Located in a tropical area, but the climate of each region is separated. During the last months of the year, while the "specialty" of the Southern part is the rain showers throughout the day, the North shows the autumn picture clearly. Where you perhaps find out not only the leaves fall on the narrow roads of Hanoi, but also the imposing scene of nature in the Northwest.
The journey begins with a cup of “Eggs Coffee” in the morning, inspiring yourself with the aroma of milk flowers you could smell in every city’s corners. That will make you feel warm and peaceful. When it is gloaming, you should walk around the West Lake, Hoan Kiem Lake, drink a few glasses of “Bia hơi” (fresh beer – a local product) on the sidewalk, see the busy life on the streets after working hour, then I bet you will definitely experience a real Hanoi.
Anyway, the most features of Hanoi’s autumn are the roads with full of yellow leaves, the smell of aromatic “Milk flowers” and last but not least, the special taste of “Cốm” (a local special cake). You can eat “Cốm” all year around, but the best time should be in the autumn. Why? The answer is Nuts are soft with good flavor, sweet taste, wrapped in green lotus leaf, and tied up with the soft strings. “Cốm” can be eaten directly or made into different dishes such as “bánh cốm - Cake”, “chả cốm - Rolls”, “chè cốm - Sweets”, “cốm xào - Fried”.
The Autumn in Hanoi is always gentle and calm like that. But, not far from Hanoi, the mountainous areas in the Northwest are also the best ideal destinations for exploration. Autumn is also the ripe rice season in the Northwest of Vietnam. The most beautiful places should be Mu Cang Chai and Hoang Su Phi. The scenery at Mu Cang Chai will welcome you with a brilliant yellow of rice, the terraced rice fields with stairs seem to line up to the horizon as a ladder to heaven. However, Hoang Su Phi is a beautiful place not to be missed in Ha Giang. Many visitors reviewed that Hoang Su Phi have the best terraced fields in Vietnam.
Visitors will also have the chance to see the beauty of “Buckwheat Flower” fields. This flower is a symbol of the Northwest mountains, simple but attractive with its pink and white color. “Buckwheat” fields are the locations where have been attracting a lot of domestic and foreign tourists to come for shooting. In Ha Giang, late October and early November is the best period for this flower in blossom.
The best itinerary to explore the Northern part of Vietnam in the autumn is for 9 days only, it should be from Ha Noi - Ha Long - Ha Giang - Hoang Su Phi - Sa Pa - Mu Cang Chai - Ha Noi. Just only a few weeks before the end of autumn, you should not miss the opportunity to experience the most beautiful season of the year in Hanoi Capital, inspire yourself with the imposing scene of nature in the Northwest, and experience the culture of local people.
