The Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta

The Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta: Mekong Delta is one of the most mysterious and attractive destinations in Vietnam. It includes a large portion of southwestern Vietnam 39,000 km2. The region is covered by water depending on the season. To discover the Mekong, there are many options for visitors. You can go boating along mangrove-lined riverways, bike under the coconut palms, or experience the real life of locals at a homestay – whichever experience you are for, prepare to enjoy every moment until the last second. With the beauty of orchards, rice fields, and hospitable people, Mekong Delta has no shortage of things to discover for visitors.

So when to visit the Mekong River Delta for the best vacation? Refer to our guide on Mekong Delta weather and the best time to visit the Mekong Delta. The climate in the Mekong Delta is Influenced by a change in both the southwest and northeast monsoons. The Mekong Delta weather is hot all year round with the temperatures changing between 25 and 28°C. On a few days of the year, the temperature in the delta is below 20°C.

In general, there are 2 seasons in the Mekong Delta: the rainy season and the dry one. Wet-season floods and dry-season saline intrusion are two of the essential hydrologic problems of the Delta. These also affected to travel experiences of travelers. Below we go into detail to know what pros and cons of visiting the Mekong Delta in each season.

 

1. The dry season (November to April)

The dry season lasts from November to April, with February to May time being a little bit hotter and more humid, with less, even nearly no rain. During this season, the flow in the Mekong River is short to prevent saline intrusion and extensive salinization of waterways happens in the lower Delta. The entire Ca Mau peninsula in the southwest region of the Delta is salinized for about 6 months during dry months because there is insufficient freshwater flow in the river to displace saline intrusion from the southwestern region of the Delta.

2. The Rainy Season (May to early November)

The wet or rainy season stretches from May to early November, with July and August having the highest rainfall level of the whole year. The rain comes in short but heavy showers happen mostly in the afternoon and just last for one hour or so.

the climatic factors of the area are very right for developing almost all types of agriculture. The weather is suitable for intensification and cultivation. Even during the wet season from May to early November, Mekong Delta can be visited by travelers too.

Month	High/Low (°C)	Rain
January	33°/ 18°	0 days
February	34°/ 18°	1 days
March	36°/ 24°	8 days
April	35°/ 24°	14 days
May	35°/ 26°	27 days
June	34°/ 25°	13 days
July	32°/ 24°	22 days
August	30°/ 23°	24 days
September	30°/ 22°	20 days
October	32°/ 22°	10 days
November	31°/ 20°	2 days
December	31°/ 17°	0 days

The Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta

What is the Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta?

As a general rule, the peak and low seasons in Mekong Delta are decided by seasonal weather.

1. Visiting Mekong Delta in Peak Season (October to February)

The dry season is the peak season in Mekong Delta. And, the nicest time to visit Mekong Delta is from October to February, when the weather is still mostly pleasant. During this time, the region is nice with the lush sky, various vegetable types, and calm rivers, and most beaches and other places of tourist attraction are packed with visitors, and it is very easy to see why.

The daytime temperatures are 28°C, dropping by 3-4 degrees at night time. The humidity is less, making it the best time to discover the region. From January to February, the flowers in the Delta are in full bloom. It seldom rains during these months.

The chaotic life in the delta is laced with water and season. It is most effervescent in the late months of the dry season with different types of fruits and flowers. That will be the nicest time to visit the region, in particular, and other sites nearby like Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam, in general.

The weather will probably be hot and humid from June to September, this weather condition will offer a diversity of tropical fruits and flowers.

During the high season, the Mekong Delta is the most crowded and expensive during this time. You should book accommodation in advance because there are many visitors coming here at that time.

The Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta

2. Visiting Mekong Delta in Low Season (March to September)

March to September is usually considered a low season for travelers; therefore, a few travelers find their way into the delta during this off-season. Although the weather at this time is not necessarily perfect, you still have the advantage of better prices and fewer tourists. It is a much more authentic experience.

3. Visiting Mekong Delta in “Floating Season” (August to October)

“Floating season” in Mekong Delta, when the weather level is rising and the rivers and canals expand, takes place from July to September of the lunar calendar.

The annual floodwaters bring a huge amount of nutrient-rich alluvium to the farmland and offer lots of fish, shrimp as well as other aquatic species. It also marks the beginning of tourist season in the Mekong Delta.

If you are a foodie, then floating season is the right time for you to enjoy various dishes made from the signature veggies and herbs of the season, covering hot pot of Linh fish and Dien Dien flowers, crispy Linh fish fried with Dien Dien flowers, tiny shrimp.

The Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta

4. Visiting Mekong Delta During Festivals

When you are deciding on when to travel to the Mekong Delta, it is worth taking a look at the calendar of annual festivals, so that you could perhaps plot them on your journey.

The biggest festival in Vietnam and also in Mekong Delta is Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. It stretches for 07days sometime between the last week of January and the 3rd week of February. On this occasion, members of each family gather to celebrate and there is a typical party-like atmosphere in the cities, including the Mekong Delta region, with colorful decorations adorning most streets, bright fireworks displays filling the sky, and the scent of incense floating in the air.

There are some famous Mekong Delta festivals, namely:

• Ba Chua Xu Festival takes place from the 23rd to the 27th of April on the lunar calendar,
• Ok-Om-Bok Festival (aka Moon Offering Festival) takes place on the 15th of October in the lunar calendar,
• Chol Chnam Thmay Festival (The New Year Holiday of Khmer people) takes place in the mid-April in the solar calendar,
• Binh Thuy Temple Festival takes place on the 14th and 15th of December in the lunar calendar
• Whale Festival takes place on the 9th and 10th of January in the lunar calendar
• Coconut Offering Festival takes place on the 15th of February in the lunar calendar
• Cow Racing Festival takes place from August 19th to September 1st in the lunar calendar

The Mekong River Delta in Vietnam is a unique region with typical tropical weather. Knowing in detail about the weather through the Mekong Delta Weather Guide and Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta will offer you prepare the best for your trip.

The Best Time to Visit Mekong Delta