One of the most commonly searched-for phrases by travellers is: “what’s the best time to visit ____?”  It is logical of course – very few people want to go to Canada in the dead of winter, or Japan during typhoon season. Thankfully, Southeast Asia is free of blizzards and typhoons, but it still has a low season. Many travelers avoid travel during this time, but they’re overlooking a few key hidden benefits and surprises. Indeed, travel during Southeast Asia’s off season can actually be more adventurous, rewarding, and memorable than coming when the guidebooks tell you to!

This period is often called simply “the rainy season”, and admittedly, it doesn’t sound fun with a name like that. But it’s somewhat of a misnomer. True, it rains more often in most of Southeast Asia during this time (roughly from July-October) but usually predictably: an early morning shower, then an hour or so in the afternoon, like clockwork. It’s easy to plan around this, and Smiling Albino’s expert guides are adept at simply folding it into your itinerary.

An unforgettable memory of ours was an afternoon of exploring Thailand’s southern Samui Island by motorbike and finding ourselves in a small coconut harvesting village on the sparsely populated southeastern point of the island right when the afternoon monsoon hit. The lighting and electricity in the air can not be described in the few words allotted to this short letter. Looking out to sea watching (and smelling!) the wall of rain approaching from the wooden veranda of a local family’s home, who invited us to take shelter, is still is up there on the list of most vivid experiences.

The rainy season brings with it some added benefits. You’ve never seen green like a Thailand jungle landscape during the rainy season, or smelled a more delicious natural fragrance than a rice field in Vietnam after a sun shower. Those postcard photos you see in shops all over the region? Most likely they were taken during the off-season when the jasmine blooms, the rivers gurgle, the hills are lush, and the sunsets spectacular.

This is also festival time in Southeast Asia, the beginning and end of Buddhist Lent with an abundance of temple fairs and spirit festivals like Phi Ta Khon (mentioned below in our festival highlights). With fewer travellers about, the locals lavish extra warmth on those that do venture into the villages and temples to experience the festivities. The waterfalls are in their full splendor, the swimming holes full. And don’t forget white water rafting. During most of the year, it’s amazing. During the rainy season, it’s nearly spiritual. Indeed, the rainy season might make certain elements of travel the best time of the whole year to do them!

Another great by-product of travel during this green season (now that sounds more like it!), is that there are far fewer travellers. Quieter locations of interest allowing personal reflection. Better service at restaurants and attractions. Less traffic on roads. Lower prices at markets, better hotel deals and complimentary upgrades more likely! You get the idea – a lower number of consumers running around has a knock-on economic effect, sometimes in ways you might not expect. Glimpses of what the region was 20 years ago.

So take it from someone who’s been traveling and planning trips in Asia for a decade and a half – the rainy season gets a raw deal, but it really shouldn’t. Some of the most intense, memorable, and downright exciting travel experiences only reveal themselves when the sky clouds over. Thankfully, the clouds have usually moved on soon after that – just like our guides on their next unique adventure.

Daniel B. Fraser

Smiling Albino’s Aventurer-in-chief

A D V E N T U R E   H I G H L I G H T S

Nepal Relief Effort

Our Nepal relief effort was realised last month with a successful mission to Kathmandu where one of our Bangkok team members carried in nine huge suitcases and boxes of medical equipment and supplies as well as rebuilding funds raised in a two-week donation-raising effort. The FaceBook page we set up is continuing with updates on the situation in Nepal as well as raising funds to rebuild schools.

Thanks to all who helped out, with special thanks to the Thai Canadian Chamber of Commerce , PAWS and Osotspa for their kind assistance.

Read more about the current situation in Nepal and our on-the-ground experiences here…

W H A T ‘ S   G O I N G   O N

Six Senses Samui gets Major Renovation

Six Senses Samui, Thailand is currently undergoing major renovations to all their spectacular ocean view rooms and will reopen on July 01, 2015. They are offering early bird promotion rates for the reopening that are of exceptional value.

Toronto’s 2nd Annual Destination Thailand Fair is Going to be Spicy!

Come join the festivities at the 2nd Annual Destination Thailand Fair in Toronto this fall!

The biggest Thai cultural event in Canada, Destination Thailand will spice-up the weekend with amazing entertainment, mouthwatering Thai cuisine, beer and travel information at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto on Saturday, 12 September 2015. Hope to see you there!

https://youtu.be/kTtchktaVa0

R E G I O N A L   F E S T I V A L   H I G H L I G H T S

June 2015

Phi Ta Khon Festival

27-29 June, Dan Sai Village, Loei, Thailand

Phi Ta Khon (or Ghost Festival) is the first day processions and games of a three-day Buddhist merit making holiday known as Bun Phawet. The festival is held in the northeastern village of Dan Sai to ask for protection from Phra U-pakut, the spirit of the nearby Mun river, and to ask for plentiful rain for the coming farming season. Young men dress up as ghosts, donning spectacular masks made from carved coconut-tree trunks topped with wicker work and sticky-rice steamers. They are clothed in creative patchwork costumes with bells while brandishing wooden phalluses. The lively procession is marked by quite a lot of loud music and feverish dancing.

If you can’t make it this year but are thinking of catching it next year, plan accordingly, the festival usually takes place some time late June, the dates being selected annually by the town’s Mediums.

December 2015 (looking ahead six months)

Hmong New Year

Early December,  Laos, Vietnam and Thailand

The Hmong people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Northern Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, celebrate their New Year and thanksgiving for the rice harvest in early December each year. It is a big deal for the Hmong and they celebrate with big festivals even in the United States where many have emigrated to. The event takes place at different times each year as the timing depends on the harvesting of the rice. Celebrated as both a religious and social event, it’s one of the only times that they have a break from farming during the year. Traditional performances, games and events are joined by everyone in the area, providing a rare opportunity for young villagers to meet prospective spouses. Foreign travellers in the area during this time are usually welcomed to join in the festivities.

The post Albino Smiles – June 2015 first appeared on Smiling Albino.

But one of the great things about Vietnam – beyond the amazing food, the wonderful people, and the rich culture – is that it’s almost like getting three totally separate countries for the price of one visa.

The thing that makes Vietnam so unique is how much distance it covers in terms of latitude – about 1,600km north/south – which gives it a vast range of climate conditions. This variety is also helped by the fact that it’s quite varied east/west as well, with the ocean on the east and rugged mountains in the west.

So let’s go ahead and break up Vietnam into three chunks – north, south and middle. This does a bit of a disservice to the country, as it’s actually quite a bit more complex than that, but it’s the easiest way to get a rough idea of what’s available. So let’s start with the south.

Southern Vietnam

Biggest City: Ho Chi Minh City (often still used interchangeably with Saigon), is the largest city in Vietnam and one of its financial, transport, and trade hubs.  There are just over 8 million people in HCMC, and of the two main commercial centers in the country (the other being Hanoi), it’s definitely the glitzier, busier, hotter one.

Climate & Geography: Southern Vietnam is where the mighty Mekong River empties into the sea after a journey of 4,350km, so it’s no surprise that the vast delta area is one of the lushest and most thoroughly cultivated in the region. Indeed, there are some villages where the only way in is by boat! There are generally only two seasons here – dry and wet, and both of them are very warm, so be prepared to sweat no matter what time of year you’re here.

Culture: Cultural differences are not uniform – some are more pronounced and others are less easy to spot. Cuisine is the biggest one though northern Vietnamese food tends to be more traditional and less exotic, while southern Vietnamese food is heavily inspired by Chinese and Cambodian recipes, so they often have a bit more of a spicy tang.

Central Vietnam

Biggest City: There’s a lot of great things to see in the long, thin crescent that makes up central Vietnam, but if it’s a big city experience you’re looking for, you have to hit Da Nang. About 975,000 people live here, but it’s still got a homey kind of vibe, not to mention great beaches and plenty of notable attractions just a short trip out of town. Da Nang is a major port, with the popularly known My Khe beach or nicknamed by the American and Australian soldiers as “China Beach”, during the Vietnam War. Now it has a growing industry to back it up, with some heavy tourism infrastructure going up in the past few years, making Da Nang a beach resort getaway.

Climate & Geography: Surrounding Da Nang and working their way west toward Cambodia away from Da Nang’s beaches are the edges of the lush Annamite Mountain Range, which contain many of the area’s top sites. These include the ancient Cham ruins at My Son, and the Ho Chi Minh Trail and former DMZ (demilitarized zone), relics of the devastating Vietnam War (or American War, as it’s known here). Between July and November this area is hit with rain storms, so plan for the wet accordingly.

Culture: Central Vietnam is sort of stuck between the ‘cultural capital’ of the north and the bustling modernity of the south, but it’s still got plenty to offer for culture-seekers. Due to its links with royalty, central Vietnamese food is often more complex and varied than north or south. We mentioned My Son already, but don’t miss Hue and Hoi An, all three of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Hoi An: This beautiful and quaint historical city was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999 because of it’s well-preserved trading post and port from the 1600s. This city is still attracting the trader and buyer who’s looking for affordable tailors or traditional lanterns. The People’s Committee has been taking many steps to preserve the town such as the first Car Free Day in Vietnam and an action programme to stop the use of plastic bags. This year the committee selected the bicycle as vehicle of choice to help it become an eco-friendly destination. This is the perfect small town to joy ride around traditional house, rice paddies, fishing villages, and monasteries. If you’re not keen on bike riding we recommend trying your hand at Vietnamese cooking!

Northern Vietnam

Biggest City: The north’s largest city has also been Vietnam’s capital for over 1,000 years – Hanoi. The mad, bustling, scooter-clogged roads will make even professional pedestrians sweat, but there’s a great deal of history and culture to be found behind the noise. The city of 7 million loves markets and loves their cafes, and you’ll have no problem finding a thick, sweet cup of coffee to wash down the amazing street food that’s available everywhere.

Climate & Geography: Beyond Hanoi, one of northern Vietnam’s biggest attractions is the gorgeous Halong Bay, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant limestone cliffs with dense canopies of green shoot up from the blue water as boats of all sizes drift lazily among them. During the summer months northern Vietnam is generally hot and muggy, but in the winter, it can get downright cold – especially in Halong Bay and most definitely up in the mountains around Sapa, the famed trekking destination. Dress warmly if you’re coming then!

Culture: As the traditional center of art, literature, and education, northern Vietnam – especially Hanoi – one can find a large number of museums, monuments, parks, and plenty of temples going back hundreds of years. Even Ho Chi Minh himself is entombed here (and for a small fee, you can see him!). Food-wise, the colder climate means that spices and chilies aren’t as widely available as they are in the south, so northern-style food tends to be less fiery, but no less delicious. In fact, one of the country’s most famous dishes – pho noodles – originated in the north.

So clearly, a visit to Vietnam can provide a variety of different elements to make your trip a diverse and exciting one. With a bit of planning (and some inside knowledge) you can feel like you’ve visited three distinct countries when in fact, you’ve been in Vietnam the whole time.

See all three regions in Smiling Albino’s Vietnam Grand Slam 

Thank you for reading Vietnam: North, South and the Middle – Like visiting three countries. Please share!

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Vietnam is an amazing country to visit any time of year because it has so many things to offer. Due to its shape – long and narrow, covering 1,650km – there are a vast range of climates and landscapes available, from sandy beaches to misty mountains to steamy, crowded cities. So when is the best time to go?

Well, that really depends on what you want. The good news is that since the country is so long and narrow, there’s something for everyone, which is even further enhanced by its extreme elevations – from 0ft above sea level in the South China Sea to 10,312 feet above sea level at Ngoc Linh, a mountain sitting in the northern end of the southern half of the country, if that makes any sense.

Roughly speaking there are five regions in Vietnam – the mountainous northern region, with the trekking hub of Sapa; the Red River Delta, which includes Hanoi and Halong Bay; the central region, which follows the long curving coastline south past Hue, Hoi An and Nha Trang; the highland region, which stretches back towards Cambodia and is known for its hill tribes, forests and national parks; and the southern region, which encompasses Ho Chi Minh City and the mighty Mekong Delta.

If you’re a fan of long walks, steep hills and amazing scenery, then the northern region is where you want to go. There are superb trekking, waterfalls and nature trails around every corner, but you have to be prepared. The dry season lasts from October to April and is the best time to head for trekking and such, although December and January can be bitterly cold and damp. April to September is the rainy season, and while the trees and grass and rice will be at their most verdant, the daily downpours and abundance of mud limit the amount of fun you can have.

If you’re okay with a bit of chill in the air, November to April is a good time to visit the Red River Delta, although December to March-ish can get very nippy. May to October is the rainy season, but if you’re in Hanoi or any of the bigger towns it’s easy to duck into one of the many cafes and wait it out. July to September is often the wettest, and this is when the weather can get stormy and downright mean.

If you’re more attracted to the coast, then a trip down the central region will reward you with beaches, UNESCO World Heritage sites and many charming little villages. January to August bring the hottest weather in this region, which is obviously the best time to hit the beach, although the temperature in the middle of the hot season might be a bit much to have fun in. Much like the Red River Delta, the rainy season brings daily downpours but can get hit hard during October and November when the odd typhoon rolls through to say hi.

The highland region is unique in that it hasn’t been blitzed (yet) by tourists, although this is changing. The most popular destination here, Dalat, is known as a place to escape the hotter weather on the plains, especially during the cool season from November to January. February to April is the hot season, while May to October brings some of rainiest weather in the country. Again, avoid the mud and rain during the wet season and try to show up at the beginning of the cool season for the best scenery.

Finally, a visit to the southern region is high on everyone’s list, and rightly so – Ho Chi Minh city is a fantastic place to visit and soak up the culture, people and food.  The climate here is very easy to plan around – it’s either hot and wet or hot and dry. From November to April is the dry season, which slowly heats up as it approaches May, and then from May to November it’s generally the rainy season.

No matter when you want to travel to Vietnam there is good weather somewhere! Ask Smiling Albino to help you make the most of the weather on your vacation, no matter what time of year!

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