Many tourists have asked Lily’s Travel about the best time to travel to Cat Cat Village. With a short travel schedule, many tourists are wondering about choosing the right time. In this article, Lily’s Travel will provide specific information about the weather of Cat Cat Village by month so that you can clearly understand and choose the most suitable time.
The best time to visit Cat Cat village
Each month in Cat Cat village has its own beauty. For example, spring is full of flowers while summer is cool. But the autumn is time for golden rice fields, and the winter make Cat Cat Village become magical in the snow and frost.
So the best time to visit Cat Cat Village depends on your preferences. You can choose the right time: spring – summer to see flowers and enjoy the cool climate, autumn to admire the golden terraced fields, or winter to experience the rare cold space in Vietnam.
Read more: Cat Cat Village: The beauty of Sapa village houses hidden in the morning mist
Month-by-month weather in Cat Cat village
Each season in Cat Cat village has its own characteristics and is suitable for specific activities.
January
The weather in Cat Cat village is very cold, with an average temperature of 4-10°C, sometimes below 0°C. This is a month with a lot of fog, even snow – a rare phenomenon in Vietnam. The scenery of mountains and villages is covered in white mist, creating a magical feeling. Foreign tourists can hunt for snow, take unique winter photos, enjoy grilled food and corn wine to keep warm.
February
In February, the temperature in Cat Cat village will be slightly higher than in January, ranging from 6-12°C. At this time, there is light sunshine during the day. This is the time when peach and plum blossoms begin to bloom, bringing pure pink and white colors to the village. Tourists can walk in the village, take photos with spring flowers, and experience the Tet culture of the H’Mong people if it coincides with the beginning of the year.
March
The weather in Cat Cat village will become more pleasant. Temperatures range from 10 – 18°C, with lots of warm sunshine. This is the time for peach and plum blossoms to bloom, illuminating the entire mountainside. This is the ideal time for outdoor activities such as walking tours, taking pictures of spring flowers and visiting Cat Cat waterfall when the water in the waterfall is always cool and clear.
April
In April, the temperature will range from 12 – 20°C, with little rain and cool weather. Cat Cat village will be covered in fresh green, with flowers and grass in full bloom. Foreign tourists often choose to trek gently around the village to take pictures of the spring scenery, and try on traditional H’Mong costumes. This is the time for you to immerse yourself in nature as well as have unique pictures, preserving your own trip.
May
The weather in Cat Cat village turns to summer but is still cool, around 15 – 22°C. This is called the flooding season of Cat Cat village when the terraced fields are watered, reflecting the sunlight like a giant mirror. Visitors can take pictures of the flooding fields, go trekking and bathe in the stream. There are many beautiful pictures that were created at this time.
June
The temperature in June of Cat Cat village is from 18 – 23°C. There are showers but not too much. The green young rice covers the terraced fields, the landscape is very fresh. International tourists like to go on walking tours, stay at homestays to enjoy the fresh air.
July
In July, the temperature in Cat Cat village will increase, around 18 – 25°C. It will often rain more but in return, the terraced fields are green, the mountains and forests are full of vitality. This is the ideal time for visitors to experience rural life, enjoy rainy season specialties such as hill chicken, grilled corn.
August
From this month, the temperature remains around 18 – 24°C. It still rains but starts to decrease. The rice fields turn yellow and green, signaling the harvest season. Visitors can trek, take photos of the changing rice season, or participate in local cultural exchange activities.
September
This is the most beautiful month of the year and is also rated by Lily’s Travel as the most suitable time to travel to Cat Cat village. The weather is cool, the temperature is at 15 – 22°C, there is little rain. The terraced fields are golden yellow, covering the entire valley. Foreign visitors can take photos of the “golden season”, experience trekking and try on ethnic costumes to blend in with the scenery.
October
From this month, the temperature will gradually decrease to 14 – 20°C, the weather will become cold. This is the rice harvest season, the scene is bustling and brilliant. Visitors can join the rice harvest experience with the locals, enjoy the typical green rice of the Vietnamese rice industry. Besides, visitors can also take photos of Cat Cat village when it is transitioning to autumn or the rice harvesting activities of the local people.
November
The temperature in November in Cat Cat village drops to 10 – 18°C. The weather will be cold with a lot of fog. The landscape is peaceful, quiet, no longer as brilliant as the golden season but still has a quiet beauty. This is the perfect time to slow down and also the best time to travel to Cat Cat village. Visitors can stay at homestays, enjoy salmon hotpot, grilled meat, and explore the winter life of the H’Mong people.
December
The temperature here is only 6 – 14°C. Although the temperature does not drop as low as in European countries, you will feel cold due to the fog, sometimes with snow. The village space is magical, creating a rare experience in Vietnam. International tourists often enjoy hunting for snow, taking winter photos, or gathering around the fire with locals to enjoy hot dishes.
Festivals and cultural events in Cat Cat village to consider
Cat Cat village is an old village of the H’Mong people, so there are many festivals and unique events associated with cultural and religious life.
Tet holiday
The Hmong people in Cat Cat village usually celebrate Tet about 1 month earlier than the Kinh people. On this occasion, the village is brilliant with peach and plum blossoms. People wear traditional costumes, prepare sticky rice cakes, corn wine, and boiled chicken to worship their ancestors. Visitors can immerse themselves in the New Year atmosphere, watch folk games, dance with panpipes, and attend the Tet market.
Gau Tao Festival (January of the lunar calendar)
This is the biggest festival of the Hmong people, usually taking place at the beginning of the year to pray for health, happiness, and a bountiful harvest. Highlights include vibrant panpipe dances, love songs, and games such as throwing pao, playing tops, and tug of war. This is a great opportunity for visitors to experience traditional culture and take vivid photos.
Roong Pooc Festival of the Giay people (January – February of the lunar calendar, in the Ta Van area near Cat Cat village)
Although not held directly in Cat Cat, many tourists combine their visits to both places. This festival prays for a bountiful harvest, often featuring xoe dancing, love songs, and ball games. This is an opportunity for international tourists to learn more about the cultural diversity of the ethnic groups in the Sapa region.
Nao Song Festival (May – June of the solar calendar)
This is a rain-praying and harvest-praying festival of the H’Mong people, taking place at the beginning of the planting season. People gather at the head of the village or on a large piece of land to worship the gods, praying for favorable weather and wind. Tourists can attend and observe traditional rituals, and learn about agricultural life in the mountains.
Mid-Autumn Festival (August – September of the solar calendar)
Cat Cat and Sapa, in general, have a very special mid-autumn atmosphere. The H’Mong people make lanterns, dance with lions, and children play folk games. International visitors to this time are often attracted by the bustling space, the shimmering light of lanterns combined with the magical mountain and forest scenery.
Sapa Winter Festival (December)
This is a major cultural and tourist event of Sapa town, often lasting for many days, in which Cat Cat village is also a highlight. Visitors can watch traditional flute and dance performances, participate in food fairs, and especially hunt for snow if the weather is favorable.
Read more: Things to do in Cat Cat village: Chance to escape into the nature of North Vietnam
Seasonal travel tips
When planning a trip to Cat Cat village, knowing some seasonal tips will help your trip become more complete and memorable. Each time of the year, the village has its own beauty, suitable for each specific activity.
Spring (February – April)
- Bring a thin jacket and scarf because the early mornings and evenings are still cold.
- It’s an ideal time to capture the beauty of peach and plum blossoms, so be sure to pack a camera or phone that has a spare battery.
- Try wearing H’Mong ethnic costumes to have souvenir photos with the flower season scenery.
- Book a homestay early because this is the peak tourist season.
Summer (May – August)
- The weather is cool but there are showers, so bring a light raincoat or umbrella.
- Prepare non-slip trekking shoes for walking through terraced fields or streams.
- May – June is the season of pouring water, very beautiful for taking pictures of terraced fields; July – August is the season of young green rice.
- Try bathing in streams or sitting in a cafe to enjoy the scenery, avoid trekking on days of heavy rain.
Autumn (September – October)
- This is the most beautiful season of ripe rice, so wear bright-colored clothes to stand out against the golden fields.
- Prepare a camera or flycam to capture the whole scene of the golden season.
- Should go early in the morning to have beautiful light and not too many visitors.
- You can combine the experience of harvesting rice with the locals and enjoy new green rice.
Winter (November – January)
- The weather is very cold, the temperature can drop below 0°C, so you should bring a life jacket, gloves, woolen hat, thick socks.
- Book a homestay with a fireplace or electric blanket to keep warm at night.
- You can hunt for snow (if you are lucky), but you need to prepare waterproof clothes.
- Enjoy winter cuisine such as grilled food, salmon hotpot, corn wine to clearly feel the highland atmosphere.
Lily’s Travel often chooses the best time to visit Cat Cat village based on the traveler’s schedule. Although September – October is often chosen as the best season to visit Cat Cat village. However, not all tourists are in Vietnam at this time.
Therefore, Lily’s Travel’s Sapa tours will be adjusted and customized according to the traveler’s schedule and time in Vietnam. Each season in Cat Cat village has its own beauty, so you can fully explore that beauty.
Lily’s Travel is confident in being able to bring you the most suitable Sapa and Cat Cat village tours. With over 25 years of experience in tour operation and selling thousands of Sapa tours, we can always provide the perfect tour schedule and answer all your questions. If you need any advice, please contact Lily’s Travel immediately.
