Vietnam Mountain Stay

When it comes to the best time to visit Cao Bang, most frequent travelers share the same answer. And I agree totally.

The ideal period to have a fabulous Cao Bang Vietnam trip is in Autumn, from September to October. The autumn breeze makes it super comfy for outdoor activities in tremendous mountains & waterfalls and villages.

What’s more, Cao Bang’s highlight destinations are the most beautiful during this time. Ban Gioc waterfall has plenty of water, terraced rice fields turn golden. Also, the mount of Holy Eye is evergreen again after flood season. And it’s harvest time for Cao Bang’s delicious chestnut.

You can check for more detail in our guide below.

However, traveling during the peak season is more crowded, more expensive. Not to mention it’s harder to find accommodation if you have not reserved one way before.

So I do not want to tell you just the best months to visit. But I will also provide the detailed local weather of each month.

You will soon realize Cao Bang harbors amazing scenery and memorable experience even in off-peak months. Thus, even if you don’t travel during the so-called best time to visit Cao Bang, you can still plan your itinerary properly and select suitable outdoor activities. It is also super helpful for those hating the crowds, too.

Cao Bang weather in a nutshell

Generally, Cao Bang’s climate is subtropical with a high-mountain continental monsoon. The province has its own characteristics compared to other mountainous provinces in the Northeast region. Climate is divided into two distinct seasons: the wet season and the dry season.

• The rainy season starts in April and ends in September. The average temperature is 20 – 32 degrees Celsius. The hottest months are June and July

• The dry season lasts from October of the previous year to March of the following year. The weather gets low humidity with mild temperatures between 8°C and 18°C

Now let’s dive into what’s waiting for you in Cao Bang in each month.

Month-by-month Cao Bang weather & guide

Cao Bang weather in January – Snow hunting, hiking & cycling

January or the end of a new year is the perfect time for travelers to be snow hunters. Under the influence of the sharp cold spells, the temperature is markedly below 0 degrees Celsius in Phia Oac peak. Low temperature with drizzle is a favorable condition for frost development. At a height of 1,931 meters above sea level, Phia Oac in Nguyen Binh District is the popular spot for experiencing snow and white frost. These are rare phenomenons in the mountainous areas of Vietnam.

The period from January to March is considered the lowest rainfall of the year. Thus, most lakes and streams: Co La waterfall, Ban Viet lake, Thang Hen lake, and so on face very low water levels. For this reason, activities like swimming, paddleboard, kayaking are not ideal for water sports lovers. But there are still plenty of exciting outdoor experiences such as hiking, cycling. Those are great things to do in low humidity, dry air conditions.

Cao Bang weather in February and March – It’s flower and festive time

Warmer and brighter weather with a minimal chance of rain is a good time to be immersed in traditional festivals. Lots of them are imbued with national cultural identity.

Long Tong Festival is one of the most remarkable traditional events. Tay people hold this festival in the desire for good weather and crops throughout the year. Travelers can experience the exciting & authentic atmosphere at Long Tong Festival. With the help of local people, you can try “con” ball throwing, bamboo swings, lion dancing, and human chess. On festive occasions, Tay people prepare many traditional cakes. They are, for example, Banh Chung (symbol of the Earth) – Banh Day (symbol of the Sun), black sticky rice cake, ant – egg cake, glutinous rice cake, and so on.

Along the roadside, colourfully blooming flowers are adorning under the blue sky in the middle of green forests and meadows. The brilliant red of rice flowers and the pure white of pear flowers will melt the nature lover’s heart.

Cao Bang weather in April and May – The secondly best time to visit Cao Bang. (Also, great for travel deals hunting)

The air heat is not up significantly. That is the ideal time for travelers to avoid the heavy rain and humidity. In addition, this is the low tourism season with a lot of exciting deals for travelers.

These months are an excellent time to enjoy activities on and beside the lake and stream. The calm water during changing season makes your experience peaceful and rewarding. You can try a picnic lunch on the green grass and immerse yourself in the scenic spot of Co La waterfall? Located in Trung Khanh District, Co La waterfall still retains its pristineness with little travel footprints. Eco travelers, once visited, will love the graceful waterfall in the middle of superb mountains.

Furthermore, a bit of rains make spring grass more evergreen. No wonder why it’s also the most wonderful time to visit Mount of Holy eye. This gigantic meadow with majestic mountains speading around like pillars will be such a bliss for nature lovers.

As enthusiasts about the beauty of Cao Bang during April, I have compiled a list of suggested things to do here during early summer.

Cao Bang weather in June, July and August – Flooding season

These hottest months mark the temperature between 24 to 32. Thanks to the high altitude and rainy season, summer in Cao Bang is not much cooler than in cities in deltas. Many travelers come here to get away from the hustle and bustle, the sweltering heat to enjoy the refreshing nature.

You can witness the beautiful terraced rice fields in the planting seasons. Experience enthusiast will love the mirror-like fields and authentic glimpse of local life. Ban Gioc waterfall is in its most vigorous time too with plenty of water.

However, due to heavy rains and floods, the water can be brown and muddy. What’s more, the extremely violent flows of Quay Son river and waterfalls may be dangerous for swimming. It’s not raining all the time. So make sure to check the weather forecast carefully when you plan to visit Cao Bang during summer.

Cao Bang weather in September and October – The best time to visit Cao Bang with golden rice & chestnuts

The weather is relatively cool in the first months of the dry season. The temperature falls from 18 to 28 degrees Celsius.

In the autumn days, Ban Gioc waterfall is stunning. White silk stretched the mountains and forests, blends with the ripe golden rice fields to create a magnificent poetic view.

Sunset on the golden rice season of Ngoc Con – Phong Nam commune is an endless inspiration. If you are a photographer, get ready to behold its surreal beauty combined with the overlapping ranges of high mountains.

In the harvesting season, these places attract many visitors to adore and take pictures so it is more touristic there. But there are still some places to get away from the crowd such as Co La waterfall or Ban Viet lake. Not only the mountainous terrain, but Cao Bang also has pretty mellow lakes.

Take a 10-km ride from Trung Khanh town to Ban Gioc waterfall, then a 3-km turn to Ban Viet hamlet, Phong Chau commune, Trung Khanh district, travelers will enter Ban Viet lake. You can glide on bamboo rafts to immerse the exquisite lakeside scenery & the turquoise water and relax. In addition, visitors can choose to hike villages and discover stilt houses and the rural life of the Tay and Nung people living by the isolated lake.

Another thing to remember when visiting at this time is to have some Trung Khanh chestnuts. The soft and sweet nut one of Cao Bang’s most beloved specialties. Especially on autumn days, grilled chestnuts and the breezing atmosphere is the best combo. It’s especially great for foodies since you can try tasty local dishes made from chestnuts as well.

Cao Bang weather in November and December – Poetic winter vibe with red leaves

It is the dry time with low humidity at the end of the year. You should prepare a warm jacket. The temperature, though is fine in the day at 15 to 18 C degrees, falls rapidly below 5 at night. However, the weather is still very pleasant. In fact, lots of Westerner travelers love to travel to Cao Bang during this time.

Turning to dry season, the water stream becoming calmer bringing out the poetic vibe. And with fewer travelers, many Vietnamese frequent travelers go to Cao Bang in November.

Furthermore, November marks the blooming season of purple-pink buckwheat flowers and wild sunflowers. Wild sunflowers bloom everywhere, cover the villages, the hillsides, and mountain passes. And by December, the landscape is more enchanting with vibrant red, yellow, and orange colors created by the Taiwanese sweet gum. You can catch this beauty alongside the mountainous loop or by Ban Viet lake.

Wrapping up

In different months, Cao Bang is beautiful in different ways. Aside from the flooding season in summer, you need not think twice about the best time to visit Cao Bang. You are sure to travel this amazing Northeast province at any time of the year to experience amazing nature and rich culture.