Note on traveling to the Northern mountainous region during the rainy summer season

Traveling to some northern mountainous provinces such as Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Son La, Lai Chau, Cao Bang, Yen Bai to avoid the heat is an interesting experience in the summer. However, this is also the time when there is a high risk of floods and landslides. In early June, Ha Giang was one of the places where heavy rain and floods occurred, leaving many tourists stranded.

According to Mr. Giap Van Hai, a long-time tourism worker in Ha Giang, the number of tourists to the northern mountainous provinces is highest from September-October to April-May of the following year. The number of visitors decreases in the summer because this is the rainy season, peaking in June and July. The rains and floods are not continuous throughout the season, but only 2-3 times, but heavy rains also affect the safety and experience of tourists.

The characteristic of the floods in the North is that they come suddenly, accompanied by landslides. Therefore, tourists should limit their visits to places with storms during this season. According to Mr. Hai, tourists should equip themselves with some skills and pay attention to the following when traveling to the northern mountainous provinces in the summer.

- Make a specific schedule and follow the weather forecast about 2 weeks in advance. Usually, storms and floods will be forecasted early.

- Prepare suitable luggage including raincoat, umbrella, quick-drying clothes, non-slip shoes, waterproof luggage covers...

- Connect with local people and guides to know the actual situation of the destination as well as places that are likely to be affected by floods to avoid.

- Do not camp overnight near streams, rivers, or places at risk of landslides.

- Do not travel through mountainous areas at night.

- Do not explore caves, rivers, lakes, or waterfalls alone. Go in groups to get the necessary support.

- When bathing in lakes, waterfalls, rivers, streams... if it is sunny and suddenly rains, you need to move immediately. Do not try to get wet in the rain or wait for the rain to stop because flood water can come very quickly.

- If you are caught in a storm or flood, do not travel or enter dangerous areas such as dams, streams, or roads that are cut off. Visitors should seek shelter, stay at accommodation facilities, or follow local instructions to evacuate to a safe area.

- If not limited by time, visitors should come after August when the rainy season begins to pass. For visitors who like trekking and cloud watching, the weather will be favorable from September onwards. In addition, in the northern mountainous provinces, winter and spring are the times when flowers bloom beautifully. Cold weather is also a "specialty" of this place.