pretty cool. One last hurrah, just before Christmas. I’m realizing just how amazing it was to have friends in Beijing and how important having a community is when you live so far from home. So saying goodbye to these people was exponentially more difficult than I thought it would be. So yeah, my final week was full of goodbyes and see you laters. And on Christmas Eve, Aaron and I stuffed all our of possessions into 10 suitcases, lugged them to the airport and hopped on a red eye to Ho Chi Minh City, where we arrived bleary-eyed and exhausted at 5am on Christmas Day. Oh, hello Saigon. We beelined it to an outdoor airport café and ordered our first and much-needed Vietnamese iced coffee basically the best thing ever. We sat there watching the sun come up and the world come alive in our new city. We had officially arrived. Living in Ho Chi Minh City… We’ve now been in Ho Chi Minh city for a little over a week. In that time we’ve moved into our month-long rental. We love our neighborhood and cozy little apartment. We don’t love the massive construction site that sits 15 feet away and goes 24 hours sad face. Nor do we love our insanely loud neighbors out back. Sleep has been a bit tough to come by since we moved here. But hey, this is Vietnam. We knew what we were getting in to. After all, this is one of the loudest cities on earth. Plus, we will be moving into a more permanent place in the next few weeks, so this is only temporary. Fingers crossed that we can find a great apartment. After living in hellish apartments in Jakarta, Phnom Penh and Beijing, Aaron and I could really use a lucky break. Living situation aside, we spent our first few days in Ho Chi Minh City walking around, checking out tourist attractions and different neighborhoods, and stuffing our faces with vegetarian noodle soups, mock meat dishes, veggie banh mi and so much more. Have I mentioned I love the food in Vietnam? Because I do! Travel Because we have a couple weeks before Aaron starts his new job we decided to book a last-minute flight to the Con Dao Islands. The islands are located in Southern Vietnam, about an hour-long flight from Ho Chi Minh City. I really knew next to nothing about them except they are home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country and that they are wild, remote and relatively untouristed. We had read that December isn’t the most optimal time to visit because of the vicious winds that batter the island, but we decided to go for it anyway. It turns out the winds are no joke. The 30 mph gusts did lash us, but man that place is stunning. The town itself is tiny, so tiny there were only three restaurants we could eat at. Being a vegetarian in Vietnam is challenging at times. We stayed in a local guesthouse that had beautiful mountain views and only cost $17 a night. We spent our time motorbiking along the windswept cliffs, marveling at the turquoise sea and the rugged islets that surround the main island of Con Son, and exploring the old colonial structures that the island is infamously known for. The infamous Tiger Cages’ of Con Son. The dreary whether didn’t really bother us, since we’d anticipated it. But we were thrilled when the sun came out one day, so we could actually have a beach day. We shared a beautiful stretch of beach with a handful of other people, we floated in the calm ocean, and we got some much-needed sun on our bodies. We also rang in the New Year on Con Son. Given that the island closes down at about 10pm, our night was calm and relaxed. It was great, actually. It’s true that December wasn’t the best time to visit the islands, but I am definitely going back there this spring. I swear that place is paradise on earth and I’ll be writing a couple posts about it very soon. Not only did I love my time there but the whole experience got me so jazzed about being able to live in Vietnam and explore more of this absurdly beautiful country. Seriously, I’m just so happy to be here. It feels really good to feel so excited about a place! Instagram My most popular posts from December were taken in Beijing and Ho Chi Minh City… Man, it’s so weird I don’t live in Beijing anymore. Where to stay If you’re looking for a splurge or just a nice place to stay for a night, the Pullman is comfortable and has a great breakfast, rooftop bar and pool. It’s within walking distance to pretty much everything and basically right next to the “backpacker street.” How did your December shape up? Where in the world did you spend New Year’s?

she to ho chi minh city last year