Although I have already decided to stay in HCMC this fall, are there any significant downsides when compared to Hanoi.I guess what I'm asking is, which location would be best for a mid-50s guy that just wants to take in some Vietnamese culture while avoiding Canada's snow?Do any of you have a preference?Best regards,Roger- @RTLisSB
@OceanBeach92107Fantastic info, as always!I might be very wrong, but isn't Ha Noi a little cooler than HCMC in the summer, or are they both so hot it doesn't matter?I'm not sure how much of the country I'll be able to see in the two months I'm there, but I will try to get up North and to the coast.Best regards,Roger- @RTLisSB
@OceanBeach92107Fantastic info, as always!I might be very wrong, but isn't Ha Noi a little cooler than HCMC in the summer, or are they both so hot it doesn't matter?I'm not sure how much of the country I'll be able to see in the two months I'm there, but I will try to get up North and to the coast.Best regards,Roger- @RTLisSBHa Noi is extremely humid in summer.- @colinoscapee
Hi Roger! I'm also a Canadian ex-pat, and have lived in both Saigon/Ho Chi Minh (~3 years), and Hanoi (~2.5 years). I now live in Phu Quoc.
When people tell you that it gets cold in Hanoi, believe them. I have seen frost in the outer regions of Hanoi (Hanoi-Thai Nguyen bridge crossing on Q3). I'm sure you'll agree that in Canada, though it can get extremely cold, we are never really cold ourselves. Exceptions are having to work outside, and/or when something goes wrong(!). Think about it. From our very well insulated homes, to our toasty cars, to our (hopefully) comfortable places of employment.
You will not have this in Hanoi, or any northern VN regions. When it is 10C outside (or colder), it will also be 10C at your computer desk, your couch, bed etc etc.
And summers in Hanoi can be brutally hot. Though quite north of Saigon, Hanoi with its inland/continental climate swelters in the summer (37-8C not rare). Conversely, Saigon, being a coastal city, enjoys the benefit of the Pacific Ocean regulating its temps. As an analogy, compare the temps of Vancouver (or even Nova Scotia/Newfoundland) with that of Calgary(!), or Ottawa. Incidentally, prior to the break-up of the USSR, I'm sure you know Ottawa was the coldest capital city in the world, -35C not being unusual.
Though you will never have to deal with the cold in Saigon, you will soon discover it too has its seasonal disadvantage. FLOODING. I had a house in a hem just off the major road named Huỳnh Tấn Phát. In the rainy season the locals would describe Huỳnh Tấn Phát as Saigon's second largest river 
Thigh deep in places. Many, many stalled scooters/motorbikes flooded with water, being pushed away by the owners. Fortunately for me, my bike has very high air intake and exhaust ports, perfect for wet environments (Honda XR-150L). Feet up on the front fender, and into the deep!
When I first arrived in 2017, I was surprised that, even though Saigon is in the northern hemisphere, that its winters seemed warmer than its summers. I guess the daily rains of the summer season drop the temp, even if for only a couple of hours a day, while winters in Saigon are bone dry, and dusty.
In short, you will definitely find Hanoi hotter in the summer (and colder in the winter), than Saigon.
Although I have already decided to stay in HCMC this fall, are there any significant downsides when compared to Hanoi.I guess what I'm asking is, which location would be best for a mid-50s guy that just wants to take in some Vietnamese culture while avoiding Canada's snow?Do any of you have a preference?Best regards,Roger- @RTLisSB
Can you tell me when the flooding you spoke of normally occurs?Thanks,Roger- @RTLisSB
@RTLisSBOops! Forgot to add that. Monsoon season for Saigon (and the rest of southern VN)
starts just abooouuuuttt...NOW!It'll end late Oct/early Nov, at which point you might not see any rain again until May, 2023.- @Aidan in HCMC
The flooding is phenomenal. You'll see. You'll also quickly learn to follow the pack (everybody seems to stop, en masse, to don their rain coats/ponchos) and you'll learn how to navigate some of the recently form "ponds".
It's really not too bad, actually, once you get used to it. And the rains aren't like what we might experience in B.C. or Nfld, where I've seen 30 day non-stop rain in both provinces. Usually there will be 2 - 4 hours of heavy rain each day at midday, and then scattered showers until the next day. Caveat: usually
Although I have already decided to stay in HCMC this fall, are there any significant downsides when compared to Hanoi.I guess what I'm asking is, which location would be best for a mid-50s guy that just wants to take in some Vietnamese culture while avoiding Canada's snow?Do any of you have a preference?Best regards,Roger- @RTLisSBAs OceanBeach mentions in post #3, you shouldn't limit yourself to just the two major cities. You should note that VN is very densely populated. There are plenty of videos on the internet showing the traffic. Cities throughout the country are being overdeveloped.- @johnross23
So, have a look at your other options along the coast, in the mountains or in the Mekong delta.
Check this link for info about infrastructure plans and projects in Vietnam:
https://futuresoutheastasia.com/vietnam/
Hi I think live in Hanoi better
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