Best time to Sapa
Sapa, one of the most attractive points in Vietnam travelling map, still has its inconvenient times that visitors should avoid. Since Sapa is a highland town, the way leading there is not easy to drive, especially in rain season, when the road surface is slippery and a litter bit dangerous. The wet season lasts for around 3 months, from June to September, and it is not a wise choice paying a visit to Sapa that time. The period from June to September also coincides with high domestic season so you may expect to see more Kinh than other ethnic minorities. From September to mid-December, the weather is perfect for sight-seeing, photo-taking and camping trips, making it one of two best times to drop by Sapa.
From late December to February, Sapa has a harsh winter with temperature being practically zero and cold winds stemming from China. Thus, this time should be avoided by tourists, especially those from tropical countries. The dry season is from January to June, but from January to February, the winter still predominates in the dreaming town. March to May is another great time to come to Sapa, with sunny days, good weather and fresh air. June is an unstable month; sometimes wet season comes earlier in mid-June, so tourists should be mindful of June, too. In general, March to May and September to mid-December is two best times to visit this marvelous town.
Best time to Mai Chau
The climate of Mai Chau, Hoa Binh is tropical monsoon. The average annual temperature is 18°C with a maximum of 29°C in July and a minimum of 16°C in January.
In general, Mai Chau’s climate is quite good around the year. It rains less and the humidity is lower than other Northern Vietnam cites. The best weather extends from September to May with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C.
It can be quite cold during winter from November to the end of February. From June to September, it has the monsoon with stronger breezes and higher humidity. The temperatures are warmer in this time, varying between 25°C and 35°C.
For hot (but not too hot), sunny weather, October-November and February-May are the best times to go. In December, January and sometimes February too, the weather can get pretty chilly. However, the stilt houses have no shortage of fluffy blankets to keep you warm at night; staying cool in the summer, however, is more of an issue. The stilt houses usually have fans but even then so they can get uncomfortably hot between June and September. In addition, these months are the rainiest, which makes outdoor exploring more problematic.
There is a market on Sundays which brings together different minority groups from the surrounding area, but given the higher numbers of weekend tourists (see ‘Stay away from’) this is not necessarily a reason to time your visit for a Sunday.