Vietnam: North to South or South to North?

The best direction for each time of year, how to fit in Cambodia or Laos, and how to avoid backtracking.

Published Oct 2026 • Updated Oct 2026 • By the Vietnam Private Tours planning team, reviewed by Van Anh (Founder & Chief Executive Officer)

Quick answer

Both directions work — choose by month and flights. Fly into one end and out of the other (open-jaw) so you never backtrack. December–March: north to south, ending in the warm, dry south. April–August: either way; the central coast is at its best. September–November: spend longer in the north and keep the rainy central coast short and flexible. Add Laos at the northern end and Cambodia at the southern end.

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Best direction by season

When	North (Hanoi, Halong, Sapa)	Centre (Hue, Hoi An)	South (Saigon, Mekong)	Suggested direction
Dec–Feb	Cool to cold, often grey; Sapa can be near freezing	Drying out from January	Dry and sunny	North → South, finish warm
Mar–Apr	Mild, warming up	Dry, pleasant	Hot and dry	Either — the best all-round months
May–Aug	Hot, humid, summer storms	Hot, dry — beach season	Rainy season, short afternoon showers	Either; give the centre more days
Sep–Nov	Clear, comfortable autumn — best season	Rainy; storm risk peaks Oct–Nov	Rains easing through November	Spend longer in the north; keep the centre short and flexible

Weather varies year to year; for month-by-month detail see best time to visit Vietnam.

Why flights matter more than direction

Most long-haul airlines sell open-jaw tickets — into Hanoi and home from Ho Chi Minh City, or the reverse — for little or no extra cost. That saves a full day of backtracking. Inside Vietnam, Hanoi–Da Nang and Da Nang–Saigon flights take about 1 hour 20 minutes, and Hanoi–Saigon about 2 hours.

Two example routes

North to south (December–March)

Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Halong or Lan Ha Bay → fly to Hue → Hoi An → fly to Saigon → Mekong Delta → optional Phu Quoc beach or Siem Reap.

South to north (spring and summer, or starting from Cambodia)

Siem Reap → Saigon → Mekong Delta → fly to Da Nang → Hoi An → Hue → fly to Hanoi → Ninh Binh → bay cruise → optional Sapa or Luang Prabang.

Frequently asked questions

Should I travel Vietnam north to south or south to north?

Either works; the month you travel and your flights decide it. Book an open-jaw ticket (into Hanoi, out of Ho Chi Minh City or the reverse) so you never backtrack. From December to March, north to south is usually nicer because you finish in the warm, dry south. From September to November, spend more time in the north, where autumn is clear, and keep the rainy central coast short.

Is it better to start in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?

Start where your flights are cheapest or most direct, then plan the order around the weather. Many travellers from Europe and North America start in Hanoi for its gentler introduction and end in Saigon or on a beach; travellers combining Cambodia often start or end in the south because Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are close to it.

Which direction if I am also visiting Cambodia or Laos?

Laos connects naturally to the north (Hanoi–Luang Prabang flights) and Cambodia to the south (Saigon–Phnom Penh by road or river, or flights to Siem Reap). So: Laos → Hanoi → south → Cambodia, or the reverse. Flying straight to Siem Reap from Hanoi or Da Nang also works.

When is the central coast (Hue, Hoi An) rainy?

Roughly September to December, with the highest risk of heavy rain, floods and storms in October and November. February to August is the dry season there, and May to August is the best time for central beaches.

Can I travel north to south by train?

Yes, the Reunification Express runs the length of the country, and the Hue–Da Nang section over the Hai Van Pass is the most scenic. For the full trip most travellers combine short flights with one scenic train or road leg, because Hanoi to Saigon by train takes more than 30 hours.

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