August is a good month to visit Vietnam. Natives enjoy the outdoors maximum before mid-August, hence making the other half of the month a golden time to hit the beaches of Central Vietnam. Although North Vietnam and South Vietnam are affected by monsoons and typhoons in August, there are many alluring destinations that promise pleasant weather. Stay till the end of the article to learn about the breathtaking attractions and beauty of Vietnam in August:
Vietnam Weather in August - North, Central, and South
Northern Mountain Region - Sapa, Ha Giang, Bac Ha, Mu Cang Chai, Haiphong
August is monsoon month in the north mountain region; hence, trekking is inadvisable. However, August is a peak month for visiting SaPa and areas around Mu Cang Chai. This is the month when golden rice crops sway under light showers of rain. Sun appears equally, and the weather is not bad.
North Vietnam - Hanoi, Halong Bay, Cuc Phuong, Mai Chau & Ninh Binh
By August, North Vietnam is in the summer monsoon phase with an average temperature of 29°C. Hanoi and Halong Bay are prone to heavy showers, while other areas are very humid.
Central Vietnam - Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Dalat, Quy Nhon & Nha Trang
The first three weeks of August offer a good amount of sunshine in the coastal lowlands of Central Vietnam. Some areas get light rains by the end of the month, so technically, this is the last dry summertime. Hoi An, Danang, and Nha Trang experience an average temperature of 30°C.
South Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City, The Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc and Con Dao, Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, Ho Tram & Long Hai
During August, rains affect South Vietnam with an average temperature of 29°C. Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta are affected by daily afternoon showers, but you can expect plenty of daylight hours for outdoor activities. August is also the month of Green Turtle's first hatchlings on Con Dao island.
Places to Visit in Vietnam in August
Vietnam offers bonnie coastlines, historical architectural sites, exotic adventure activities, air-conditioned modern museums, flowering fields, mouth-watering foods, and lively markets. Where one major place is known for its art, another is an attraction point for its nightlife, all-in-all Vietnam wisely preserves its culture. August is good-to-go time for Central Vietnam, while later August is suitable for South Vietnam. Below is the list of the cities and places from North Vietnam to South Vietnam to visit in August.1. SaPa
Located in the Northwest Mountain region of Vietnam, this beautiful town, SaPa, has various small villages. SaPa is warm, with an average temperature of 21°C; drizzling makes the surroundings more beautiful. Travelers must visit ‘The SaPa Museum’ and ‘Cat Cat Village’ (one of the oldest villages of Sapa) to learn the history of people here and the ‘Cloud Yard’ to complement the beauty of clouds. SaPa is great for hiking (do not skip Heaven Gate), boating on SaPa Lake, having warm beverages, and tasting local cuisine or delicious desserts in restaurants.
You can buy handicrafts from SaPa Market or visit ‘Ta Phin Village’ to witness Communal Church Singing - a marriage tradition. 3 or 4-star hotels are available at cheap rates in June; book your stay and enjoy the beauty of the hills.
Other major attractions include Fairy Cave, Silver Waterfalls, Tram Ton Pass, Muong Hoa Valley, Muong Khuong Bird Market.
2. Cao Bang
Cao Bang is an underrated city in North Vietnam. In August, Cao Bang experiences the rainy season with a hot and humid sky, but it doesn’t hinder the tour. Cao Bang is home to the world's fourth-largest waterfall ‘Ban Gioc’, which is surrounded by lush jungle. Near the waterfall, there is Nguom Ngao Cave, which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites that take the form of mythical creatures. Thang Hen Lake is a collection of 36 other lakes that flow into one another in the rainy season.
Other major attractions include Pac Bo Cave, Phia Oac - Phia Den Forest, Truc Lam Pagoda
3. Hue
Hue is an ancient city in Central Vietnam which is also recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Hue has preserved its old fashion cuisine, language, art, and architecture. It is located on the banks of the picturesque Huong River, commonly known as the Perfume River. Starting from Imperial City, Hue has a plethora of historical sites to visit. Ngo Mon Gate is the entrance to Imperial City; It has museums, lawns, temples, art galleries, and markets. Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts and Forbidden Purple City are must-visit spots. Thien Mu Pagoda (a seven-story Buddhist Temple), Ta Mieu Temple, and Minh Mang Tomb are some of the historic sites for worshipping.
Other major attractions include An Hien Garden House, Huyen Tran Princess Temple, Vong Canh Hill.
4. Quang Binh
Quang Binh Province is in Central Vietnam, which is mainly famous for Nha Ke Bang National Park. August is the summer season with moderate precipitation, which creates a good time to visit Quang Binh. The later phase of August is one of the peak tourist months. However, accommodations are cheap. There are numerous local villages, caves, parks, and lakes to adore in Quang Binh.
The Ecological tour of Quang Binh includes Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Phong Nha Botanical Garden, Ho Chi Minh Trail, Can Duong Village (also known as Whale Village), and the caves of Phong Nha and Tien Son. For relaxation, there is Bang Mineral Hot Spring with a temperature of 105ºC. Summers without beaches are incomplete; enjoy Da Nhay Beach or Jumping Rock Beach, Ly Hoa Beach which offers fine white sands and clear waters. For more fun, Quang Phu Sand Hill is fantastic; it allows you to take slides in white sand hills.
Other major attractions include Van Lu tunnel, Dong Hoi temple, U Bo Mountain, Tam Tao Church.
5. Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is a part of a district ‘Minh Hao’ in Central Vietnam. August is technically the last-best month (rain is observed for about 4-5 days only) to travel to the national park. Phong Nha is the home of Son Doong Cave - the largest cave in the world covered by Karst Mountain and has the longest underground river.
There are a tremendous number of species of flora and fauna to explore by rowboats. To experience unforgettable scenery, one must visit Phong Nha Cave, The Wet Cave, Tien Son Cave, or The Dry Cave. The national park also offers a beautiful Horizontal Spring, ‘Nuoc Ngang’, and a field where you can catch a glimpse of bulls in Ran Bo.
Other major attractions include Nuoc Troi, Chopping Board Shaped Stone, Crouching Stone, Chai Waterfall.
6. Hoi An
Another major tourist city in central Vietnam is Hoi An, which was formerly known as FaiFoo. The ancient Town of Hoi An is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has an attraction spot near the riverside of Thu Ban River. August is the last summer month in Hoi An, with an average temperature of 33 degrees celsius. UV radiation is the most intense in the daytime causing skin burns within minutes of exposure to the sun; use shades and sunscreen lotions every time you are going for outdoor activities.
Other major attractions include Museum of Ceramics, Fujian Assembly Hall, Terracotta Park, Van Duc Pagoda, Hoi An Fine Art Gallery.
7. Quy Nhon
Quy Nhon is a small coastal city in South Vietnam, famous for its wide range of seafood and a long stretch of clean sandy beaches. In August, the weather is clear, hot, and sunny, and the sea is calm, making it a golden opportunity for swimming and other beach activities. Some of the beaches include Bai Xep Beach (which has turquoise-blue water and white sand) near Bai Xep Village, Queens Beach, and Gene Rang Beach for egg-shaped stones.
Other major attractions include Windy Pass, Phuong Mai Peninsula, Beach Promenade Amusement Park, Da DiaBeach, Binh Dinh Museum.
8. Nha Trang
Nha Trang is located in Central Vietnam and is great to visit in August to enjoy various water sports at Monkey Island Hon Tre Island and have relaxing hours at Thap Ba Hot Spring. You can spend a couple of hours at Hon Ba Mountain and worship in aesthetically pleasing Long Son Pagoda (White Buddha Pagoda) and Panogark Tower. There is the Tri Nguyen Aquarium and Vinpearl Waterpark for kids to enjoy. Roam at night in Nha Trang Night Market to buy food or clothes; you can get gifts, souvenirs, and embroidered items from street shops.
Other major attractions include Vinpearl Cable Car, YangBa Waterfall, Ba Ho Waterfall Cliff Jumping.
9. Con Dao Islands
Con Dao Islands, separated from the mainland, lies in Southeastern Vietnam. These are a set of various islands where green turtles breed in August. You can spot turtles coming out around two at night. Near mid-August, baby-turtles start hatching. These islands are great for wildlife lovers and families. You can spot a variety of exotic fishes, eels, and stingrays here. Con Dao National Park protects many endangered species like green turtles, hawksbill turtles, dolphins, and dugongs. Con Dao Prisons, also known as ‘Tiger Caves’ and Con Dao Museum, are the sites to learn the history.
Other major attractions: Include Van Son Pagoda, Con Dao Market.
10. Phan Thiet - Mui Ne
To the south of Vietnam lies a coastal port area, ‘Phan Thiet,’ which is, again, one of the best places to visit in August. It is divided between the city center and the famous Mui Ne Beach and has plenty of accommodations. Right from tropical forests to mesmerizing beaches to ancient architecture, Phan Thiet has some or the other engaging part for every traveler. Doi Duong Beach, Phu Quy, and Mr Dia Rock are some of the spectacular outdoor sites.
Mui Ne Beach has clean and rock-free water, which makes it suitable for swimming, surfing, and kayaking. Some outlets sell local handicrafts, jewelry, and beachwear. Try the seafood here, which is served with Vietnam’s famous fish sauce.
Other major attractions include Mui Ne Fishing Village, Cham Tower, Ta Ch Pagoda.
11. Can Tho
Can Tho is the biggest city in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. Famous for its floating market, Can Tho see fruit ripening month in August when the temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius. Different-sized boats are adorned with vibrant flowers and fresh fruits in the Cai Rang floating market. Some of the tropical fruits include dragon fruit, durian, jackfruit, and pomelo. So, if you are a vegetarian or a botany lover, this is a place to visit in August.
Can Tho Bridge, Mai Khanh tourist village, and Bang Lang Stork Garden are some of the outdoor attractions. The city also offers historic art displays at Binh Thuy Ancient House and Can Tho Museum. Can Tho have tremendous sites for worshipping - Nam Nha Pagoda, Binh Thuy Temple, and Quang Duc Pagoda.
Other major attractions include Kai Khe Market, Phong Dien Floating Market, Can Tho Cathedral, Ninh Kieu Park, Luu Huu Phuoc Park.
Events and Festivals in Vietnam in August
1. Chi Long Festival
Chi Long Festival is a small village festival that marks celebrations on the 13th day of the sixth lunar month in Phong Dien District. The villagers worship Lady Dau Cang, who won this land by leading four clans of Vietnam five centuries ago. The festival mainly holds processions of votive tablets, the Ky Phuoc Ceremony, and the Truc Yet Ceremony. Like many festivals in Vietnam, the offerings are presented, and cultural events like Bong Dancing, Reading Funeral Oration, and speeches take place. Travelers can view and learn about the ceremonies followed in Chi Long Festival during their visit.
2. Hon Chen Festival
Perfume River in Hue is often referred to as ‘Romantic River’, which is one of the main venues of the Hon Chen Festival. This festival is celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month (spring festival) and the third day of the seventh lunar month (autumn festival). Mother of homeland is worshipped following many rites on the day and processions on Huong River on colorful dragon boats. People of Hue wear vibrant dresses to look like a prince and princess of the Nguyen Dynasty. The end marks at night with glistening floating lanterns.
3. Wandering Soul Day or Trang Nguyen or Vu Lan
One of the major festivals of Vietnam is Wandering Soul Day, or Trang Nguyen, celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. This cultural festival which is also known as Hungry Ghost Festival, holds importance nationwide. Just like in many mythologies, Vietnam Mythology says that this is the day when the gate of hell is set to open, and spirits wander on the land. Vietnamese consider this day a negative time for new beginnings; they avoid marriages, major contracts, and new projects. But prioritize forgiveness and charity. The streets are adorned with lanterns, and families prepare a big feast and then offer fake money, fruits, flowers, and paper clothes to the spirits. Travellers can best enjoy the festival in Hue by visiting Buddhist temples.
4. Hoi An Lantern Festival
The spectacular night view on the 14th night of every month in Hoi An, Vietnam, is worth experiencing as the city celebrates the festival of lights. Lighting lanterns is considered to be a good luck and fortune charm in Vietnam. Hoi An Lantern festival is considered to be an incredible moment to follow the rituals of worshipping deceased relatives. The festival not only brings closeness and happiness but is also a wise method to save electricity.
Vietnam in August - Tips
- Where most of Vietnam is affected by the monsoon in August, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park remains unaffected. This month is great for recreational activities like climbing, hiking, and mountain biking. The karst limestone formations of caves and caverns in this national park can not be missed in August.
- The tortoise is the only living creature worshipped by the Vietnamese out of four sacred animals. August is the peak nesting month for Green Turtles spotted at multiple Con Dao Islands. If lucky, you can spot first hatchlings at 2 or 3 at night on the beaches.
- As August is a peak travel season in Vietnam, beaches are occupied by the locales before school summertime gets over. After mid-August, rates of airfare drop, and accommodations are easily accessed at bargained prices.